Controversy mars Dalai Lama's visit
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of International Affairs and Cooperation, Gaeimelwe Goitsemang says the visit of Tibetan leader Dalai Lama has nothing to do with the country. The famous political refugee is expected to visit the country in August to give a public lecture at the University of Botswana.
Appearing before the ongoing Public Accounts Committee (PAC) this week, Goitsemang said Lama’s visit is a ‘private matter’ that the country has nothing to do with. He was responding to a question from Specially-elected Member of Parliament Mephato Reatile who wanted to know the position of the country regarding Lama’s visit. “Dalai Lama is here not as a guest of the government but on a private visit.
We do not have anything to do with his visit,” he said. When asked whether the visit would not damage Botswana’s relations with China, the PS responded: “The Chinese Embassy visited our office and we did explain our position to them and they did explain their position.” When asked to state any country that has allowed Dalai Lama to visit while it believes in One-China policy, Goitsemang could not.
He kept on saying Lama’s visit has nothing to do with the country and no government official is involved in Dalai Lama’s visit. “Why do you say the government has nothing to do with Dalai Lama while government officials are at the centre of his visit?” asked MP for Selibe Phikwe West Dithapelo Keorapetse. Goitsemang replied that there is no government official in Lama’s visit and that even the Office of the President is not involved in his visit.
But in their website statement, the US-based Mind & Life Institute says President Ian Khama will deliver the opening address of the three-day conference. Also featured, as a speaker is former Vice President, Ponatshego Kedikilwe whom the Mind & Life Institute statement says “is celebrated among the foremost leaders of the liberation struggle and advancement of democracy in Southern Africa.”
The only other Motswana who will participate in the event is Professor Lily Mafela, a history lecturer at UB. Daphne Kadiwa, the Chief of Protocol in the Office of the President is listed as the contact person and is among those who will be present at the conference. Former Mozambique First Lady, Graca Machel is also expected at the event.
Other speakers include Carsten de Dreu a Professor of Psychology at Leiden University, Michael Onyebuchi Eze who teaches African Political Theory at the University of Amsterdam, Donald Molosi a Motswana actor based in the USA and winner of more than 25 international acting awards and more than 15 writing awards. Ironically, Goitsemang said any government official involved in Dalai Lama’s visit would be doing it in their personal capacity. He was advised by Reatile to look into the matter and advise government about the effects of allowing Lama to visit the country, particularly on China.
South Africa has denied Dalai Lama to visit them on two occasions after China threatened to punish them economically. In their statement, the organizing body of the lecture said Dalai Lama ‘is going to participate as an honorary guest at a public conference hosted by the Mind & Life Institute. The Government of Botswana has opened its doors to the Dalai Lama’s participation in this conference, taking place at the new Indoor Sports Centre on the campus of the University of Botswana in Gaborone, 17–19 August.’ The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people and is an internationally revered proponent of secular ethics, inter-religious harmony and human happiness.
He is co-author with Archbishop Desmond Tutu of the best-selling “Book of Joy.” He is also the recipient of the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize for his message of non-violence, reconciliation and reverence for all living beings. For decades now, China and the Dalai Lama have been fighting over the sovereignty of Tibet. China pursues an aggressive One-China policy through which it wants the world to accept that there is only one China and no independent states of Taiwan and Tibet.