According to a Tibetan spokesperson, The African country made this decision so as not to affect its relations with China.
The Dalai Lama has already been denied a visa to South Africa three times. Elpaís.com.co | AP
The South African government confirmed that it has received a visa request from the Dalai Lama, But he indicated that he has not yet made a decision.
"La demanda será analizada siguiendo el proceso habitual. Las autoridades competentes se pondrán a continuación en contacto con el solicitante", the South African Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated in a statement.
And it is confirmed, visa denial, could lead to a boycott of the 14thª annual peace summit, according to a spokesman for former Anglican archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize.
"He oído que si al Dalái Lama no le permiten entrar en el país, otros invitados han dicho que no vendrán", declared Roger Friedman said.
The Tibetan spiritual leader, Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, He is considered a dangerous separatist by Beijing, one of South Africa's largest trading partners.
South Africa is part of the Brics group along with China, (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa), formed by the most powerful emerging countries on the planet.
In addition to the South Africans awarded with this award (Desmond Tutu and Frederik de Klerk), 13 laureates and eight organizations confirmed their participation, according to the organizers.
Two previous denials
Choedon said he has not yet received written confirmation of the denial.. And it is confirmed, It would be the third time in five years that South Africa has denied the Tibetan spiritual leader entry into the country..
Each denial has been widely criticized in South Africa, since many saw the decision as a betrayal of the commitment to human rights proclaimed after the end of the racist apartheid regime in 1994.
A spokesperson for De Klerk, Former South African president awarded the Nobel Peace Prize along with Nelson Mandela, He said, however, that the boycott seems like a bad idea..
"Lo mejor sería venir a la cumbre y celebrar el 20º aniversario de nuestra democracia y entonces decir lo que quieran decir en la cumbre", Dave Steward told AFP, executive director of the FW de Klerk Foundation.
In any case, in your opinion, la denegación del visado al Dalái Lama sería "la antítesis de los valores de nuestra Constitución".
The Dalai Lama was already prevented from visiting South Africa in 2011, when he was invited to give a speech as part of the 80th celebrationsº Desmond Tutu's birthday.
Given this, Several opposition parties filed a lawsuit in court, que juzgó que el examen de la demanda de visado "fue postergado de manera deliberada para evitar una decisión" In this regard.
At that moment, Tutu dijo que el gobierno del Congreso Nacional Africano era "peor que el gobierno del apartheid". The Dalai Lama was also unable to enter the country in 2009, although he previously visited it three times, and was personally received by former president Nelson Mandela.
