M A I N   N E W S

Will Karmapa get political asylum?
MEA officials dash to Dharamsala
From Pratibha Chauhan
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Jan 8 — After managing a safe escape to McLeodganj from Chinese-occupied Tibet, it is now the question of getting political asylum for the 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorjee, from the Indian Government which is weighing heavily on the minds of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile.

The 14-year-old Karmapa is the spiritual head of the Karma Kagyu School, which is one of the four sects of Tibetan Buddhism. The arrival of the Karmapa, along with six other persons, including his sister, at McLeodganj on January 5, has led to a lot of excitement as he had been recognised by the Dalai Lama on June, 1992, and had been residing in the Trusphu monastery, near Lhasa.

Great significance is being attached to his safe arrival here as despite being recognised as the Karmapa by the Chinese, he did not have complete freedom and was living virtually under house arrest.

The Karmapa, who is the reincarnation of the 16th Karmapa Rangjung Rigpe Dorji, has been kept under tight security at the “Chonor House”, a Tibetan government-owned hotel, close to the palace of the Dalai Lama. He is learnt to have had an audience with the Dalai Lama for over half an hour immediately after his arrival in McLeodganj at 11 a.m. on January 5. Taishitu Rimpoche, who is the head of a monastery close to Baijnath, in Kangra district and was instrumental in the selection of the 17th Karmapa, accompanied him to meet the Dalai Lama.

It is being felt that the entire plan for his escape from Tibet, was masterminded by Tibetan leaders in India, even as the Tibetan Minister for Religion and Culture, Mr Tashi Wangdi, emphatically denied the hand of the Tibetan Government in the escape. “We were taken by surprise when we were informed on January 5 morning that the Karmapa had arrived here”, he stated.

Top sources revealed that the Karmapa escaped from the window of his bed room, around 11 on the night of December 28, 1999. On his flight journey, he was accompanied by his elder sister, Ngodup Palzom (24), who is also a nun, and his personal attendant, Gelek Kuchok, to take care of him during the arduous journey to India. Two monks, Tswang Tashi and Tsultrim Gyaltsen from the Nenang and the Tsurdon monasteries, respectively, and two drivers, Dhargye and Tsewang Tashi, formed part of the escape group.The sources disclosed that to avoid the early detection of his escape by the Chinese, he had gone into retreat before fleeing from Tibet. So that nobody suspected them, the Karmapa’s teacher and cook stayed back. He is learnt to have reached the Tibet-Nepal border after travelling both on foot and by car. He illegally entered Nepal on December 30, after which he travelled to Delhi via Gorakhpur and Lucknow. After reaching Delhi on January 4, he travelled to Dharamsala by car.

The 17th Karmapa is being considered the third most important religious head after the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama, who is still in the custody of the Chinese.Sources in the Tibetan government said that the Chinese had great expectations from the Karmapa, whom they had projected as the “symbol of religious freedom” in Tibet.

He is learnt to have had two meetings with the Chinese President, Jiang Zemin, last year and his escape is being considered as a jolt to the Chinese claims. The Panchen Lama, selected by the Dalai Lama, is still under Chinese detention. His whereabouts are still unknown.There had been a controversy at the time of the selection of the 17th Karmapa also as two Rinposhe of the Kagyu sect had selected two different people.

It was Ogyen Thinley Dorjee, who was finally chosen, both by the Dalai Lama and the Chinese.Senior officials of the Ministry of External Affairs also airdashed to Dharamsala, after the news of the illegal entry of the Karmapa reached them. The local administration and the police were totally unaware about the arrival of the Karmapa till they got to know of it from Delhi.

The Tibetan Government officials are learnt to be discussing the matter of granting political asylum to the Karmapa with the Indian Government to avoid any further complication.Keeping in view the security aspect, the Tibetan Government is planning to shift him to a safer place within a day or two.

The Karmapa, according to Tibetan officials is in good health and spirits and is recuperating from the arduous journey across the high mountains during the peak of winter.The Tibetan public is excited and jubilant after hearing about the arrival of the Karmapa. They say that they are eager to get the blessings of the spiritual head, but keeping in mind his security and the crucial question of political asylum, they will wait till things get normal.

Rumtek disowns Karmapa

NEW DELHI, Jan 8 (PTI) — The escape of Karmapa Lama Urgyen Trinley from Tibet into India has triggered a controversy in Buddhist circles with the regent of Sikkim’s influential Rumtek monastery disowning the 14-year-old religious leader and describing the episode as a “political ploy”.

“Following the centuries-old spiritual practices of the Karma Kagyu school, I have recognised Thaye Dorje as the genuine reincarnation of the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa. The Chinese Karmapa has been chosen by questionable means. We do not recognise him,” Shamarpa Rimpoche, the second highest Lama of the Kagyu lineage, told mediapersons here today.

He alleged that the Urgyen’s “flight to freedom” was stage-managed in connivance with the Chinese leaders with a view to claiming the ‘black crown’ and other belongings of the Karma Kagyu school, which were at present with Thaye Dorje based in Kalimpong in West Bengal.

The crown and other belongings were objects of reverence for the followers and were necessary for any claimant to the position to establish his credentials, the Lama said.