M A I N   N E W S

Central team quizzes Karmapa
From Pratibha Chauhan
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Jan 15 —A high-level central intelligence team extensively questioned the 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Thinley Dorjee, at the GyutoTantrik University here.

The team comprising three senior officials from RAW, two officers from the Intelligence Bureau and a representative of the Ministry of External Affairs arrived here on Thursday. The team members are learnt to have had two long meetings with the Tibetan religious head during which questions pertaining to various aspects of his arrival here in McLeodgang were discussed.

The arrival of the intelligence team here is being considered important as the issue of grant of political asylum to the Karmapa is still under the consideration of the Indian Government. After the sudden arrival of the Karmapa at the headquarters of the Tibetan Government-in-exile at McLeodganj on January 5, India had reacted by saying that the circumstance and reasons behind his fleeing Tibet would be looked into.

Sources revealed that the central intelligence team’s main purpose was to look into the allegations levelled by Shamarpa Rinpoche, a regent of the Kagyu sect, that the un-announced arrival of the 14-year-old boy was part of the Chinese plot to divide the Tibetan community.

The intelligence officers are learnt to have questioned the Karmapa about the reasons which compelled him to flee from Tibet.

China detains monks

BEIJING, Jan 15 (AFP) — At least two monks are believed to have been detained by the Chinese police, investigating the apparent escape of Tibet’s Karmapa Lama to India, a London-based rights group said today.

Armed police descended on Tsurphu Monastery days after the Karmapa Lama Ugyen Trinley Dorjee left on December 28, Tibet Information Network said. Tsurphu monks were confined to the premises, indicating that some were being interrogated, while at least two monks were taken away to the county seat.