China detains Karmapa's parents, Tibet worried

China detains Karmapa's parents, Tibet worried
UNITED NEWS OF INDIA

GANGTOK, MARCH 1: The Tibetan government-in-exile has expressed concern overreports of detention of 17th Karmapa Urjen Trinley Dorjee's parents by theChinese government.

Speaking over the telephone from Dharamshala on Wednesday Tibetangovernment-in-exile's Minister of Culture and Religion Kelong Tashi Wangdisaid: "We have received reports from various sources that the Chineseauthorities in Tibet have allegedly forced the elderly parents of theKarmapa to leave their home in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa and move toChangdu prefecture in eastern Tibet, the parental home of Tibet's thirdhighest spiritual leader, the Karmapa. There they were kept under close"surveillance".

The Tibetan minister said: "We are greatly concerned about the well-being ofHis Holiness's parents. We strongly protest this act of the Chinesegovernment and request them not to take such reprisals against the familymembers and close associates of the Karmapa staying back in Tibet." Wangdisaid, "There are also reports of detention of a Tibetan security officer anda monk involved in the security at the seat of the Karma Kagyu sects Tsurphumonastery, from where the Karmapa had escaped. The whereabouts of the twowas not known."

Karmapa Lama, whose authority is recognised both by Beijing and the DalaiLama, arrived in India on January 5 after a 1,400 km trek across theHimalayas. The Tibetan government-in-exile had asked India to give refuge tothe Karmapa. The Indian authorities, however, said the Karmapa had notapplied formally for asylum.

Commenting on the Karamapa's stay and seeking asylum, Wangdi said, "TheKarmapa has been staying in India for the past two months. He has beenprovided with a heavy security arrangement here. He is carrying out all hisreligious activities and spiritual studies under Tibetan spiritual teachersat the Gyato monastery on the outskirts of Dharamshala. Many pilgrims cometo pay their homage to him daily and so far no one has asked him to leave.He is to stay at Dharamshala for the time being."

When asked about the possible visit of the teenaged monk to the RumtekDharma Chakra Centre (DCC), the seat-in-exile of the Karma Kagyu sect,Wangdi said: There is no possibility at present. But he can always come hereat a later stage." Meanwhile, the London-based Tibet Information Network ina statement handed over to UN Human Rights chief Mary Robinson said, "TheKarmapa's escape has dealt a severe blow to the attempts of China'sCommunist government to control organised religion through patrioticreligious figures and institutions."