Courtesy demands
formal meeting with Dalai Lama - Editorial
August - September 2007
The New Zealand Herald June 16, 2007
The Prime Minister's chance meeting with the Dalai Lama in a Brisbane airport departure lounge is just too cute. The pair managed 10 minutes' discussion on inter-faith issues and diversity as they waited, one hand on the carry-on bag and one ear out for the departure announcement, for their flight to Sydney.
Attempts to portray this meeting as a chance encounter could not even be sustained by Helen Clark for more than a few minutes: she acknowledged her staff had known of the possibility for a couple of days. The reason for the contrivance, surely New Zealand's rather than the Tibetan spiritual leader's, is fear of upsetting China. But even now, China will not be mollified.
It might be pleased to have made the Dalai Lama's time with the New Zealand leader so transitory and indecorous, but it is unforgiving in its expectation of its friends when it comes to the Dalai Lama and the Falun Gong group.
Helen Clark ought to have met him in this country, formally, next week. Freedom of expression, recognition of human rights and common courtesy demand as much. Perhaps she will, if they bump into each other at a taxi stand.
National Party leader John Key decided yesterday to "drop in for a talk" with the Dalai Lama when he meets the party's foreign affairs spokesman next week. His half-hearted obeisance to Beijing is almost as bad.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters at least has a one-on-one meeting scheduled but only as New Zealand First leader, not as a minister. Why all the fear and shame? Because New Zealand is some years into its bid to secure the first free trade agreement with China.
In Australia, after much dithering, both Prime Minister John Howard and Labor leader Kevin Rudd met the Dalai Lama. But then Australia is further down China's list, and Australians are direct, rather than apologetic, with both their guests and their trading partners.
China, which rules Tibet with military force, regards him as a troublemaker bent on promoting Tibetan independence.
China uses diplomatic pressure to discourage representatives of any government from meeting him or otherwise showing him support.
The Green's foreign affairs spokesman, Keith Locke, said today a formal meeting was the only way Miss Clark could show she was not succumbing to pressure from Beijing.
"It is demeaning to see our prime minister being pushed around by the Chinese government," he said.
"Whichever way you look at it, it would be a slap in the face to the Dalai Lama not to meet him when he visits Wellington."
The Dalai Lama arrived in Auckland last night.
When he is in Wellington on Tuesday he will meet Foreign Minister Winston Peters, but in Mr Peters' capacity as leader of New Zealand First.
He will also meet
National's foreign affairs spokesman, Murray McCully, and party leader John
Key will "drop in" during that meeting.