MINNESOTA
February 27: The Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama
who is currently on a three-week visit to the United States will be
celebrating the Tibetan New Year here in Minneapolis, Minnesota on March
2, his first outside his adopted home India since coming into exile 55
years ago.
Sources say that Mark Dayton, governor of Minnesota,
has turned down an invitation to join the exiled leader on the first day
of the Tibetan New Year citing health reasons. The newly elected Mayor
of Minneapolis, Betsy Hodges, will accompany the Dalai Lama on the
Tibetan New Year celebrations organized by the Tibetan American
Foundation of Minnesota. The mayor will read “the Tibet Day proclamation
in honour of the Dalai Lama and Tibet” during the celebrations.
A
day before the Tibetan New Year, the Tibetan spiritual leader will
speak at the 26th annual Nobel Peace Prize Forum organized by the Nobel
Peace Prize Forum and Augsburg college in St Paul, the capital city of
Minnesota.
The Tibetan leader will meet with around 270 Chinese
students and take questions on various issues including the Middle Way
Approach policy of the Tibetan administration, according to Ngawang
Chime, a member of the organizing committee. His Holiness regularly
meets with Chinese people, especially students, during his visits to
various countries.
China often calls the Nobel Peace laureate a
“wolf in sheep’s clothing” and accuse him of seeking “disguised
independence” through the policy of middle way approach.
Beijing
warns world leaders against meeting the Tibetan leader saying it
opposes any meddling into "China’s internal affairs." However, US
president Barack Obama last Friday met the Tibetan spiritual leader in
the White House, and sat for about an hour discussing range of issues.
submitted by Tendar Tsering in Minnesota.
Celebrating Tibetan New Year of 2014
|