South Africa bars entry of the Dalai Lama

[Mediocrates]

In January, South Africa’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Fatima Hajaig expressed the following racist and conspiracist view about Jews, at a pro-Hamas rally:
“The control of America, just like the control of most Western countries, is in the hands of Jewish money and if Jewish money controls their country then you cannot expect anything else.”
This morning, we learn that South Africa has banned the Dalai Lama from taking part in a world peace conference, which will take place in the lead up to the 2010 football World Cup.
Ronnie Mamoepa, a Foreign Ministry spokesman, told The Times: “The Government is involved in organising this function and is responsible for issuing invitations. If you have not been invited to a party you cannot say you have been prevented from coming.”
…
The Chinese Embassy in South Africa has confirmed that its Government appealed to South Africa not to allow the Dalai Lama into the country.
But what can possibly explain South Africa’s stance on this issue?
South Africa is China’s main trading partner in Africa and accounts for more than 20 per cent of Beijing’s trade with the continent. Chinese investment in South Africa in the past two years has grown to $6 billion (£4.9 billion).
Ah.


http://www.hurryupharry.org/2009/03/23/colonialism/

[maven]

South Africa was a better place under white rule than it now, In Rhodesia and Mozambique everybody ate now many of them starve.

Blacks and Asians in those countries have to examine their own racism, zenophobia, tribalism, castism and anti-Semitism. That's what Durban 2 should be addressing. Gordon Brown also refused to meet the Dalai Lama when he came to London on the orders of the Chinese.

[Mil]

Ha-ha.....

[takeo]

I can see you people are very nostalgic for the Apartheid-area... not a surprise really...

To me it's the independent decision of the South-Africans to allow whoever they want, none of your or mine business. Perhaps to them the trade with one of the largest and booming economies in the world and the largest investor in Africa is more important than meeting an old man who used to be a medieval tyrant of a non-recognised, secluded and impoverished region as a child ... just my guess really...

[Mediocrates]

And your guess would be wrong.

[Yala]

I can see you people are very nostalgic for the Apartheid-area... not a surprise really...

Who are "you people?" Now one poster represents the whole forum, or maybe even the Jewish people?

old man who used to be a medieval tyrant of a non-recognised, secluded and impoverished region as a child ... just my guess really...

This is how you categorize the Dalai Lama and at the same time call Arafat (yemach shemo) a man of peace

To me it's the independent decision of the South-Africans to allow whoever they want

And just yesterday in another post you were so foaming at the mouth angry that George Galloway was banned from Canada Your hypocrisy is so bloody predictable.

[takeo]

Yala

Who are "you people?" Now one poster represents the whole forum, or maybe even the Jewish people?

The ultra-right wing, ultra-nationalist majority on this forum, who don't represent the majority in Israel at all or in the US, let alone of the Jewish people...

This is how you categorize the Dalai Lama and at the same time call Arafat (yemach shemo) a man of peace

So am I wrong about the Dalai Lama? What is his importance other than that he was once a child-tyrant of a non-recognised autority in a (at that time) very backwards region of China?

And just yesterday in another post you were so foaming at the mouth angry that George Galloway was banned from Canada Your hypocrisy is so bloody predictable.

No! Canada can ban any foreigner, as can the UK or South Africa. But you or barallalu were proposing to ban Galloway and his ideas from GB politics, and at the same time you claim to be a democrat...

[bararallu]

Thats funny, by the looks of the last elections, and even Labors entry into the coalition, I'd say the majority of Israel is behind the right policies for the right time and the right reasons.

[bararallu]

But you or barallalu were proposing to ban Galloway and his ideas from GB politics, and at the same time you claim to be a democrat...

Where did we say that.... liar.

[Sharona]

Be nice if George turned up for a few more sessions at Westminster.

He's apparently banning himself.

[Sharona]

"So am I wrong about the Dalai Lama? What is his importance other than that he was once a child-tyrant of a non-recognised autority in a (at that time) very backwards region of China?"

Child tyrant????????? Have you ever actually met a Tibetan monk, Takeo? The sheer terror of their mantras and incense .....!!. And as for those mudras, meditations and prayer wheels. Horrifying!

Clearly, Tibet is just hunky-dory now. All those riots and civil unrest, to say nothing of the numerous 'Free Tibet' initiatives. They're just loving that Chinese rule

'What is his importance' you ask....he may be meaningless to you or to the Powers that Be, but isn't it the people who count?

[takeo]

"So am I wrong about the Dalai Lama? What is his importance other than that he was once a child-tyrant of a non-recognised autority in a (at that time) very backwards region of China?"

Child tyrant????????? Have you ever actually met a Tibetan monk, Takeo? The sheer terror of their mantras and incense .....!!. And as for those mudras, meditations and prayer wheels. Horrifying!

Clearly, Tibet is just hunky-dory now. All those riots and civil unrest, to say nothing of the numerous 'Free Tibet' initiatives. They're just loving that Chinese rule

'What is his importance' you ask....he may be meaningless to you or to the Powers that Be, but isn't it the people who count?

Which people does he represent? All the Tibetans, who saw their life improving over the last decades? I doubt so.
And you should read a bit more about Tibet untill the 40's. It wasn't Nirvada...
Most people were slaves of the upper class of monks who used them on their lands. There was no electricity, no running water, no healthcare, education only for the monks, etc. it was 100% feodal oppression.
There is unrest all over the world, there is unrest in Northern Ireland as well, does it mean Gerry Adams is a half-saint? Why do you sympathise with Tibetan separatists and not with Tamil, Kurdish, Northern Irish, Papoua, etc. separatists?
And why would South Africa sympathise with a Tibetan separatist? What South-Africans care about, as all Africans, is economic devellopment and trade, and China in no time became the largest player in Africa, and helps many African countries with building new roads, new enterprises, etc.

[takeo]

Where did we say that.... liar.

yala said this: "It would be more appropriate for Britain to ban Galloway from politics, like Israel did with Kahane. He is Britain's problem, not the US's or Canada's."

[Mediocrates]

I think you left out several ultras there. I'm pretty sure you need to have 7 ultras here.

[Sharona]

"Why do you sympathise with Tibetan separatists and not with Tamil, Kurdish, Northern Irish, Papoua, etc. separatists?"

Remind me again....when did we meet, Takeo?

I ask this because a few months ago you told me what my view of the war in Iraq was - even though I've never mentioned it on this forum. Now you're doing the same thing with other causes around the world.