Karmapa to seek asylum?

By Sujay Mehdudia

BAIJNATH (Himachal Pradesh), JAN. 14. The 17th Karmapa, Ugyen Trinley Dorjee, who arrived here on January 5 from his monastery in Lhasa, is said to have conveyed to the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, his desire to stay on in India and seek political asylum.

Sources close to the Tibetan government-in-exile said the issue, among others, was discussed by the two leaders during their meeting today, the third in the last nine days, which was held at the instance of the Karmapa.

The sources said the Dalai Lama had also told the Indian Government of the Karmapa's concerns. It was said that the Dalai Lama would not do anything which would harm India's interests.

Probably for the first time, mediapersons had a face-to-face with the Karmapa. Around 11 a.m., the Karmapa was brought from Sidhbari Gyuto Tantrik monastery, where he had been staying since Sunday night, to McLeodganj.

As the convoy carrying the Karmapa reached the outskirts of McLeodganj, the boy monk's vehicle stalled due to heavy snowfall. The Karmapa alighted and began walking surrounded by a posse of securitymen. Immediately, a few reporters started walking with him.

During the one kilometre trek, the reporters tried to talk to the Karmapa who told them through gestures that he could not understand English. The Karmapa was comfortable on the snow while the securitymen and reporters struggled to keep pace.

Later, he was taken in a vehicle to the Dalai Lama's palace. The two religious heads were closeted for over half an hour.

The Karmapa also held talks with officials of the Tibetan government in-exile.Insiderssaid the Karmapa and the Dalai Lama reportedly discussed how to go about seeking asylum.

An interesting fact has come to light in the entire episode. A distant relation of the Karmapa, Mr. Namgyal Gompo, who had come to meet him but was not allowed to do so by the security agencies, was said to be carrying the draft of a letter. He wanted to deliver the draft to the Karmapa. The draft, it is said, contained material addressed to the Chinese President on behalf of the Karmapa asking Beijing to provide a diplomatic passport to Trinley Dorjee as he wanted to study in India and would return after finishing his education. Mr. Namgyal has since left Dharamsala for New Delhi.

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