(South China Morning Post January 15, 2000)
No need for asylum
EDITORIAL
A week after it emerged that Tibet's third-highest lama had escaped to India, the issue has still not provoked the kind of fireworks feared initially.
Beijing normally never misses any chance to accuse the Dalai Lama of misdeeds. But it has refrained from doing so over the Karmapa Lama's flight, despite suspicions of his involvement. Instead, China has left the door open to the 14-year-old's return by suggesting he only left the country on a pilgrimage to collect sacred musical instruments.
For its part, India has also tried to handle the issue quietly, insisting any decision on the Karmapa's future must be taken in the context of relations with Beijing. This restraint even won an appreciative statement from the Chinese embassy in New Delhi.
However, it was coupled with a veiled warning about the consequences of granting him political asylum. That is a step which is being increasingly demanded vocally by some Tibetans in India and even members of its exiled parliament.
Certainly there can be no question of forcing him to return. Not that there is much danger of this, as New Delhi has never done so with any other Tibetan. Nor is it usual to grant refugee status. Instead, Tibetans are simply allowed to stay and are issued refugee certificates.
That is a far more satisfactory solution and seems to enjoy the support of much of the Indian media. Neither the Dalai Lama nor anyone else has an interest in seeing a deterioration in relations between his host country and China.
Much work has gone into repairing these since the low two years ago, when Indian Defence Minister George Fernandes branded Beijing as the nation's number one enemy.
It would be far wiser to leave China to reflect on its folly in refusing to grant the exit visa that might have avoided the Karmapa's flight. There is no point in being unnecessarily provocative by granting political asylum, which the lama does not yet even seem to have requested and which certainly is not needed to remain in India.
