Published by: World Tibet Network News, Tuesday, July 16, 1996

By David Cracknell, Political Staff, PA News

London, July 15, 1996

The Dalai Lama, spiritual and political leader of the Tibetan people, will address MPs and peers tomorrow at the Houses of Parliament amid a row over allegations that he is persecuting his own people.

During his week-long visit to Britain he will also meet Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind and Labour's foreign affairs spokesman Robin Cook.

However he will not get such a polite reception from some British Buddhist who plan to demonstrate against him.

They claim the Dalai Lama, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, sent security forces into Indian settlements to root out worshippers of a certain frowned-upon deity.

Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, the head of the New Kadampa Tradition (NKT), Britain fastest growing Buddhist group with 3,000 members, told the Daily Telegraph h mission was "to save Tibetans from suffering, persecution and human rights violations.

"The Dalai Lama is entitled to have his own opinion but is not entitled to destroy the spiritual lives of others."

Followers of NKT, who shave their heads and wear red and orange robes, pla to follow the Dalai Lama on his world tour with banners saying: "Your smiles charm, your actions harm."

But the allegations are denied by the Office of Tibet in London, who say t claims are unsubstantiated.

"These allegations are not true," a spokesman told PA News. "We invite any to visit our settlements in India to see for themselves. We have nothing to hide. There is no persecution."