By IANS,
Dharamsala : Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama will visit Taiwan next week to console the survivors of the devastating typhoon that claimed 461 lives, an official said Thursday.
The Dalai Lama’s office said the visit will take place Aug 31 to Sep 4. He will also take part in mass prayers in memory of the dead and for the well being of the survivors.
“His Holiness is keen to meet the survivors and help rehabilitate the typhoon hit,” said an official in the Dalai Lama’s government-in-exile in this northern hill town.
“Taiwanese authorities in December did not allow the Dalai Lama to visit the country to as not to offend China,” the official added.
The Dalai Lama is viewed by the Chinese as a hostile person bent on splitting Tibet from China. Beijing frowns upon meetings between the Dalai Lama and foreign leaders.
The Dalai Lama’s visit was finalised after Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou agreed Thursday to let him visit the island to console the survivors.
The Dalai Lama has visited Taiwan thrice in the last 12 years.
The Dalai Lama, 74, the ultimate spiritual and political leader of six million Tibetans, says he does not seek independence but only autonomy for his people.
The Dalai Lama has lived in India since fleeing China in 1959 after a failed uprising against Communist rule over Tibet. His government-in-exile is not recognized by any country.
DPA adds from Taipei: Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou said Taipei had approved the visit of the Dalai Lama to Taiwan to comfort the survivors of Typhoon Morakot.
Ma made the statement while touring south Taiwan, which was hit Aug 8 by the storm. The government held a news conference to formally announce its approval of the visit of the Tibetan leader.
The officials from three southern Taiwan counties and cities invited the Dalai Lama to visit Taiwan to hold prayer meetings for the typhoon victims and bless the survivors.
In December 2008, Ma had said the time was not ripe for the Dalai Lama to visit Taiwan, apparently for fear of hurting improving relations with China.
The Dalai Lama has close ties with Taiwan. He has some 500,000 disciples on the island and opened his representative office in Taipei in 1998.