Presence of Dalai Lama at UN upsets China

China has lodged a protest with the UN for inviting the Dalai Lama to its conference in Geneva saying that the Tibetan spiritual leader is a separatist and not entitled to talk about human rights.

China voiced “strong unsatisfaction” and lodged solemn representations after the Dalai Lama was invited to attend an activity on the sidelines of the ongoing UN human rights meeting.

Reports said the US and Canada co-sponsored a conference built around Nobel peace prize winners, on the sidelines of the UN Human Rights Council’s 31st session in Geneva, official media reported.

The Dalai Lama was invited for the conference, which was chaired by UN deputy high commissioner for human rights Kate Gilmore.

The US side insisted on inviting the Dalai Lama to attend the activity regardless of China’ s firm opposition, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, Hong Lei said in a statement.

The relevant UN department also violated the UN resolution and allowed the deputy high commissioner to chair the activity.

“We have lodged solemn representations to relevant parties,” he said.

Mr Hong said the Dalai Lama is a political exile who has long been engaged in activities to split China instead of a simple religious person. He said that China firmly opposed the Dalai Lama to visit any country.