In a political signal from the faction pressuring this issue, the Times of India is reporting that His Holiness the Seventeenth Karmapa's refugee status in India could be just about over. According to an article in Sunday's paper, discussing the alleged seizure of Chinese SIM cards from Gyuto:
"The refugee status of Karmapa would be terminating this year in June and it would be difficult for the Centre to give an extension to Karmapa for staying here in Dharamsla owing to his office allegedly being involved in money laundering amidst suspicions that most of the foreign currency had come from China."
Reaction from the Karmapa's Office of Administration was swift and fierce:
"The Karmapa Office of Administration welcomes the Central Government's expression of confidence in His Holiness the Karmapa. Union Minister Virbhadra Singh travelled to the state from Delhi and made several clear statements of support for His Holiness the Karmapa and the Tibetan community as a whole. Addressing a press conference, Union Minister Singh charged the Himachal Pradesh state government with maligning His Holiness the Karmapa. He further urged regularizing land purchase rules to grant Tibetans certain rights to own land in Himachal Pradesh, in which Dharamsala is located. Union Minister Singh is a member of the Cabinet of the Indian Government and a five-time former chief minister of the state of Himachal Pradesh.
However, we are disappointed to note that some press are continuing to report major inaccuracies and outright fabrications. We reiterate in the strongest possible terms that reports, such as the one published most recently by Times of India, that Chinese SIM cards were seized from the monastery is pure fiction. No SIM cards were taken, as can be confirmed by the seizure list prepared (FIR No23/11, dated 26/1/2011 by the police). The repeated assertion of this outright lie constitutes baseless slander, and defames the character of one of the most revered figures in Tibetan Buddhism. The fact that such fictitious reports are published without contacting the accused party's spokespersons for comments indicates that these members of the press are are not objective reporters. We welcome the press to contact us to check their facts or seek comment, and call on the press to rise to the standards of responsible journalism."
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4 reader comments:
This is just a way for the Indian Goverment to shut down a thorn in their side for many years, the TGIE. No Karmapa, no effective TGIE after HHDL passes away. Hence, one less issue with China.
Doesn't the central government decide about the Karmapa's refugee status. I think that if he's proven innocent, which I think he will be, it would be highly unlikely that they'll take away his refugee status. Hopefully this whole thing will put all of the suspicions to rest and the Karmapa can go to Rumtek.
Also, I don't understand the thing about the Chinese sim cards. It makes about as much sense as trying to spend Chinese money in India. Aren't sim cards linked to carriers? Wouldn't a sim card from another country not work in India? Are the Chinese extending their telecom power across the border with stealth cell phone towers? Wouldn't it make sense to buy an Indian sim card?
Also, didn't the police raid Gyuto Monastery more than a week ago and didn't they wrap up the seizing of property back then? It sounds like the inventory of seized property isn't going to grow. I don't understand why the press keeps doling out crap every couple days.
I hope someone can help me with this.
Does the Indian government allows Thaye Dorje to visit Rumtek?
His Holiness the Karmapa is a strong enough spiritual being to manifest two bodies. Read up on the different incarnations. I can see aspect of at least two different past incarnations in these two beings. I know only one can be official and I am sad that the predicted infighting has come about in my beloved sect. Sharmapa included the predicted weakening of the lineage in the comments posted in referencing the numbering of Karmapas births vs. enthroned, but missed the point of the weakening being this whole conflict. I would be more specific of the life times that stood out but it has been a few years since I reread the History of the Karmaps. (Mikyo Dorje was one) I left that book back in the US when we came to Malaysia. We live in a time where either or thinking no longer works and we have to stretch our brains often to include both halves of dichotomies. The world is so much bigger than all this. It takes a vast Mind to keep ones seat in times like these.
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