The spiritual leader of the Tibetans Dalai Lama, who is currently on a five nation tour, reached Australia on Wednesday, June 11 to seek support for the Tibetan cause, despite protests from Beijing. But he will not be able to meet the Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, officials have said. This is because PM Kevin Rudd himself is out on a tour of Japan presently and will not be back on time to meet the Tibetan Spiritual leader. Coincidentally even the deputy PM of Australia Julia Gillard is out of the country at the moment.

 

The Dalai Lama, therefore, will be received by Mr Chris Evans, the Immigration Minister who is also the acting Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister Stephen Smith. A government spokesperson remarked that this only highlights ‘Dalai Lama's status as an international religious leader and the significant domestic interest in the Dalai Lama's visit, including from the Tibetan immigrant community in Australia.’ The Tibetan spiritual leader had visited Britain the previous month where he met PM Gordon Brown inspite of stern protests from Beijing.

 

The Dalai Lama is accused by China for being the cause of secessionist unrest in Tibet, which rose up in protest following a clampdown attempt by Beijing in March. The incident brought Beijing criticism from the International community for its politics in the Himalayan region. The Australia Tibet Council support group remarked it was sad that Kevin Rudd could not meet Dalai Lama, but they expressed their happiness over the fact that the foreign minister had agreed to meeting and holding talks with him.