Monastic silence over Chinese car firm
Mr Gyatso, who since 1959 has been on the run in India following a rebellion in the Chinese Autonomous Region of Tibet, visited Londonderry on April 18.
During his visit, the 14th Dalai Lama - exiled in Dharamsala and regarded by many as the leader of Tibet but by China as the leader of an illegal clique - described Beijing as a guest arrived without proper invitation and armed with a gun.
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Hide AdBut Mr Gyatso’s high profile visit was not listed as an official event on the culture programme. The Culture Company didn’t issue any official statement with regard to the visit. The Sentinel asked Mr Gyatso’s office if he had refused to endorse Londonderry UK City of Culture 2013 due to it being sponsored by the Great Wall Motor Company of China.
The paper also asked the Londonderry Culture Company why the visit to the city on April 18 was not included in the UK City of Culture 2013 official schedule. Neither responded.