(TibetanReview.net, Sep26, 2014) – Jody Williams from USA, Shirin Ebadi from Iran, Leymah Gbowee from Liberian, and the International Campaign to Ban Landmines have decided not to attend the 14th annual World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates in Cape Town from Oct 13 to 15 in protest against South Africa’s denial of visa to the Dalai Lama. The exile spiritual leader of Tibet had withdrawn his visa application after his Pretoria-based representative was informed by phone that it would be unsuccessful because of China.
The withdrawal by the four Nobel Peace laureates came after 14 Nobel Peace laureates wrote to President Jacob Zuma the week before, asking him to grant the Tibetan spiritual leader a visa, but without success.
China, South Africa’s top trade partner, accuses the Dalai Lama of seeking Tibet’s independence, although he only seeks autonomy for his homeland under China’s sovereignty and also retired from politics in 2011.