The\u00a0city council of Christchurch, New Zealand,\u00a0has been accused of\u00a0snubbing\u00a0Tibet’s Dalai Lama during\u00a0a recent visit.<\/p>\n
Tibetan community representative Thuten Kesang said he was disappointed the council “did not lift a finger to help” the Tibetan spiritual leader, according to the New Zealand Herald<\/em> newspaper.<\/p>\n “I’m absolutely disappointed and ashamed that not one member of the Christchurch City Council, or yourself, welcomed His Holiness to Christchurch,” he said in a letter to Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker.<\/p>\n Kesang, who organized the visit, said he asked for council help,\u00a0but none\u00a0was provided. A New Zealand Tibetan trust\u00a0expended $40,000\u00a0on\u00a0the visit, including hiring the Canterbury Arena for a public appearance by the Lama.<\/p>\n Kesang said it was disappointing that no city councillors were available. “One of them could have given five minutes to welcome His Holiness. Chinese are putting a lot of money into Christchurch and I think this is what has driven them back,” he said.<\/p>\n Council public affairs general manager Lydia Aydon said\u00a0the mayor was unavailable\u00a0since he was hospitalized\u00a0after surgery. No other councillors filled in because the Dalai Lama was visiting in a private rather than official capacity, she said.<\/p>\n Additionally, “he had only asked to meet the mayor, who was unavailable,” she said.<\/p>\n The council did compile information and advice to organizers, she noted, and expressed\u00a0regret those efforts were not considered helpful.<\/p>\n Last year, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key declined to meet the Dalai Lama.<\/p>\n Key denied the decision was a result of Chinese diplomatic pressure but diplomatic cables released by Wikileaks indicated he told Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao\u00a0he would have\u00a0no contact with the Buddhist\u00a0leader.\u00a0<\/p>\n