Dalai Lama in Mongolia amid threat of Chinese protest

In an apparent effort to reassure Beijing, Mongolia’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying the Dalai Lama’s visit was purely a religious matter and nonpolitical. “The Dalai Lama will not be participating in any political activities,” the statement said.

In an address to a crowd of several thousand Mongolians and tourists at Gandantegcheling temple in the capital of Ulan Bator, the Dalai Lama stressed the importance of traditional family values.”These are the values that sustain us through difficult times of change,” he said, seated on a cushioned throne before the whitewashed brick main temple hall.

Earlier, the Dalai Lama arrived at the temple accompanied by a police escort and numerous security men. Smiling, he waved to the crowd, many of whom held up silk scarves as a sign of greeting. A group of elderly women chanted Buddhist scripture while other visitors spun prayer wheels and fed flocks of pigeons.

“Every time he visits, he brings good fortune to Mongolia,” said Baamba, a retiree who like many Mongolians uses just one name. The Dalai Lama is widely revered in Mongolia, whose people have strong historical links to Tibet and have traditionally followed Tibet’s esoteric school of Buddhism.

His visits have been credited with helping revive Buddhist institutions that were all but wiped out over six decades of communism.

Organisers of the visit had kept the Dalai Lama’s travel schedule under tight wraps in an attempt to avoid angering Beijing, which cut

off rail links with Mongolia for two days in 2002 in apparent retaliation for his last visit. It wasn’t clear whether the Dalai Lama would be received by President Nambaryn Enkhbayar or other top leaders.

China routinely calls on countries not to let the Dalai Lama visit, often hinting at possible diplomatic or commercial retaliation. Recent statements in Communist Party media have criticised such trips as an effort to rally anti-China forces and realise Tibetan independence.

–CHRISTOPHER BODEEN