No reception this time under China-friendly mayor. What a ‘Lama excuse’

Hamish Heard
Local councillors and Tibetan leaders yesterday questioned why Geelong’s mayor had failed to organise a civic reception to honour the Dalai Lama when he visits the city next year.
The visit will follow a 2002 trip to Geelong that included a civic reception despite threats of economic sanctions from the Chinese Government.
Mayor Peter McMullin said council had not invited the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader to a civic reception because his tour organising committee had not requested an official welcome.
Cr McMullin said council “understand(s)” the Dalai Lama’s schedule would not fit a civic reception.
“However, it is expected His Holiness will make a number of public appearances on the day, including a large-scale address at Skilled Stadium,” Cr McMullin said.
But Tibetan Community of Victorian president Thubten Dhondup believed Geelong’s attempts to forge business links with China could be behind the snub.
Former mayor Barbara Abley said the Chinese Government threatened her in writing ahead of the Dalai Lama’s last visit in 2002.
The Chinese warned an official welcome for the spiritual leader of Tibet would “destabilise trade agreements”.
Cr Abley said the Buddhist community would be “highly insulted” if the snub was due to “perceived political or economic sanctions”.
The Dalai Lama has been exiled from his native Tibet since the Chinese took over the nation amid claims of human rights violations in 1959.
Cr Stretch Kontelj, Geelong’s mayor in the lead up to the 2002 visit, was “staggered” the Mayor had not approached the organising committee or begun planning a civic reception.
“We seem to be having civic receptions for the opening of an envelope lately,” he said.
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Council recently hosted civic receptions for a group of visiting Italian exchange students and a delegation of Chinese businessmen.
“It would be good sense and good manners to hold a reception for (the Dalai Lama), especially since the whole world follows his every step,” Cr Kontelj said.
He questioned whether Cr McMullin’s friendship with Melbourne’s Chinese-born Mayor John So was a factor.
Cr So made headlines around the world for his failure to welcome the Dalai Lama in 2002.
“I would suggest the mayors of Geelong and Melbourne are close friends and during this term Peter McMullin was invited to China as a guest of John So,” Cr Kontelj said.
“I’d be extremely disappointed if that was what’s behind this, as we as a city shouldn’t feel intimidated by that sort of pressure.”
Cr Kontelj said previous councils prepared for the 2002 visit as early as 1999, with then-Mayor Ken Jarvis approaching the Dalai Lama’s organising committee about a formal reception.
Geelong councillors are preparing to head to China to “fly the flag” for the region to attract Chinese investment.