Fernandes lobbying for Karmapa -- Tibetan guru
ARATI R JERATH

NEW DELHI, JANUARY 17: The Karmapa Lama controversy took a new turn today with the mentor of the India-based claimant to the religious title, Shamar Rinpoche, accusing Union Ministers George Fernandes and Ram Jethmalani of lobbying within the Government to get the China-backed Karmapa installed at the Rumtek monastery in Sikkim.

Disputing the claim of 14-year-old Orgyen Trinley Dorji, who arrived mysteriously from China on January 5, Shamar pledged to send his candidate, 16-year-old Thaye Dorji, to Rumtek to take over the legacy of heading the wealthy Kagyu sect. Thaye Dorji is at present in France and is due back next month. He lives in a monastery in Kalimpong.

``I want the Karmapa in India to get the Rumtek monastery and the Rumtek crown because they are in India. Let the Chinese Karmapa keep the Tshurpu monastery which is in China. There is no problem in having two Karmapas of the Karma Kagyu sect,'' he told The Indian Express

in an exclusive interview today.

Shamar is said to be first in thehierarchy of the sect's spiritual leaders who were appointed as regents till the 17th Karmapa Lama came of age. The sect was split when Shamar refused to recognise the Chinese-supported Karmapa who was ``discovered'' by the second regent, Tai Situ Rinpoche. Interestingly, this Karmapa was accepted by the Dalai Lama as well, adding another angle to the faction fight.

The controversy lay dormant for several years after the bloody clashes at Rumtek in 1993 only to resurface now with the appearance of China's Karmapa candidate in India.

Shamar traced this development to the revocation of the externment order against Tai Situ in August 1998, which he claims was done under pressure from Jethmalani and George. Tai Situ was externed in 1994 for suspected anti-India activities.

``Jethmalani was Situ Rinpoche's lawyer and Fernandes is a close friend of his main administrator in India. They are daring to do all kinds of things and are putting all effort to get the Chinese Karmapa to Rumtek,'' Shamar charged.

Hewarned that it would be ``very embarrassing'' for everyone concerned if the Karmapa Lama anointed by him was stopped from going to Rumtek. ``He has valid travel documents (a diplomatic passport courtesy the King of Bhutan), not like the Chinese Karmapa, and can move freely in India. He has also applied for political asylum here but because of pressure from Fernandes and Jethmalani, his application is stuck,'' Shamar alleged.

Disputing George's remark yesterday that the Chinese visitor was welcome to stay for a while if he so wanted, Shamar said, ``The boy and his attendants, all of whom are Chinese citizens, came to India without a visa. Does this mean that any spiritual leader, even the Mahayana monks from Beijing, can come to India without a visa?''

He also questioned the claim that the Karmapa had fled religious persecution by the Chinese authorities. ``He is a VIP in China. All his expenses are being taken care of by the Chinese Government. He is in a very comfortable position. So there is no questionof violation of human rights,'' he insisted.

He accused Tai Situ of ``using'' the boy to gain control of the Rumtek monastery. ``People in western countries are very naive about human rights. Situ Rinpoche type of people take advantage of this and bully India on this issue,'' Shamar declared.

At the same time, Shamar maintained that he was sanguine that the China-backed Karmapa would not be allowed by the Indian Government to reach Rumtek. ``The logic is very clear. If China has sent him, how can India keep him here? If the Situ Rinpoche group in India has stolen the boy, how can China keep quiet? So he will have to go back to China or go somewhere else. Or he can stay here as a guest of Fernandes and Jethmalani,'' he said.

China cautions
PUNE: Chinese ambassador in India Zhou Gang today asked India to ensure that the Karmapa did not use Indian soil to do any political activity against China and damage Sino-Indian relationship. He said it was the duty of India to inform China about thewhereabouts of Chinese national as both had signed a treaty to this effect..

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