Dalai Lama sees Chinese hand behind hacking
By IANSTuesday, March 31, 2009
NEW DELHI - The Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader, Tuesday confirmed reports that computers in his office were hacked and saw the Chinese government’s hand in the cyber-spying.
‘A communication from my office to the central secretariat of the elected government (Tibetan government in exile) about a person who wanted to see me fell into Chinese hands. Even before the person could apply for a visa, the Chinese government protested to the Indian government,’ the Dalai Lama told mediapersons here.
Researchers, based at the Munk Center for International Studies at the University of Toronto in Canada, Sunday reported that a spy ring had infiltrated computers and stolen documents from hundreds of government and private offices around the world, including those of the Indian embassy in Washington and the Dalai Lama.
The spiritual leader was also denied a visa to go to South Africa to meet his old friends, fellow Nobel Peace Prize winners Nelson Mandela and Bishop Desmond Tutu.
‘When I approached the south African government for a visa, they said it was very difficult. And I have this principle - I don’t want to create any embarrassment,’ he explained.
‘I had sent a letter of congratulation to Nelson Mandela on his 90th birthday last year. I wanted to see the man I admire, before he became his next reincarnation, and tease my old friend Desmond Tutu once again. The last time, I tried to strangle him (in jest) and he threatened to call the police,’ the 73-year-old spiritual leader laughed.
Commenting on India’s April-May general elections, he said he would like to watch the polls from a distance. ‘All parties come to me to seek my blessings,’ he said.
The Tibetan government-in-exile does not foresee any change in India’s stand on Tibet even if there is a change of guard in New Delhi.
The elected democratic government in exile, not recognised by any party, took over day-to-day administration in 2001, though the Dalai Lama remains the spiritual and official head of the community in exile.
‘I am in semi-retirement. I have more time to think about spiritual matters now,’ the Dalai Lama said.
