‘University did not say sorry to China for Tibet degree’

Friday, 11 July 2008, 9:24 a.m.

London: In a letter circulated
to the media, the London Metropolitan University has confirmed that
their vice-chancellor did not say sorry to the Chinese authorities for
awarding an honorary doctorate to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The
controversy came to the surface on Tuesday after the China Daily, a
mouthpiece of the Chinese communist government in a report headlined
“London school regrets honoring Dalai Lama” said that Mr. Brian Roper,
vice-chancellor of the university, had “recently apologized for
bestowing an honorary doctorate to the Dalai Lama after the move drew
intense criticism from a number of Chinese.”

His Holiness the Dalai Lama (C) with the framed Honorary Doctorate certificate flanked by Vice Chancellor Brian Roper and Chair of the Board of Governors Peter Anwyl (Photo by Ian Cumming/Office of Tibet, London)

When the Office of Tibet, London, and many others drew
the attention of the Vice-Chancellor and the University to the China
Daily report, which totally contradicted the warmth with which His
Holiness the Dalai Lama was received by the LMU teaching faculty,
students and guests during the 20th May event that received positive
and extensive coverage in the British as well as the world media, they
were informed that what the vice-chancellor has said was not accurately
reported.

What had actually happened is that representatives of the
Chinese Embassy here had requested for a meeting with the
vice-chancellor and during that recent meeting he had “expressed
regret” at any unhappiness that had been caused to the Chinese people
by the awarding of the honorary doctorate to His Holiness.

The statement issued to the media by the London Metropolitan University states:

“The Vice Chancellor of London Metropolitan University, Brian
Roper, recently met with representatives of the Embassy of the People’s
Republic of China in the UK.

During that meeting, he expressed regret at any unhappiness
that had been caused to Chinese people by the recent award of an
honorary doctorate to the Dalai Lama. It was not the university’s
intention to cause any such unhappiness.

London Metropolitan University has not and will not be
apologising for the award of an honorary doctorate to His Holiness the
Dalai Lama. Nor will we be retracting the award.”

Mr. Tsering Tashi, the London-based Representative of His
Holiness the Dalai Lama said that from the LMU statement it is clear
that the vice-chancellor when approached by the representatives of the
Chinese Embassy had expressed “regrets” if the event had caused
“unhappiness” to the “Chinese people” and not expressed any regret for
having awarded the honorary doctorate to His Holiness.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama delivering the acceptance speech

Because of how the authoritarian Chinese government regularly
manipulate facts and tries to bring pressure on anything that
displeases it, the world has increasingly come to realise the
importance of differentiating the Chinese regime or government from the
Chinese people, who themselves do not enjoy genuine human rights and
free speech.

About the recent honorary doctorate award, a report in the
London Metropolitan University website www.londonmet.ac.uk states:
“London Met conferred the Doctorate on His Holiness in recognition of
his outstanding achievements in promoting peace globally as well as for
his inspirational spiritual guidance and leadership.”

It may be recalled that in 2004 when the Liverpool John Moores
University awarded an Honorary Fellowship to His Holiness the Dalai
Lama, the Chinese Embassy at the time had also tried to put a lot of
pressure to have the honor withdrawn but without much success. The
university had then issued the following statement to the media:

“The University extended an invitation to His Holiness the
Dalai Lama to deliver a Roscoe Lecture several years ago. The Roscoe
Lecture series provides a forum for distinguished international guests
to speak on the subject of citizenship.

“As is the tradition at JMU, and in recognition of his Nobel
peace prize, His Holiness will be given an Honorary Fellowship – two
years ago Joseph Rotblatt was honoured in the same way after delivering
a Roscoe Lecture. This is an academic lecture NOT a political rally and
the University has no intention of embarrassing the Chinese
government.”

“It is one of the stated values of the University to question
accepted views and to defend independence of thought – the Vice
Chancellor, Professor Michael Brown, has reassured the Chinese
Ambassador personally that a lecture of this nature is part of normal
University business and contacts between JMU and Chinese
representatives remain cordial.”

Yesterday, a concerned Tibetologist from Canada emailed to the
Office of Tibet to know the truth behind the China Daily report
relating the London Metropolitan University and concluded his email
with the sentence, “I doubted if the University had made apology?”.
From the LMU statement, it is clear the university had not.

Whilst it may take some time for the current Chinese regime to
have the courage to face the truth and shun the suspicion of so-called
foreign interference, it is encouraging to note that more and more
Chinese people through better awareness and information are joining the
worldwide show of respect for His Holiness the Dalai Lama and even
supporting the Tibetan people’s aspiration for genuine human rights and
freedoms, which, in practical terms, they too aspire.

Report by Office of Tibet, London