Dalai Lama says 'too many' refugees in Europe

"There are so many that in practice it becomes difficult"


Afp May 31, 2016
Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama. PHOTO: AFP/FILE

BERLIN: The Dalai Lama said in an interview published Thursday that Europe has accepted "too many" refugees, and that they should eventually return to help rebuild their home countries.

"When we look into the face of every single refugee, especially the children and women, we can feel their suffering," said the Tibetan spiritual leader, who has himself lived in exile for over half a century.

"A human being who is a bit more fortunate has the duty to help them. On the other hand, there are too many now," he said, according to the German translation of the interview in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.

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"Europe, for example Germany, cannot become an Arab country," he added with a laugh, the daily reported. "Germany is Germany.

"There are so many that in practice it becomes difficult."

The Dalai Lama added that "from a moral point of view too, I think that the refugees should only be admitted temporarily".

"The goal should be that they return and help rebuild their countries."

Germany last year took in 1.1 million people fleeing war and misery in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries, but the flow was reduced sharply by the decision of Balkan countries to close their borders to people travelling through Turkey and into northern Europe.

Dalai Lama warns of growing divide among Tibetans

The Dalai Lama also said in the interview, conducted in Dharamsala, seat of the Tibetan government-in-exile in northern India, that he hopes to one day return to Tibet.

"Maybe in a few years," said the 80-year-old. "If an opportunity for my return arises, or at least for a short visit, that would be a source of great joy."

Thousands of Tibetans have fled their Himalayan homeland since China sent in troops in 1951, and many have settled in India.

COMMENTS (34)

Sami | 8 years ago | Reply Who is he, this Dalai Lama? This is a genuine product of feudal Tibetan origin and which wants the great figure of Buddhism, with the desire to reclaim Tibet, Chinese Province and make a country whose political philosophy would be Buddhism, therefore religion, and that would be led by this caste of rich and extremely reactionary Buddhist monks. Nobel Peace Prize (?!) It is a supporter of the US and NATO and wants to perpetuate this privileged caste of monks who do not work. Living on the locals, often very poor. Who exploit children as young as five years old, physically and sexually, a revolting manner, with the blessing of Western powers who are trying, through this retrograde religion to destabilize China. Who have the most beautiful and richest temples throughout Asia including many have solid gold roofs, particularly in Tibet and Burma who are very poor regions. Recovered by the Western countries that actually have a living god as he considers himself and consider as some of his admirers, he just made a statement that will surprise only political naive. In a recent and very violent speech he has denounced the European countries that host the waves of refugees from Africa and the Middle East, giving them tips that prove the racism of that man considered a wise and an apostle nonviolence. Indeed, the Dalai Lama believes that Europeans who receive the refugees will be overwhelmed by the Arabs and they welcome that will pollute and corrupt Western civilization! This "pacifism" there is a fascist ideology, racist and hateful. But nobody cares!
ED | 8 years ago | Reply @ET: Muslims bite the hands that feed them. What is with this paper, which is always printing anti-Muslim statements? The mods can't see through sweeping generalizations. Shame.
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