The Dalai Lama on Saturday accused China’s rulers of creating a climate of fear, lies and censorship.
“In reality, for the communist totalitarian system and for many totalitarian systems, hypocrisy [and] telling lies has unfortunately become part of their lives,” he said in a conversation with Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu conducted via video link-up to Cape Town.
“You and me are trying to make clear what is the reality. The Chinese people should have the right to know reality.
“Censorship is immoral … Transparency is very essential,” he said.
He went on to criticise China’s judiciary as “still a very, very low instrument”.
“The Chinese judiciary system must be raised up to international standards.”
The Dalai Lama was meant to travel to Cape Town from India for Tutu’s 80th birthday celebrations at the weekend but cancelled his trip after South Africa failed to give him a visa in time.
The government is widely believed to have frustrated the visit for fear of straining increasingly important trade ties with China, who has branded the Dalai Lama a separatist and discourages foreign nations from hosting him.
‘Demon’
Tutu asked the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader — a close friend and fellow Nobel Peace laureate — to explain why China was so scared of him.
“Do you have an army?” he asked.
The Dalai Lama responded, “Chinese officials describe me as a demon and naturally there is some fear of a demon”.
It no longer hurt him as much as it used to, he added.
“I immediately just go ‘yes I have horns’,” he said, holding two fingers above his head and laughing.
The visa debacle infuriated Tutu who warned the government earlier this week that it was worse than the apartheid regime and that South Africans would pray for its downfall.
On Saturday he told the Dalai Lama, “Although it is physically a long distance, I can see your face so I really feel happy.”
The Dalai Lama said he hoped to test the South African government again when Tutu turned 90.
“As a man of truth, as a man of God, please live long. Your 90th birthday, I’m looking forward to. At that time, don’t forget [to] send me an invitation. Then we can test your government.”
‘Let women take over’
The often light-hearted conversation with Tutu replaced an inaugural peace lecture the Dalai Lama would have delivered at the University of the Western Cape on Saturday on the topic of compassion.
It saw Tutu pay fond tribute to women and acknowledge the 2011 winners of the Nobel Peace Prize — Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Liberian peace activist Leymah Gbowee and Yemeni activist Tawakul Karman.
Asked how he believed war could be stopped, Tutu responded, “Actually it is very straightforward: let women take over.”
He said men often tried to hide their insecurity by being aggressive and “macho” but women were by nature compassionate.
“It is an appeal to women, to mothers, to come into your own.
“You are basically life-giving, life-affirming. That is what you are naturally when you are unspoilt … Women can actually make society civil.”
Tutu ventured that if Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler had been given more love by his mother, history may have been different.
“Hitler was not dangled by his mother. He did not get the sense of security … because he felt empty inside himself, as bullies tend to, he tried to get affirmation by being nasty.”
The Dalai Lama said he hoped that the 21st century would see people learn that kindness provided more comfort than wealth could.
“We have the opportunity to create a happier future, a different future. We must develop warm-heartedness and concern for other human beings.”