Violent reaction is feared from China as the Mongolian people celebrate their regained religious freedom after years of Communism.
Ulaanbaatar (AsiaNews) The people of Mongolia are awaiting the arrival of the Dalai Lama but many details of his visit are being kept secret because of possible protest from China.
The leader of the Tibetans in exile should reach the capital today or tomorrow morning and stay there until 27 or 28 August. His last visit in the country in 2002 drew the wrath of Beijing, which considers the Dalai Lama as someone conspiring to divide Chinese territory by aiming for the separation of Tibet.
The spiritual and political leader will be hosted at the large Gandantegcheling monastery. The main road from the airport to the city has been decorated with dozens of posters of the Dalai Lama's image. The head of Tibetan Buddhism will hold a series of lectures for the public and members of the Buddhist clergy. Although this is not a "state visit", the guest will stay in a special government guesthouse outside the capital.
It is not yet clear whether Mongolian President, Nambaryn Enkhbayar, a fervent Buddhist, will meet the Dalai Lama officially. There is the risk that Beijing, which so far has kept silent about the visit, will unleash a new offensive against the leaders and country hosting the Dalai Lama. In 2002, China blocked railways to Mongolia to stop attempts by Chinese Tibetans to reach their leader and it also stopped exports to Mongolia for some time.
Mongolia was a Buddhist majority country until the advent of Communism in 1921. In 1937, ferocious persecution destroyed hundreds of monasteries and killed nearly 20,000 Tibetan Buddhist monks.
The arrival of the Dalai Lama in Mongolia is held by many to be a celebration of religious freedom, regained 16 years ago under a new democratic system.