Nobel Laureate the Dalai Lama is an internationally recognized advocate for peace and reconciliation. He has been friends with Bishop Tutu for decades and has been invited by Bishop Tutu to attend Tutu’s 80th birthday celebration in South Africa on October 8th. The Dalai Lama has also been asked to deliver the inaugural Desmond Tutu International Peace Lecture and address conferences on non-violence. But, so far no visa has been forthcoming.

Free and democratic countries like South Africa must not bow to Chinese Government pressure to deny the Dalai Lama a visa to attend this celebration of peace and reconciliation. The Dalai Lama is an internationally recognized advocate for peace and the South African government’s refusal to grant him a visa is unacceptable.

"Archbishop Tutu called the ban a “total betrayal of our struggle's history,” while Nelson Mandela's grandson said, "For me personally and given the role my grandfather played in founding our democracy, this rejection by the government to not issue a visa is really tainting our own efforts at democracy."

Please sign the petition urging the South African government to approve the visa application which has been pending since June 2011.