'Dalai Lama's visit to Taiwan is a spiritual one'

Taiwan officials hope that Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama stays clear of politics during his visit to comfort victims of typhoon Morakot. 

The Dalai Lama arrived in the island late on Sunday. More than 10 Taiwan political organizations denounced the opposition Democratic Progressive Party for inviting him, calling the move unethical and politically motivated. 

Seven Taiwan mayors and county chiefs from the DPP last Wednesday invited the Dalai Lama to join religious activities for victims of the typhoon. 

Taiwan allowed the Dalai Lama to visit in 1997 and 2001, the China Daily reports.  

Morakot, the worst typhoon to hit Taiwan in 50 years, has claimed at least 461 lives and left 192 missing and 46 injured, Taiwan's disaster response authorities said.  

"We believe the Dalai Lama will have the wisdom to distinguish between religious empathy and political maneuvering," said Wu Poh-hsiung, chairman of the ruling Kuomintang.  

"Because Taiwan has been badly hit by the typhoon, his visit should help the island instead of adding difficulty to it."  

Wu said he sought input from Beijing about the visit, but he did not give details or say whether Beijing responded.  

Taiwan authorities, including Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou, have said that they will not meet the Dalai Lama publicly or privately.  

A spokesman for the Dalai Lama, Tenzin Taklha, has denied the visit has any political subtext. "It is a spiritual visit. The purpose is to offer prayers for the victims and to offer comfort and succor to those who have survived," Takhla said.

Text: ANI

Image: Dalai Lama prays for the victims of Typhoon Morakot who died during a landslide in Hsiaolin village, Pingtung Count in southern Taiwan on Monday

Photograph: Nicky Loh / Reuters