Dalai Lama heads to Milan: Chinese community says "error"

The visit comes not long after the controversy of the Pope’s so-called ‘snub’ of the pacifist icon

 MILAN – The Chinese community reportedly are up in arms about the honorary Milanese citizenship of the Dalai Lama, labelling it as an “error” ahead of the Tibetan religious leader’s trip to the Italian business capital later this week.

 The Buddhist leader is heading to the city Thursday despite protests breaking out among Chinese-Milanese citizens. They claim the initiative is offensive as it “does not take into consideration current relations between China and Tibet,” sources said.

 Giuseppe Sala, mayor of Milan, responded firmly, “I believe that it is in the interest of Milan to be welcoming to the Chinese community and accept proposals that come from the Chinese people. But the interest is mutual. Hence, I mean precisely that the Dalai Lama will come to Milan, and I do not fear any repercussions.”

 The visit comes not long after the controversy of the Pope’s so-called ‘snub’ of the pacifist icon back in September, when the head of the Roman Catholic Church declined to invite the Dalai Lama to a religious summit in Assisi.

 sw