India - China: Relations And Developments-2

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<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>After tough talk, India moves to appease China</b>
pioneer.com
PNS | New Delhi
<b>Denies permit to foreign scribes to cover Dalai’s Arunachal visit </b>

Several foreign journalists have been denied permit to travel to Arunachal Pradesh to cover the Dalai Lama’s visit to Tawang starting on November 8. The development comes in the backdrop of China opposing Dalai Lama’s visit and India claiming the Buddhist spiritual head was free to go anywhere within the country.

<b>The decision to deny these foreign journalists permission to cover the event will ‘please’ China since it does not want Dalai Lama to get international publicity when visiting Arunachal Pradesh, which it considers a disputed territory.</b>

While the Arunachal Pradesh Government denied that foreign journalists were denied permission to visit the State, the Associated Press (AP) said here on Thursday the Government revoked passes previously provided to four foreign journalists, including two AP reporters.

“We are incredibly surprised and disappointed to learn that reporters’ visas to Arunachal Pradesh have been cancelled ahead of the Dalai Lama’s visit,” said Heather Timmons, president of the New Delhi-based Foreign Correspondents’ Club, according to the AP.

Government sources said that these journalists were denied the permit because they had not contacted the Centre and directly approached the Arunachal Pradesh administration.

Chairman of the State-level reception committee TGR Rimpoche said he had heard of an advisory to restrict the movement of foreign journalists, “but it is not in black and white. It may be verbal.”

Rimpoche, a close aide of Dalai Lama and a former Minister, said according to his information some foreign journalists have reached Tawang and some more may go in the guise of tourists. “We cannot drive them away from Tawang,” he said.

The PTI reported from Itanagar that around 50 newsmen, including those representing foreign media, have so far contacted the administration of the border town of Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh for accommodation and permits to cover the visit of the Dalai Lama.

Chief Secretary Tabom Bam denied having received any instruction from the Centre about restrictions on foreign mediapersons following the recent war of words between India and China over the visit. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

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