US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster speaks to the press as the President of Central Tibetan Administration Lobsang Sangay looks on outside the Dalai Lama's residence in McLeod Ganj, India, on 4 May 2018. Tibet Sun/Lobsang Wangyal
By Lobsang Wangyal
McLEOD GANJ, India, 4 May 2018
US ambassador to India Kenneth Juster met with the Dalai Lama this morning at his residence in McLeod Ganj, but details of the discussions were not made available.
Juster was accompanied by four other US government officials, including two from the embassy in Delhi and two from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Interacting with the press after the meeting, Juster said, “The meeting with His Holiness was tremendous. He is a very inspirational figure. We had a wonderful discussion, and it would be terrific if he were able at some point to travel to America. I was very inspired to be in his presence, and to learn from him, as was the rest of the delegation.
On pressure from the journalists for information about the discussions, the diplomat said, “We had discussions on a range of subjects, but most important was his view about how the inner peace of individuals can spread and bring broader peace to mankind. Again, it was a wonderful visit, I’m very pleased to be here.”
Asked whether President Trump would meet the Dalai Lama if he goes to the US, Juster said, “Well, again, we will see what happens in time.”
He arrived here yesterday, and met with Lobsang Sangay, President of the Central Tibetan Administration, popularly known as the Tibetan Government-in-exile.
Sangay honoured the ambassador with an official dinner at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts after a cultural performance by artistes of the Institute.
Juster also visited various Tibetan establishments, including the Tibet Museum beside the Dalai Lama’s residence.
It was the ambassador’s first visit to the exile Tibetan capital McLeod Ganj. He assumed the current responsibility in November 2017.
The US Congress has approved a spending bill that includes $17 million that will be used to support Tibetans in and out of Tibet for the fiscal year 2018. Of the total, $8 million were earmarked for Tibetans inside Tibet and $9 million for the Tibetan community in India and Nepal.
American ambassador Kenneth Juster’s sudden meeting the Dalai Lama leaves much to speculate to say the least. His hope for the Dalai Lama to visit the US creates the false impression that he never visited the country. In fact, he has probably traveled the most to US then other countries. The advent of Trump administration saw for the first time in decades the Tibetan spiritual leader curtailing his visit to America and other long distance travels for obvious and not so obvious reasons.
Trump has never talked about the Dalai Lama and Tibet since he took over whereas the Dalai lama has taken the liberty to slight the American leader with a unpleasant remark about the president’s appearance. Is Trump holding something? It is unbelievable.
The fact the American ambassador’s visit the Dalai Lama was quickly followed by an unprecedented news by the Indian media that India and China are contemplating the return of the Dalai Lama on one side and China is also working with the Trump administration to deport the Karmapa Rinpoche to China.
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