India restricts coverage of Dalai Lama"s trip
By RAVI NESSMAN
The Associated Press
Thursday, November 5, 2009
"NEW DELHI -- India effectively barred foreign journalists Thursday from covering a rare visit by the Dalai Lama to a Buddhist monastery close to Tibet in an apparent effort to ease Chinese anger by reducing news coverage of the trip.
The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader"s planned visit Sunday to the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh - the heart of a long-running border dispute between China and India - has inflamed already heightened tensions between the Asian powers.
Foreigners traveling to the remote mountainous state need special permission from the Indian government. Most foreign journalists did not receive permission to cover the Dalai Lama"s visit. On Thursday, four journalists who had been given permits - including two Associated Press staffers - had them revoked. .
"We are incredibly surprised and disappointed to learn that reporters" visas to Arunachal Pradesh have been canceled ahead of the Dalai Lama"s visit".
Indian journalists are allowed to cover the trip. "
Thomas Canada |
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