Many accusations but few facts as Karmapa accused of spying
On January 27, Indian police swooped down on the Gyotu Monastery in Dharamsala, in the foothills of the Himalayas. They confiscated local and foreign banknotes from 25 countries said to total more than US$1.6 million from the headquarters of the Karmapa, the third most important figure in Tibetan Buddhism.
Within 48 hours, however, what began as a story about alleged financial misdoings had spiralled into a flurry of allegations that Ogyen Trinley Dorje, the 17th Karmapa, who fled Tibet for India in 2000, was a Chinese spy. Experts reject that claim. They explain the furore by pointing an accusing finger at Indian intelligence agencies and local officials (both long suspicions of the Chinese and Tibetans), as well as an unscrupulous Indian media and the intrigues of rival claimants to the Karmapa's title.
Indian media first reported that the police moved on the monastery after detaining two men in the northern state of Himachal Pradesh carrying 10 million rupees (HK$1.69 million), which had apparently come from the Karmapa's headquarters to buy land for a new monastery in Dharamsala. Foreigners are not allowed to purchase land in Himachal Pradesh, but often do so through frontmen.
The evidence against the Karmapa? The large amounts of Chinese bills found in his monastery, as well as Indian intelligence's suspicions that the Karmapa could not have escaped China without Beijing's consent. There were also murky allegations of incriminating documents.
The incident came at a critical time. The young Karmapa, 25, is the spiritual leader of the Karma Kagyu sect of Tibetan Buddhism and a hero to many young Tibetans around the world after his daring escape out of China-controlled Tibet at the age of just 15. And his importance has been growing in recent years as the Dalai Lama, in his 70s, is experiencing poor health. The highly charismatic and popular Karmapa is expected to play a key role as the symbolic head of Tibetan Buddhism after the Dalai Lama dies until a reincarnate is discovered and comes of age.
The Kagyu office said the money was from devotees and called the allegations 'grossly speculative and without foundation in the truth'. The Karmapa wanted to build a permanent monastery and had done no wrong, it said. 'The potential site was evaluated and cleared by the appropriate governmental offices. The negotiations to purchase the land are still in progress, have been reported to the Indian authorities, and are completely above board.
'We categorically deny having any link whatsoever with any arm of the Chinese government.'