LEIGH SALES, PRESENTER: One of Australia's most prestigious universities has pulled the welcome mat out from under the Dalai Lama. The Tibetan spiritual leader was due to speak at the Sydney University campus in June. But 7.30 can reveal that the university, which has close links to China, has gone to great lengths to distance itself from the monk. Adam Harvey has this exclusive report, and a warning: it contains some disturbing images.
ADAM HARVEY, REPORTER: The Dalai Lama is a giant of the world stage. The Tibetan spiritual leader's humour and charisma have helped him win over presidents, princes and celebrities.
He's earned a global following with his message of peace and his gift of not taking himself too seriously.
And students at the University of Sydney scored a major coup when the Tibetan spiritual leader agreed to speak at their campus during his short visit in June.
One of the organisers was a mature aged student with links to Australia's Tibetan community.
SOPHIE BOURIS: I was thrilled and I gave that opportunity forward to the Institute of Democracy and Human Rights who were also really thrilled about it and honoured that His Holiness would be prepared to speak to such a small group of human rights students.
ADAM HARVEY: Correspondence obtained by 7.30 shows that university authorities ticked off on the plan in January. A venue was settled on the campus's theatre complex, the Seymour Centre, and staff from the university's brand new Institute for Democracy and Human Rights began to organise the event.
SOPHIE BOURIS: We envisaged that groups of students from Sydney University and other universities would be invited to the Seymour Centre and His Holiness would speak on the subject of why education matters.
ADAM HARVEY: But not everyone shares Sophie Bouris' enthusiasm for the Dalai Lama or the cause that he's seen to represent: Tibetan independence from China.
The Chinese Government blames him for the dramatic suicides of Tibetan monks. Around 100 monks have died since 2009, protesting human rights abuses by the Chinese authorities.
The Dalai Lama no longer makes political statements, but the controversy over Tibetan autonomy follows him wherever he goes, even to Australia.
Just weeks ago, the Dalai Lama's visit to Sydney University started to get complicated.
SOPHIE BOURIS: I was told by various people that the initial conditions on the event was that the logo of Sydney University could not be used, there could be no media, no Tibetans could be there.
ADAM HARVEY: And then on April 2, the event was cancelled.
STUART REES, EMERITUS PROFESSOR, UNI. OF SYDNEY: The university "withdrew its support", I think are the words that are used. Now whether they withdrew their support because they didn't think he was an appropriate person to have intellectually or politically or whether they withdrew their support because of outside pressures, I'm not sure.
ADAM HARVEY: Despite his initial enthusiasm, the man in charge of the university had a change of heart.
7.30 has obtained these emails, which make it plain that the university wanted to wash its hands of the Dalai Lama. On April 3, the head of the Institute for Democracy and Human Rights, the IDHR, wrote to the university's vice chancellor, Michael Spence.
(male voiceover): "This is to confirm that the decision was taken to withdraw our support for hosting His Holiness the Dalai Lama's planned speech at the university on June 18th. It will be moved to an off-campus location and no member of staff or associate of the IDHR will formally be involved in organising that event. I am of course happy to talk with you further about the reasons why we have taken these difficult decisions."
ADAM HARVEY: The vice chancellor's reply the same day exudes a sense of relief.
(male voiceover): "Thankyou so much for you skill in dealing with this situation so effectively and in the best interests of researchers across the university. I think that the negotiated solution meets all the concerns."
JOHN KAYE, GREENS NSW MP: This is an insult to the students. It's also a direct hit on the university's reputation for independence and for its capacity to exercise intellectual leadership.
ADAM HARVEY: Just as the Australian Government is making great efforts to forge a closer bond with China, the University of Sydney is strengthening its links.
Events like this are sponsored by the university's Confucius Institute, which promotes Chinese language and culture. It's part-funded by the Chinese Government.
The university's China Studies Centre boasts of its close relationship with Chinese Government and business. The centre admits it was involved in discussions about the Dalai Lama event, but says it didn't try to block it.
SOPHIE BOURIS: I think we have to look at what the university stands to lose if the Chinese Government or the China Studies Centre is displeased.
ADAM HARVEY: The university says it never received any official request to host the Dalai Lama. No-one from the university would appear on camera, but in a statement it said logistics were the problem. It's university holidays in June and most of the students won't be here. It did say that it suggested an alternative event, somewhere held off campus involving students from other universities that could be streamed online from somewhere like the Dalai Lama's hotel, just not from here.
JOHN KAYE: I've never seen a university give up and try and share with other universities a jewel like having the Dalai Lama coming.
STUART REES: What has happened now raises the question about human rights in Tibet, human rights in China, freedom of speech across the University of Sydney, or indeed in Australia.
LEIGH SALES: Adam Harvey reporting and you can read the University of Sydney's statement in full on our website.
STATEMENT FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY:
The Dalai Lama
17 April 2013
No official request for a visit by His Holiness the Dalai Lama has ever been made to the University of Sydney.
Late in 2012, representatives of the Dalai Lama's Office in Australia approached a student about the possibility of arranging a lecture for students at the University. A few members of staff discussed possible arrangements for the only date and time the Dalai Lama was available in Sydney, the 18th June 2013.
Unfortunately that date is out of semester when most students will not be on campus.
The Dalai Lama's office agreed to an alternative proposal for him to address a wider group of students from across a number of universities in the city, including from the University of Sydney. As it will be the Dalai Lama's last day in Sydney, his office suggested it be held at the hotel where the Dalai Lama will be staying, with his address streamed on-line for public access.
At the same time the University proposed to the Dalai Lama's Office that the University assist in organizing a high level peace and conflict resolution dialogue involving leading academics from across the Sydney community, which would also be open to all interested students in Sydney. The Dalai Lama's Office indicated considerable interest in this proposal and is considering its feasibility.
The University is of the view that there is a clear need for informed and impartial expert engagement in the issues currently being experienced in Tibet, embracing environment, governance, sustainability and social cohesion. There is expertise in Sydney and in Australia that can constructively be brought to focus on these issues. Our offer for a future event to the Office of the Dalai Lama is in the spirit of that aspiration.
Professor Stephen Garton
Provost and Acting Vice-Chancellor
The University of Sydney
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