Kathmandu, March 11: The 4th International Summit of Laureates and Leaders for Children, Development, and Peace to be held in Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautama Buddha, has been shortened by one day reportedly due to pressure from Chinese diplomats.
The Summit was actually scheduled for March 10-12. However, due to pressure from the Chinese Embassy in Nepal, the program was shortened by one day, a source claimed. The Chinese Ambassador Chen Song himself is actively involved in it, it said. Now, the programme will take place on March 11-12.
March 10 is a very sensitive day for China. On this day, the Tibetans started a rebellion against China, and demonstrations were organised throughout Tibet. Tibetan people celebrate the day outside China as ‘Tibetan Uprising Day’.
The Chinese side perceives that the programme to be attended by global Nobel laureates will help western countries impose their interests in Nepal, and sympathise with Tibetan people.
According to the source, the Chinese ambassador expressed interest in this regard at the “High Level”. He took up the matter with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, President of Nepali Congress Sher Bahadur Deuba and others. After Prime Minister and President Deuba agreed, the program was shortened.
At the beginning, the Chinese side was worried about whether Tibetan religious Guru Dalai Lama would come to attend the conference. After it was confirmed that the Nobel Peace Prize laureate would not come, China pushed for shortening the event.
A government official who is aware of this said, “The government shortened the event by one day keeping in view the matter that if the issue of Tibet is raised during the programme on March 10 or if there is any demonstration in favor of Tibet, the Nepal-China relationship will pay for it.”
On the matter, Nirajan Ghimire, spokesperson for the Lumbini provincial government, said, “Initially, it was said that the event would run for three days. However, after some confusions, we have issued a notification again and informed that the program will be on March 11-12. March 10 is the time for the guests to arrive. There should be no confusion about the schedule.”
Meanwhile, the preparations for the programme are over, it has been said. The aim of the event is to spread the message of peace, harmony and compassion in the children’s zone and to draw the world’s attention for the development of Lumbini. The event will be attended by nine Nobel Peace Prize winners and special people.
Nobel Peace Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi of India is coordinating this programme. According to the organisers, 100 guests from abroad will come to attend the peace conference.
Nobel Peace Prize laureates Abdessattar Ben Moussa and Oued Bouchamaoui (2015), India’s Kailash Satyarthi (2014), Arieh Warshel (2013), Leymah Gbowee and Tawakkol Karman (2011), Jody Williams (1997), 1997), Horta (1996), and Richard J. Roberts (1993) are scheduled to attend the event.
Similarly, Prince Ali bin Al Hussein of Jordan, economist Jeffrey Sachs, former first lady of Panama Lorena Castillo García de Varela, and Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Martin Chungong will also take part, it has been said.
