A representative for the Dalai Lama released a statement on Thursday saying that the Tibetan spiritual leader's visa has again been refused by South Africa for the upcoming 14^th Nobel summit for peace laureates.

This has been the third refusal of his entry into the country in the last five years.

Like Us on Facebook

The representative, Nangsa Choedon, said that the officials from the department of international relations contacted them on Thursday to say that the visa has not been approved. Due to this, the Dalai Lama would no longer continue with his trip to South Africa.

Choedon added that they did not receive a written confirmation regarding the refusal of the Dalai Lama's visa.

The department of international relations, however, confirmed that the South African high commission received the visa application from the Dalai Lama's office and that it will be taken through normal due process. They added that they will communicate with the applicant after the process is done and denied reports that the Dalai Lama's visa hadn't been approved.  

The summit reportedly is to be held in Cape Town in October. Upon knowing that the Dalai Lama's visa had been denied, other Nobel laureates set to attend the annual event threatened not to come if the Dalai Lama is not present. They addressed this to the Anglican archbishop of the country, Desmond Tutu.

The continuous refusal of the Dalai Lama's visa is said to have stemmed from the Chinese government's accusation of the Tibetan leader as a separatist. 

South Africa reportedly does not want to anger China which has been the nation's biggest trading partner since 2009.

The Dalai Lama has been fighting for increased autonomy for Tibet and has been exiled since 1959.

He first tried to enter the country in 2010 but was denied the chance to attend because his arrival might decrease the attention towards the 2010 World Cup. He again tried to enter South Africa in 2011 in order to celebrate Tutu's 80^th birthday, but was also denied.

Back in 1996 during Nelson Mandela's reign, he was able to enter the country freely.

TagsNobel Summit, South Africa, nobel, Dalai Lama, Tibet, Denied Visa