Nobel peace laureates appeal to South Africa to give visa to Dalai Lama for Cape Town meeting
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A group of Nobel peace laureates is appealing to South Africa to grant a visa to the Dalai Lama, who abandoned an attempt to get permission to travel to Cape Town next month.
The 14 Nobel laureates said in a statement Monday that the Tibetan spiritual leader withdrew his application for a South African visa after being told he would not get it.
South Africa has close business ties with China and has previously denied entry to the Dalai Lama.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Dalai Lama wants increased autonomy for Tibet, the homeland from which he has been exiled since 1959. China says he is a separatist.
The Tibetan leader won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989. Nobel Peace Prize laureates are holding an annual meeting in Cape Town Oct. 13-15.