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TAIPEI : Religious groups and pro-China activists have criticised the Dalai Lama's visit to Taiwan on Sunday, saying the trip is "inappropriate" as the island reels from a deadly typhoon.
The Tibetan spiritual leader is due to arrive here late Sunday for a five-day visit at the invitation of local government chiefs from the pro-independence opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
But the trip, during which the Buddhist leader is scheduled to visit typhoon-hit areas, has come under fire, with a pro-China group labelling him a "trouble-maker" while the Taiwan Mazu Association said the visit was "inappropriate."
"We hope Taiwanese people will believe in Taiwanese religions. Religious exchange is good in normal time but it is inappropriate at such a time," said Cheng Ming-kun, chief of the Taiwan Mazu Association.
"We urge politicians to stop taking advantage of religion... and toying with typhoon victims," he told reporters.
The association represents worshippers of the Taoist sea goddess Mazu, who has millions of followers.
Liu Chin-ho, chief of Mintzu village in Namasia Township, which was devastated by Typhoon Morakot earlier this month, said people did not have time to go to the Dalai Lama's convention as "we are busy settling down after the typhoon."
"We are all Christians and we don't understand Tibetan Buddhism," he told AFP.
Meanwhile, the pro-China group Society of Patriotism said in a statement Saturday: "The Dalai Lama is a political monk and he is a trouble-maker. We will stage a series of protests to counter his visit."
The Dalai Lama's visit was harshly criticised in Beijing, according to Chinese state media. China accuses the Dalai Lama of trying to split Tibet from China and opposes any foreign contact with him.
The visit is proving a high-stakes balancing act for Taiwanese officials wary of antagonising Beijing amid fast-warming ties between the two sides.
Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou, premier Liu Chao-shiuan and the ruling Kuomintang party chairman Wu Poh-hsiung would not meet the Dalai Lama, the United Daily News said, citing unnamed sources.
Ma has been working to improve cross-strait relations after eight years of strained ties under the DPP.
Typhoon Morakot claimed at least 571 lives and left 106 missing, according to the National Fire Agency.
- AFP /ls
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