Tibetans take out march, Karmapa says he has faith in Indian

law

Dharamsala, Feb 2 (PTI) Over 2,000 Tibetans took out amarch here today to show their support for Karmapa UgyenThinley Dorje who said he has full faith in the Indian law andpeople will soon know the truth about the recovery of hugeforeign currencies from his transit home.

Appearing for the first time before his followerssince raids were conducted at the Gyuto monastery, Karmapasaid, "There is no need to worry. India, unlike China, is afree country and I have full faith in it. Truth will beuncovered soon."

The Tibetans, including monks and nuns, marched 9 kmto reach here from McLeodganj carrying Buddhist flags andportraits of Karmapa. They also chanted slogans and carriedposters that read ''Karmapa is innocent. Let truth prevail''.

Meanwhile, the Karmapa''s office reiterated that "the(recovered) sum (of over Rs 7.5 crore) represents unsoliciteddonations that have been made by the followers of the Karmapafrom around the world to enable the substantial social andspiritual programmes of the Karma Kagyu order".

His spokespersons Karma Topden and Deki Chungyalpaclaimed that Rs 5 crore was taken by the authorities from themonastery and the Karmapa office had sought to acquireclearance since 2002 to deposit the cash donations under theForeign Currencies Regulation Act of India.

"Until the necessary permissions are granted, themonastery diligently recorded and stored the currency on itsown premises and we are currently in the process of providingthis evidence to the authorities," they said in a statement.

Referring to the Chinese currency seized during raids,the statement said the Karmapa has a large and devotedfollowing of Tibetans from Tibet and of Buddhists from theChinese mainland who make offerings in the Yuan.

"The Yuan found constitutes less than 10 per cent ofthe cash in question and included currency from over 20countries. Moreover, the Yuan seized by police include notesranging from 1 Yuan to larger denominations, clearlyindicating that they come from multiple, individual sources."

Regarding allegations of improper land deals, thestatement said that Karmapa has been hosted in a temporaryresidence in Dharamsala since 2000 and as the premises belongto another Tibetan Buddhist order, the Karmae Garchen Trusthas sought to purchase land and build a new residence andmonastery since 2007. .