Security tight after Chinese, Tibetan communist leaders’ comments

The Dalai Lama’s weeklong visit to Bloomington began Tuesday with a high security entourage for the Buddhist spiritual leader, who is being considered a head-of-state official. \nSecurity will be especially tight during the leader’s fifth Bloomington visit because of the Chinese government’s anger that he was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal last week. \nThe Dalai Lama dedicated the newly renamed Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center, located at 3655 S. Snoddy Road, in a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday. News media was to submit personal information, including social security numbers and addresses, to confirm the safety of the visiting Tibetan spiritual leader.\nBut before the ceremony, the Dalai Lama headed an ecumenical service at St. Paul’s Catholic Center. Security was high as some members, who were scheduled to attend the event, could not get in without permission from U.S. Secret Service officials. \nMongolian journalist Gombo Zoljargal, working for Mongolian National Television during both events, was escorted off the premises of the church parking lot. The IU Police Department officer who took him off the grounds told another police official that Zoljargal worked for “Mongolian National TV” and that he needed to be removed because “we didn’t want to take any chances.” \nZoljargal later said in an interview, while reporting at the Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center, that he asked police why he was being taken off the grounds. He said security treatment was “very bad” to him and that the Cultural Center invited him to report the news. Zoljargal defended himself, saying he did not understand why it was a problem and wanted police officials to be aware of his true nationality.\n“I am Mongolian, I am not Chinese,” he said. \nZoljargal was referring to tensions between China and the United States. Tibetan communist leaders were upset after the Dalai Lama received the Congressional Gold Medal on Oct. 17.\nLisa Morrison, director of media and public relations for the Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center, said authorities have “heightened awareness (with security) for potential issues because of the controversy with the Chinese government.”\nAccording to a Reuters report, Zhang Qingli, Tibetan Communist Party boss said, “If the Dalai Lama can receive such an award, there must be no justice or good people in the world.”\nCapt. Jerry Minger of the IUPD said the State Department is handling security precautions and instructing all officers of any security issues.\n“They are doing the interior security and interior perimeter,” Minger said. “IUPD is covering all outside perimeter issues.”\nMinger said that every time the Dalai Lama visits Bloomington, talks occur “well in advance to coordinate a variety of logistical, security and contingency plans.”\nMorrison said she could not comment on particular precautions regarding the Dalai Lama because of his head-of-state status.\n“We are as prepared as we would ever be, absolutely,” she said.