A Vietnamese Buddhist group based in Europe has condemned in “strongest possible terms” the Chinese government’s interference in Tibetan Buddhist affairs, “namely the recognition of the reincarnation of high lamas, including His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet.”

The group, the Unified Vietnamese Buddhist Congregation in Europe, is a network of over 50 pagodas across the continent. It issued the statement on the occasion of the “historic International Sangha Forum” which His Holiness the Dalai Lama inaugurated on Dec 20. The forum brings together over 2,000 monks, nuns and scholars belonging to different Buddhist traditions from some 35 countries.

“It is a contradiction for a government that calls itself atheist to decide the fate of a spiritual leader,” said the statement, which was signed by the group’s President and 2nd President, Most Venerable Thich Tanh Thiet and Most Venerable Thich Nhu Dien respectively.

The statement said, “We believe the system of recognising reincarnated spiritual beings is a practice unique to Tibetan Buddhism and should be the sole prerogative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and no one else.”

It called on China “to stop interfering in Tibetan Buddhist affairs and respect the rights of the Tibetans to freedom of religion or belief.”

It also urged the international community not to recognise the reincarnation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama appointed by China.