Fake Lamas Emigrate To Taiwan

Fake Tibetan lamas from China applying to enter Taiwan using forged documents

India Daily, Sunday, April 02, 2006 23:05

The number of fake Tibetan lamas from China applying to enter Taiwan using forged documents is on the rise, prompting the attention of Taiwan's law enforcement and national security authorities. Police and security authorities suspect that a number of unlawful organizations in Taiwan have been providing assistance to fake Tibetan lamas in entering Taiwan, taking advantage of a loophole in Taiwan's law enforcement.

Although a majority of Tibetan monks in Taiwan are sincerely devoted to preaching and behaving well, many have been arrested on charges of illegal activities related to fraud, human or drug trafficking and sex offences, government officials said. Some lamas conceal their true identity as Chinese agents and engage in subversion here by luring influential figures from the political and business sectors, posing a threat to national security, a national security official pointed out.

Tibetan Buddhism is widespread in Taiwan and the government offers handsome incentives for Tibetan lamas to preach here, coinciding with the trend of more Tibetan or Chinese people seeking to enter Taiwan and reside in the country through all possible means. It was reported that 140 Tibetans were invited by the Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs Commission to visit Taiwan in September 2001 but overstayed their visa, and were allowed by Taiwan's government to reside here on a case-by-case basis.

source: phayul.com