Despite pressure from Beijing, the Nepali government allows the funeral to take place, granting the deceased his last wishes. Kathmandu's initial refusal was due to fear of possible anti-China protests from the Tibetan community in exile, which however did not occur.

Kathmandu (AsiaNews) - Thousands of exiled Tibetans attended today's cremation ceremony of the 14^th Shamar Rinpoche, one of the most influential Tibetan lamas.

After initially opposing it at the insistence of China, Nepali authorities authorised the funeral service for his "significant contribution to Buddhism". The lama died last month from a heart attack in Germany. He was 62.

Before his death, he had expressed a desire to be cremated in Sarminav monastery, which he founded in Nepal near Kathmandu.

Originally, the government had decided against allowing the body into the country fearing that a funeral could become an occasion to protest against Chinese policies in the region. In fact, some 20,000 Tibetans refugees live in the Himalayan nation.

The police was present throughout the service, but no anti-Chinese protest took place.

 

• tibet
• china
• nepal
• funeral
• rinpoche