5 February, 2011. Dharamsala
The Karmapa Office of Administration announces that the state government’s application to retain Rabgay Choesang in police custody was rejected, and Office staff member Rabgay Choesang aka Shakti Lama has now been transferred into judicial custody. We are aware that a thorough investigation is needed to arrive at the truth. We remain confident that the Indian justice system will arrive at that truth and dispel all the wild speculations that are now circulating. We will continue to cooperate fully with the investigation, and we look forward to having our monk home soon.
The Karmapa Office of Administration would also like to take this opportunity to underscore that the ongoing purchase of land by the Karmae Garchen Trust is and has been in full compliance with Indian law. It is in no way a benami land transaction. The land was being purchased by the Karmae Garchen Trust in its own name, in a transaction that had been duly disclosed to the Kangra District Collector’s office. As per requirements, the Trust submitted a letter of support from the Tibetan Government in Exile’s Department of Religion and Culture as well as an an application for an essentiality certificate. The DC’s office issued a no-objection certificate. As such, the Trust had been granted all preliminary approvals required in order to proceed to the next step in acquiring the land.
Not only had this effort to purchase land to build a residence and monastery for His Holiness the Karmapa been reported to and approved by the appropriate government authorities; we further discussed such plans openly with the press, as reported in the Hindustan Times in October, 2010 and the Tribune as early as March, 2006.
Spokespersons for the Karmapa Office of Administration
Karma Topden,
Former Indian Ambassador and Former MP
Adviser to Karmapa Office of Administration
Deki Chungyalpa
Adviser to Karmapa Office of Administration
(91) 8894502910
koapress@gmail.com
