Thai authorities have much to fear these days. Wayward grenades, throngs of red-shirts, multi-million Baht acquisitions of bogus military equipment - and that’s just from this weekend’s paper. But have no fear, Thailand’s stewards are hard at work defending us from the most serious of strategic threats: the 69 year old sister of His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama.

Jetsun Pema, 69, younger sister of the Tibetan spiritual leader, was invited to give the keynote speech at a celebration of Tibetan culture which opened this weekend at Bangkok’s Art and Culture Centre. When I visited the exhibition, she was still slated to headline the Tibetan culture event entitled "From the Himalayas to the Chao Phya River". According to the event’s schedule, Pema was to speak on Buddhist education in Tibetan schools in exile, and on her latest book "Tibet: My story". Despite the cultural nature of Pema’s visit to the Kingdom, her request for a visa was rejected by the Thai embassy for political reasons. Turns out that the story of Tibetans told from their perspective, rather than Communist China’s propaganda machine, is a dangerous thing for Thai people to hear.

The Nation quoted an un-named Thai diplomatic source who reported that Chinese Embassy officials in Bangkok lobbied Thai authorities to cancel the entire event, co-organized by the BMA. When asked by the BBC why this mild mannered woman, world-famous for her work in education and peace building, was denied entry into Thailand, Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman Thani Thongpakdi said the visa application was rejected because Thailand does not allow people or groups to "use Thailand as a base to conduct activities detrimental to other countries." The Foreign Minister's secretary, Chavanond Intarakomalyasut went so far as to say that Thailand did not want to have any political difficulties with “another concerned country”, without stating who. Chavanond Intarakomalyasut did add that Thailand has no “problem with cultural and art events from Tibet, but wanted to reserve our right to reject any politically related issue which might affect good relations with another country."

I am not sure what part of me was more upset by this response - the Tibetan supporter or the Thai nationalist in me. The MFA failed to explain in any of its statements how by sharing her life experiences with a local audience, Pema’s actions would be “detrimental” to anyone. To understand Tibetan culture one must take into account its long and complex history. The atrocities committed by the CCP over the past sixty years are part of this history. While the ears of Chinese officials may sting from the truth, that is no reason for Thai authorities to deny Bangkokians the opportunity to share in Pema’s unique wisdom gained through a life-time of serving her people and heritage.

It is sad to see that in 2010, it is Thailand’s policy to kowtow to its “older brother” to the north, taking careful measures not to upset the dragon’s economic wrath. Social activist, and devote Buddhist, Sulak Sivaraksa, criticized the decision to deny Pema a visa to Thailand, stating that "We have allowed China to dictate to us about whom to allow into the Kingdom and whom not to.” By denying the "Mother of Tibet” permission to visit the Kingdom, the Abhisit government has once again chosen short term expediency over long term integrity.