MELBOURNE: Kalon Tripa Dr Lobsang Sangay arrived in Melbourne today to start his one-week visit to Australia. This is his first visit to Australia after taking the office of Kalon Tripa.

Kalon Tripa was greeted at the Melbourne Airport by the Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Australia Sonam Dagpo, representatives of Australia Tibet Council and Buddhist centres and members of the local Tibetan community.

He addressed a media conference during which he spoke of the democratic transition of the Tibetan society under the leadership of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, briefed them on the critical situation inside Tibet including the latest wave of self-immolations and the repressive measures taken by the Chinese government.

Kalon Tripa said that non-violence and democracy are the two core values of the Tibetan struggle and sought support from the international community. He responded to questions ranging from the Tibetan administration’s Middle Way Approach to the prospects of Chinese democracy on Tibetan freedom.

Later in the afternoon, Kalon Tripa met with members of the Chinese community in Melbourne, many of whom are democracy activists, members of the Tibetan-Chinese Friendship Group, writers and students.

In the evening, Kalon Tripa spoke to the Tibetan community members. Melbourne has the second largest community in Australia of around 260 members, who are mostly former political prisoners and their families. Young Tibetan children performed songs to welcome Kalon Tripa. He apprised the community of the work undertaken by his administration since taking charge last August and emphasised on “unity, innovation and self-reliance” as the three pillars of the Tibetan society. He encouraged the community to take part in the Central Tibetan Administration’s upcoming initiatives like sister shichaks (settlements).

On Monday, Kalon Tripa will do a series of interviews with leading Australian broadcasters and newspaper journalists including appearing on the ABC News Breakfast. He will do another media opportunity with respected Australian Bob Brown, former Greens Leader and staunch supporter of Tibet. During the day, Kalon Tripa will take part in round-table discussion with China scholars at Deakin University. In the evening, he will give his first public talk of the visit titled “Democracy, Buddhism and the Future of Asia” to a packed audience of Australian Tibet supporters.

A news report on SBS TV can be watched here – http://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/video/2249682169/Tibetan-leader-visits-Australia

(Report filed by Tibetan Information Office)