Tibetan Communities in New Zealand and Australia Conclude 4th Tibetan ConferenceThursday, 16 April 2009, 11:09 a.m.
Canberra: The
Tibetan communities based in Australia and New Zealand held their
fourth Tibetan conference at Dee Why, Sydney, from 11 – 13 April, as a
part of an event to commemorate 50 years in exile. The
conference also called for urgent action towards repealing of death
sentences meted out to four Tibetans by a Chinese court in Tibet’s
capital Lhasa, for their alleged involvement in the protests in March
2008. A formal letter of condemnation signed by presidents of the
various regional Tibetan communities of Australia and New Zealand was
sent to the Chinese Embassy in Australia. A press release was also sent
out urging in particular the Government of Australia and New Zealand to
“condemn the Chinese authorities for the gross human rights violations”
in Tibet and to demand for a free and fair trail to all those who are
detained in Tibet. A special prayer led by Tibetan monks and
members of Tibetan communities was held to secure reversal of sentences
and for well being of those who are still suffering repression in
Tibet. The conference witnessed the gathering of around 300
Tibetans residing across the continent of Australia and New Zealand. As
part of the agenda, the presidents of Tibetan communities read out
their annual reports and discussed the agenda. On the second
day of conference, a special reception called “THANK YOU AUSTRALIA” was
held to honour all Tibet Support Groups including the Australian
chapter of the International Commission of Jurist, the body that raised
pioneering legal voice to the plight of the Tibetans in the early days
of exile in 1959 and onwards. The other Tibet support groups and
dignitaries present were Tibet Friendship Group, Australian Tibetan
Society, Australian Tibet Council, Han-Tibetan Association, Freedom 4
Tibet, Mr. Bread Hazzard, MP and Dr. Christena Kirshch, council from
Warringah and some members from the local government. The delegates
were offered with Khatak-(Tibetan traditional scarf) and a book by His
Holiness the Dalai Lama, along with Rangtsen Thakpa (knitted black
& white wrist band) as an appreciation for their untiring support
towards Tibetans and Tibet cause. A group of Tibetan primary
schoolchildren dressed in traditional Tibetan costumes sang both the
Tibetan and Australian national anthem. The Representative of
His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Canberra, Mr. Tenzin P Atisha, in his
opening speech thanked the government and people of Australia and the
Tibet support groups including All Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet
for their significant contribution towards Tibetan community in exile
and for raising Tibet’s issue not only in Australia but also
internationally. A separate gathering of Tibetan youths was
held with the aim to allow them to brainstorm ways to preserve and
promote Tibetan language and culture. They also discussed about
networking among Tibetan youth worldwide and also with Chinese and
Australian youth studying at their schools, colleges, and universities
to educate them on Tibet’s issue. On a whole, the three days
conference was a great success and an interactive one. The president of
Tibetan community in Australia, New South Wales, Mr. Tenzin Gaden and
his team did an excellent job in arranging this conference. –Report filed by Tibet Information Office, Australia
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