“All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet” introduced
Thursday, 15 December 2005, 9:30 AM
Dharamshala: On 6 December, a group of parliamentarians met in Parliament House, Australia, to inaugurate the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet. The group announced that 2006 will be observed as the Year of Tibet in Australia.
The group will work to highlight the urgency of preserving the unique Tibetan culture, environment and support initiatives for a peaceful resolution of the Tibet issue.
At their first meeting on 6 December, the Parliamentarians re-affirmed support for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Middle Way Approach.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been calling for genuine autonomy for Tibet within China rather than independence.
The Middle Way Approach would seek Tibetans holding responsibility for internal affairs such as health, education, culture, economy, religious and enviromental protection while China will retain the control of foreign affairs and defense.
The group called on the People’s Republic of China to enter into constructive negotiations with His Holiness the Dalai Lama or his representatives on the future of Tibet.
The group called on the Australian Government to consider offering to host the 5th round of the China-Tibet dialogue in 2006 in Australia.
Michael Danby, MP of Labour Party in Australia, briefed the group on his attendance at the 4th World Parliamentarians’ Convention on Tibet held in Edinburgh, Scotland, on 18-19 November 2005.
The group elected Michael Danby as Chair, and the following as Vice Chairs: Senator Bob Brown (Australian Greens), Hon Peter Slipper MP (Liberal) and Senator Natasha Stott Despoja (Australian Democrats).
The group intends to reconvene in the first week of February 2006.
(www.tibet.net is the official website of the Central Tibetan Administration.)