Canberra: The Australian All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet (AAPPT) on Wednesday pledged to continue supporting Tibetan Struggle during a meeting held at the parliament house with the newly arrived Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Central Tibetan Administration Mr Karma Singey.

Co-hosted by Co-chair of AAPPT Warren Entsch, MP and Susan Templeman, MP, the meeting was attended by 11 Parliament members from different political parties.

The co-chair Warren Enstch introduced Mr Karma Singey to the parliamentary group and welcomed him as the new Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and CTA to Australia.

He called for the need to strengthen support for the Tibetan people’s struggle for their freedom.

Mr Karma Singey thanked the lawmakers for their support and welcomed their strong message to the world that Australia stands with Tibetan people’s struggle for freedom and democracy.

Mr Karma briefed the members on the recently held democratic election of Tibetans in exile and the significance of exile democracy for the success of the Tibetan movement. He also apprised them of the recent historic visit of the democratically elected political head of CTA Dr Lobsang Sangay to the White House as the visit amount to an acknowledgement of both the democratic system of the CTA and its political head by the US government.

He also briefly explained the Tibet Support and Policy Act 2020 and Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act passed by the US government and called on the parliament members to support passing a similar bill in the near future.

Mr. Tenzin Phontsok Doring, a newly elected Tibetan Parliament member representing the Australasia region and Zoe Bedford, Executive officer of the Australia Tibet Council (ATC ), accompanied the new Representative and introduced themselves to the parliament group. They expressed their gratitude for convening this meeting. Ms Zoe further informed them about some of the upcoming campaign programs of ATC.

On 2 June, the co-chairs of the AAPPT Warren Entsch issued a congratulatory letter to the new Sikyong Mr Penpa Tsering.

Mr. Warren Entsch and Ms Susan Templeman wrote: “We wish to extend to you our sincerest congratulations on your election as Sikyong of the Central Tibetan Administration! The members of the Australian All-Party Parliamentary Tibet group want to further congratulate the Central Tibetan Administration for the running of democratic elections for the Tibetan diaspora around the world. This democratic endeavour is one that the Tibetan people should be proud of.”

The cochairs extolled the CTA as a “unique model of how a freedom movement and the development of a participatory democracy can go hand in hand” and said the “Tibetans’ commitment to a path of nonviolence” combined with “their freedom struggle is an important model for the world in terms of conflict resolution.”

“The resilience of the Tibetan people and the determination of people such as yourself to work for your people in what continues to be a difficult struggle is to be admired and congratulated. From our parliament to yours we wish you success in your new role!”

Co-chair of the AAPPT Warren Entsch has earlier congratulated the CTA President through his Facebook page.

“I just wanted to take the opportunity as co-chair of the parliamentary group for Tibet to congratulate Penpa Tsering on his election as the Tibetan Government- in -Exile’s next President (Sikyong).” He further wished him success in seeking a peaceful and lasting solution to the Tibet-China conflict.

MP Janet Rice, AAPPT and Australian Greens spokesperson on Foreign affairs also congratulated the new President via her official Twitter handle.

Congratulations to Penpa Tsering on your election as the next #Sikyong, leader of the Central Tibetan Administration @NetTibet , Tibet’s government in exile.
Your election shows the commitment of Tibetans around the world to freedom and democracy.

— Janet Rice (@janet_rice) May 27, 2021

– Filed by Office of Tibet, Canberra