Canberra: The Australian All Party Parliamentary Tibet Group on 10 January 2025 issued a statement expressing their condolence to the victims of the earthquake in Tibet.

The Co-chairs of the Australian All Party Parliamentary Tibet Group comprising Susan Templeman MP, Senator Dean Smith and Senator Barbara Pocock wrote in their message, “We, the Co-chairs of the Australian All Party Parliamentary Tibet Group express our sympathy and condolences for the victims of the devastating earthquake that stuck Tibet on 7 January 2025. The Chinese Government should ensure they are open and transparent with the international community and ensure that any aid effort does not further displace Tibetans or strip Tibetans of their religion, culture or rights.”

They further wrote that this earthquake will exacerbate the existing vulnerabilities of the Tibetan people, who have been suffered for more than seven decades under China’s ongoing occupation of their nation.

“At this time, the safety and welfare of those affected by the earthquake must be given full priority” the message concludes.

In another statement issued by Dr Sophie Scamps, a Federal member of Mackellar and a strong supporter of the Tibetan cause called for an urgent Australian response to the Tibet earthquake. She wrote that the Australian government must respond promptly to this natural disaster at a time when vulnerable Tibetans are in crisis. She further urged Chinese authorities not to censor the sharing of information and images of the natural disasters with the international community as the international community needs to understand the disaster in order to offer the best possible aid.

-Report filed by Office of Tibet, Canberra