Dharamshala: The high-level delegation members who attended the official commemoration of the 65th Tibetan National Uprising Day in Dharamshala held a joint press conference today in the evening to share their concerns over PRC’s violation of human rights inside Tibet and to express their committed support for the Tibetan cause.
This joint press conference was participated by MP Michael Brand, Chair of the Parliamentary Group for Tibet in the German Parliament; Senator Dean Smith, Co-Chair of the Australian All Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet (Liberal Party); MP Michael McCormack, former Australian Deputy Prime Minister (National Party); Senator Deborah O’Neill; and MP David Smith (Labor Party).
“The civilised world is standing with Tibet and its ancient and unique civilisation and culture. And based on the UN convention on genocide, Beijing is organising genocide against the Tibetans as they are against the Uyghurs. The even more repressive and more aggressive China’s leadership poses a threat not only to Tibet but to the peace and stability of Asia and beyond,” declared MP Michael Brand as the first speaker of the press conference. Condemning the Communist Party of China’s aggressive foreign policies and its repressive domestic actions, the long-serving German MP called on for joint efforts from like-minded countries who stand for the “civilised international order” in countering “aggressive actors from resorting to war”. He added, “That is why Tibet is so significant not only for the people of Tibet but for Asia, for India, and for international world order respecting basic human rights, respecting self-determination, and requesting non-aggressive and non-suppressive behaviour by governments.”
As the Co-Chair of the Australian All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet, Senator Dean Smith underlined the importance of this Australian Parliamentary Group in speaking with one united voice on Tibetan issues in the Australian parliament in his address. The Senator further briefed the Australian All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet’s achievement in raising awareness in Australia and in the Australian parliament about the “continued human rights abuses being suffered by the Tibetans” and acknowledged the role it played in speaking on the Tibetan cause during the United Nations Human Rights Council’s fourth Universal Periodic Review on China during last January. “In Australia, we are greatly supported by the work of Tibetans that have made Australia their new home, and we believe very, very strongly that when the Tibetan community is strong in countries like Australia and India, it makes the cause of democracy and human rights much easier and attainable in Tibet”, stated the Australian Senator from Liberal Party, while expressing his pleasure over taking part in and being able to make remarks in solidarity at the commemoration of Tibetan Uprising Day.
Senator Deborah O’Neill read the statement that Australia made during the United Nations Human Rights Council’s January session. She quoted, “Australia remains deeply concerned about ongoing restrictions on religious freedom, freedom of movement, and the suppression of linguistic freedoms in Xinjiang (East Turkestan) and Tibet. Australia is deeply concerned about reports detailing China’s assimilationist policies, including forced labour transfer programs and the coerced separation of Tibetan children from their families through state-run boarding schools. What is China doing to address these concerns, and will China allow meaningful and unfettered access to Xinjiang (East Turkistan) and Tibet for independent human rights observers, including the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and special procedures mandate holders?” She further added, “We will ask that question, and we stand in solidarity with you as you demand answers.”
Following Senator Deborah O’Neill, Australia’s former Deputy Prime Minister, MP Michael McCormack, said 65 long years “is the time that has passed since the uprising and today is a day of sorrow for Tibetans as they remember, as they commemorate lives lost unnecessarily, as they remember the many thousands of Martyrs who gave their life so that Tibetans could push the point that they need freedom, that they need what was theirs.” Despite belonging to different political parties back in their country and having differences in their political stands, MP Michael McCormack confirmed that all the members of a delegation visiting Dharamshala this time “agree on Tibet and the freedom that Tibet earned, and has deserved” as he ensures continued support in speaking up on behalf of the Tibet and its freedom in both Australian parliament and across Australia. Furthermore, he extended a welcome to Tibetans seeking asylums in Australia and emphasised that, “We want Tibet to be free; we want indeed the language, the dance, the music, the culture, the history, and everything about Tibet to continue not just to survive but indeed thrive into the future.”
MP David Smith from the Australian Labor Party echoed his co-delegation members’ comments in his address, asserting their unity in supporting the Tibetan cause despite their various political backgrounds. “We are here in solidarity with the Tibetan people both in Tibet and in the diaspora population, and as my colleague Senator O’Neill said, what we would like to say is provide access to independent human rights observers”, he stated.
The address of the members of the visiting delegation was followed by a Q&A session with the media personnel, during which the delegations shared their opinions on China’s misappropriation of recognising the reincarnation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, probability of introducing and passing of bills similar to the United States Resolve Tibet Act in their respective countries, and shared their experiences of meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama earlier this morning.