Canberra: The Australian All Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet (AAPGT) today held a special event to brief the parliamentarians on the issue of Tibet and to felicitate Senator Janet Rice, Co-Chair of AAPGT, as she is retiring from the Senate in April 2024. The event was facilitated by the Australia Tibet Council in coordination with the Tibet Information Office (also called Office of Tibet), Canberra.

The event was attended by over 80 parliamentarians, their staffers and Tibet supporters, including Susan Templeman MP, Senator Dean Smith, Senator Janet Rice, Senator Barbara Pocock, David Smith MP and Sophie Scamps MP.

Dr Zoe Bedford, executive officer of Australia Tibet Council, welcomed all the guests to this special occasion and briefed them about the recent Chinese government’s crackdown on peaceful Tibetan protesters in Derge for appealing to stop the hydroelectric dam construction.

In his address at the event, Representative Karma Singey of the Office of Tibet (OoT) thanked Senator Rice for all her support for Tibet in the Australian parliament and said Tibetans will forever remember her support in this most challenging time in Tibet’s history. He further said. “One of your legacies has been to set a strong example for future leaders in Australia’s Parliament –to stand up for the Tibetan people’s strive for freedom and justice and to be a voice for the many voiceless around the world.”

Representative Karma presented a miniature Tibetan Stupa to Senator Rice as a token of gratitude and appreciation for her exemplary contribution to the freedom, equality and justice of oppressed people around the world and for her unwavering support and friendship for the people of Tibet.

Senator Rice, while speaking at the event, said, “I will keep fighting for a free Tibet. Tibet is ranked by Freedom House as the least free country in the world. It was such a privilege to travel to Dharamshala last year with our parliamentary friends of the Tibet group. In fact, I am just about to accept an invitation to join the board of the Australia Tibet Council. Thank you to all my Tibetan friends, including Karma Singey, the Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Australia, who are here today.”

Representative Karma Singey also welcomed Senator Barbara Pocock, the new Co-Chair of the Australian All Party Parliament Group for Tibet from the Australian Greens, who will replace Senator Janet Rice.

In a written message sent to Senator Rice by Kalon (Minister) Norzin Dolma of the Department of Information and International Relations, CTA, on her retirement reads, “On behalf of the Tibetan people and the Central Tibetan Administration, I extend my sincere gratitude for being a staunch advocate for the Tibetan people.” Kalon further said, “Your willingness to speak truth to power, despite formidable challenges, is a testament to your integrity and courage as a leader, and your ability to build coalitions and bridge divides in pursuit of common goals of humanity is a model of effective governance that serves as an inspiration to all.

In the event, Senator Dean Smith, who had recently visited Dharamshala, shared his experiences of meeting with the exiled Tibetan leadership and his deeper understanding of the Tibetan issue and insight into the lives of Tibetan refugees in exile.

The event concluded with serving of Tibetan cuisine; butter tea and momos, to all the guests and Tibet supporters who attended this special program.

-Report filed by Office of Tibet, Canberra