Canberra: Representative Karma Singey accompanied by MP Tenzin Phuntsok Doring, President of Queensland Tibetan community Phuntsok Tsering and treasurer Tsering Choedon paid a courtesy call on Senator Lassari Waters, Federal MP Max Chandler Mather and Jonathan Sriranganathan of Australian Greens. The Tibetan delegations briefed them about deteriorating situations inside Tibet due to the Chinese government’s relentless attack on Tibetan identity, including the Tibetan language and religious expression. They further updated them about the recently held Tibet lobby day in Canberra and the Australian all-party parliamentary group meeting for Tibet.
Senator Larissa Waters is a great admirer of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and a strong supporter of the Tibetan cause. She was one of the Australian parliamentary delegations that visited Dharamshala in 2012, where she had an audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Later in the day, Representative Karma, MP Tenzin Phuntsok met councillor Vicki Howard of Brisbane city council and requested her support to the Tibetan community in Brisbane in safeguarding their Tibetan language, culture and tradition.
Before that day, Representative Karma and the above Tibetan delegation visited Chenrezig Tibetan Buddhist centre at Eudlo, and they were warmly welcomed by chairman Colin Crosbie, Director Ruby Karmey and resident teacher Geshe Tsultrim, who gave them a brief introduction to the Center. Later in the evening, they called upon Khensur Geshe Tashi Tsering of Tashi Khangmar Sumdupling in Brisbane and briefed him about the proposed conference of Tibetan Buddhist centres in Australia and New Zealand to be held in March next year. Khensur Rinpoche received Australia’s most prestigious award, the Order of Australian Medal (OAM), for his service in Buddhism and Education in 2020.
Representative Karma attended the Queensland Tibetan Community’s celebration of the 33rd anniversary Noble peace prize conferment to His Holiness the Dalai Lama on 10 December. He read out Kashag’s statement on occasion and spoke about the importance of maintaining unity and the need for strengthening Tibetan children’s learning of the Tibetan language.
Members and children of the community’s weekend school performed several cultural songs and dances.
–Reported by OOT, Canberra