Tibet Information Office Joins Global Commemoration of Tiananmen Massacre and Hong Kong Democratic Movement

Sydney: As this year marks the 36th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre and the 6th anniversary of the Hong Kong pro-democracy movement, the Tibet Information Office stood in solidarity with Chinese democrats by participating in both in-person and virtual commemoration events organised across continents.

On 1 June, Chinese Liaison Officer Dawa Sangmo from the Tibet Information Office (also called Office of Tibet) attended a seminar hosted by the Australia New Zealand Alliance for Victims of the Chinese Communist Regime (NZAVCCR) at Ashfield Uniting Church in Sydney. The event honoured the memory of Chinese students and citizens who lost their lives during the 1989 Beijing protests for a freedom and constitutional democratic reform.

The programme began with a solemn wreath-laying ceremony at the Goddess of Democracy statue, sculpted by renowned Chinese democrat Weimin Chen, which now stands permanently at Ashfield Church. Joined the program was longtime Tibet and Chinese democrats supporter Reverend Bill Crews, hongkong representatives and Chinese democrats and scholars.

Chinese Liaison Officer Dawa Sangmo paid respect to the student martyrs on behalf of the Tibetan people. She recalled a powerful anecdote shared by the late Lodi Gyari Rinpoche, recounting how His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama was one of the first world leaders to issue a statement in support of the Chinese student movement in 1989. Despite knowing it might jeopardise the possible informal meeting with Chinese counterpart in Hongkong, His Holiness expressed in his statement the profound solidarity to the students and expressing strong disappointment over the violent suppression carried by the Chinese authorities.

She affirmed the Tibetan community’s unwavering support for truth, justice, and solidarity with all those who struggle for freedom under Chinese authoritarian rule.

Continuing this show of solidarity, Dawa Sangmo, along with the Chinese Liaison Officers of the other Offices of Tibet in North America and Europe, joined a global virtual commemoration co-organised by Chinese democrats in Europe. Also in attendance were the Representative of the Office of Tibet, Taipei, and Chinese democrats, activists and scholars from across continents.

-Report filed by Office of Tibet, Canberra