CANBERRA: Tibetans and Tibet supporters in Canberra, Australia marked International Human Rights day on 10th December, 2016 with a 5km bridge to bridge walk around Lake Burley Griffin in the city centre. While it was an important day to come together and recognize and appreciate the human rights that we all enjoy today, it was also a day to reflect on what more needs to be done to protect the basic rights violated every day in Tibet. The attendees carried placards in support of freedom of expression and religion in Tibet, while denouncing the repressive policies of the Chinese government. Cetana Das from Amnesty International shared her experience as the Australian Youth Ambassador in Tibet and how stability in Tibet is important for the bilateral relations between Australia and China.
There was particular focus on the recent demolitions of 1,500 dwellings and forced eviction of 4,600 residents of Larung Gar, one of the world’s largest Buddhist academies, located in Eastern Tibet.
Since this year, the UN called on each one of us to “Stand up for someone’s rights”, the ACT Tibetan community in Canberra raised awareness about the blatant disregard for human rights of the Tibetans inside Tibet by the Chinese government. Letters were delivered to Mr. Malcom Turnbull, the Prime Minister and Ms. Julie Bishop, the Foreign Minister of Australia, requesting them to stand up for the rights of the Tibetans in Tibet, especially the residents of Larung Gar. Appeal letters were also sent to the UN Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki-moon and the UN High Commissioner for human rights Prince Zeid Ra’ad al Hussein, urging them to take immediate action by visiting and assessing the situation in Larung Gar, and to raise the critical human rights situation in Tibet in the opening statement at the forthcoming 34th UN Human rights council session in Geneva in March next year.
Tibetans also celebrated the 27th anniversary of the conferment of the Nobel Peace Prize to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The official ceremony was preceded by prayers for Larung Gar and the recent tragic self-immolation in Tibet. Tashi Thakchoe la, Secretary of the Tibet Information Office (TIO) delivered the statement from the Kashag on this day and urged everyone to raise more awareness about the dire situation in Larung Gar.
Reported by:
ACT Tibetan Community Inc., Australia
