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View the Hu Jintao ad
ATC generated a strong response from sympathetic politicians with a number, including a Federal Shadow Minister, signing on to the ad. We also arranged for politicians from three parliaments (Federal and two states) to sign on to an ‘open letter from parliamentarians to President Hu’.
Many prominent Australians also signed on in support of the ad. Celebrities included actors, singers, comedians, authors and critics. The response from ATC’s members, other Tibet supporters and the wider community was truly heartening.
The reaction of the Chinese government was extraordinarily counterproductive. More than a week before the ad was due to run the Melbourne-based consul general attempted to intimidate politicians who had indicated they would support the ad. The Chinese Embassy in Canberra sent an email to major media outlets pressuring them not to run the ad or any other ‘pro-Tibet’ material. This response was very useful for our campaign, generating more free publicity in support of the ad.
Media Links…
These are just two articles from the many media stories:
23 October 2003: Tibet ad to defy ban call - Bush & Hu (The Australian)
Steve Lewis * Chief political reporter
DESPITE efforts by the Chinese Government to gag pro-Tibet activists, several Labor MPs — including frontbencher Lindsay Tanner — have signed an advertisement calling on Hu Jintao to engage in “substantive dialogue” with the Dalai Lama about the future of Tibet.
The full-page advertisement, to be published in The Australian tomorrow, has been endorsed by dozens of prominent Australians, including actor Toni Collette, musician Tim Finn and comic Jimeoin.
It makes a special appeal to the Chinese leader: “President Hu Jintao, please speak to the Dalai Lama.”
Mr Tanner, Opposition communications spokesman, said he was not worried about offending Mr Hu. “I think the content and spirit of the advertisement is appropriate to be expressed at the time when the Chinese President is visiting.”
Other federal Labor MPs to endorse the statement include Michael Danby, Tanya Plibersek and Duncan Kerr.
The Australian reported last week that China’s Consul-General had written to a Victorian Labor MP, Elaine Carbines, urging her to refrain from collecting signatures for the advertisement.
In a move that has incensed pro-Tibetan representatives, the Chinese embassy has also been calling on newspaper editors not to publish the advertisements while Mr Hu is in Australia.
“To make sure the visit will be free from such disruption, we hope your paper will not publish their open letter, carry their political advertisements or any of their propaganda,” a spokesman for the Chinese embassy said in a letter to newspaper editors.
26 Oct 2003: Tibetan Winter finds a Sydney Street (AFR)
Former Tibetan political prisoner Lobsang Lungtok…joined a handful of Australia Tibet Council supporters who stood across the road holding banners urging Mr Hu to support dialogue with the Dalai Lama. More… |
