Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd has confirmed that he will meet the Dalai Lama during his forthcoming Australian Tour. The meeting is expected to take place in Canberra on June 12.

Australia Tibet Council Chairman George Farley congratulated the Opposition Leader on his decision, and on setting a firm date for the meeting well in advance. Prime Minister John Howard has yet to announce whether he will meet with the Dalai Lama, having said ten days ago that he was “checking his diary”.

Mr Farley said that he expected the meeting between the Dalai Lama and the Opposition Leader would canvass a wide range of social, political and religious issues. “Given Mr Rudd’s special expertise and experience in Chinese affairs, I am sure that this will be a very useful and interesting meeting for both him and the Dalai Lama.” Mr Farley said that, from a political perspective, the most important topic the two men could discuss was how to encourage the Chinese government to enter into genuine negotiations with the Dalai Lama about the future of Tibet.

There have been five rounds of preliminary discussions between the two sides since 1992, but with the most recent having taken place as long ago as early 2006 there are fears that China does not feel under any real pressure to resolve the Tibetan issue.

“With the Beijing Olympics now only a little over a year away, this is exactly the right time to encourage China to take a positive step and enter into serious talks aimed at reaching a settlement.” Mr Farley said that Tibet is one of a number of human rights issues which threatens to cast a pall over the Olympics.

Take action:
If you live in a Labor electorate, congratulate Mr Rudd on his decision via talkback, letters to the editor or an email to your local federal MP.

If you live in a Liberal electorate, please write to you local federal MP asking them to encourage Mr Howard to find room in his diary for a meeting with the Dalai Lama.

Find contact details for your local Federal Member of Parliament

Read ‘Room Found for Dalai Date’ from the Sunday Age