The latest round of the Tibet-China dialogue, held in Beijing on 1 and 2 July, concluded with no concrete outcomes.

While the Chinese government has succeeded in appeasing the international community ahead of the Beijing Olympics, the situation for those inside Tibet has actually worsened and the prospects for a peaceful resolution are fading fast.

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Lodi Gyari, Special Envoy to the Dalai Lama, described the July talks as ‘one of the most difficult sessions’ held so far. In keeping with its policy of engagement with the Chinese government, the Central Tibetan Administration has agreed to a further round of dialogue in October. However, Mr. Gyari has conceded that ‘in the absence of serious and sincere commitment on [the Chinese government’s] part the continuation of the present dialogue process would serve no purpose’.

On Saturday 21 June Chinese authorities locked down the Tibetan capital to parade the Olympic Torch past a select group of international media and pro-Chinese onlookers. Tibet’s hardline Communist Party secretary Zhang Qingli used the occasion to verbally attack the Dalai Lama in front of the Potala Palace.

The international community’s silence on China’s worsening human rights record has emboldened China to believe that it can act with impunity.

We are urging the Australian Government to make good its commitment to actively support a peaceful resolution of the Tibet issue.

Voice your concern to Foreign Minister Stephen Smith. Send an email now!