Australian Government's Statement On Tibetan Immolations Print E-mail

18 January 2012

Australia Tibet Council has urged the Australian government this week to make an urgent representation to China in the wake of the escalating crisis in eastern Tibet.

Tibetan immolations continue in Tibet into 2012 - the fourth having taken place on 14 January. A total of 17 Tibetans have set themselves on fire since 2009 in protest against the Chinese government’s policies and to demand “freedom in Tibet” and the “return of the Dalai Lama”.

In response to a question by an Australian journalist on 15 January, a spokesperson for Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd made the following comments:

- The minister has been deeply concerned by the tragic Tibetan self-immolations. - The Australian government again calls on China to address the underlying causes of tension in Tibet and other Tibetan regions in China.

- The government reminds the Chinese authorities that economic development should be complemented by protection of the unique linguistic, cultural and religious identities of China’s minorities.

- Officials from the Australian embassy in Beijing visited Sichuan province in October 2011 to hear firsthand from the monks there of what was happening.

- The Australian ambassador raised the government’s serious concerns with the vice-governor of Sichuan province on 29 November.

- On the minister’s instructions, representations have been made repeatedly to the Chinese authorities in Beijing and to the Chinese embassy in Canberra.

- The foreign minister also discussed the treatment of Tibetans with vice-president Xi Jinping in 2010 and again with senior politburo member Jia Qinglin in April 2011.

- The government continues to monitor closely the situation on the ground in the Tibet Autonomous Region and other Tibetan regions in China.

- The foreign minister receives regular reports from the Australian embassy in Beijing.

- The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade meets regularly with Australia Tibet Council including to discuss Australia’s Human Rights Dialogue with China.

- The government receives correspondence from a range of people and groups concerned about the situation in Tibet and ethnic Tibetan regions of China.

Australia Tibet Council has briefed our government officials and parliamentarians on the Tibetan immolations regularly over the past year. We have advocated for the Australian government to take a strong stand against China’s repressive policies in Tibet, which are driving the Tibetans to breaking point. Many hundreds of our members have also written to the foreign minister and their local MPs.

At this critical time for the Tibetans in Tibet, we need to step up our call for stronger government action. Please send an email to Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd today.

Are you on Twitter? Rudd is an active user of Twitter, giving us another powerful way to reach him. Use this link to send a direct message to @KRuddMP.