TIBET IN AUSTRALIA
Australia Raises Concerns Over Tibetan Immolations
The Australian government last month expressed concerns over the self-immolations by young Tibetans and the crackdown in Ngaba and Kardze in eastern Tibet. The DFAT informed Australia Tibet Council that it made representations to the Chinese government in Beijing and in Canberra on 19 October. The matter was raised in the Parliament by members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet.Please read a motion by Senator Sarah Hanson-Young and statements by Ms Melissa Parke MP and Mr Michael Danby MP.
Australian Greens Pass Resolution On Tibet
The Greens at their national conference on 6 November responded to the plight of Tibet by passing a resolution that recognised self-determination for the Tibetan people and condemned the ongoing repression of Tibetans by the Chinese government. Read more
NEWS FROM TIBET
Who’s Fanning Tibet’s Flames?
Standing at a road junction in a town in Sichuan was a young woman. Without warning, she doused herself in petrol - she may even have drunk some - and then set fire to herself. Tibetans say her name was Palden Choetso; she was 35 years old and had been a Tibetan Buddhist nun since the age of 20. Her death, it is thought, was swift and, one can only imagine, agonising. So what drives someone to such an awful, desperate step? Read more
Rare Footage Of Tibetan Nun’s Self-immolation Smuggled Out Of Tibet
A video of Palden Choetso setting fire to herself on 3 November has been obtained out of Tibet by Students for a Free Tibet. The footage also shows a large gathering of Tibetans paying their respects to the nun and a number of Chinese security forces and paramilitary police vehicles traveling down a road. Click here for the video (WARNING: GRAPHIC)
EXILE TIBET
Exiled Tibetan Abbot Rebukes China Over Monks’ Troubles
The chief abbot and spiritual leader-in-exile of a Tibetan monastery at the epicenter of a series of self-immolation protests against Chinese rule spoke out forcefully in New York on 16 November, detailing what he called new and harsh repressive measures taken against the monks at the monastery since the immolations started in March. Read more
Karmapa Urges Tibetan Monks To Stop Self-immolation
The Karmapa, one of the most senior religious figures from Tibet, has urged Tibetans in China to end a spate of self-immolations and find other ways to challenge Beijing’s policies. "I request the people of Tibet to preserve their lives and find other, constructive ways to work for the cause of Tibet." Read more
Viewpoint: Are Tibet Burnings Plot Or Policy Failure?
Responses to protest are basically of two kinds. The first sees protests as a stratagem or plot to damage the government. The Chinese government’s handling of the self-immolations by Tibetans this year has so far been of this type, denouncing them as "terrorism in disguise". The second approach is a policy failure model, seeing protests as a response to excessive pressures placed on people by a government. Tibetan leaders in exile took a similar view. Read an opinion piece by Robbie Barnett of Columbia University
Tibetan PM Speaks Out After Self-immolations (video)
During his first trip to Washington after taking office, Prime Minister of Tibetan Government-in-Exile Dr Lobsang Sangay asked the US government to apply greater political pressure on China for improved Tibetan autonomy. Watch his interview on Al Jazeera’s The Stream
UPCOMING EVENT
Lungta (the windhorse) concert on 11 December, Sunshine Coast
The Tibetan Community of Queensland and Chenrezig Institute will celebrate the 22nd anniversary of the Dalai Lama’s Nobel Peace Prize on 11 December with a concert by TIBET2TIMBUK2 and a talk by Geshe Losang Jamyang. Click here for event details
TAKE ACTION
Sign The Avaaz Petition ‘Tibet’s Cry For Help’
Over 600,000 people have signed the Avaaz petition, calling on Prime Minister Julia Gillard and five other world leaders to speak out against the ongoing repression in Tibet. The petition will be delivered to key governments around the world in the next few days. Help us reach 1 million signatures - sign and share the petition today
Buy A Gift For Tibet This Festive Season
Are you thinking of gift ideas for the holiday season? Visit our online shop - we have a range of merchandise including special gift packs. Please buy a gift for your family and friends that can also create awareness on the Tibetan issue and help fund our work for Tibet in the New Year. Buy online here
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