APEC MEETING 08 SEPTEMBER 2007
TIBETAN PROTEST IN SYDNEY
The Tibetan community of Australia will unite in Sydney on 8 September 2007 to hold a peaceful march during the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation)summit meetings. Tibetans from South Australia, Melbourne Victoria and Canberra will travel to participate in the march to raise awareness about global human rights violations and unchallenged environmental destruction in Tibet.
Tibetans will march alongside the Vietnamese community, the Free China movement, the Federation of Democratic China and representatives from Turkestan. Good numbers are expected to attend with latest estimates varying between 3000 and 5000.
Mr Tenpa Dugdak of the Tibetan Community of Australia said: “The human rights situation in Tibet is rapidly deteriorating. Furthermore, by claiming that Mandarin is the official language of Tibet, the PRC effectively put the Tibetan culture in danger of being extinct. The rampant exploitation of the environment in Tibet is having a global impact on climate change and the world’s eco-system as Tibet is home for the headwaters of the major Asian river systems which supply water to 47% of world population. The Tibetan issue requires immediate action from the international community before it is too late”.
As a personal comment, he added that during his recent visit to Tibet, he was asked on two separate occasions to get out of a taxi because he did not speak Mandarin. Tibetans find life very difficult in Tibet if they can only speak Tibetan. Also the police presence is so high profile that there is a constant feeling of being monitored. The police are even present at ceremonies and prayers. Tibetans in Tibet live with the feeling of being tracked and recorded at all times, knowing that they could be arrested and detained for anything that could be portrayed as un-Chinese.
In Australia, Tibetans are very motivated to seek urgent action on the Tibetan issue. During a recent visit by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, he pointed out that Tibetan culture could come to an end within the next fifteen years if nothing is done to protect and preserve it. Already the Lonely Planet reference books list the official language of Tibet at Mandarin, so the eradication of the culture is well under way. This gives an added feeling of urgency to the Tibetans who live in countries with the right to speak freely, to speak loud enough to be heard and effect action. The Tibetans have had international sympathy for years now, but at this late stage sympathy is not enough. It will take international action at the highest level to save Tibet.
Tenpa Dugdak said the Tibetan community wanted to ensure they had a high visibility in the crowd on 8 September, so have taken the following measures to ensure a high profile. Tibetans will participate in full traditional costume, they will march to the beat of a drum, many will have their faces painted with the Tibetan flag, and flags and banners will be carried. There will be a Tibetan speaker at the march.
We call on Prime Minister John Howard and other APEC leaders to publicly raise Australia’s concerns about human rights abuses with China and Vietnam during the APEC talks.”
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Contact: Mr Tenpa Dugdak, thsbatch2002@hotmail.com/mobile 0434 322 449
