Representative Karma Singey, Tibet Information Office, Canberra visited the Tibetan community in Sydney, NSW on 11th December to participate in an event honouring the 32nd anniversary of the Noble peace prize Award to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Over 500 hundred people attended the celebration which was held at Mackellar Girls Campus.
The event was also attended by Ms Browen Regan, Representative of Zali Steggall, Member of Australian Parliament, Rev Bill Crews, Founder/Chairman of the Exodus Foundation, Drew Pavlou, Australian human rights activist and founder of recently launched Drew Pavluo Democratic Alliance Party, Kyinzom Dhongdue, former members of Tibetan parliament-in-exile, and many other friends and supporters of Tibet.
The event began with the installation of His Holiness portrait on the throne followed by the singing of Tibetan and Australian anthem and observed a moment of silence to pay respect to Tibetans killed, injured and detained by the Chinese authorities for flighting for the cause of Tibet.
Representative karma Singey Presenting a Certificate of Appreciation to the Principal of Mackellar Girls Campus.
Representative Karma read the 16th Kashag’s statement marking the 32nd anniversary of the conferment of Nobel Peace Prize award on His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He also spoke about the urgent need of maintaining the Tibetan language and culture, which represent Tibetan identity among others. He told that the Tibetan language is facing an existential threat in Tibet as a part of the Chinese government effort to wipe off Tibetan culture and identity from all three provinces of Tibet. Therefore, he said, all of us in the diaspora need to strengthen our children’s teaching-learning of the Tibetan language. He also called for great unity among the Tibetans.
Taking the opportunity, he highlighted the recently launched CTA’s new flagship initiative voluntary Tibet Advocacy Group (V-TAG) and urged the youths to join and actively engage in this campaign.
Members and the children of the community’s weekend school presented colourful Tibetan culture performances, including the traditional Noble peace prize song.
Observing a minute of silence to pay respect to Tibetan Martyrs.
On this auspicious occasion of the 32nd anniversary of Nobel Peace Prize to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Australian Greens party Foreign Affairs spokesperson Senator Janet Rice and Greens Human rights and Multiculturalism spokesperson Jenny Leong MP issued a message expressing their support, respect, solidarity with Tibet and Tibetan community here in Australia and around the world. They said ‘’we strongly support and standby Dalai Lama’s espousal of belief in non-violence, religious harmony and universal humanity.
The Greens have raised the issues faced by the Tibetans multiple times in the parliament and recognised that Tibet was an independent country prior to its invasion and occupation by the People’s Republic of China in 1949 and 1959 respectively.
-Report filed by OOT Canberra
Australian Greens Party’s message on the Nobel Peace Day
Drew Pavlou interacting with some of the former political prisoners from Tibet at the Nobel Peace Prize day event in Sydney.
Children of the weekend Tibetan language and culture school performing Tibetan traditional dance.