We, the Co-Chairs of the Australian All-Party Parliamentary Tibet Group, would like to congratulate His Holiness the Dalai Lama on the occasion of his 89th Birthday!
Over the years, the Dalai Lama has met with many members of our Parliamentary Tibet Group and conveyed to us directly that the Tibetan spirit is strong. He has also affirmed his commitment to the humanity of 8 billion people in the world and to living in a peaceful future.
We are aware that the Dalai Lama is in the USA to receive medical treatment and wish for him a speedy return to total health so that he can continue to guide Tibetan people spiritually; we recognize the importance of the Dalai Lama for Tibetan people and others around the world and wish for him a long and healthy life.
It is auspicious that the Dalai Lama will be in the USA for his birthday as both the Senate and Congress, in bipartisan agreement, have passed the Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet Sino Conflict Act. This act recognises the Tibetan people’s right to self-determination and to decide their own future.
This act affirms the USA State Department’s responsibility to coordinate with other governments in a multilateral effort towards the goal of a negotiated resolution of the Sino-Tibet Conflict, with the stated goal of having the Chinese Government return in good faith to the negotiating table with the Dalai Lama to resolve the Sino Tibet conflict.
We support the Australian government in working towards these efforts.
We congratulate our US counterparts for passing this critical act aimed at a peaceful resolution for the Sino-Tibet and a peaceful future for the people of Tibet.
This week in Parliament, our members have heard the personal account of Dr Gyal Lo, who is an eyewitness to China’s colonial boarding schools in Tibet. He has seen firsthand the effects of removing Tibetan children, as young as 4 years old, from their families to place them into Chinese-state-run institutions in a policy that is resulting in the systematic annihilation of the Tibetan language, religion, culture, and national identity.
It is for this reason that an affirmation of support for Tibet from Governments around the world, with the goal of a negotiated resolution to the Sino-Tibet conflict and a peaceful future for Tibet.
We wish His Holiness the Dalai Lama much happiness on the occasion of his 89th birthday and support his efforts for a peaceful future for humanity and Tibet!
Signed by:
Co-Chairs of the Australian All-Party Parliamentary Tibet Group
Susan Templeman MP, Senator Dean Smith and Senator Barbara Pocock