IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SYDNEY (19 June 2023) – Hon. Sikyong Penpa Tsering, the democratically elected political leader of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile, formally known as the Central Tibetan Administration, will be visiting Australia from 17-25 June 2023.
This is his first official visit to Australia since becoming the Sikyong, a Tibetan title for President, in 2021.
Penpa Tsering’s visit takes place amid China’s increasing repression in Tibet and aggression overseas, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region.
Away from the gaze of the international community, China’s human rights violations in Tibet have reached an all-time high in recent years.
Reminiscent of Australia’s Stolen Generations, nearly one million Tibetan children have been separated from their families and forced into a vast network of Chinese colonial boarding schools, which UN rights experts have warned is an effort to assimilate Tibetans into the majority Han Chinese culture.
“If PRC (the People’s Republic of China) is not made to reverse or change its current policies, Tibet and Tibetans will definitely die a slow death,” said President Penpa Tsering ahead if his maiden visits to the Pacific region.
The Sikyong will call on the Australian Government during his week-long visit to help end what he calls a “cultural genocide” that is taking place in Tibet at the hand of Australia’s key trading partner.
He will be meeting senior politicians, including members of the Australian All Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet, human rights defenders, and leading think tanks.
President Penpa Tsering will also call on the Australian Government to use the Magnitsky legislation to sanction Chinese leaders responsible for human rights abuses in Tibet.
Penpa Tsering is a strong proponent of the Middle Way Approach, a policy proposal initiated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and adopted by the Tibetan Government-Exile, which aims to achieve genuine and meaningful autonomy for the Tibetan people under the framework of the People’s Republic of China.
The media is invited to attend the following public events:
NSW: Monday 19 June
Resistance, Resilience and Democracy in Exile
In Conversation with Karla Grant, SBS/NITV
NSW State Parliament, Sydney, 12 noon – 1.30pm
ACT: Wednesday 21 June
Resolving the Sino-Tibet conflict and Securing Peace in the Region
National Press Club 11.30am
Melbourne: Thursday 22 June
India and Tibet: Ancient Ties and Current Bonds
In Conversation with former Senator, Hon. Lisa Singh
Australia-India Institute, Level 2, 501 Swanston St, 2.30pm – 3.30pm
Brisbane: Friday 23 June
Homeland – Festival of Tibet 2023
In Conversation with Sarah Kanowski, ABC
Brisbane Powerhouse, 7:00pm
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ENDS
For more information and interviews contact:
1. Karma Singey or Lhawang Gyalpo
Tibet Information Office Australia
+61 2 (0) 6285 4046
rep.au@tibet.net or sec.au@tibet.net
2. Dr Zoë Bedford, Executive Officer
Australia Tibet Council
zoebedford@atc.org.au
0408 262 576
For more details visit the website of the Australia Tibet Council
Distributed by Medianet
Press Release 19 June 2023
Media Advisory 21 June 2023
President (Sikyong) Mr Penpa Tsering:
A leading figure in Tibetan politics, Penpa Tsering was a Member of Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile for 20 years, serving his last two terms as Speaker He also served as Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration to North America. In his role as the President, Sikyong Penpa has emphasised the importance of seeking a peaceful resolution of the Tibet issue. He is a strong proponent of the Middle Way Approach, a policy proposal initiated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and adopted by the Tibetan Government-Exile, which aims to achieve genuine and meaningful autonomy for the Tibetan people under the framework of the People’s Republic of China.
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