Photo:Courtesy CTA/tibet.net
CANBERRA (Monday 13 November) – The Tibet Information Office in Canberra announces the upcoming visit of Foreign Minister (Kalon) Norzin Dolma, Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR), Central Tibetan Administration, to Australia between 14-18 November.
This is Ms Dolma’s first visit to Australia since assuming the role of Kalon (Minister) in 2021.
During her week-long visit to Australia and New Zealand from 14-21 November, Kalon Norzin Dolma will draw attention to the priorities and concerns currently facing the Tibetan people.
“This is an important opportunity to hear first-hand what is happening in Tibet,” said Karma Singey, Representative of Tibet Information Office based in Canberra.
“Tibet’s national identity is facing an existential threat under China’s repressive policies and security apparatus.
The Tibetan people are being systematically subjected to cultural assimilation, political repression, economic marginalisation and ecological destruction,” the Representative added.
Up to 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.
“With Australia and China renewing their trade relationship this visit by Kalon Norzin Dolma is timely to ensure Tibet and China’s human rights abuses are not forgotten and remain an integral part of the conversation,” said Dr Zoe Bedford, Executive Officer of Australia Tibet Council.
On 16 November, the DIIR Kalon will address key issues in a ‘Tibet Briefing’ hosted by the Australian All Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet at Parliament House, Canberra.
As chief guest of the Voluntary Tibet Advocacy Group’s (V-TAG) Tibet Advocacy Strategy Meeting on 17 November, Kalon Norzin Dolma will deliver a keynote address at the National Press Club, before travelling to Wellington to address the Asia Pacific Security Innovation Forum Annual Summit.
Kalon will advocate the exile Tibetan administration’s policy of the Middle Way Approach to resolve the long-standing Sino-Tibet conflict, a policy initiated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and adopted by the Central Tibetan Administration.
The Middle Way Approach aims to achieve genuine and meaningful autonomy for the Tibetan people under the framework of the People’s Republic of China.
The visit is jointly organised by the Tibet Information Office in Canberra (also called the Office of Tibet) and the Australia Tibet Council.
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The Tibet Information Office is an official agency of the Central Tibetan Administration and represents Tibetan Affairs in Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia.
Inquiries
Representative Karma Singey
Representative of Tibet Information Office
0426 642 175 – rep.au@tibet.net
Dr. Zoe Bedford
Executive Officer of Australia Tibet Council
0408 262 576
zoe.bedford@atc.org.au
bravemediaaus.com 