Australian Parliamentarians celebrate the 90th Birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet

His Holiness the Dalai Lama turns 90 years old this Sunday, 6^th July.

The Australia Tibet Council welcomes the statement from Australian Parliamentarians in support of the Dalai Lama ahead of his 90^th Birthday.

“The Dalai Lama has many supporters in Australia who are wishing him well on his 90^th Birthday,” states Dr Zoë Bedford, Executive Officer of the Australia Tibet Council. "It is wonderful to see the Australian All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet recognise the lifetime dedication His Holiness has made to teaching compassion and peace worldwide.”

Prime Minister Albanese is travelling to China to meet with Xi Jinping soon and we hope that while he is in China, the Prime Minister will raise with his counterpart the lack of religious freedom in Tibet."

Download the full statement here.

In his latest book – Voice for the Voiceless the Dalai Lama states the following;

“I am approaching my ninetieth year. If no resolution is found while I am alive, the Tibetan people, especially those inside Tibet, will blame the Chinese leadership and the Communist Party for its failure to reach a settlement with me” [page 138, Voice for the Voiceless, His Holiness the Dalai Lama].

Australia Tibet Council mirrors this concern.

Attributable quotes to Dr Zoë Bedford, Executive Officer, Australia Tibet Council

"Prime Minister Albanese should affirm that Australia will not accept a Chinese appointed future Dalai Lama, that this is a process for the Dalai Lama and Tibetan Buddhist leaders only, and the Chinese Government should not interfere in these matters. Furthermore, the Prime Minister should encourage Xi Jinping to engage in dialogue with the Dalai Lama to end the Sino-Tibet conflict."

The Dalai Lama has made his proposal for a peaceful end to the Sino-Tibet conflict known for decades – he has invited the Chinese Government to resolve this issue with peace and non-violence and the Prime Minister of Australia should press President Xi to accept the offer by His Holiness and return to negotiations over the future of Tibet.”

I am thankful to the many Australian Parliamentarians who support His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Tibet and I hope that their words will be echoed by the Prime Minister when he is in China. We know he is going to talk about trade – but we cannot sideline these important human rights discussions for trade. A peaceful future for the people of Tibet is more important than trade with China.”

Australia Tibet Council, together with Tibet supporters globally, will honour the legacy of the 14^th Dalai Lama and work tirelessly for a just, peaceful and free Tibet.

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ENDS

For further comments:

Dr Zoë Bedford
PH: 0408 262 576
Executive Officer, Australia Tibet Council