Tibetan Community of Melbourne
Forty New Tibetans Arrive In Melbourne Australia - 27th August 2009
It has been such a long time since so many Tibetans have come to
Melbourne. Now in two weekends the Tibetan community has swelled from around 160 to 200 with the arrival of forty new Tibetans under the Australian government’s special humanitarian program.
The First flight arrived on time at 8 pm on the 15th August with 21 refugees, and an expected wait of two hours was cut short when the first family of six came through the gates just after 9pm. The airport lounge lit up like a bright new day with huge smiles of joy again and again as more Tibetans came through, all greeted with a khata from Sandup Tsering, the president of the Tibetan Community of Melbourne.
The second group of 19 arrived 22nd August on time at 12.05 pm, beautiful clear blue sky and sun shining. From the Melbourne Tibetan Community Sandup, Tsetar and Lhundup were at the airport, as with the previous group greeted each one with khata. In the bus someone comment the sky looks like that of Tibet. All were drop off at the Tara Institute, a Tibetan Buddhist Centre, an affiliate of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition where a few people from the previous group arrivals accommodated had prepared a delicious Thentuk Tibetan soup. After that they were driven to their respective
accommodation places as pre-arranged by the Melbourne Tibetan
Community.
Next day, Sunday 23rd Aug there was reception at the Black Rock Civic Hall located close to the beach on Port Phillip Bay. It is a small and quiet suburban hall, and who from outside could have imagined what was happening inside. There was a joyful mix of new arrival accommodation hosts, volunteers, coordinators and members and friends of the Melbourne Tibetan Community. All helping the honoured new arrivals feel at home, including nuns, monks, lay practitioners, families and singles.
Greetings began with Mr. Wei Jingsheng, AKA 'The Father of Chinese Democracy', who had just flown in, is probably the world’s foremost activist for human rights and democracy in China. Mr. Wei Jing Sheng said in his speech: "the Han people and the Tibetan people are friendly. All the miseries of the Tibetan people in the past 60 years are created by the CCP. I feel happy to see another new 40 Tibetans be free from the control of the CCP and come to this free country. It's not easy to start a new life in a new country. In Melbourne, there are some members of the Chinese democratic movement. They love and like to help the Tibetan brothers and sisters, as I do. If you meet difficulties in your life such as at work and study, please contact our members in Melbourne. I believe they will try their best to help you. We will continue to support the Middle Way of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the struggle of the Tibeten people for the freedom of Tibet. The CCP will come to the end soon and by our joint efforts, it will end sooner."
Frank Ruan Jie and George Lu from the Chinese Tibetan Friendship Association of Melbourne followed, expressing their support and best wishes for the arrivals. Reminding all of their dedication to freedom of speech and human rights for all the brothers and sisters who are a part of China.
Alison Ribush from Australia Tibet Council offered a very warm welcome. Outlining that ATC campaigns for the right of the Tibetan people to decide their own future and for an end to violations of their fundamental rights and freedoms.
Next a Victorian Police Spokesperson continued the cordial welcoming. Offering help also in any way they can, explaining too that the police in Australia are here to protect their rights as new Australians.
Ms Ngudup Dolma sang a song she specially dedicated to the new arrivals. Her voice clear confident and unaccompanied, soared so high and beautifully in the hall.
Lunch followed with yummy variety of Tibetan dishes prepared and served by the Tibetans.
Sandup then got down to the practical part of the day, leading all through a very thorough orientation process.
All day the hall filled with laughter and conversation, and a strong sense of Tibetan spirit. Resounding with the clear notion of Tibetans wanting to sustain their unique civilization, culture and identity ... at a time when, in their homeland their culture is being exterminated at a very fast rate.
The Melbourne Tibetan Community therefore grows, as another precious seed for that culture to bravely hold on until it can blossom again one day as a whole people. Just like it did for the last thousand years at least.
Reported by Sandup Tsering,
President, Tibetan Communiyt of Melbourne
Melbourne. Now in two weekends the Tibetan community has swelled from around 160 to 200 with the arrival of forty new Tibetans under the Australian government’s special humanitarian program.
The First flight arrived on time at 8 pm on the 15th August with 21 refugees, and an expected wait of two hours was cut short when the first family of six came through the gates just after 9pm. The airport lounge lit up like a bright new day with huge smiles of joy again and again as more Tibetans came through, all greeted with a khata from Sandup Tsering, the president of the Tibetan Community of Melbourne.
The second group of 19 arrived 22nd August on time at 12.05 pm, beautiful clear blue sky and sun shining. From the Melbourne Tibetan Community Sandup, Tsetar and Lhundup were at the airport, as with the previous group greeted each one with khata. In the bus someone comment the sky looks like that of Tibet. All were drop off at the Tara Institute, a Tibetan Buddhist Centre, an affiliate of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition where a few people from the previous group arrivals accommodated had prepared a delicious Thentuk Tibetan soup. After that they were driven to their respective
accommodation places as pre-arranged by the Melbourne Tibetan
Community.
Next day, Sunday 23rd Aug there was reception at the Black Rock Civic Hall located close to the beach on Port Phillip Bay. It is a small and quiet suburban hall, and who from outside could have imagined what was happening inside. There was a joyful mix of new arrival accommodation hosts, volunteers, coordinators and members and friends of the Melbourne Tibetan Community. All helping the honoured new arrivals feel at home, including nuns, monks, lay practitioners, families and singles.
Greetings began with Mr. Wei Jingsheng, AKA 'The Father of Chinese Democracy', who had just flown in, is probably the world’s foremost activist for human rights and democracy in China. Mr. Wei Jing Sheng said in his speech: "the Han people and the Tibetan people are friendly. All the miseries of the Tibetan people in the past 60 years are created by the CCP. I feel happy to see another new 40 Tibetans be free from the control of the CCP and come to this free country. It's not easy to start a new life in a new country. In Melbourne, there are some members of the Chinese democratic movement. They love and like to help the Tibetan brothers and sisters, as I do. If you meet difficulties in your life such as at work and study, please contact our members in Melbourne. I believe they will try their best to help you. We will continue to support the Middle Way of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the struggle of the Tibeten people for the freedom of Tibet. The CCP will come to the end soon and by our joint efforts, it will end sooner."
Frank Ruan Jie and George Lu from the Chinese Tibetan Friendship Association of Melbourne followed, expressing their support and best wishes for the arrivals. Reminding all of their dedication to freedom of speech and human rights for all the brothers and sisters who are a part of China.
Alison Ribush from Australia Tibet Council offered a very warm welcome. Outlining that ATC campaigns for the right of the Tibetan people to decide their own future and for an end to violations of their fundamental rights and freedoms.
Next a Victorian Police Spokesperson continued the cordial welcoming. Offering help also in any way they can, explaining too that the police in Australia are here to protect their rights as new Australians.
Ms Ngudup Dolma sang a song she specially dedicated to the new arrivals. Her voice clear confident and unaccompanied, soared so high and beautifully in the hall.
Lunch followed with yummy variety of Tibetan dishes prepared and served by the Tibetans.
Sandup then got down to the practical part of the day, leading all through a very thorough orientation process.
All day the hall filled with laughter and conversation, and a strong sense of Tibetan spirit. Resounding with the clear notion of Tibetans wanting to sustain their unique civilization, culture and identity ... at a time when, in their homeland their culture is being exterminated at a very fast rate.
The Melbourne Tibetan Community therefore grows, as another precious seed for that culture to bravely hold on until it can blossom again one day as a whole people. Just like it did for the last thousand years at least.
Reported by Sandup Tsering,
President, Tibetan Communiyt of Melbourne
The Dalai Lama’s Birthday unites with the formation of the Chinese Tibetan Friendship Association of Melbourne.
Sunday 5th July 2009, at Bentleigh McKinnon Youth Centre.
For Tibetans, the morning began auspiciously, with light rain followed by sunshine. Appropriate too because it was a day combining several momentous events. The Birthday of one of the most respected figures of this era, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, the launch of the Chinese Tibetan Friendship Association of Melbourne and as a huge thank you to all of the kind Australians for supporting and making the Tibetan Community so welcome here.
Around three hundred people came, including fifteen Chinese. There were many local Tibetan Sangha (monks and nuns), and important dignitaries.
Mr T.P. Atisha, the Representative of HHDL in Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia, Ms Jenny Mikakos, and Colleen Hartland, both are the Honourable Upper House members of Parliament, and MP For Tibet. Mr Frank Ruanje, member of the Coalition of the Chinese Democratic Movement in Melbourne and the Chief Editor of Chinese language newspaper Tian An Mien Times . Plus members of Tibetan support groups, most prominently from the Australia Tibet Council.
Mr Sandup Tsering, the President of the Tibetan Community of Victoria spoke first with a huge welcome to all with an overview of the day s events. He reminded us of the incredible achievements and capacity of the Dalai Lama, All of these qualities are but a drop in the ocean - His Holiness is truly the ocean of Wisdom , how he so successfully guided the preservation of Tibetan culture outside Tibet, keeping it alive. Also reminding us of His Holiness s words on the importance of human values. Finally, acknowledging deep gratitude to India for such vital safe haven in exile.
The day brimmed over with exciting and colourful performances of traditional song and dance by the Tibetan community of all ages. The costumes were vibrant and stunning. Performances some gentle and some wild, expressed the heart of the Tibetan people by being so natural and joyful overflowing with love, honesty and happiness. A feast for the eyes, ears and heart.
Jenny Mikakos MP, gave a warm thank you for being invited and the strong purpose she holds for building bridges and her involvement in the Parliamentary Friends of Tibet Group. Her dedication to human rights and in particular the Tibetan situation deeply touched the hearts of the Tibetan people.
Ms Mikakos also read a personal message from Victorian Premier John Brumby MP, where he best wishes to the Tibetan Community , going on to say I congratulate your community for hosting this auspicious celebration and for its initiative to strengthen the bonds of friendship and understanding in our community .
Mr T.P. Atisha, on behalf of His Holiness thanked all for the encouragement and particularly to the many support groups and all political parties in Australia who dedicate their time, money and effort It makes a big difference for the Tibetan people .
Then came the landmark launch of the Chinese Tibetan Friendship Association of Melbourne. The stage filled with the inaugural Chinese and Tibetan members, all proudly receiving khatas from Mr Atisha, holding raised hands in dedication to the union. The hall filled with the loudest applause that went on and on as each member accepted a khata. Faces beamed and hearts filled at what some may have thought impossibility, yet through real respect and true dialogue, the impossible happened.
More singing and dancing continued, as joyful friends united in celebration. There followed a feast of Tibetan vegetarian cuisine, and to top off a day everyone there would always remember was the cutting of the cake for His Holiness where Colleen Hartland MLC congratulated the Tibetan and Chinese communities and showed her support. The monks so reverently chanted a blessing and some of the best chocolate cake in Melbourne gave a burst of energy that resounded in dancing and fun until the sun came down.
Truly this is how a party should be. We have gained so much from our multicultural society and with event like this, there seems to be no limit to how good it can get.
Report by: Sandup Tsering, President, Melbourne Tibetan Community & Mr Robert Perry of the Australia Tibet Council
Sunday 5th July 2009, at Bentleigh McKinnon Youth Centre.
For Tibetans, the morning began auspiciously, with light rain followed by sunshine. Appropriate too because it was a day combining several momentous events. The Birthday of one of the most respected figures of this era, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, the launch of the Chinese Tibetan Friendship Association of Melbourne and as a huge thank you to all of the kind Australians for supporting and making the Tibetan Community so welcome here.
Around three hundred people came, including fifteen Chinese. There were many local Tibetan Sangha (monks and nuns), and important dignitaries.
Mr T.P. Atisha, the Representative of HHDL in Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia, Ms Jenny Mikakos, and Colleen Hartland, both are the Honourable Upper House members of Parliament, and MP For Tibet. Mr Frank Ruanje, member of the Coalition of the Chinese Democratic Movement in Melbourne and the Chief Editor of Chinese language newspaper Tian An Mien Times . Plus members of Tibetan support groups, most prominently from the Australia Tibet Council.
Mr Sandup Tsering, the President of the Tibetan Community of Victoria spoke first with a huge welcome to all with an overview of the day s events. He reminded us of the incredible achievements and capacity of the Dalai Lama, All of these qualities are but a drop in the ocean - His Holiness is truly the ocean of Wisdom , how he so successfully guided the preservation of Tibetan culture outside Tibet, keeping it alive. Also reminding us of His Holiness s words on the importance of human values. Finally, acknowledging deep gratitude to India for such vital safe haven in exile.
The day brimmed over with exciting and colourful performances of traditional song and dance by the Tibetan community of all ages. The costumes were vibrant and stunning. Performances some gentle and some wild, expressed the heart of the Tibetan people by being so natural and joyful overflowing with love, honesty and happiness. A feast for the eyes, ears and heart.
Jenny Mikakos MP, gave a warm thank you for being invited and the strong purpose she holds for building bridges and her involvement in the Parliamentary Friends of Tibet Group. Her dedication to human rights and in particular the Tibetan situation deeply touched the hearts of the Tibetan people.
Ms Mikakos also read a personal message from Victorian Premier John Brumby MP, where he best wishes to the Tibetan Community , going on to say I congratulate your community for hosting this auspicious celebration and for its initiative to strengthen the bonds of friendship and understanding in our community .
Mr T.P. Atisha, on behalf of His Holiness thanked all for the encouragement and particularly to the many support groups and all political parties in Australia who dedicate their time, money and effort It makes a big difference for the Tibetan people .
Then came the landmark launch of the Chinese Tibetan Friendship Association of Melbourne. The stage filled with the inaugural Chinese and Tibetan members, all proudly receiving khatas from Mr Atisha, holding raised hands in dedication to the union. The hall filled with the loudest applause that went on and on as each member accepted a khata. Faces beamed and hearts filled at what some may have thought impossibility, yet through real respect and true dialogue, the impossible happened.
More singing and dancing continued, as joyful friends united in celebration. There followed a feast of Tibetan vegetarian cuisine, and to top off a day everyone there would always remember was the cutting of the cake for His Holiness where Colleen Hartland MLC congratulated the Tibetan and Chinese communities and showed her support. The monks so reverently chanted a blessing and some of the best chocolate cake in Melbourne gave a burst of energy that resounded in dancing and fun until the sun came down.
Truly this is how a party should be. We have gained so much from our multicultural society and with event like this, there seems to be no limit to how good it can get.
Report by: Sandup Tsering, President, Melbourne Tibetan Community & Mr Robert Perry of the Australia Tibet Council
| victoria_premier_message__hhdl_birthay2009.pdf |
Chinese Consulate Hoodwinks City of Melbourne - 3rd June 2009
Melbourne Town Hall today hosts a photo exhibition funded and organized by the Chinese Government purporting to show the “democratic reform and social and economic development of Tibet, China in the past 50 years”.
The booking for the exhibition, titled “Tibet’s Past and Present”, was made under false pretences by Chinese-Australian businessman Anson Hong, Chairman of the National Liaison Council of Chinese Australians - an organization with strong links to the Chinese Communist Party. An invitation leaked to the Australia Tibet Council revealed that Mr. Hong had acted as a proxy for the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Melbourne.
The exhibition, a central component in a state-driven initiative to shape international perceptions of the Tibetan situation, has been shown in a number of countries including China, Canada and South Korea. It was recently withdrawn from the Canberra Centre after a series of complaints to the venue and the Canberra Times.
Officials at the City of Melbourne were unaware till yesterday of the exhibition’s link to the Chinese Government. The booking was made directly with Epicure Catering, the company contracted by the City of Melbourne to manage the Town Hall, and was being handled as a commercial booking. A staff member at the City of Melbourne, who wishes to remain anonymous, conceded that they had been “hoodwinked” by Mr. Hong over the exhibition. Nonetheless, contractors Epicure Catering have chosen to proceed with the exhibition and the City of Melbourne has refused to intervene.
Revelation of the exhibition, advertised only through the Chinese language media, has drawn strong reactions from Melbourne’s Tibetan community.
“We are very concerned and upset that Melbourne Town Hall is giving legitimacy to this exhibition. It is deeply insensitive and inflammatory towards our community and we appeal in the strongest possible terms for the City of Melbourne to intervene,” said Samdup Tsering, President of the Tibetan Community Association of Victoria.
Australia Tibet Council (ATC) claims the exhibition grossly misrepresents the realities in modern Tibet and is potentially damaging towards ongoing efforts to promote dialogue and reconciliation between Australia’s Tibetan and Han Chinese communities. ATC recently published a report reveals the alarming extent of covert efforts by Chinese Government officials in Australia to influence Australian politicians, media, NGOs and universities(1).
“This exhibition is a blatant example of the Chinese Government’s determination to avoid dealing with the Tibetan issue. Instead of addressing the legitimate concerns of the Tibetan people, the Chinese Government persists with its attempt to deny the existence of the problem and mislead the international community about the real situation in Tibet,” said Paul Bourke, Executive Officer of the Australia Tibet Council.
The Chinese Consulate General in Melbourne sent invitations for the exhibition’s opening to members of the Victorian Parliament and local councils. Members of the Victorian Parliament and Melbourne City Council have since been advised of the nature of the exhibition and discouraged from attending.
Chinese dissident groups have also expressed concern at the timing of the exhibition, which will open on the eve of the politically sensitive 20th anniversary of the Tianenman massacre.
Members of the Tibetan Community of Victoria led by Sandup Tsering, Australia Tibet Council and supporters held a peaceful protest outside the Town Hall. Letting the public know that the Chinese government had tricked their way into the Town Hall to spread their propaganda about Tibet being freed from serfdom by the Chinese. That Tibet was being misrepresented by the Chinese in photos, while the real Tibetans were outside letting the public know about 50 years of terrible oppression in Tibet by the Chinese government.
Two supporters of the Tibetans went into the opening, where a gathering of about 150 Chinese and two westerners viewed the contrived party line exhibition about Tibet. The speakers included Consulate-General of the People's Republic of China in Melbourne Shen Weilian, Wellington Lee, Anselm Hong and Craig Skinner of the Australia China Friendship Association (one on the only two other westerners). The speakers each went through the same party line story of the Chinese government. Craig Skinner and another speaker mention that the people demonstrating should come inside and see what it’s all about, that they knew nothing of Tibet. One of the western Tibetan supporters asked him in Tibetan "Tashi telek. Khyerang kusu depo yin bay?" ("Hello, how are you?") The guy looked confused for some reason so he explained "Diy bo kay re" ("This is Tibetan language") He still looked confused so he switched to English and said: "I've been speaking to you in Tibetan and you didn't understand a fkkn word I said did you? Do you really know all about Tibet?" He then left, disgusted.
The other Tibetan supporter left and Sandup Tsering asked if he could go in, seeing two speaker had made the offer, he tried to politely go in but security refused entry.
Hundreds of passers by took Tibetan protester’s flyers, many showing warm support and serious interest. This is their town, and their Town Hall. Perhaps now it’s just in name only.
Time after time the Chinese government have been found to be cunning, secretive, bullying and unrelenting in their quest for the world to have one vision, theirs. Is that how you want to live?
Reported by
Australia Tibet Council
Email: Tibetcouncil@atc.org.au
website: www.atc.org.au
Listen to the Voice of Tibet News 3/6/09 http://www.vot.org/player.html?snd=http://www.vot.org/votwedtib.mp3
NTDTV news link for this: http://english.ntdtv.com/ntdtv_en/ns_asia/2009-06-04/254795177134.html
The booking for the exhibition, titled “Tibet’s Past and Present”, was made under false pretences by Chinese-Australian businessman Anson Hong, Chairman of the National Liaison Council of Chinese Australians - an organization with strong links to the Chinese Communist Party. An invitation leaked to the Australia Tibet Council revealed that Mr. Hong had acted as a proxy for the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Melbourne.
The exhibition, a central component in a state-driven initiative to shape international perceptions of the Tibetan situation, has been shown in a number of countries including China, Canada and South Korea. It was recently withdrawn from the Canberra Centre after a series of complaints to the venue and the Canberra Times.
Officials at the City of Melbourne were unaware till yesterday of the exhibition’s link to the Chinese Government. The booking was made directly with Epicure Catering, the company contracted by the City of Melbourne to manage the Town Hall, and was being handled as a commercial booking. A staff member at the City of Melbourne, who wishes to remain anonymous, conceded that they had been “hoodwinked” by Mr. Hong over the exhibition. Nonetheless, contractors Epicure Catering have chosen to proceed with the exhibition and the City of Melbourne has refused to intervene.
Revelation of the exhibition, advertised only through the Chinese language media, has drawn strong reactions from Melbourne’s Tibetan community.
“We are very concerned and upset that Melbourne Town Hall is giving legitimacy to this exhibition. It is deeply insensitive and inflammatory towards our community and we appeal in the strongest possible terms for the City of Melbourne to intervene,” said Samdup Tsering, President of the Tibetan Community Association of Victoria.
Australia Tibet Council (ATC) claims the exhibition grossly misrepresents the realities in modern Tibet and is potentially damaging towards ongoing efforts to promote dialogue and reconciliation between Australia’s Tibetan and Han Chinese communities. ATC recently published a report reveals the alarming extent of covert efforts by Chinese Government officials in Australia to influence Australian politicians, media, NGOs and universities(1).
“This exhibition is a blatant example of the Chinese Government’s determination to avoid dealing with the Tibetan issue. Instead of addressing the legitimate concerns of the Tibetan people, the Chinese Government persists with its attempt to deny the existence of the problem and mislead the international community about the real situation in Tibet,” said Paul Bourke, Executive Officer of the Australia Tibet Council.
The Chinese Consulate General in Melbourne sent invitations for the exhibition’s opening to members of the Victorian Parliament and local councils. Members of the Victorian Parliament and Melbourne City Council have since been advised of the nature of the exhibition and discouraged from attending.
Chinese dissident groups have also expressed concern at the timing of the exhibition, which will open on the eve of the politically sensitive 20th anniversary of the Tianenman massacre.
Members of the Tibetan Community of Victoria led by Sandup Tsering, Australia Tibet Council and supporters held a peaceful protest outside the Town Hall. Letting the public know that the Chinese government had tricked their way into the Town Hall to spread their propaganda about Tibet being freed from serfdom by the Chinese. That Tibet was being misrepresented by the Chinese in photos, while the real Tibetans were outside letting the public know about 50 years of terrible oppression in Tibet by the Chinese government.
Two supporters of the Tibetans went into the opening, where a gathering of about 150 Chinese and two westerners viewed the contrived party line exhibition about Tibet. The speakers included Consulate-General of the People's Republic of China in Melbourne Shen Weilian, Wellington Lee, Anselm Hong and Craig Skinner of the Australia China Friendship Association (one on the only two other westerners). The speakers each went through the same party line story of the Chinese government. Craig Skinner and another speaker mention that the people demonstrating should come inside and see what it’s all about, that they knew nothing of Tibet. One of the western Tibetan supporters asked him in Tibetan "Tashi telek. Khyerang kusu depo yin bay?" ("Hello, how are you?") The guy looked confused for some reason so he explained "Diy bo kay re" ("This is Tibetan language") He still looked confused so he switched to English and said: "I've been speaking to you in Tibetan and you didn't understand a fkkn word I said did you? Do you really know all about Tibet?" He then left, disgusted.
The other Tibetan supporter left and Sandup Tsering asked if he could go in, seeing two speaker had made the offer, he tried to politely go in but security refused entry.
Hundreds of passers by took Tibetan protester’s flyers, many showing warm support and serious interest. This is their town, and their Town Hall. Perhaps now it’s just in name only.
Time after time the Chinese government have been found to be cunning, secretive, bullying and unrelenting in their quest for the world to have one vision, theirs. Is that how you want to live?
Reported by
Australia Tibet Council
Email: Tibetcouncil@atc.org.au
website: www.atc.org.au
Listen to the Voice of Tibet News 3/6/09 http://www.vot.org/player.html?snd=http://www.vot.org/votwedtib.mp3
NTDTV news link for this: http://english.ntdtv.com/ntdtv_en/ns_asia/2009-06-04/254795177134.html
Melbourne Tibetans condemn "Serf Emanicipation Day" - 28th March 2009
There was a strong gathering of Tibetan and Tibet Supporters outside the Chinese Consulate in Melbourne, Australia today. The weather was beautiful and hearts were strong, as united voices came together in outcry against the appalling behavior of the Chinese government, who have made March 28th 'Serf Emancipation Day'.Thus forcing Tibetans in Tibet to celebrate the loss of their leader, the loss of their freedom, the loss of their culture.
Sandup Tsering, president of the Tibetan community in Victoria lead the protest with a very meaningful description of the situation, which has been a very consistent Tibetan point of view. "This is provocative and an insult to the Tibetan people past, present and future, because this sets a law on Tibetans to do something against our will and conscience. How could we celebrate the death of our people and our nation? That is why we are here today, to condemn it!'Sandup went on to explain 'this is a blatant lie, an attempt to rewrite Tibet's history, the reality is the complete opposite.'
It was a very peaceful but well represented protest, overseen by the friendly and cooperative Victorian and Federal Police. The event was covered by SBS TV and the international organization NTDTV, who are apparently able to broadcast uncensored into China.
Prayers lead the occasion and other speakers included Tenzin Tsethar of the Tibetan Youth Group. The leafy Toorak suburb where the consulate lies, also rang with the cries 'We will never give up, China is lying - Tibetans are dying, Genuine dialogue - no more killing'. Pleas to the Chinese consulate for some fairness and justice for their people went unanwsered.
At the closure, Sandup thanked everyone, including the police for their respect and restraint. The Tibetan community of Melbourne then, quietly and carefully collected all their things and left the usually quiet street as they found it. But with them, they took the pain of knowing that there is a long and trecherous road a head, perhaps for generations, until the culture known throughout the world for kindness and love is able to bloosom again in their land of Tibet.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_o8_6K4WPT8
More photos at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/atcvic/sets/72157615920255763/