On Monday 10 March, Tibetans across Australia will gather in major cities to commemorate the 66th anniversary of Tibetan National Uprising Day, marking a pivotal moment in their struggle against Chinese Communist Party (CCP) occupation.
On 10 March 1959, Tibetans in Lhasa rose up against the invading Chinese People's Liberation Army. This courageous act of resistance was met with brutal force, resulting in the massacre of thousands of unarmed Tibetan civilians. His Holiness the Dalai Lama was forced to flee into exile, preventing his return to Tibet to this day.
Australia Tibet Council (ATC) and Tibetan communities nationwide will hold rallies in Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and Brisbane calling upon the Australian Government to uphold its democratic values and protect religious freedoms in Tibet.
ATC and Tibetan communities will urge Australia to join like-minded nations in explicitly committing to recognise only a Dalai Lama appointed through traditional Tibetan Buddhist practices, free from any interference by the Chinese government.
Rally Details:
- Sydney: 9:00 AM at Martin Place; 2:00 PM at the Chinese Consulate.
- Canberra: 10:00 AM at Civic Square; 11:30 AM at Parliament House; 12:30 PM at the Chinese Embassy.
- Melbourne: 10:00 AM at Maribyrnong Council Office (61 Napier Street, Footscray 3011); 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM at the Chinese Consulate; 3:00 PM at Memorial Park; 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM at State Library.
- Brisbane: 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM at King George Square, Brisbane City.
As Tibetans rally to protect the Dalai Lama's reincarnation, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who turns 90 in July, is set to release a new book - Voice for the Voiceless: Decades of Struggle with China for My Land and My People. The consequential book will share new insights on the Dalai Lama's future reincarnation and his over 70-year-long struggle with China since its invasion of Tibet.
"In my role as the Dalai Lama, there is no issue more important than what I describe in these pages. My hope is that the book will stimulate fresh thoughts and conversations today and provide a framework for the future of Tibet even after I am gone," said His Holiness the Dalai Lama when announcing the book, to be released worldwide from 11 March.
"We gather to remember those who sacrificed everything for freedom and to demand that the world acknowledges the ongoing oppression in Tibet. We implore the Australian Government to stand with us in safeguarding religious freedom and to reject any attempts by the CCP to control the spiritual leadership of the Tibetan people," said Mr Tsewang Thupten, Canberra Tibetan Community member.
"The Chinese government has time and again, unsuccessfully, attempted to use religion as a way of winning over the Tibetan people inside Tibet," said ATC Executive Officer, Dr Zoe Bedford. "Protecting His Holiness the Dalai Lama's institution from Chinese Government's interference is essential to the survival of Tibetan religion, culture and tradition," Dr Bedford added.
