Does One Chinese FM Count For More Than 30,000 People?
(ATC | Australia | 19 May 2002)
Australia Tibet Council renews calls for Howard and Crean to meet Dalai Lama. The Australia Tibet Council tonight called on the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader to make a greater effort to adjust their itineraries in order to meet the Dalai Lama, who arrived in Australia last night.
According to ATC, the fact that more than 30,000 people turned out to hear the Dalai Lama in Melbourne this afternoon, despite cold wet weather, demonstrates the enormous support for him among the Australian public. "Shouldn't the wishes of these 30,000 Australians count for more than the bullying demands of Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan", said ATC President Ms Alex Butler.
When Mr Tang visited Australia in March, he publicly warned Australian political leaders not to meet the Dalai Lama. ATC said that it was important that the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader demonstrated that Australia was able to make its own decisions when it came to meetings with respected and popular world leaders, such as the Dalai Lama.
The Dalai Lama, Prime Minister John Howard and Opposition Leader Simon Crean will all be in Sydney next weekend. Seats for the Dalai Lama's teachings at the Sydney Entertainment Centre next Sunday have already sold out.
Friends of Tibet (INDIA),
PO Box 16674, Bombay 400050
www.friendsoftibet.org