Canberra, Australia, 14 June 2011 (By Tsering Kyinzom
Dhongdue) - His Holiness the Dalai Lama visited the Parliament in
Canberra today for a series of meetings with members from all of
Australia's major political parties.
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| His Holiness the Dalai Lama with
members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet in Canberra,
Australia, on14 June 2011. Photo/Rusty Stewart/DLIAL |
The invitation to visit Parliament came from the
All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet, which currently has 26 members.
Some of the group members were part of the first Australian
parliamentarian delegation to Dharamsala in 2009. Four core members of
the group welcomed His Holiness on arrival at Parliament House this
morning.
His Holiness held private meetings with Greens
leader Senator Bob Brown, a long-time supporter of Tibet, Mr Tony Abbott
MP, Leader of Opposition, and Mr Warren Truss MP, Leader of the
Nationals. He later met with 15 members of the All-Party Parliamentary
Group for Tibet. The group is chaired by Mr Michael Danby MP and
co-chaired by Mr Peter Slipper MP, Senator Bob Brown and Senator Nick
Xenophon.
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His Holiness the Dalai lama with Mr
Tony Abbott MP, Leader of the Opposition, in Canberra, Australia, on 14
June 2011. Photo/Rusty Stewart/DLIAL
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The meeting between His Holiness and the
parliamentary Tibet group was a great opportunity to discuss a wide
range of issues including the evolution of Tibetan democracy and its
significance for the Tibetan people. His Holiness congratulated Mr Ken
Wyatt MP, the first indigenous person to be elected in the House of
Representatives. Mr Wyatt has recently joined the Tibet parliamentary
group and has shown great interest in understanding the Tibet issue. Mr
Slipper, MP, read a cross-party statement on behalf of the group and
applauded His Holiness for his success in establishing a modern Tibetan
democracy in exile. The group said it recognises the dire threats to
Tibetan culture and livelihoods and supports the Tibetan people’s
aspiration for genuine autonomy within the Chinese constitution.
Acknowledging that a stable and prosperous China is important to
Australia’s future, the statement affirmed that a resolution of the
Tibet issue is in Australia’s national interest.
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His Holiness the Dalai lama with
Green Party leader Senator Bob Brown deputy leader Senator Christine
Milne in Canberra, Australia, on14 June 2011. Photo/Rusty Stewart/DLIAL
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His Holiness then addressed a parliamentary
reception, which was attended by around 80 MPs and Senators and a large
number of advisers of parliamentarians. Ambassadors from five countries
also came to the reception. This was a rare opportunity for the
diplomats and parliamentarians from both houses to hear His Holiness
speak on the situation in Tibet and China and the importance of
upholding moral principles in politics. His Holiness told the meeting
that the free world can help China to become a good member of the
international community. He said, however, China must also understand
its own responsibilities. To that effect, it should allow more freedom
of information and develop transparency in the government.
Prior to his meetings with the politicians, His
Holiness addressed a media conference. Most of the questions were around
issues of climate change, trade with China and asylum seekers. Members
of the Federal Press Gallery were keen to know the Dalai Lama’s views on
these subjects of fierce political debates in Australia.
Despite his busy schedule, His Holiness and five
representatives of major religious groups participated in an interfaith
prayer service for world peace, held in Parliament House.
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His Holiness the Dalai lama during his public talk in Canberra, Australia, on 14 June 2011. Photo/Rusty Stewart/DLIAL
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A brief visit to the House of Representatives
during Question Time was an interesting highlight of His Holiness’ day
in the Parliament. Speaker Mr Harry Jenkins, MP, welcomed the Dalai Lama
as a distinguished guest to the House as His Holiness watched the
proceedings from the Gallery.
Apart from his meetings in the Parliament, His
Holiness gave a public talk on “Happiness, Life & Living” to a
packed audience in the Royal Theatre at National Convention Centre. In
the morning, he also took an opportunity to meet members of the Tibetan,
Bhutanese and Mongolian communities.
His Holiness leaves Canberra tomorrow morning. He
will be in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast in Queensland for the next
three days.
