Tibetans in Australia, NZ and South East Asia

  A week ago, Tibetan diasporas in exile concluded primary election for the top political leadership, the headquarter of which is based in Dharamsala, f our kilometres away from the residence of His Holiness the 14 th  Dalai Lama known in Tibetan veneration as “Shukgyar”. The primary election had seven aspirants for the Sikyong or Presidency nomination and nearly two hundred aspirants seeking nomination for the parliament seats of 45 that is structured on multiple electoral basis covering Asia, North America, Europe and Australiasia.  The electorate of Australiasia and South East Asia has one seat for the Tibetan Parliament as per the Tibetan Charter. The first election was held in 2015-2016 where the electorate of just over 1000 voters sent Dhongdue Kyizom as the first ever parliamentarian from the region. In this election, the electorate of just one seat for the 45 parliament seats had five aspirants running for the nomination. The partial electoral outcome from Austral...

Tibetans in exile scattered in around more than 25 countries will go for election end of this year for President and Parliament. While in the primary people would nominate candidate for both, they will end up voting in the final round should no president wins more than 60% of the vote. However, Parliament election will go on as usual. So far three aspirants have officially and publicly declared their candidacy to run in the primary election for Chithue (Parliament) to the electorate of Australasia and Asia (excluding India, Nepal and Bhutan) in the upcoming election for 17 th Tibetan Parliament in Exile. Though other aspirants are likely to appear in public, some are making rounds of campaigns behind scenes. The three aspirants who have publicly declared their candidacy include DoringTenzin Phuntsok from Queensland, Tenzin Lobsang Khangsar and Thupten Dhondup both from Victoria. Interestingly, two of the candidates are alumina of Madras Christian College in Chennai. All the thre...

In a landmark accomplishment by Defend Democracy’s urge, Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter’s motion for inquiry into Australian universities of Chinese control and interference has been accomplished. Australia is set to initiate an inquiry into Australian universities including University of Queensland against Chinese Communist government’s interference and control. It comes in the wake of Defend Democracy activists urging Federal Member for Kennedy, Bob Katter and expulsion and banning of student activist Drew Pavlau from the UQ. Defend Democracy is a new organization formed by youth members and registered in Queensland. Drew Pavlau, who currently heads the Defend Democracy or D2 has number of board members including Tibetans, HongKong, Ugyurs, Australians and Vietnamese most of whose names Bob Katter mentioned in the parliament crediting the move. The main objective of the organization is to protect Australia’s democracy and to bring democracy in China. It was during that time ...

Lobsang Jorden arrived in Australia in late 2015 and as someone who had come under protection visa, he too has a struggle in his heart. His family suffered under Chinese government’s brutality like most of the Tibetan arrivals in Australia. Not forgetting his fight for the freedom of his country and people under Chinese occupation, he initiated a movement known as “Freedom Movement on Every Wednesday” in front of Chinese embassy in Sydney. This week’s Wednesday marks his 11 th freedom movement in front of the Chinese embassy in Sydney. However, not all his peaceful, permitted freedom movement went smooth. At one point of time he encountered three Chinese in their mid-30s or early 40s, who not only questioned his activism, threatened and nearly man-handled him. The incident occurred between 9:50-10:00 in the morning on 19th August around the parking site of the embassy in the back while he was readying for his movement in front of the embassy. The incident had him shocked as he never...

Two decades been passed in a twinkling of an eye since the exile Tibetan residents first directly elected a Kalon Tripa, the head of the Kashag or Government-in-Exile, now technically known as Central Tibetan Administration, in 2001. In last four elections, Tibetans elected and reelected two professional academic careerists to head the exile government that witnessed H.H the Dalai Lama’s semi and complete retirement from political or state affairs in 2001 and 2011 respectively.  In the first ever tryst with direct election to Kalon Tripa, Tibetans in exile voted career-academician Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche followed by Harvard academician Dr. Lobsang Sangay, both of whom managed to win second term. 2021 is altogether moving to a different direction as Tibetans are being thrown in the social media with probable and aspiring candidates of veteran calibre in terms of political background in their career, but none of them having academic credentials that can equal both Prof. Samdhong an...

The COVID 19 that originated from Wuhan city has the whole world victimised and reeling under both health and economic downtown as the biggest disaster ever in the history of mankind from a virus. All and sundry are impacted by this pandemic and are fuming on the Chinese government as to how could they have spread it around the world.  Amidst the uncertainty of when the COVID 19 would disappear, a young Australian outspoken student is also becoming a victim of China originated influence in the country. He was manhandled in the very campus of Australia by the Chinese students and others, the video of which we can see, then was reprimanded for his human rights activism by China's propaganda tool, global times and branded separatist. Worse, he was suspended and later banned altogether of his entry into the university to which he was elected Senator and one of the brightest students.  Drew took the University of Queensland to court to challenge his expulsion and is still fightin...

Queensland Tibetan Community president and general secretary meets local Brisbane councillor Vicky Howard The Queensland Tibetan Community leadership met with Brisbane Central ward councillor Vicky Howard, who is serving her second term following electoral victory March this year. The exuberant leader was earlier congratulated via email by the community general secretary soon after her resumption of power at the city council. The community leadership discussed upcoming community and cultural activities with the councillor and sought assistance in the provisions for the cultural and educational development. Currently, there are approximately 154 Tibetans in the state with majority of them being member to the community. Some members live as far as Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast, while most of the Tibetans are concentrated around Brisbane with majority being residents of New Farm. The local councillor has been in constant support of the community since the last year meeting with the ...