The Australia Tibet Council (ATC) is urging the public to write to Prime Minister John Howard to encourage China to begin dialogue on Tibet during his meetings with Chinese leaders in Beijing from August 17 to 19, 2003.
Australian Seal TIn an email Action Alert dated August 11, 2003, ATC asked Tibet supporters to urge Howard to express the Australian government’s support for the recent contact between Chinese authorities and representatives of the Dalai Lama. “Ask Mr. Howard to impress upon them that it would be in China’s interest to move these initial discussions forward and commence a serious dialogue on Tibet’s future with the Dalai Lama or his envoys,” the Alert said.
The Australia Tibet Council (ATC) is an independent, non-profit national organization with branches in every state and a National Office in Sydney.
A sample letter by ATC refers to reports of British Prime Minister Tony Blair raising the issue of the two recent visits to China by the Dalai Lama’s envoys in September 2002 and May this year with President Hu Jintao during his China visit in July 2003.
“I am writing to request that you reinforce Mr. Blair’s actions and express the Australian government’s support for this contact between Chinese authorities and representatives of the Dalai Lama,” the sample letter says.
“For the first time in many years, the Chinese authorities are sending small but positive signals about Tibet. Please take this opportunity to encourage them further in this direction,” it added.