Tibetan, supporters rally in Melbourne for Hong Kong/ENG

2019. augusztus 26./Phayul.com/TibetPress

eredeti cikk

By Tenzin Sangmo

DHARAMSHALA, August 26: Tibetans and other supporters held a rally on Sunday in Melbourne, Australia, in support of Hong Kong mass protests.

Expatriate Tibetans, Hong Kongers, Uyghur and Chinese came together on steps of Victoria’s state library with flags and placards to show their support for democracy in Hong Kong.

Lhagyari Namgyal Dolkar, president of the Gu-Chu-Sum Movement Association of Tibet who organized the rally with the Tibetan Community in Victoria said Tibetans who are fighting for their freedom from the Chinese communist regime are moved by the Hong Kong protestors.

“The Chinese regime had promised Hong Kong democracy 20 years ago—similar to how the Chinese communist party promised to protect Tibet’s independence. However, what ensued was far from what was promised.”

“We are out here representing the millions of Hongkongers coming on streets to say we are not taking it,” Dolkar said, “and letting our Hong Kong brothers and sisters know that we are so proud of them.”

The President of the Victoria Tibetan Community Tenzin Lobsang Khangsar said the 60-years of resistance of the Tibetan people and the resilience of the Hong Kong people will eventually prevail no matter how long it takes.

The Representative of the Hong Kong community in Australia, Jane Poon, said the mass protestors have to stay strong while they seek to have the now-suspended extradition bill fully withdrawn.

“We have no fear to fight against the CCP (Chinese Communist Party).”

As the protest in Hong Kong heads into its 12th week and intensifies, the world is closely watching how Beijing responds. Over 700 people were arrested, according to reports.

Julia, an Uyghur spokesperson expressed sadness over the mainland Chinese students hurling racial slurs and hate speech at pro-democracy supporters, in an attempt to curb their passion and enthusiasm.”

“Perhaps until your religion is outlawed, your people are massacred, your organs are harvested, your land is stolen, your mosques, churches, and temples raised, and your hearts a dash, it’s difficult to realize how precious democracy is,” she added.

The Victoria Police were at the rally to prevent any violent confrontation arising from likely pro-Beijing groups again as it happened last week in Melbourne and in Sydney, Australia.

“For every person who is too scared to be here today, after what happened right here last Friday. We are here because we believe in something better,” the Uyghur spokesperson said.

Australia is home to hundreds of Tibetan former political prisoners granted asylum by the country and has in recent times seen the closure of Confucius Institutes in its universities, a campaign led by the Students for a Free Tibet, a global grassroots network of students and activists working in solidarity with the Tibetan people for human rights and freedom.