Australian lawmakers visit Dharamsala

Australian lawmakers visit Dharamsala to meet Dalai Lama
by Akhilesh Bharti

Dharamsala: A group of Australian lawmakers arrived here to meet the exiled Tibetan leader, the Dalai Lama and representatives of Tibet's government-in-exile. The six-member delegation comprises the Labour lawmakers Michael Danby and Melissa Parke, Liberal lawmaker Peter Slipper, Independent Senator Nick Xenophon and Greens Senators Scott Ludlam and Sarah Hanson-Young. The delegation, due to stay in Dharamshala till July 6, is accompanied by a handful of lawyers, journalists and activists. "They are coming here to meet Dalai Lama and also to be introduced to the democratic structure of the Tibetans-in-exile. We would also take this opportunity to brief them more about the situation inside Tibet and they are expressing their support on the Tibetan cause," said Dolma Garry, deputy speaker of Tibetan parliament-in-exile. Meanwhile, the Australian lawmakers apologised for the alleged racial attacks on Indian students in their country. "We are strongly in support of persons of India and other international students in Australia and we feel disgusted. That's why it is very important that we should have a response. The Prime Minister is sitting with the state governments to make sure that our response is such that Indian students continue to feel safe in our country," said Peter Slipper, a Liberal Australian lawmaker. Australia has been under intense fire in the Indian media after a series of brutal attacks on students in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide last month.
-July 2, 2009

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