Published by: World Tibet Network News, Tuesday, Mar 12, 1996

Source: Radio Australia external service, Melbourne, in English 1100 gmt 10 Mar 96

Text of report by Radio Australia

Demonstrations have been held in Australia today [10th March] to protest against Chinese rule in Tibet. The demonstrations, in Canberra and Sydney, marked Tibet National Day.

In Canberra, about 100 people protested outside the Chinese embassy. The Australian representative of the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama addressed the gathering in Canberra. The representative, Chime Rinzin [phonetic], said the Dalai Lama believed a political power struggle in Beijing was hindering progress in Tibet but there was hope for an eventual end to Tibet's problems. Conservationists opposed to the deforestation of the Himalayas took part in the Canberra demonstration.

In Sydney, protesters were told by Justice John Dowd [phonetic] of the New South Wales Supreme Court of concern that Western governments were not recognizing Tibet as a separate country.