Canberra

The huge influx of Chinese nationals has given Canberra echoes of the feeling of being overwhelmed which prevails in the Tibetan capital Lhasa, Australian Greens leader Bob Brown said today.

Senator Brown visited Lhasa in 1998.

The saturation of Communist China's flags in Canberra has swamped Australian flags and those of the small Tibetan protest group.

"When the Olympic torch is run through Lhasa next month it will be Beijing triumphalism trampling over the broken hearts of the Tibetan people in their own country," Senator Brown said.

Reports are emerging of pro China dictatorship thugs intimidating and threatening peaceful protestors in Canberra. Despite media reports and politicians claiming the event was a success, reports of shipped in Chinese thugs attacking protestors, spitting, throwing things and stealing flags are emerging. See link. http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23590904-953,00.html

Go to Courier Mail if link does not work.

Pro-Beijing protestors going to Canberra for the Olympic torch relay should reflect on which country they are in, Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.

Senator Brown has called on the organisers to explain what they mean by arranging "strong men" to protect the torch (see pg 1, today's Sydney Morning Herald).

"If there were busloads of Tibetans heading from Lhasa to Beijing to protest about the military occupation of their country they would go straight to jail," Senator Brown said.

MEDIA RELEASE: 7/2/08 for immediate release.

"Intervention repeats past wrongs, Mr Rudd". NT delegation sets off for Canberra Convergence

Today 22 Aboriginal community leaders from across Central Australia are beginning their bus trip to join the "Canberra Convergence". On the opening day of parliament they will rally with many more people from affected NT communities and supporters from across the country against the NT intervention.

Supporting NT Aboriginal Attendance at Convergence on Canberra on 12 Feb 08

Hello, Please find the following call for financial assistance from Barbara Shaw, resident of Mount Nancy Town Camp (an NT Intervention prescribed area), for the purpose of getting 35+ people from prescribed areas within Central Australia to Canberra for the Converge on Canberra rally, timed to coincide with the opening of Federal Parliament on 12 February.

Aboriginal and community organisations have called for a National Convergence on Canberra
for the opening of Parliament on 12 February 2008. "We want to send a
strong message to the new government. The NT Intervention is an abuse
of power by the previous government. We as Aboriginal people need to
stand together to be heard as one." writes Barbara Shaw from Mt Nancy
Camp near Alice Springs in the Northern Territory.