MCLC: Sydney University criticized

[Denton, Kirk]

MCLC LIST
From: Anne Henochowicz <anne at chinadigitaltimes.net>
Subject: Sydney University criticized
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Source: The Guardian (4/18/13):
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/apr/18/sydney-university-dalai-lama

Sydney University criticised for blocking Dalai Lama visit
University accused of bowing to China after scheduled talk by Nobel peace
laureate moved off campus
Agencies in Canberra

One of Australia's most exclusive universities has been accused of bowing
to China <http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/china> after calling off a talk
to students by the Dalai Lama.

Sydney University, ranked in the world's top 50, cancelled the visit by
the Nobel peace laureate, scheduled for June, to avoid damaging its ties
with China, including funding for its cultural Confucius Institute,
Tibetan activists and Australian politicians said.

"As a democratic country, we should be encouraging more open and frank
discussion about the current situation in Tibet, not banning the country's
spiritual leader from addressing students and staff at universities," said
the Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young, whose party wields the balance of
power in the upper house of parliament.

The prime minister, Julia Gillard, was heavily criticised for refusing to
meet the Dalai Lama <http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/dalailama> during a
visit in 2011 to avoid damaging two-way trade worth $120bn last year. This
month she led a trade delegation to meet the Chinese premier, Li Keqiang,
with the countries agreeing to a new strategic partnership including
yearly talks between leaders on foreign policy and economics.

China's human rights record in Tibet remains a controversial issue in
Australia, and Sydney University's new Institute for Democracy and Human
Rights organised an on-campus talk by the Dalai Lama during his 10-day
visit.

The event was moved off campus after the university warned organisers not
to use its logo, allow media coverage or entry to the event by Tibet
activists.

In emails obtained by Australian television, the university
vice-chancellor Michael Spence expressed relief at the outcome, reportedly
praising it as "in the best interests of researchers across the
university".

A university spokesman said senior academic management never received an
official request to host the Dalai Lama, but acknowledged a decision was
taken to move the event. "The university decided that there was a better
way of doing it. A small group, a small section of the student body, was
really not the best thing," the spokesman said.

Kyinzom Dhongdue, a pro-Tibetan independence spokeswoman for the Australia
Tibet Council, said the university had given in to China. "They have
compromised their academic freedom and integrity, and it also sends a
disheartening message to the Tibetan people," she said.

More than 100 Tibetans have set themselves alight since 2009 in protest
against Chinese rule, mostly in the heavily Tibetan areas of Sichuan,
Gansu and Qinghai provinces rather than in the Tibet Autonomous Region of
China. Most have died.

Last month a Chinese official accused the Dalai Lama of providing money to
encourage people to set themselves on fire, and said they had evidence to
prove he was instigating the self-immolations.

China brands the Dalai Lama, who fled into exile in India in 1959 after an
abortive uprising against Chinese rule of Tibet, as a separatist. The
Dalai Lama says he is merely seeking more autonomy for his Himalayan
homeland.