Free Tibet protesters mark birthday

Free Tibet protesters (from left) Ngodup Lama, April Dolkar, Geshe Jampa Tensin, Lhagon Turku, Peter Small and Jampa Drolma were among a group of about 15 who set up in the Octagon to mark the 23rd birthday of Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, who was taken into custody by the Chinese government at the age of 6 and whose whereabouts are unknown.

Mr Small, who was wearing an Anzac poppy, said it was a coincidence their protest was held on Anzac Day, adding the freedoms they were seeking in Tibet were the same ones that New Zealand and Australian soldiers had fought for.

Buddhist monk Lhagon Turku, speaking through an interpreter, said Chinese Government oppression of Tibetan people had got worse over the past few years, to the point where 37 Tibetans had set themselves on fire in protest in the past year.