Tibetans condemn the unjust sanctions imposed by China on Tibetan activists

Tibetans march from Grange Park to the Chinese consulate in Totronto to protest the unjust sanctions imposed by China on 20 Canadian human rights advocates. (Photo:file)

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Toronto — Members of the Canadian Tibetan Association of Ontario, the Dhokham Chushi Gangdruk Canada, Tibetan Women’s Association of Ontario, Regional Tibetan Your Congress Toronto and Students for Free Tibet Toronto, organised a peace march to protest against the unjust sanctions imposed by China on Tibetan activists and organisations in Canada. They call on China to stop transnational repression in Canada.

Around 50 local Tibetans, Tibet supporters and Tibetan activists from the Canadian Tibetan Association of Ontario, the Dhokham Chushi Gangdruk Canada, the Tibetan Women's Association of Ontario, the Regional Tibetan Your Congress Toronto and the Students for Free Tibet Toronto organized a peace march in the -20 degree from Grange Park to Chinese Consulate, Totronto, to protest against the unjust sanctions imposed by China on 20 Canadians human rights advocates, including two Canadian civil society organisations namely Canada Tibet Committee (CTC) and Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project (URAP), on December 22, 2024.

The organiser said, “The Canada Tibet Committee (CTC) has consistently worked with other organisations and governments to challenge the PRC's extreme exploitation of human rights in Tibet. This includes cross-border repression where the PRC invades other countries to torture people and systems working against the repressive PRC regime. Three Tibetan CTC officials are included in this sanction and we are concerned for their well-being and especially their family members in Tibet. Therefore, we have gathered today to condemn the sanctions and all the the austerities imposed by the PRC.”

"Tibetans in Canada and around the world strongly oppose the Chinese Communist government's recent unjust sanctions against members of the Canadian Tibet Committee. We Tibetans will not remain silent about the CCP's sanctions against our Tibetans," they added.

Honorable MPP Bhutila Karpoche, MP Arif Virani and Honorable MP James Maloney came to the protest site the Chinese Consulate, Totronto, to stand in solidarity with the Canada Tibet Committee's recent sanction by the PRC. They also gave speeches to Tibetans and urged the Canadian government to provide safety and protection to Canadians sanctioned by the PRC.

MPP Bhutila Karpoche said, "We came here together because we think human rights and democracy are very important. Chinese government's sanction on Canadian citizens is first and it is unexpected, we don't accept the sanction. Our human rights activists will not be silenced because of the sanction. Chinese government is afraid of what we are doing. Tibetans have been fighting for the Tibetan cause for 60 years and we will continue to fight. I urge the Canadian government to provide security and protection for Canadians who are sanctioned by the PRC."

Hon. Arif Virani also said that he has been supporting the Tibetan cause for the last nine years and has been speaking about His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tibet issue and human rights violations in Tibet committed by the CCP in the Canadian Parliament and will continue to do so in the future. He said, "Tibetan cause is on the right side of history".

Arif Virani, a Member of Parliament, has been a vocal advocate for the Tibetan cause, dedicating the last nine years to raising awareness about the human rights situation in Tibet. He said that he has consistently highlighted the Tibet issue and the human rights violations perpetrated by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the Canadian parliamentary. He is determined to continue his efforts in the future. "The Tibetan cause is on the right side of history," he added.

MP James Maloney said, "CCP can put people in prison, stop people from moving around freely, and sanction our friends in Canada. But we won't just stand by. We will be your voice, as we have been for the last nine years. These sanctions won't stop us from doing what we are doing, and we will keep doing what we can for the Tibetan cause." Sherap Therchin, the Director at the Canada Tibet Committee, and one of Tibetan activist sanction by China a month ago. He made it clear that the Sino-Tibet conflict is not just an issue of human rights abuses by the People's Republic of China (PRC) in Tibet. It is also an issue of an invaded nation. After all, Tibet was an independent nation when the PRC illegally militarily invaded it in 1959.

Therchin stated, "Tibetans have never been afraid to attend events and protest, or sacrifice their lives, when it comes to human rights and the Tibetan issue. We all know that more than 165 Tibetans self-immolated because we were frustrated that the international community was ignoring the extreme deterioration of human rights in Tibet. It is has been more 65 years since China illegally invade Tibet and more than 60 nations have gained independence since we lost our independence. The Tibet issue is not just a human rights issue, but also a political issue—a matter of invading one nation by another nation."

Youngdoung Tenzin, Engagement Manager of the Canadian Tibet Committee and one of the Tibetan activists sanctioned by the PRC, addressed the gathering and said, " China wants to confiscate my property in Tibet, the Chinese government has already stolen my land, my people and my country. I have nothing to lose. The Chinese government cannot take away my nationalism, even if I have to sacrifice my life for the Tibetan cause, I can. This sanction threatens my life, the CCP does not want me to advocate for my people and my country."

"Throughout my life, I have experienced threats and transnational oppression, for example, in July 2024, I was invited by the Court of the Citizens of the World in the Hague, to testify in a genocide case against Xi Jinping. I have received threats from Chinese government officials via social media and despite that, I travelled to the Hague and had to face many challenges along the way, rebooking flights and waiting for hours at airports. After many challenges, I manage to reach the court and testify about Chinese President Xi Jinping's genocide against the Tibetans, and the court has issued an arrest warrant for Xi Jinping. I am doing this because I was born and raised in Tibet and nutured by Tibetan Tsampa (food). This has made me fearless and I fight for my people and my country," he added.

"His Holiness the Dalai Lama has dedicated his entire life to the cause of Tibet, and the Tibetans in Tibet have sacrificed their lives to fight against the CCP. It would be immoral if I did not stand up for my brothers and sisters in Tibet who have been oppressed and oppressed in Tibet for 70 years. I will not remain silent, but will stand up for the Tibetan cause more than ever, and I call on Tibetans to stand up for Tibetans inside Tibetans and show solidarity with them and fight against the Chinese government," the Tibetan activist Tenzin urged.