published by World Tibet Network News, Tuesday, December 05, 1995

By: WOESER JONGDONG

December 6, 1995

Sutherland Standard Times

When South Africa was under apartheid rule, Canada spearheaded commonwealth countries to impose trade sanction against South Africa. And as recently as last year, Canada sent warships off the coast of Haiti to impose U.N. sanctioned trade embargo against Haiti's then military ruler. Canada actively took part in multinational military offensive against Iraq's occupation of oil rich emirate of Kuwait, a sovereign independent nation.

Considering Canada's strong stand for rule of law, human rights and democracy around the world, makes me wonder why there is such a hypocrisy and duplicity when it comes to China, who has been ruling Tibet illegally since its military occupation in 1959. If Chinese government can massacre and torture their own ethnic Han brethren, who would be surprised by the Chinese government's genocidal policies in Tibet- a people who are quite different historically, politically, linguistically, socially, ethnically, spiritually and customary from chauvinistic Han Chinese. What happened in Tianmann Square was not a first time show of Chinese brutality, it has been happening in Tibet ever since the occupation in 1959.

Tibet was a home for six million Tibetans, an independent sovereign nation. Similar to eastern Europe by former Soviet Union, Tibet was occupied by communist China in 1959 and initiated the process of systematic destruction of Tibetan social and political structure under the guise of communist reform. 1.2 million Tibetans, one-fifth of the country's population died as a direct result of Chinese occupation and many are still languishing in Chinese prisons and labour camps. More than 6,000 monasteries, temples and other cultural and historical buildings were demolished and their contents looted and sold in international black market. Chinese government encourages the immigration of Han Chinese into Tibet to marginalize Tibetans in their own homeland, posing serious threat to the very existence of a distinct Tibetan national and cultural identity.

More than 35 years of peaceful and non-violent struggle by Tibetans under the leadership of H.H. 14th Dalai Lama has brought Tibet's issue nowhere close to solution. Amicable settlement to the Tibet issue is not in the sight yet, especially when China is being ruled by old hardliner communists.

Prime Minister Jean Chretien, then opposition leader, promised to His Holiness the Dalai Lama that he would remember Tibet when he becomes Prime Minister. Unfortunately, soon after being sworn in as Prime Minister of Canada, Mr Chretien led Team Canada to China and refused to talk about human rights with Chinese counterpart on the pretext that Canada is not big and powerful enough to influence China. Yet Mr Chretien as opposition leader did use human rights record of China with regard to Tibet number of times in the parliament, to lash out at then ruling Tory government's China policy !

Regardless of whether we can influence China or not, we sure do have lot to worry about, when China gets hold of Canada's Candu nuclear technology, which Mr Chretien decided to sell to China. One must not forget, China is still a hostile country not only to the West, but to its Asian neighbours as well, a political minefield and totalitarian regime. It would be politically naive not to think that, future of China is tied to future of Tibet as much as Tibet is being tied to future of China.

International Commission of Jurists which investigated the crime committed by the Chinese upon Tibetans aftermath of the occupation found the Chinese guilty of "the gravest crime of which any person or nation can be accused, that is of genocide." In fact, according to Freedom House, a New York based human rights group, Tibet ranks as the worst case of human rights violation among all the occupied territories in the world.

Canada's current China policy seem to be in obtuse by recent economy gold rush in that region, which I am sure will send wrong message of approval to the ruthless government in Beijing. A wrong message that will recognize China's economic clout and help Chinese to think that they can get away with ethnic and cultural genocide in occupied Tibet, human rights violation, forced labour camp (Gulag) and its constant bullying of Asian neighbours.

In a global family, we, as an individual have universal responsibility to help each other, by acting as a voice for the voiceless. We must not under estimate our power to make difference in suffering people's lives around world. What South Africa is now, is also a result of worldwide campaign by ordinary people like you and me.

I urge you to do something to help Tibet and to keep the Tibet issue alive by joining Students for a Free Tibet organization at college. You can also support Tibet's cause by boycotting goods made in China by forced prison labours. Chinese made goods that you buy in stores actually helps to pay for China's nuclear weapons development program and to suppress freedom movement in China and Tibet. If we believe in peace, justice and democracy and do not accept Chinese atrocities in Tibet, stop buying Chinese made goods. Write or call your local MP to show your concern for human rights violation in Tibet.