Speech by Thubten Jigme Norbu

March 8, 1997

The PRC Consulate, Toronto, Canada

Well thank you for having me here in Toronto. I am beginning to feel very comfortable in this city. This is the second time I have visited this year.

Soon I will need to apply for a Canadian passport.

I am so happy to be among my Tibetan Canadian brothers and sisters. Many of you came to North America when I did. In a way then, we have shared in the misery of being displaced from our country for a similar amount of time.

Personnally, while I have been fortunate to live in North America, I am MORE THAN READY to go HOME.

It is always a sad occasion when we are forced to remember the terrible things that have happened to Tibet in the decades since China invaded and occupied our country. But even though it might be sad and difficult for us to have to think about torture, murder, rape, and cultural oppression, it is also necessary for all of us to speak about these atrocities. This way, they will not be forgotton. China continues these horrible actions, even as I stand here speaking to you right now.

At this very moment, China is holding a 7-year old child hostage. This is terrible. In fact, this child is the youngest political prisoner in the world. Gendhun Choekyi Nyima is being detained simply because we Tibetans have faith in him as Tibet's Panchen Lama. Our Panchen Lama must be released.

This example clearly shows China's barbarian policies toward Tibet and our people. We must let China know that we will not allow the crimes in Tibet to continue. Today, many more people from around the world are very familiar with China's actions in Tibet. They understand how Tibet, a peaceful country that had no aggressive intentions toward any of its neighbors, was brutally attacked and occupied by China. They know how China pursued disastrous policies in Tibet to transform our country into a Maoist "paradise" that left more than a million of our brothers and sisters dead by the early 1980's. And now even more and more people understand that China has embarked on a steady campaign to turn Tibet into a wasteland and empty shell that they try to disguise as a part of China.

The world has also witnessed that we Tibetans refuse to give up our country.

Since the large scale invasion of Tibet in 1959, each generation of Tibetans has demonstrated courage and risked its life to fight for Tibet's independence. This desire will never disappear. We Tibetans will never accept China's rule of our country. We will voice our displeasure with China's cruelty of our people, land, culture, animals, insects, and environment. We will do this and fight for Rangzen until each of us can safely and peaceful return to our homeland.

Bod Rgyal-lo!