[Following is a letter from the National Office of the Canada Tibet Committee to the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs on the subject of China Resolution at
the UNHCR.]
April 8, 1997
Hon. Lloyd Axworthy, Minister
Department of Foreign Affairs & International Trade
125 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0A6
FAX: 613-996-3443
Re: UN Commission on Human Rights, China Resolution
Dear Mr. Axworthy,
I write to express my deep concern over Canada's apparent decision not to
co-sponsor the China resolution at the UN Commission on Human Rights. This
change in Canadian policy represents a clear departure from the positions
of previous years and stands in stark contrast to your statement at the NGO
consultations on February 5, at which you said "In our international
relations, human rights could be considered a threshold issue."
The decision not to support the resolution also disregards the unanimous
recommendation of Canadian NGOs at the Consultation who strongly condemned
any deal-making process with the Peoples Republic of China related to this
matter.
Even more disturbing, are reports today from Geneva, that Canada will in
fact vote against the resolution and with China on a no-motion action.
Such an act by Canada will surely have a negative effect on the decisions
of other Commission members who are still considering their support for the
resolution. It would set a sad and embarrassing precedent, being the first
time that any western country has publicly supported China's human rights
record rather than condemn it. There can be no rationale to explain such
an act by Canada and I can only hope that the reports are untrue.
Mr. Axworthy, as a previous member of the Canadian Parliamentary Friends of
Tibet, you are aware of the gross violations of human rights which continue
today inside occupied-Tibet. They have been documented in several
publications at your disposal. The extent of the violations is illustrated
by the continued detention of the world's youngest political prisoner,
Gendhun Choekyi Nyima, the 7 year old Panchen Lama, whose whereabouts and safety have been unknown for nearly two years.
In this context, how can Canada hope to change China from "within" as you
suggested last week in the Globe and Mail? Clearly it is only outside
international condemnation which offers any sort of support to those
suffering inside Tibet and in China itself. Human rights are not the
"internal affairs" of any nation. They are internationally recognized rights and their protection is the responsibility of all people and nations, including Canada.
Sincerely,
Thubten Samdup
President
