Ottawa, March 31, 2023 – On March 30th, Sherap Therchin, the executive director of CTC, participated in a panel of witnesses to testify at the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development regarding Bill C-281. This bill seeks to amend the Sergei Magnitsky Act, officially known as the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act in Canada, which was passed in October 2017 following a motion passed by the House of Commons in March 2015.
The Sergei Magnitsky Act, which originated in the United States in 2012 after the execution of Sergei Magnitsky in Russia in 2009, aims to impose governmental sanctions against foreign individuals who have been involved in significant corruption or committed human rights abuses. During the panel discussion, Sherap Therchin connected the human rights abuses suffered by Tibetans under the subjugation of the PRC to the scope of this legislation. He highlighted the tragic stories of Tibetans who lost their lives due to inhumane treatment and torture they endured in prisons.
Despite these deeply disturbing occurrences, there have been no official investigations conducted into the deaths of Tibetan prisoners or the acts of torture inflicted upon them. Moreover, no Chinese officials have been held accountable for their crimes against Tibetan prisoners.
During the panel discussion, Sherap Therchin also faced questions from the committee members regarding the advisability of making the list of political prisoners public. In response, Sherap highlighted the courage of political prisoners such as Jigme Gyatso, who risked their lives to pass on crucial information to the outside world about the harsh realities faced by Tibetans under Chinese subjugation.
By making this information public, it can help raise awareness about the ongoing human rights abuses suffered by Tibetans and promote accountability for those responsible. Sherap emphasized the importance of recognizing the sacrifices made by these prisoners and working towards securing their release and supporting their families. The discussion demonstrated the urgent need for action to address the systemic human rights abuses and corruption occurring in Tibet and to hold those responsible accountable for their actions.
The committee, chaired by MP Ali Ehsassi, was joined by thirteen other MPs, including Philip Lawrence, Robert Oliphant, John McKay, Sameer Zuberi, Garnett Genuis, Michael Chong, Heather McPherson, Dave Epp, Christine Normandin, Lindsay Mathyssen, Shelby Kramp-Neuman, and Frencseco Sorbara.
In addition to Sherap Therchin, the panel of witnesses included Katherine Leung from Hong Kong Watch, Farida Deif from Human Rights Watch Canada, and Professors Alex Neve and Daniel Turp. This diverse group of experts and advocates brought a range of perspectives and experiences to the discussion, underscoring the importance and urgency of addressing the human rights abuses occurring in Tibet and around the world.
By Sherap Therchin