Ottawa, June 15, 2021 – During this week’s annual Canada Tibet Lobby Days event, a national coalition of Tibetan groups met virtually with Canadian parliamentarians from across political parties to urge the renewal of Sino-Tibetan dialogue and express concern over continued human rights violations in occupied Tibet.
The primary request by the coalition is the passage of a motion which calls for the reopening of diplomatic channels between Chinese and Tibetan representatives to discuss the future of Tibet and its relationship to China. The motion was first introduced by Conservative MP Garnett Genuis and passed with unanimous consent in the Special Committee on Canada China Relations in August 2020.
Canada Tibet Committee Executive Director Sherap Therchin reflects on the urgency of dialogue renewal: “His Holiness the Dalai Lama has advocated for peace, non-violence and a dialogue-based approach for his entire life. He is now 85-years-old and is still hopeful for a peaceful dialogue with the Chinese authorities to resolve the Tibet issue. It’s about time that the international community take this issue seriously and come together to urge China to hold a dialogue with the envoys of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration.”
The Canada Tibet Lobby Days Coalition
The Coalition of Tibet Groups in Canada is made up of Tibetan community associations and support groups from across the country. Canada Tibet Lobby Days 2021 is supported by the Canadian Parliamentary Friends of Tibet.