Ottawa– On March 10, 2019 Tibetans and Tibet supporters in Canada will commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising Day in honour of the thousands of Tibetans who were killed while peacefully expressing their devotion to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and their unease with Chinese policies in Tibet.
After 60 years of military-led occupation, the human rights situation in Tibet continues to deteriorate. Since February 2009, 155 Tibetans have self-immolated themselves in protest of China’s brutal oppression. American research institute Freedom House has ranked Tibet as the second least free country in the world for the fifth year in a row. Human Rights Watch recently reported that China’s assault on individual human rights is at its worst level since the Tiananmen Square massacre.
Tibetans and supporters across Canada (and around the world) will hold rallies and vigils in solidarity to raise awareness of the worsening human rights situation in Tibet and to honour the thousands of Tibetans who died protesting China’s illegal occupation.
Background:
Tibet was invaded by China in 1959. More than 150,000 Tibetans escaped to India with the 14thDalai Lama. Since that time, under the refugeof the Indian government, the Dalai Lama has set up a government in exile. More than six million Tibetans remain in Tibet under the Chinese rule.
The Tibetan people continue to face intimidation, detention and imprisonment for the free expression of opinion, for the practice of religion and for the exercise of cultural traditions – a denial of their basic human rights. This is a deliberate and systematic attempt by the Chinese regime to commit cultural genocide in Tibet. Approximately 2,000 prisoners of conscience linger in China’s prisons. Many are held without charge, are denied due process or experience torture in detention.
Tibetan National Uprising Day Rallies in Canada
Ottawa, March 1st, 2019
10:30 am Parliament Hill, Wellington St, Ottawa
12:00 pm Start march to Chinese Embassy, Ottawa
1:00 pm Chinese Embassy, Ottawa
Toronto, March 10, 2019
8:30 am Parkdale Collegiate Institute, 209 Jameson Ave, Toronto
11:30 am Yonge and Dundas Square, 1 Dundas St E, Toronto
1:00 pm Start march to Chinese Consulate
2:30 pm Chinese Consulate, Toronto
Calgary, March 10, 2019
10:00 am Gather at City Hall
11:30 am Start March to Chinese Consulate
12:30 pm Chinese Consulate
Vancouver, March 10, 2019
12:00 pm Rally at the Vancouver Art Gallery, 750 Hornby St, Vancouver
1:00 pmMarch from the Vancouver Art Gallery to the Chinese Consulate
Victoria, March 9, 2019
12:45 pm Walk from Victoria City Hall to BC Legislature