DHARAMSHALA, June 6: Canadian Member of Parliament Peggy Nash called on her government to take action to save Tibetan lives following the most recent human rights abuses in Tibet.
Peggy took into notice, last month’s twin self-immolations in Lhasa by two Tibetan youths and the fiery death of a Tibetan mother of three in Zamthang, three days later. Reports have indicated that hundreds of Tibetans have been detained in Lhasa in a backlash of the immolations and many have been expelled from the region.
Speaking in the Parliament on Friday, Peggy said, “Mr Speaker, I rise in the house today to bring an issue of great urgency to the attention of this House, and Canadians.”
“Over the past two days, an estimated 600 Tibetans have been detained in Lhasa after two more young Tibetans joined those who have self immolated in protest of religious and cultural oppression by the Chinese authorities. This Wednesday, a mother of three self immolated in protest.”
Peggy, who has met Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama on multiple occasions, said Tibetans in Tibet have reached a “breaking point.”
“After years of repression, Tibetans have reached a breaking point. Young monks and nuns are acting out of sheer frustration. Canada has a responsibility to take immediate action to end the suffering, and see a real improvement in the lives of the Tibetan people.”
The MP from Toronto riding of Parkdale–High Park, home to “the largest Tibetan community in Canada,” urged Prime Minister Stephen Harper to keep his promise of a “good and frank dialogue on fundamental principles” with China.
During his last trip to China in February, 2012, Harper had maintained that China can expect him to continue to advocate for improved human rights conditions.
“The Government of Canada must now reach out to the Chinese government and urge a peaceful and quick resolution to the current situation,” Peggy said. “We can and we must save innocent lives.”
