News and Views on Tibet

Canadian MP raises concern over Tibet in the Parliament 

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MP David Sweet during his address at the House of Commons (Photo- CTA)
MP David Sweet during his address at the House of Commons (Photo- CTA)

By Choekyi Lhamo

DHARAMSHALA, May 27: The conservative Canadian MP David Sweet raised concern over human rights issues faced by Tibetans, Uyghurs, and Falun Gong practitioners at the House of Commons in a special committee on Canada-China relations on Monday. MP Sweet urged his government and other leading democratic countries across the world to do more than hope for a dialogue.

He clarified that his critique for the Chinese government is not directed at Chinese people, “Chinese people are oppressed people, oppressed by the CCP’s regime. It is a regime that they suffer under”. MP Sweet claimed that the Party led by Xi Jinping is a ruthless totalitarian regime capable of brutal oppression on its ethnic and religious minorities, adding that it has a “long, consistent, and deliberate pattern in flouting international standards of human rights.”

He emphasized on the ongoing persecution in crowded camps of East Turkistan during the pandemic, risking their exposure to the virus. He said that Tibetans have become one of the longest persecuted people under the CCP, adding that one cannot talk about China’s oppressive regime without talking about Tibet.

“What have we become that we don’t shout from the rooftops and take sanctioning measures against the perpetrators of these heinous human rights violations?” he asked the MPs present in the House. MP Sweet highlighted the CCP’s persecution of its own people who are under this regime, “There is no freedom of the press, no freedom of religion, no consistent rule of law. All that stated to be arrested are ‘trumped-up charges’. The police answer only to the Chinese Communist apparatus”. He noted that the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners is another example of harassment.

MP David Sweet also highlighted the case of two Canadians, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, who were imprisoned by the Chinese government in 2008. He added that CCP’s consistent exploitation of trade relations with Canada and other countries must be brought into condemnation.

MP also brought up the crackdown by China in the recent Hong Kong demonstrations over the newly proposed national security law. He said, “While the world has been pre-occupied by COVID-19, China has been cracking down on Hong Kong hoping no one will notice. Thousands of Hong Kongers took to the streets to protest. We are witnessing the end of one country two systems agreement. We are witnessing the end of Hong Kong.”

MP David Sweet has been a long-term Tibet supporter and has been vocal on issues facing Tibet at the sub-committee on international human rights.

 

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