News and Views on Tibet

Tibetans in Switzerland protest against China at UNHRC

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An elderly Tibetan man holds Tibetan flag outside UNHRC office in protest against China (Photo/CTA)

By Choekyi Lhamo

DHARAMSHALA, June 29: The Tibetan community of Switzerland and Liechtenstein on Friday demonstrated against Chinese presence at the ongoing 47th UN Human Rights Council meeting held in Geneva from June 21. The protestors submitted a five-point appeal letter to the UN which called for the end of China’s continued “genocide in Tibet” along with its interference in Tibetan religious beliefs and traditions.

Tibetans urged the UN on numerous fronts; to break the silence on Tibet and highlight gross human rights violations in Tibet; to stop China from meddling with Buddhist traditions; to release all political prisoners; and to stop forceful resettlement of Tibetan nomads and militarized labour camps in Tibet. Representative of Tibet Bureau Geneva Chimey Rigzen said that Tibetans need to should responsibility together as they are forced to leave Tibet “on political grounds, [and] not due to natural calamities.”

Tibetans hold demonstration in front of UNHRC office against China (Photo-/CTA)

Present at the protest site were presidents of different associations in Europe, including Tibetans Women’s Association in Switzerland, Tibetan Youth Association in Europe and representatives of Swiss-Tibetan Friendship Association. The community heads along with Tibet Bureau Geneva staff Kalden Tsomo submitted the four-page appeal to the office of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet.

Moreover, 44 countries led by Canada pressed China last Tuesday in a joint statement over their concerns for violations in East Turkestan (Ch: Xinjiang), Hong Kong and Tibet, which prompted a strong response from the Beijing administration. The anticipated joint statement had been in the formation for several days and was delivered on the second day of the 47th session in Geneva. “We are gravely concerned about the human rights situation in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region,” Canada’s Ambassador Leslie Norton told the meeting, which was backed by Australia, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain and the US, among others.

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