News and Views on Tibet

Canadian parliament passes resolution endorsing Middle Way Approach

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Conservative MP Garnett Genuis addressing the Canadian House of Commons (Photo/Screengrab via Tibet.net)

By Choekyi Lhamo

DHARAMSHALA, Dec. 16: Canadian MP Garnett Genuis presented a motion supporting self-determination for Tibet on Tuesday, during the ongoing session in the Canadian House of Commons. The long-time Tibet supporter called on the house to make a clear statement concerning the future of Tibet by recognizing the Middle Way Policy, which is the official policy of the Central Tibetan Administration, and to push for dialogue between the representatives of the Tibetan people and Chinese government.

After his motion, the proposal was unanimously passed by the parliament on Wednesday. “[We] call for dialogue between representatives of the Tibetan people (His Holiness the Dalai Lama or his representatives and/or the Central Tibetan Administration) and the government of the People’s Republic of China with a view to enabling Tibet to exercise genuine autonomy within the framework of the Chinese constitution,” his motion read. The parliamentarian introduced the same motion during the last session in May.

MP Genuis had expressed concerns over the plight of Tibet under the oppressive Chinese regime during his appeal to the Canadian government and urged the members to use their power to do the ‘right thing’ for Tibetans. “Tibetan leaders are not using this right of self-determination to seek full independence from China. Rather, they are seeking a middle way, genuine autonomy for Tibet within the framework of the Chinese Constitution,” he further remarked in his address.

The conservative MP insisted that the House recognize and support Tibetans’ aspiration for genuine autonomy as an expression of national self-determination, adding that the Middle Way Approach is a realistic and effective resistance against the Chinese government pursuit to wipe out the Tibetan identity. “We will not rest until dialogue between China and Tibet has resumed and concluded with the establishment of genuine autonomy for Tibet that gives Tibetans freedom, democracy, human rights and self-determination,” he said in the parliament.

After the House of Commons unanimously passed the motion on Wednesday, MP Genuis thanked the Tibetan community for its resilience, “Canada’s Parliament just unanimously passed my motion endorsing the Middle Way approach – genuine autonomy for Tibet within the framework of the Chinese constitution. Thank you to the Tibetan community for your leadership and advocacy”.

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