LETTER

The arrest of two innocent Canadian citizens by China in 2018 has strained relations between the two countries. With rising concerns about foreign interference in Canadian elections, there is growing pressure on the government and politicians to address this issue, providing an opportunity for Canadian Tibetans to advocate for the freedom and human rights of Tibetans oppressed by China. Therefore, Canadian Tibetan organizations across the country under the leadership of Canada Tibet Committee have been relentless in their efforts to garner support from politicians across the political spectrum for the Tibetan advocacy movement, achieving significant milestones along the way.

December 14, 2022, marked a historic day for Tibet as the Canadian parliament unanimously passed a motion in support of Sino-Tibetan dialogue, highlighting its dedication to promoting peaceful negotiations. The motion on Sino-Tibetan dialogue was sponsored by Conservative MP and prominent Tibetan supporter Garnett Genuis.

Then, just recently, on June 10, 2024, the Canadian parliament took a remarkable step by passing a motion with unanimous consent, recognizing Tibet’s right to self-determination. It was sponsored by the Bloc Quebecois Party MP Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe. This historic achievement in Canada’s support for the Tibetan freedom movement recognizes the fundamental rights of Tibetans to choose their political and socio-economic systems. The motion marks a significant milestone in the pursuit of Tibet’s aspirations for freedom.

This motion sends a powerful message to both Tibetans and the Chinese government, recognizing the Tibetan people’s persistent efforts for freedom and human rights while simultaneously expressing Canada’s opposition to China’s illegal occupation of Tibet.

To me, as a Tibetan Canadian, this motion reinforces our commitment to advocating for the Tibetan cause and seeking recognition for Tibet as an independent nation. We must encourage Canadian politicians to support this motion and end the classification of Tibetans as Chinese nationals on Canadian passports. Tibet was a historically independent nation, and it is only right that we Tibetans do not want to be identified as Chinese on our Canadian passports. It is both painful and outrageous for us Canadian Tibetans to see China listed as our country of origin on our passports. We aspire to have Tibet listed as our country of origin on our passports instead. This change would be a significant step towards recognizing Tibet as an independent nation.

Also, recognizing Tibet as an independent nation through a parliamentary motion would be in line with the Canadian government’s position on Tibet’s status adopted in 1950, when its Minister of External Affairs, Lester Pearson, sent a confidential memo to the country’s Ambassador in Washington. In the memo, Pearson made it clear: “In fact it appears that during the past 40 years Tibet has controlled its own internal and external affairs. Viewing the situation thus, I am of the opinion that Tibet is, from the point of view of international law, qualified for recognition as an independent state.

We look forward to advocating for our quest to recognize Tibet as an independent nation and our desire to remove China as our country of origin on our Canadian passports.

Let’s strive to make this happen soon. As we are in a free country, it is our moral responsibility to support the voiceless Tibetans who are oppressed and repressed by the Chinese government.

– Youngdoung Tenzin

(Tibetan Activist and community leader in Canada. Born into a nomadic family in Tibet, migrated to India at the age of 12 by leaving the family members back in Tibet to seek better education and fight for Tibetan freedom. Nurtured and educated in the Tibetan Village School in India under the paternal guidance of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. Studied at a university in India and Germany. Currently living in Canada. Always committed to expressing my deepest gratitude to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama through my unwavering dedication to serving the Tibetan community and advancing the Tibetan freedom movement.)