MONDAY OCTOBER 18 2004 (translated from French)
By: Richard Marceau, Canadian Member of Parliament Charlesbourg- Haute Saint-Charles, Quebec
TIBET
Mister Speaker,
In 1959, the invasion of Tibet by China has resulted in many catastrophic consequences. More then one million Tibetans, representing one sixth of the whole Tibetan population, died due to the Chinese occupation.
More then 6000 monastery have been sacked or destroyed. To this, it is important to add that Tibetans suffered from the imprisonments and tortures that were imposed on them for having pacifically resisted the occupation or simply practicing their religion.
We may add, Mr. Speaker, that it is still illegal, in Tibet, to own a picture of the Dalai Lama,the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people.
Many Tibetan political prisoners are less then 18 years old, including the Panchen Lama, the second religious authority after the Dalai Lama. The Panchen Lama was kidnapped when he was 6 years old and hasn’t been seen ever since.
In order to stop this intolerable situation, I would like to invite my colleagues who haven’t done so yet, to sign the letter, initiated by the Canada-Tibet Committee, inviting Canada to contribute actively to the pacific resolution of the issue of Tibet by encouraging the beginning of negotiations between Tibet and China.
Thank you Mr. Speaker.
