TORONTO — Toting banners bearing images of atrocities allegedly committed by the Chinese against Tibetans and bellowing “stop the torture” and “free Tibet” through megaphones, more than 1,000 protesters took to the streets of Toronto on Sunday to denounce the Chinese occupation that has left as many as 100 people dead in recent weeks.
Organized by the Joint Action Committee, the demonstration was meant to show solidarity with Tibetans. Participants also took the opportunity to call on the Canadian government to do more to pressure the communist country on its human rights record.
“We’re calling on the Canadian government to pressure the United Nations to send a fact-finding mission to Tibet immediately and we’re also calling on the International Olympic Committee to remove Tibet from the torch relay route,” said organizer Bhutila Karpoche, whose parents risked their lives fleeing Tibet across the Himalayas following the Chinese invasion
“Our government made a really positive statement a few days ago, but we want our government to make a stronger statement condemning China.”
The group also wants Canadian and other world leaders, athletes and sponsors who will be attending the 2008 Olympics in Beijing to boycott the opening ceremonies.
An outright boycott would be unfair to the athletes that have worked hard to get to the summer games, organizer Gelek Badheystang said, adding the event presents a good opportunity to put China in the “spotlight” where it will feel the “glare” of the international community as it pressures the communist country to do better.
“The IOC made a lot of promises as well that China’s going to improve its human rights record and that it’s going to open Beijing up to all kinds of international press,” he said.
“That’s obviously not the case in Tibet right now.”
The massive group, which included hundreds of Tibetan expatriates as well as Canadian supporters, gathered in Parkdale – a Toronto neighbourhood many transplanted Tibetans now call home – where they sang their national anthem before marching to the Ontario legislature.
Along the way, the group staged several “die-ins” in which protesters laid down in the middle of the street.
“In Canada we have the right to express dissent,” Badheystang said. “The mass dying shows that’s not the case in Tibet.”
The group is also organizing a week-long hunger strike in front of the Chinese consulate which will begin Tuesday and is planning another mass demonstration March 31 to coincide with similar protests to be held around the world.
Tibetan communities in Vancouver and Edmonton also held demonstrations over the weekend that drew about 400 people.
The most recent unrest began March 10 after Beijing sent thousands of troops into Tibet to quell demonstrations against Chinese rule – a situation that has sparked worldwide protest.
While China has kept tight control on information related to the number of people killed and injured as a result of the violence, Tibetan exile groups say about 100 people have died, while more than 300 have been injured.
Last week Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued a statement calling on China to respect fully human rights and peaceful protests and to show restraint in dealing with the situation in Tibet.
Neither Canada, nor any other country, is backing calls for an Olympic boycott.
