Subcommittee on International Human Rights Committee on Jan. 29th, 2013

Evidence of meeting #64 for Subcommittee on International Human Rights in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was actually.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Human Rights Situation in Tibetan Areas of China

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Dhondup Lhadar Vice-President, Central Executive Committee, Tibetan Youth Congress

Sherab Aathytsang Translator, As an Individual

Tsewang Dhondup As an Individual

Gary Schellenberger Perth—Wellington, CPC

2:05 p.m.

Conservative

David Sweet Conservative Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale, ON

Mr. Chair—

2:05 p.m.

NDP

The Vice-Chair NDP Wayne Marston

Just one second, Mr. Sweet. I will go right to you.

2:05 p.m.

Conservative

David Sweet Conservative Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale, ON

Mr. Lhadar has something important that he wanted to add.

Thank you.

2:05 p.m.

NDP

The Vice-Chair NDP Wayne Marston

That's just what I was going to ask.

2:05 p.m.

Conservative

David Sweet Conservative Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale, ON

Thank you very much.

2:05 p.m.

NDP

The Vice-Chair NDP Wayne Marston

I was going to give him the opportunity.

You wanted to add one point, Mr. Lhadar, that you didn't quite finish in the last round of questions. If you would like to do that now, please do so.

January 29th, 2013 / 2:05 p.m.

Vice-President, Central Executive Committee, Tibetan Youth Congress

Dhondup Lhadar

I just wanted to respond to the second question, regarding the Chinese government's use of tactics to stop self-immolation.

As I have said, rewards are being given out to families that would agree to state that they have instigated the activities of those self-immolators. Recently, in 2012, China set out seven points, one of which stated that if you did not agree to the fact that you actually instigated these activities, then your job would be at stake and you would not be able to actually receive some of the rights and freedoms given by the government. It also stated that Tibetan people could not donate to the self-immolators to help them carry out those activities.

I'd like to pledge before the committee that it's evident that self-immolators are doing so simply for the cause of Tibet. As I mentioned, since that activity may not be possible—right now China is actually trying to stop self-immolation—another way is to jump into the river or to drink poison.

As you can see, just sacrificing their own lives for their country is not quite possible in their own country. This is the desperate state of the situation in Tibet.

2:10 p.m.

NDP

The Vice-Chair NDP Wayne Marston

Thank you. We have reached the end of our time.

I want to thank you, Mr. Lhadar and Mr. Dhondup, for bringing this testimony before the committee.

This committee is seized with our concerns about what is happening in Tibet. I want to assure you that the members present, from all parties, are very concerned and very troubled by what we hear. Your testimony is an important part of our study looking into this situation. If you have anything to add that you haven't given us today, be sure to send it to the clerk.

Thank you very much.

The meeting is adjourned.