Mr. Speaker, 46 years ago today the people of Tibet held massive demonstrations to demand that the Chinese restore the full independence of their country. These demonstrations resulted in the slaughter of tens of thousands of Tibetans by the People's Liberation Army. In the days that followed, the Dalai Lama and some 80,000 Tibetans fled to neighbouring countries for refuge from the Chinese troops.
In a statement this morning, the Dalai Lama indicated that he is encouraged by the support Tibetans are receiving from various parts of the world and within certain Chinese intellectual circles for their middle way approach. The Dalai Lama remains hopeful that this longstanding issue will be resolved.
Representatives of the Tibetan community are with us here today. I ask my fellow parliamentarians to join with me in a moment of remembrance of the Tibetans who gave their lives for the cause of Tibetan freedom.