November 25, 2017: Canadian Senators have launched an inquiry into the state of political prisoners of Tibet in Canadian Senate chamber on 23 November 2017.
Five senators led by Senator Dennis Glen Patterson have highlighted five political prisoners of Tibet who are languishing in Chinese prison for peaceful expression of views in asserting their national identity and defending their culture.
The other four senators who have raised strong voice in support of Senator Patterson were Senator Marilou McPhedran, Senator Thanh Hai Ngo, Senator Yonah Martin (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) and Senator Linda Frum.
“I am concerned and disturbed to learn that a child (Panchen Lama) was abducted by the state and that his whereabouts and current condition remain unknown………I do hope that this inquiry will serve, as our government reaches out to engage with China, to emphasize that in doing so we must also reinforce and advocate for the basic human rights and freedoms that we cherish and protect in Canada,” said Patterson in the Senate.
He further added that His Holiness the Dalai Lama only wants to restart a dialogue with the Chinese government toward making Tibet a truly autonomous province as provided for in the Chinese Constitution.
The transcript of Senators’ speech in Canadian Senate can be found here.
– Report filed by Office of Tibet, Washington DC –
Tibetan political prisoners Panchen Rinpoche Gedhn Choekyi Nyima, retired Tibetan doctor Yeshi Choedon, and Tibetan education advocate Tashi Wangchuk.