Update: SFT Canada Calls on Harper to Stand Up for Tibet!

Students for a Free Tibet Canada has been busy this week urging the Canadian government to take a strong stand for Tibet as Prime Minister Harper embarked on his first official trip to China.

On Tuesday, our own Tenzin Lobsang traveled to Ottawa to represent SFT Canada at a press conference on Parliament Hill. Alex Neve from Amnesty International, Cheuk Kwan from the Toronto Association for a Democratic China, and Tenzin Lobsang, spoke on behalf of the Canadian Coalition for Human Rights in China and sent a clear message to Prime Minister Harper that Canadians expect him to publicly push the Chinese government on its dismal human rights in China and Tibet.

Ottawa and Montreal: RISE UP FOR TIBET!

Between December 2^nd-6^th, Prime Minister Harper will make his first official trip to China since being elected almost four years ago. As a send-off, Tibetans and Tibet supporters, as well other China rights groups will be holding a demonstration on December 1^st at Parliament Hill.

This will be a peaceful demonstration with Tibetan, Uyghur, and Chinese democracy and human rights groups joining hands in efforts to urge Prime Minister Harper to stand up for human rights when he meets with Chinese President Hu Jintao.

We encourage everyone to attend this historic event to let the Canadian government know that we are counting on them to uphold Canadian values of freedom and justice, and that putting trade with China and the “almighty dollar” above human rights is unacceptable.

What: Rally to call on Prime Minister Harper to stand up for human rights while in China

Location: Front lawn of Parliament Hill, Ottawa

Date: Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Time: 9:30am-12:30pm

If you’re in Montreal, there will also be a candle light vigil that evening to call on the Canadian government to speak out for human rights.

What: Candle light vigil

Location: Complexe Guy Favreau, 200 René-Lévesque Ouest, Montréal

Date: Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Time: 5:30pm

If you can’t attend either of these two events, you can still take action by writing to Prime Minister Harper to urge him to speak out for Tibet when he’s in China. To send a letter to the Prime Minister before he leaves for China, please click here!

Let’s all rise up for those who cannot in Tibet and China!

Prime Minister Harper: Take Action on Tibet!

Prime Minister Stephen Harper will be making his first official visit to China and meet with President Hu Jintao between December 2nd-6th. The Prime Minister's first trip to China presents a strategic opportunity to make real progress towards a just and lasting resolution for the Tibetan people.

Canadians have overwhelmingly shown support for the Tibetan people in their peaceful struggle for freedom and human rights as seen by the unanimous decision by the Canadian Parliament to bestow the highest honour of Honorary Canadian Citizenship to His Holiness the Dalai lama, one of the most respectd leaders of all time.

In November 2006, Prime Minister Harper was even quoted as saying he wouldn't "sell out" on human rights to promote trade and investment with China. One year later, he met with His Holiness the Dalai Lama in his Parliament Hill office, against the Chinese government's wishes.

As this is the Prime Minister's first visit to China since being elected almost four years ago, it is an unprecedented opportunity for him to uphold the Canadian values of human rights and democracy by speaking out for those who have been violently denied these rights.

Please TAKE ACTION by urging Prime Minister Harper to speak out for Tibet during his trip to China. We also encourage you to send a letter and call your local MP insisting they urge the Prime Minister to stand up for Tibet during his visit to China.

To see SFT Canada's letter to Prime Minister Harper, please click here.