On Monday, Canada passed a motion supporting Tibetan self-determination, proposed by Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, an MP from the Bloc Québécois. All MPs present voted in favor, though Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was not in the chamber.
Bloc MP Julie Vignola shared on X, “The motion adopted today represents more than a year of discussions and negotiations.”
The Canada Tibet Committee (CTC) also posted on X, expressing excitement over the unanimous motion declaring Tibet’s right to self-determination. The motion asserts that China is pursuing a policy of systemic cultural assimilation against Tibetans and recognizes Tibetans’ right to self-determination. It emphasizes that Tibetans should freely choose their economic, social, cultural, and religious policies without external interference, specifically prohibiting China from influencing the selection of the next Tibetan spiritual leader, the successor to the 14th Dalai Lama.
Sherap Therchin, executive director of the CTC, hailed the motion as a “historic milestone.” He believes it will strengthen the Tibetan cause against Beijing’s claims that Tibet has been part of China since its annexation in 1950. Although the motion is not legally binding, Therchin noted it remains in the government record and represents a significant step beyond typical human rights considerations, potentially encouraging further governmental actions.
Therchin, in Ottawa for the event, mentioned his group’s meetings with Canadian MPs from various parties and the annual Parliamentary Friends of Tibet reception held on Monday.
For more news like this, visit HindustanTimes.com.
