Representative Chhimey Rigzen addressing the gathering of Tibetan Community of Switzerland and Liechtenstein infront of the UN on 25 June 2021.
Geneva: In a demonstration held parallel to the ongoing 47th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council, the Tibetan Community of Switzerland and Liechtenstein submitted a five-point appeal to the UN which includes calls to end China’s cultural genocide in Tibet, its interference in Tibetan religious beliefs and traditions, among others.
The protest was staged in front of the UN Human Rights Office this Friday.
After observing a minute of silence in respect and memory of Tibetans who have lost their lives under the Chinese Community regime, the Community members held placards and chanted slogans against the deteriorating human rights situation and decades of CCP’s oppression in Tibet.
Representative of Tibet Bureau Geneva Chhimey Rigzen addressing the gathering reiterated Tibet Bureau’s efforts in bringing Tibet agenda in the UN human rights protection mechanisms. Representative urged all Tibetans to shoulder responsibility in initiating and participating in the Tibetan freedom movement as Tibetans are being forced to leave “country on the political grounds, not due to natural calamities.” Until a peaceful lasting solution is achieved movement for peace, freedom and justice in Tibet should remain alive, added Representative Chhimey.
Tibetan Community of Switzerland and Liechtenstein gathered in front of the UN Human Rights Office in Geneva in protest against China’s continued violations of human rights in Tibet, 25 June 2021.
The Presidents of the Tibetan Community, Tibetan Women’s Organisation in Switzerland, Tibetan Youth Association in Europe and the representative of the French-speaking section of the Swiss-Tibetan Friendship Association also addressed the gathering.
In the later part of the day, the president of the community Karma Choekyi accompanied by Tibet Bureau Geneva staff Kalden Tsomo met a representative from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and submitted a four-page appeal letter addressed to Ms. Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
The appeal letter called upon the UN to:
- Break silence on Tibet and Speak about the egregious human rights violations in Tibet;
- Urge China to stop the ongoing cultural genocide in Tibet;
- Urge China to stop meddling in the religious beliefs and traditions of Tibetans to release Tibet’s 11th Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and share his whereabouts;
- Urge China to stop the torture and arbitrary detention of Tibetans and release the Tibetan political prisoners;
- And to stop the forceful resettlement of Tibetan nomads and the militarized forced labour camps in Tibet.
Earlier this week, Canada delivered a cross-regional joint statement on behalf of 44 countries expressing grave concerns on the human rights violations in Tibet, East Turkestan [Ch: Xinjiang] and Hong Kong. Similarly, 12 UN experts have expressed serious concerns on reports of forced organ harvesting by China targeting Tibetans, Uyghurs, Falun Gong Practitioners, Muslims, Christians and other detainees who are often arrested arbitrarily, in a press statement issued earlier this month.
Tibetan Community of Switzerland and Liechtenstein hold demonstration in front of the UN Human Rights Office in protest against China.
Community members calling the UN to make China accountable for violations of human rights.
Tibetan Community of Switzerland and Liechtenstein hold demonstration in front of the UN Human Rights Office in protest against China.