As news of an escalation of hostilities in Tibet reaches the outside world there has been a drive for international initiatives to persuade China to ease up its crackdown on the Tibetans. The situation has become so critical that Buddhists in Syracuse appear to be in widespread support of desires to see Canadian Prime Minister Harper raise the issue of Tibet with Chinese President Hu Jintao during an upcoming visit to China.
Rajeshwari K has reported for the The Tibet Post International "Tibet Before Trade: Harper Must Raise Canada’s Concerns To Hu ." The Canada Tibet Committee (CTC), which is a Montreal based NGO, has made an appeal to the Canadian government to make make the strongest possible representations to the Chinese President, Hu Jintao over China's lack of fair judicial process, religious repression and continued human rights abuses against the Tibetan people.
The Tibet support group has requested the Canadian Prime Minister Mr. Stephen Harper, who is the first western leader to visit China since the crackdown began, to convey Canada's abhorrence at the escalating violence and share the revulsion of the western governments. The CTC has urged the Canadian Prime Minister to raise human rights concerns in a public forum like American President Barack Obama and former Australian Prime Minister John Howard have done, with the position that human rights and trade are not mutually exclusive.
The CTC has stated in a letter to the Canadian government "We favour a transparent, principled, and constructive relationship with China that encompasses all facets of our relationship and that has human rights at the core. We believe that a free, prosperous China is in Canada's interests. But more importantly, it's in the interests of Tibetans and Chinese citizens alike." Buddhists and their friends worldwide are hoping Prime Minister Harper takes this message to Beijing with him.
