A Request to the Prime Minister of Canada to Urge the Chinese Government and All Parties, Including Tibetans Around the World, to Engage in Dialogue About the Escalating Situation in Tibet

Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa
K1A 0A2


March 17, 2008


Dear Prime Minister Stephen Harper,

The daily protests in Tibet since March 10th, which marks the 49th anniversary of the Tibetan National uprising, have unfortunately become violent and news reports suggest that they have spread beyond Lhasa. Meanwhile, the Communist Chinese Government has reportedly locked down Lhasa by deploying their military. While news reports vary in their content, it is clear that a number of people have died or have been injured and that tension and conflict exists.

Canada has had a history of successfully promoting peaceful dialogue in other international conflicts such as Suez and Cyprus, and has experience fostering dialogues domestically. Therefore as Canadas leader, we ask you to please urge the Chinese Government and all parties, including Tibetans around the world, to show restraint, to respect human rights and to adopt peaceful means to resolve the escalating situation in Tibet and surrounding provinces in China through continual dialogue.