Canadian Parliamentary Committee Accuses China Of Genocide Against Uyghurs

Will the Trudeau government respond and take action, or will they ignore this courageous action and continue down the path of cowardice?

The Parliamentary subcommittee on International Human Rights has officially accused China of genocide against the Uyghurs in the Xinjiang region.

Here’s what they said in a statement:

“Building on the important testimony of seven witnesses over five sessions before the Subcommittee in 2018, on 20–21 July 2020 the Subcommittee convened urgent meetings to understand the latest developments in the plight of the Uyghurs. Over two days and 12 hours of testimony, the Subcommittee heard from academics, civil society as well as many survivors of the Government of China’s atrocities in the region. The subcommittee wishes to make clear that the condemnations in this statement are directed towards the Government of China, as represented by the Chinese Communist Party, and not the Chinese people, who the Subcommittee support wholeheartedly and hope that one day will benefit from the peace, freedom and security enjoyed by many others in this world.

The Subcommittee was profoundly disturbed by what it heard and is convinced of the need for a strong response. The Subcommittee heard that the Government of China has been employing various strategies to persecute Muslim groups living in Xinjiang, including mass detentions, forced labour, pervasive state surveillance and population control. Witnesses were clear that the Government of China’s actions are a clear attempt to eradicate Uyghur culture and religion. Some witnesses stated that the Government of China’s actions meet the definition of genocide as set out in Article II of the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Genocide Convention).

The Subcommittee unequivocally condemns the persecution of Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang by the Government of China. Based on the evidence put forward during the Subcommittee hearings, both in 2018 and 2020, the Subcommittee is persuaded that the actions of the Chinese Communist Party constitute genocide as laid out in the Genocide Convention.”

As the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China said in a statement, this makes Canada the first Parliamentary body to do so:

“#BREAKING: Canadian parliamentary committee labels Xinjiang abuses as “genocide” against Uyghurs, the first parliamentary body to do so.

#IPAC Flag of Canada co-chairs @GarnettGenuis, @IrwinCotler and other members have campaigned tirelessly for this judgement.”

https://twitter.com/ipacglobal/status/1318960128381550593

The world Uyghur Congress praised the move:

“This is an important step to acknowledge the severity and urgency of the Uyghur crisis. While US Presidential candidates Donald Trump and Joe Biden have publicly discussed whether the crisis constitutes a genocide, the Canadian Subcommittee is the first government body to publicly acknowledge that the crisis in East Turkistan fits the criteria for genocide. Language is important and helps to structure the thinking and response of leaders and policy makers. The genocide designation carries with it a moral responsibility under the UN Genocide Convention to take urgent and concrete measures to end the Uyghur genocide.

“We thank the Canadian Subcommittee recognizing that the atrocities against Uyghurs constitute genocide and for proposing concrete and meaningful action for Canada to take to address this crisis,” said WUC President Dolkun Isa. “We urge R.Hon. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Canadian government to adopt and implement the conclusions of the committee and to demonstrate that Canada will not sit idly by while a genocide takes place.””

Will Justin Trudeau and the Liberals listen to the committee and take action?

Or will he continue the path of pathetic disgraceful cowardice towards China?

Spencer Fernando

Photo – YouTube