Like my fellow Tibetan brothers, sisters and others, I too come from stolen land called BHOE, also known as the rooftop of the world, or as for the CCP, among the biggest taboos. The three Ts: Taiwan Tiananmen and T for Tibet.
Growing up in exile, the struggles and pain of understanding this concept of home and the question, “who are you, where are you from?” just too familiar for me. Born in South India as a stateless refugee, I would hear about Tibet from my father and sister while growing up but I was too young to understand. After moving to Canada at the age of 11 and my list of questions about my identity just continued to grow. The more I knew, the less I truly did know about home.
A home where 1.2 million Tibetan people were killed and over 6000 monasteries, the cultural centers of Tibetan life were destroyed under the Chinese occupation. Until today 165 people have self-immolated themselves calling for the basic human rights and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. 60 long years since my people have been home.
The attack on oppressed people such as the Tibetans, Uighurs, Falon Gong practitioners, Hong Kongers, Taiwanese, southern Mongolians, and even their own citizens continues to worsen.
The Chinese govt ruthlessly tries to crush all dissent, and are on a global mission to silence any criticism of their policies and brutal human rights record at large --even in a free and open society like Canada.
Just recently, I became the target of the wrath most likely crafted by the Chinese Communist Party during my school elections. Before the results had even come out, my phone started going off with notifications, I got over 10 000 comments on my social media posts, then an online petition against me for being simply a candidate. Simply because I’m Tibetan who yearned for home and worked to build her community.
The comments were harsh; they included rape threats, death threats targeting not just me but also my family. Comments like “the bullet that’ll go through you is made in China”, or things like “If I see you, I’ll punch you.”
Well, you know what? My parents didn’t sell clothes on the streets of India, struggled, learned 4 new languages overcame so many obstacles, started over and over again for just for me to be bullied here. CCP, your long-armed bullying tactics won’t work here. With the guidance of H. Holiness the Dalai Lama, my pala, amala, uncle Sudip and my community, I will NOT give up and WE cannot give up.
Instead of resorting to violence, we will open our arm for meaningful dialogue because the truth and justice are not only on our side but it will always prevail.
I stand here today not just as Chemi Lhamo, a young Tibetan girl, I’m here with the spirit of my ancestors, the spirit of the young Tibetan 60 years ago in 1959, the Tibetans living right now who get imprisoned and killed for simply singing the national anthem, the same spirit of the student leaders in Tiananmen sq 30 years ago, the spirit of the student leaders of the umbrella movement, sunflower movement, the students organizing and mobilizing even today to tackle gun violence, education cuts and even saving our mother earth.
Just this month ago, I started my new job at the University of Toronto Scarborough as their student union President. I’m here to remind you of a responsibility we have because of my friends, the work that is still not done.
Universities are still present with strong ties to the confuscius institute, universities are censoring their academic materials, students are being bullied for taking up more space, they are not allowed to bring their flag, and have their posters taken down during their events.
The influence of the Chinese govt is ever growing, and we all have a responsibility to ensure that we are not just raising awareness but also taking an active part in resistance via strategic nonviolent actions. Who knows, our new homes and host countries could also adopt the China Model to put your face in the database along with millions of others via their monitors.
It’s via building coalitions, with our fellow organizers, activist, mobilizers, students. Whether that is the black lives matter, tackling caste systems, idle no more, indigenous rights, queer rights, Ughyur folks, umbrella movement and so many more beings at the margins in our communities that we start to make some change and shake things up. It’s important for us to show up because liberation for some is the liberation of none.
& If we don’t reclaim and remember our stories, who will?
& so, together
Camera by Sonam Dakpa, Pema Tashi, Ugyen Samten & Kunsang Tenzing
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