China committing “cultural genocide” in Tibet, a 15-year old British Tibetan student told the Resist CCP Day Rally in London

(GATPM, London | 2nd October 2021)

Political and human rights activists from Hong Kong, Tibetan and Uyghur communities and NGOs slated the CCP regime as a real threat to global peace and security as China celebrates its 72nd founding anniversary of the People’s Republic of China in London. 

Resist the Chinese Community Party Day – Joint London Rally, was held in central London on 1st October, showing unity among British Hongkonger, Tibetan and Uyghur Communities in the fight for freedom, justice, human rights and democracy. 

The protest started off in Piccadilly Circus and finished in front of the Chinese Embassy. Protesters chanted loud slogans of “Free Tibet”, “Free Hong Kong”, “Free East Turkistan” and “Shame Shame Xi Jinping”.

Prominent British, Hong Kong, Tibetan and Uyghur activists addressed the rallies.

Benedict Rogers, Co-founder and CEO of Hong Kong Watch, said, “It is time now for the free world, for our governments of democracies around the world, to stand up to the CCP, to take action to hold them to account, to sanction them, to stop trading with them, to stop kowtowing to them, and to do everything possible to end these 72 years of bloody repression.”

Andrea Venzon & Colombe Cahen-Salvador, co-founders of Atlas also spoke at the Piccadilly Circus rally. Andrea Venzon said, “A threat from an authoritarian regime impacts democracy at large. We have a duty to stand up for the hundreds of millions of people living in captivity under the CCP rule. Democracy is a fundamental right, and we will not back down.”

Finn Lau, Founder of Hong Kong Liberty, addressed the rally. He said, “We have witnessed genocide and severe crackdowns in East Turkestan, Tibet and Hong Kong in that Beijing is wiling to do whatever it would cost to sustain the one-party tyranny. The ambition of the CCP is also being reflected by its infiltration into the international academic, business sector and even intergovernmental organisations like the UN with the tactic called United Front. In light of its ascent as a global threat to human rights and universal values, the free world has to stand firm against the CCP.”

After the national anthems of East Turkistan, Hong Kong and Tibet were played, the protesters marched to the Chinese Embassy via Regents Street, Oxford Circus and the BBC. Some protesters burned a Chinese flag, a sign of defiance against the CCP regime for its actions right in front of the Chinese Embassy.

Speakers outside the Chinese Embassy:

In his opening remarks, Tsering Passang, Founder and Convener at the Global Alliance for Tibet & Persecuted Minorities, said, “Resistance against the CCP regime is growing within China and around the world.

“Exactly 72 years ago, the Chinese Communist Party and its regime under Mao Tsetung’s dictatorship, announced the illegal invasion of Tibet and the Republic of East Turkistan. Mao Tsetung called the illegal invasion of Tibet a “peaceful liberation”. That so-called “peaceful liberation” has cost millions of lives of Tibetan and Uyghur people amongst others.” 

Passang further added, “For the Tibetan and Uyghur victims under the Chinese regime’s military occupation and repressive policy, there is nothing to celebrate so long as China continues to illegally occupy Tibet and East Turkistan. 

“For the people of Hong Kong, there is nothing to celebrate so long as Beijing disregards the UK-China Joint Declaration and the universal basic rights are not restored in Hong Kong.

“For the people of Taiwan, there is nothing to celebrate when their democratic country faces the imminent threat of military invasion from the Chinese regime.

“There is nothing to celebrate so long as the Southern Mongolians cannot maintain their own language and Buddhist culture.

“Certainly, there is nothing to celebrate so long as the Falun Gong followers as well as other religious and faith groups cannot practice their devotions. And the list goes on… including lack of democracy and freedom of speech.”

Rahima Mahmut, UK Director of World Uyghur Congress and Executive Director of Stop Uyghur Genocide, addressed the rally. She said, “Today we marched against the persecution of Uyghur people over not just the past 5 years, but the entire 72 years of CCP Government. Celebrations in Beijing cannot drown out the pleas for freedom from across the world today, from communities that continue to be denied their human rights. Our people are facing torture, rape, and genocide – it is time for the international community to stand tall against the CCP’s crimes.”

Basil, Representative of Power to Hong Kongers, also spoke outside the Chinese Embassy in Cantonese language.

A 15-year old British Tibetan student from the Tibetan Community in Britain addressed the rally outside the Chinese Embassy. She said, “China hopes to eradicate Tibetan identity. It is robbing a generation of Tibetan children their rights to their language, culture, and heritage. This is cultural genocide. And we have seen what happens when those inside Tibet speak, even amongst themselves. China silences those voices, because they know that when people speak up about injustice, they can bring about change.”

Tom, from the Hong Kong Aid addressed the rally. He said, “The CCP is a friend of terrorism. The CCP is the threat to the whole world. We must keep on fighting for the freedom of Hong Kong. Step out! United and Resist!”

Sam Walton, CEO of Free Tibet, addressed the rally. He said, “Chinese Communist Party’s aggressive expansionism is a threat to democracy, human rights and freedom around the world. Bootlicking world leaders are as good as inviting China to wipe Tibet, Hong Kong and East Turkestan off the map, It’s time for everyone who cares about human rights to stand up to the Chinese Communist Party.”

National anthems of East Turkistan, Hong Kong and Tibet were played once again before Tsering Passang gave his concluding remarks. He said, “We know that the CCP regime poses a real threat to global peace and security. 

“Xi Jinping and his regime must immediately end their brutal crackdown on innocent people across China and its occupied territories, who are entitled to basic rights as enshrined in the Universal Declarations of Human Rights. It is about time China ends the colonisation of its neighbours and discrimination against the minorities.

“As Mao Tsetung once said, “where there is oppression there will be resistance”. So, we the people of Tibet, East Turkistan, Hong Kong, Southern Mongolia, Taiwan as well as all those oppressed groups such as the Falun Gong practitioners, will continue to defy and resist the Chinese Communist regime and its repressive rule.”

This year protest was jointly organised by:

– Atlas 

– Free Tibet

– Hong Kong Aid

– Hong Kong Liberty

– Power to Hongkongers

– Uyghur Community UK

– World Uyghur Congress

– Tibetan Community in Britain  

– Global Alliance for Tibet and Persecuted Minorities