Urgent actions may be launched independently by the Canada Tibet Committee, or the CTC may join urgent actions campaigns launched by our partner organizations, including the International Tibet Network.
New urgent actions will be announced on the homepage of this website as well as on the CTC facebook page and on twitter@CanadaTibet.
Gendhun Choekyi Nyima (Panchen Lama) (M): On May 15, 1995, the Dalai Lama announced that 6 year old Gendhun Choekyi Nyima had been recognized as the 11th Panchen Lama. The Government of China rejected the Dalai Lama statement as "illegal and invalid" and on May 17, 1995, authorities abducted the child and his family. Neither the Panchen Lama nor his parents have been seen or heard from since. No charges have been disclosed and no trial has been held. On several occasions China has admitted holding the Panchen Lama including at the United Nations. UN special procedures have raised this on numerous occasions but China has not responded. Traditionally, Panchen Lamas play a significant role in the succession process of Dalai Lamas.
Campaign Request: Immediate access for international observers.
Yeshe Choedron (F): A 57 year old retired medical doctor, Yeshe Choedron was detained in March 2008 after protests broke out in Lhasa on 14 March. On 7 November 2008, the Lhasa People’s Intermediate Court sentenced her to 15 years’ imprisonment for allegedly providing “intelligence and information harmful to the security and interests of the state” to “the Dalai clique’s security department”. She believed to be held at Drapchi Prison in the Tibet Autonomous Region. No more details are known. Sources report that she has not been able to see her children since her sentencing.
Campaign Request: Permission for family visit and disclosure of charges.
Druklo / Shokjang (M): Tibetan writer and blogger Druklo, also known by his pen-name Shokjang, was detained by Chinese authorities on 16 March 2015 by national security police officers in a hotel in Rebkong, Amdo, eastern Tibet (Chinese: Tongren County, Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai province). On 17 February 2016 Shokjang was sentenced to 3 years by the Malho Prefecture “Middle Court”; no details of the charge against him have been released. Shokjang is a prominent Tibetan writer and blogger known for his critical and thought-provoking articles about the current situation in Tibet, including the resettlement of Tibetan nomads.
Campaign Request: Details about the charges against Shokjang.
Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, a highly respected revered religious leader and steadfast advocate of Tibetan identity and culture, has been in prison for 12 years serving a life sentence for a crime he did not commit.
Recent news indicates that Tenzin Delek Rinpoche is in very ill-health, with a heart condition, high blood pressure, and other worrying medical issues. We are urging world governments to press for his immediate medical parole. Tenzin Delek Rinpoche has been wrongly imprisoned. His “crime” has been to devote his life to helping his community, working tirelessly to preserve the Tibetan identity, culture and Tibet's environment. He has been persecuted for his support for the Dalai Lama, his promotion of Tibetan Buddhism and for his cultural and social development work in Tibet. Read more about his story.
Take action NOW! On or near June 21, the International Day for Victims of Torture, the following petition will be delivered to Foreign Ministers around the world including Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Rob Nicholson.
Free Tibetan Heroes! Release Khenpo Kartse NOW!
On 6 December 2013, Chinese authorities arrested a highly respected Buddhist Abbot, Khenpo Kartse, for allegedly "endangering state security." Khenpo Kartse is well known in the community for promoting unity, language rights and culture amongst the Tibetan people. Hundreds of local Tibetans and monks have held peaceful demonstrations to protest against his detention.
Take Action NOW! Urge Luo Huining, Qinghai Party Secretary, and Liu Zhiqiang, Director of Qinghai Province Public Security Bureau, to immediately release Khenpo Kartse.