On this date, sixty-six years ago, in Tibet’s capital Lhasa, Tibetans from all three provinces unitedly rose up against the illegal occupation of Tibet and China’s brutal inhumane policies and practices in Tibet. Under the violent suppression of Chinese forces, over a million Tibetans lost their precious lives and compelled the legitimate Tibetan government led by His Holiness the Great 14th Dalai Lama, followed by approximately 80,000 Tibetans into exile. This marks the darkest and most critical period in the history of Tibet. As we commemorate the Tibetan National Uprising Day, we honour our brave martyrs, and express solidarity with our brothers and sisters inside Tibet who continue to languish under the oppressive Chinese government.

In these past sixty-six years and more so today, under the current Chinese leadership a deliberate and dangerous strategy to eliminate the very identity of the Tibetan people as a unique human race is clearly evident. Under the pretext of “strengthening the consciousness of Chinese national unity”, the Chinese government is implementing extensive sinicisation policies that is resulting in the gradual annihilation of Tibetans identity and deprivation...