(Ottawa) Members of the Chinese diaspora are adding their voices to the chorus of critics who reproach the Trudeau government for its refusal to open a public and independent inquiry into foreign interference.
Representatives of the Uyghur Rights Project, the Canada-Tibet Committee, the Taiwanese-Canadian Association of Toronto, and the Canada-Hong Kong Link organization converged in parliament to call for a public inquiry along with the leader of the Bloc Quebecer, Yves-François Blanchet.
“None of these groups have been contacted by [le rapporteur spécial sur l’ingérence] David Johnston”, he made a point of specifying after giving the floor to each of them at the microphone which had been installed in the foyer of the House of Commons on Wednesday.
Before him, Mehmet Tohti, director general of the Uyghur Rights Defense Project (URAP), said he was speaking “on behalf of the Uyghur community in Canada to whom the Chinese regime is subjecting transnational oppression and interference with their daily freedoms. “.
Deploring that the Uyghurs who are in Canada were “double victims” of Beijing’s actions, he insisted that the current context provided “a golden opportunity to have a national conversation” on this scourge, and that “a thorough public and independent inquiry” was imperative.
The exit of these organizations comes the day after the appearance of the special rapporteur on foreign interference, David Johnston, before a committee of the House of Commons. He had gone there to discuss his report and his recommendation not to hold a public and independent inquiry.
Bullied by opposition parties, the former Governor General of Canada reiterated his intention to remain in office to complete the work that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau entrusted to him, even if he was asked to step down by the majority of the members of the House by means of a motion.
Chief Blanchet again urged him to give up his post, his work representing essentially a “screen” for the government of Justin Trudeau, who has never shown any appetite for a public inquiry since the issue defrayed the chronic.
“Communities suffer daily from the oppression, violence, intimidation, intrusion, of the dictatorial regime of the Chinese Communist Party – the same regime that the Canadian government is determined not to confront with the legitimate means at its disposal” , he regretted.
Rather than recommending a public and independent inquiry, Special Rapporteur Johnston proposed holding public hearings. These are to get under way somewhere next month.