URAP Bi-weekly Newsletter November 28 – December 9

News:

·      Articles in Radio Free Asia and The Daily Caller detail the massacre that occurred in Urumchi as 44 Uyghurs lost their lives in a fire under lockdown.

·      URAP posted its statement on the Urumchi fire on Monday morning, November 28, condemning the event as a massacre of 44 Uyghurs, and applauding Chinese nationals who protested their government’s Zero-COVID policy and treatment of the Uyghurs.

·      On November 28, Robert Fife and Steven Chase reported in a Globe and Mail article that the RCMP is investigating Chinese interference in Canadian affairs; they also highlighted Mehmet Tohti’s participation in an awareness-raising event at uOttawa.

·      CBC News reported on November 29 about events at uOttawa the day prior and reactions from PM Trudeau and the Canadian public.

·      URAP Executive Director Mehmet Tohti was quoted in a Broadview article on December 2 on avoiding products tainted with Uyghur forced labour while shopping over the holidays.

·      Laura Murphy published her December 2022 report, “Driving Force,” detailing complicity in automobile manufacturing supply chains in the Uyghur genocide.

·      On December 5, Laura Murphy updated her report in collaboration with Hong Kong Watch outlining the complicity of passive investments in 3 Morgan Stanley indexes in the Uyghur genocide.

·      On December 7, URAP Research Advisor Conor Healy and Policy Advisor Margaret McCuaig-Johnston were quoted by CBC on an RCMP contract that was awarded to a Hytera-owned company in Canada, a partially Chinese state-sponsored company.

·      URAP issued a statement on the Hytera scandal after the federal government cancelled its contract amidst pressure from the media, politicians and human rights defenders.

·      URAP posted its statement commemorating International Genocide Remembrance Day and Uyghur Genocide Recognition Day.

Organization activities:

·      URAP Organization of Awareness Raising Demonstration at uOttawa

On November 28, URAP assisted in organizing an awareness-raising event at uOttawa during Chinese Ambassador Cong Peiwu’s speech at the university, addressing the massacre committed against 44 Uyghurs who died in an Urumchi fire on November 24. The event had a strong attendance, and our social media post highlighting it was viewed by 60,000 Twitter users.

·      URAP Testimony at CACN

On November 29, URAP Executive Director Mehmet Tohti provided a testimony at the Special Committee on the Canada–People’s Republic of China Relationship in parliament, and spoke about Canadian investments in China through Canada Pension Plan and McGill University, as well as providing recommendations for the Canadian government to address and target these investments.

·      URAP Meeting with Centre for Advanced Defence Studies (C4ADS)

On November 30, URAP met with Irina Bukharin from the Centre for Advanced Defence Studies to discuss shared projects, research needs, and areas for future collaboration.

·      URAP Lecture at Carleton University on the Uyghur Genocide

On December 6, Mehmet Tohti led a lecture at Carleton University in Professor Jeff Sahadeo’s class, “Politics of Central Eurasia,” discussing efforts of the Uyghur community to survive amidst genocide at the hands of the CCP, and what countries such as Canada can do.

·      Press Conference in parliament on the eve of Uyghur Genocide Recognition Day

On December 8, URAP Project Manager Kayum Masimov joined other human rights defenders in an event sponsored by NDP MP Heather McPherson to highlight the importance of joined struggle in upholding universal human rights.

·      URAP in Washington, D.C.

This week, Mehmet Tohti and URAP Legal Advisor Sarah Teich travelled to Washington, D.C. to participate in several meetings and events. Their meetings included: Scott Busby, deputy Secretary of State at the U.S. State Department; Elnigar Iktebir, intelligence staff at Marco Rubio’s office; Piero Tozzi, Republican strategist from Rep Christ Smith’s office; Wilson Damond, president of NED along with other NED staff; Rana Siu Inboden, a funding consultant for China-related NGOs; and Freedom Fund. Sarah Teich also spoke at Uyghur Human Rights Project’s event at the National Press Club on December 8.

Upcoming events:

·      December 14: Final Reading of Bill S-223, Rally and Victory March

Bill S-223, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (trafficking in human organs), will be holding its final vote on Wednesday, December 14. To celebrate its passing, the office of MP Garnett Genuis is holding a series of events before, during and after the vote, including a celebratory rally, viewing, victory march and reception. If you would like to participate in these events in Ottawa, please email miri@urap.ca so we can send an RSVP on your behalf.

·      December 15: McGill University student discussion with Erin O’Toole

McGill students are organizing an evening discussion with former Leader of the Opposition Erin O’Toole discussing Canada’s relationship to China and the Uyghur genocide. URAP will be sponsoring this event, providing a venue and food/refreshments. To RSVP to this event at receive additional details, please email miri@urap.ca