Ottawa — Tibetan activist Youngdoung Tenzin called on Canada’s Foreign Minister to urge the UN to break its silence regarding martyr Lobga Rangzen, who self-immolated outside the UN Headquarters in New York. Tenzin further demands that Canada's top diplomat actively raise the worsening Tibetan human rights crisis during direct negotiations with Chinese counterparts.
Tibetan activist Youngdoung Tenzin met with the Hon. Esabelle, Policy Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand, on September 28, 2026, to brief her on the self-immolation of Tibetan independence activist Pawo Loga Rangzen.
He formally submitted the petition alongside Pawo Rangzen’s final live message translated into English. "Despite his self-immolation outside the UN Headquarters in New York, the United Nations has remained silent. As a UN member state, I appealed to our Foreign Minister to raise this urgent matter both at the UN and directly with their Chinese counterpart," he said.
Tenzin has issued a formal appeal to the Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs and wrote,"Thank you for providing me with the opportunity to meet with your advisors to brief Global Affairs Canada on the recent self-immolation of Tibetan independence activist Loga Rangzen on July 2, 2026, outside the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
"Canada is one of the few nations providing refugee protection to the largest Tibetan diaspora in the West. Tibetan Canadians have successfully integrated into Canadian society, contributing to our country while maintaining a strong community.
"Politically, Canada has consistently demonstrated strong support for Tibet and its people through United Nations resolutions, including voting in favor of UNGA Resolution 1353 (1959), UNGA Resolution 1723(1961), and UNGA Resolution 2079(1965), which signify Canadian support at the highest international level. Furthermore, the Parliament of Canada unanimously passed a motion to resume the Sino-Tibetan dialogue on December 14, 2022, and passed a historic motion supporting the Tibetan people's right to self-determination on June 10, 2024. Both the Canadian government and Parliament have steadfastly backed the Tibetan cause, and I express my deep gratitude to the government and people of Canada for their enduring support.
"Historically, Tibet was an independent nation. On November 21, 1950, Canada's Secretary of State for External Affairs, Lester B. Pearson, formally stated in an official diplomatic memorandum regarding Tibet's legal status: 'In fact it appears that during the past 40 years Tibet has controlled its own internal and external affairs. Viewing the situation thus, I am of the opinion that Tibet is, from the point of view of international law, qualified for recognition as an independent state'.
"Following China's forceful and illegal occupation of Tibet, the Chinese government has systematically dismantled the Tibetan environment, culture, language, religion, and national identity. On July 1, 2026, the Chinese government implemented its "Law on the Promotion of Ethnic Unity and Progress." Far from promoting unity and progress, this policy legitimizes acts of cultural genocide against Tibet-a nation, rather than a mere ethnic minority —and poses a direct threat to the very survival of the Tibetan identity and Tibetan People. International bodies such as the UN must act to protect the Tibetan people.
"Systemic repression by China has driven over 170 Tibetans to self-immolate in protest, calling for the return of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, independence, and freedom for Tibet. Because these sacrifices have largely gone unaddressed by the UN and the international community, Tibetan Independent activist Loga Rangzen self-immolated on July 2, 2026, outside UN Headquarters in New York to protest Chinese repression and the "Ethnic Unity and Progress" law, while calling for Tibetan independence. Prior to his act, he broadcast a six-minute live stream on Facebook displaying the Tibetan national flag and calling for 'China Out of Tibet'. Despite thousands of Tibetan Americans and Canadians protesting outside the UN Headquarters to urge intervention, the UN remained silent, issuing no official statement and sending no representative to show solidarity-an omission that violates the foundational principles of the United Nations.
"As Canada is an influential member state of the UN, I respectfully demand that the Canadian government:
• Raise Loga Rangzen's sacrifice at the United Nations General Assembly and join a multilateral Joint Statement on Human Rights regarding Tibet.
• Formally include Loga Rangzen's sacrifice and the situation in Tibet in Global Affairs Canada's annual human rights report.
• Address Loga Rangzen's message and self-immolation directly with Chinese counterparts during diplomatic engagements, ensuring the Tibetan cause is not compromised for economic interests.
• Formally recognize China's "Ethnic Unity and Progress" Law as an illegal policy and an act of genocide.
"As a Tibetan Canadian, I was among the first human rights advocates sanctioned by the Chinese government on December 22, 2024, for peacefully advocating for Tibetan freedom on Canadian soil. "This act of transnational repression has subjected me to severe hardship, including death threats and intimidation. However, I remain resolute in my advocacy because I firmly believe in Canada's dedication to freedom, human rights, and democracy. I urge the Canadian government to stand up against China's transnational repression while conducting bilateral relations," he concluded the letter.
