A coalition of 151 Tibetan organisations and support groups worldwide has issued an open letter to the foreign ministers of 14 democratic countries and the European Union, urging them to oppose China's Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress, set to take effect on July 1. The legislation is described as a "direct assault on the fundamental rights, identity and future of the Tibetan people."
Appeal to World Leaders
The letter was addressed to foreign ministers of Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs. Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar was among the recipients, along with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, and EU representative Kaja Kallas.
Key Provisions of the Law
The coalition alleges that the law provides Beijing with a legal framework to intensify forced assimilation. It restricts use of the Tibetan language, curbs religious freedom, suppresses cultural practices, and penalises peaceful expressions of Tibetan identity. The law prioritises Mandarin Chinese in education and public life, mandates state-led social integration, and expands penalties for actions deemed to threaten "ethnic unity." Provisions requiring parents to educate children to "love the Communist Party of China" are also criticised, as they would enable authorities to regulate what Tibetan families teach about their history, culture, religion, and identity.
Boarding Schools and Indoctrination
The coalition highlighted China's residential boarding school system, claiming at least one million Tibetan children have been separated from their families. These institutions reportedly educate children primarily in Mandarin, limit access to Tibetan language, discourage religious practice, and subject children to political indoctrination, including military-style drills and patriotic programmes aimed at fostering loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party and President Xi Jinping.
UN Concerns
The letter cited recent remarks by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, who expressed concern that the law could further restrict freedoms relating to language, education, religion, culture, expression, and peaceful assembly. Türk reportedly called for the legislation to be repealed and for assimilation policies affecting Tibetans and other ethnic minorities to end.
Call for International Action
Describing the issue as one of international responsibility, the coalition urged democratic governments to use their diplomatic influence to press China to repeal the law and uphold the rights of the Tibetan people. "Silence from the international community would amount to acquiescence in the erosion of Tibet's distinct cultural, linguistic and religious identity," the coalition warned, calling for coordinated diplomatic action before the law comes into effect on July 1.
