URAP Newsletter January

URAP NEWSLETTER FOR JANUARY 2024

FEB. 15

Press releases: 

January 31 – URAP announces its withdrawal from the Public Inquiry into Foreign  Interference

News:

The URAP decision to withdraw in late January from the Public Inquiry resonated loudly across the political establishment in Ottawa and within civil society. Many questioned the validity of reasoning of the Commissioner Marie-Josee Hogue to grant special privileges to the three individuals who are allegedly tied to CCP as per Canadian security authorities (see below media coverage).

·        URAP team trained young Uyghur-Canadian volunteers to provide support services to the potential applicants under the M62 campaign initiative.

·        URAP continued its cooperation with the numerous stake-holders to make the M62 project feasible and swift

·        URAP continued its documentary filming project

·        URAP continued working on strengthening the Alliance of Genocide Victim Communities

·        URAP is actively engaged in implementing the M62 (10 thousand refugees’ resettlement into Canada)

·       URAP is cooperating with various US-based NGOs on strengthening the Uyghur Forced Labor products importation ban to Canada under the CUSMA agreements (CAN-US-MEX free trade agreement).

·       URAP is continuing its participation in the Coalition Against Forced Labour in Trade

·       URAP’s documentary filming on several subjects like M62, advocacy and awareness-raising campaigns in Canada is ongoing.

Media compilation for January 2024:

January 17 – Mehmet Tohti, the executive director of the Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project (URAP), told The Hill Times that he finds the decision to give the three men standing and the rejection of the coalition’s appeal “baffling,” and that his organization and others within the coalition have serious concerns about the trio’s participation - https://www.hilltimes.com/story/20 terms-of-foreign-interference-inquiry

January 17 NZZ German based newspaper of Uyghur Forced Labor cited Mehmet Tohti https://www.nzz.ch/international/umerziehungslager-in-xinjiang-es-gibt-sie-noch-von-normalitaet-keine-spur-ld.1767739

January 28 - “I am very pessimistic about this inquiry,” said Mehmet Tohti, executive director of the Uyghur Human Rights Advocacy Project. “This is a dead start for me. We are going to withdraw.” Mr. Tohti said the three men have “acted like Chinese officials in Canada so I am not ready to make myself available to be cross-examined by them.” https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-foreign-interference-public-inquiry-boycott/

January 27 The Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project (URAP) filed an application for judicial review of the acts and omissions of the Government of Canada, in relation to what it stated was an ongoing genocide against members of the Uyghur population in China. It contended that Canada was not respecting its obligations under the Genocide Convention to take steps to prevent the ongoing genocide, including that Canada had failed to recognize a genocide against the Uyghurs. https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/trnsprnc/brfng-mtrls/prlmntry-bndrs/20230825/24-en.aspx

January 30 The Foreign interference inquiry begins with a question — what can be made public? | Power & Politics * The independent inquiry into foreign electoral interference began its public hearings, but the commission first needs to work out what it can — and can't - https://youtube.com/watch?v=0bi5bHR4SWQ&feature=shared

January 31 - "In a statement released Wednesday evening, the Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project (URAP) said the continued participation of three men accused of being linked to the Chinese government "pose[s] a significant security risk" to diaspora communities.” via CBC-Canada https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/foreign-interference-inquiry-fadden-1.7100381

In French :

January 11 - https://www.ledevoir.com/societe/805103/aucune-cargaison-produits-issus-travail-force-ouighours-interceptee-canada « Chaque fois que je rentre dans un centre d’achats à Montréal, je constate la présence de produits d’esclavage sur nos étalages, mentionne sans ambages Kayum Masimov, un militant canadien d’origine ouïghoure, coordonnateur du Projet de défense des droits des Ouïghours, une ONG basée à Ottawa.

What can you do this week?

 URAP is non-profit organization advocating on behalf of Uyghur and other Turkic-speaking people of East Turkistan currently facing the ongoing Genocide. We need broad support of public just like you to continue our advocacy and awareness-raising efforts in Canada and globally. Consider to DONATE and support our activities such as ongoing M62 campaign among other initiatives.

Upcoming Events:

Canadian Parliament reconvened on January 29th after the winter holidays. URAP will continue its advocacy and awareness-raising campaign on several legislative initiatives such as addressing the elimination of the Forced Slave Uyghur Labor-tainted merchandise in the Canadian Supply Chains. FIRA (or its equivalent), The “Clean University” Initiative, resettlement M62 initiative and more…