Estonian MPs protest Chinese law threatening ethnic minorities

TALLINN - The chairman of the Tibet support group, along with 50 members of the Estonian parliament (Riigikogu), has initiated a protest letter to the Chinese embassy concerning a law that came into effect in China at the beginning of July. According to their assessment, the law aims to assimilate ethnic minorities living in Chinese territory, such as Tibetans, Uyghurs, and Mongols.

"The law has a refined name, 'Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress,' but its substance is to erase Tibetan identity and establish far-reaching mandates aimed at dissolving it, from local governments to Tibetan schools and communities," noted Juku-Kalle Raid, chairman of the Tibet support group.

According to Raid, the Tibetan government-in-exile considers the law a death blow to the People's Republic of China's original constitutional promise of genuine autonomy for Tibet. '

"The law promotes population resettlement and marginalizes the Tibetan language, systematically separating Tibetans from their ancestral homeland, history, and spiritual traditions. The goal is not simply integration, but the gradual replacement of a distinct Tibetan identity with loyalty to the state-defined 'Chinese nation' (Zhonghua Minzu)," Raid explained.

"This is a criminalization of Tibetan identity: the law sets the goal of 'creating a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation' and presents the preservation of Tibetan religious practices, language, and cultural traditions as manifestations of separatism," Raid noted.

The Riigikogu members who signed the joint statement strongly condemn the law, stating that it lacks moral legitimacy in the eyes of the Tibetan people. They believe that although the European Parliament and the UN have already expressed serious concern about the consequences of the legislation, stronger and more decisive measures are urgently needed.

"The members of the Riigikogu call for: officially conveying to the Chinese government strong opposition to this law, requesting the rejection of its implementation and demanding its repeal; urging UN bodies and mechanisms to urgently review China's assimilation policy and use all available international instruments to prevent further violations of cultural, linguistic, and religious rights by Chinese authorities; applying unified diplomatic pressure on Beijing to resolve the Sino-Tibetan conflict peacefully through genuine and mutually respectful dialogue; and supporting the efforts of the Tibetan government-in-exile to preserve and promote Tibetan culture and identity in exile," the protest letter states.

The protest letter was signed by members of the Riigikogu: Juku-Kalle Raid, Ando Kiviberg, Toomas Uibo, Yoko Alender, Kalle Laanet, Jaak Valge, Hanah Lahe, Tarmo Tamm, Ester Karuse, Annely Akkermann, Vilja Toomast, Jüri Jaanson, Marek Reinaas, Anti Allas, Riina Sikkut, Tiit Maran, Leo Kunnas, Heljo Pikhof, Irja Lutsar, Diana Ingerainen, Tõnis Lukas, Tanel Tein, Peeter Tali, Mario Kadastik, Pipi-Liis Siemann, Henn Põlluaas, Margit Sutrop, Kristo Enn Vaga, Eerik-Niiles Kross, Priit Sibul, Liina Kersna, Raul-Stig Rästa, Anti Poolamets, Züleyxa Izmailova, Katrin Kuusemäe, Helir-Valdor Seeder, Luisa Rõivas, Kalev Stoicescu, Kristina Šmigun-Vähi, Urmas Reinsalu, Tanel Kiik, Evelin Poolamets, Mati Raidma, Mart Võrklaev, Timo Suslov, Mait Klaassen, Madis Kallas, Anti Haugas, Õnne Pillak, Meelis Kiili and Lea Danilson-Järg.