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Peter Worthington, former editor of the Toronto Sun, followed and joined in demonstrations by Canadian Tibetans to counter the Communist Chinese propaganda event called the China Tibetan Culture Week. What they faced was a textbook example of how Communist China feels it has the right to maul any of its opponents, even in their democratic home countries.

THE DIARY OF A PROTEST
Tibetans rally in Toronto over China's repression of their culture and homeland
By Peter Worthington

     For six days in Toronto last month, the Chinese government sponsored a China Tibetan Culture Week with movies, photos, Thangka (religious) art, songs and dances.
     The only ones apparently not allowed to attend were Canadian Tibetans - those who know the culture and can distinguish between the real and phony, truth and propaganda.
     While the likes of mayoralty candidate Barbara Hall posed with the ensemble at the Convention Centre's John Bassett theatre and many politicians sent best wishes, Chinese security vigilantly sought to remove Tibetans who eluded the security net and got in with $35 tickets.
     Inside the theatre it was Chinese security.
     Outside it was off-duty cops hired to "escort" Canadian Tibetans to the street, if they reacted against Chinese propaganda disguised as Tibetan culture.
     Tibetan protesters are usually non-violent, adhering to the admonitions of the Dalai Lama. They don't throw things, harass police, set fires or fight and thus rarely excite media attention. I make no apology for being an admirer of Tibetans.
     I asked Rigzin Dolkar, planning the 2004 visit of the Dalai Lama to Toronto, if I was correct to say violence was discouraged at protests. "Yes," she said, "but I remember once a Tibetan woman got so upset she spat." She cited the young Tibetan asking a Chinese police officer if it was okay to shout.
     Although media coverage was restrained, politicians were lavish in misguided praise for "Chinese Tibetan culture." Below are excerpts from the diary of Pema Lektsog of the Canada Tibet Committee (CTC) about the Toronto event:

    DAY 1, Sept. 17: Approximately 150 Tibetan supporters demonstrated outside the Sheraton hotel against the official opening of the China Tibetan Culture Week, organized by the Chinese government and 80 or so Canadian Chinese organizations.
     The opening ceremony was attended by about 100 guests, mainly Chinese . . . The organizers said Tibet is remote and access is limited, and although some people have visited and written about it they haven't been able to truly depict what is happening. They handed out propaganda, including a CD "China's Tibet," a DVD "Celebrating the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet," and books titled China's Tibet: Facts and Figures.
     There was also a program book with congratulatory messages from politicians, including Prime Minister Jean Chretien, Ontario Premier Ernie Eves, Mayor Mel Lastman, Heritage Minister Sheila Copps and Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson. Tibet support groups had enquired if they would be able to meet the Tibetan performers and were told the organizers would get back to them, but nothing happened.

    DAY 2, Sept. 18: We had people handing out leaflets "Facts on Tibet" (detailing cultural genocide, repression and killing) outside the Sheraton hotel where the photo and Thangka exhibit is being displayed. At night, the first of two evenings of "Tibetan Cultural Performances" was held at the Convention Centre. Approximately 300 Tibetans and supporters demonstrated. The audience inside was 99% Chinese, with two politicians (of which Lektsog was aware) in attendance, Olivia Chow and Barbara Hall ....
     We purchased 10 tickets (mostly through non-Tibetans) and throughout the performance groups of two got up and started shouting slogans in Tibetan and English, like "Stop the propaganda," "China Out of Tibet," "Free the Panchen Lama," and "Free Tibet." Jordhen Chazotsang and Sonam Topgyal ran on stage with a Tibetan flag before being pushed off. All of the nine Tibetan guys and Namgyal Nangsetsang (the only female in the group) were jumped on by Chinese security people and Chinese from the audience. All were roughed up. Namgyal was hit in the face and pushed down stairs. There were no police inside the theatre, and when our guys mentioned what happened to them they were told if we lay charges, they could also charge us with trespassing. Unfortunately no TV media were present. As for media, we were interviewed by Ryerson Radio, CBC radio, and CFMT-TV. My interview with CBC-TV aired at 6:30 p.m. CFRB said it wanted an interview for Saturday, and we were told a Globe and Mail article would be in tomorrow's paper. (Editor's note. Note: Neither CFRB nor the Globe did anything.)

    DAY 3, Sept. 19: Since yesterday's demonstration got very loud, police were prepared with a lot more officers and horses. We had purchased two tickets, but when Chimi Gyaltong and Tashi Gyaltsang tried to get in, they were denied access and told the organizers did not want them.
     When questioned why they were denied entrance, the Tibetans were told the organizers thought they would create a disturbance. The two asked to speak to an organizer. While waiting, Tashi pulled out his flag, and was immediately told to leave. Two off-duty police officers grabbed the Tibetans and took them up the escalators. While on the escalator one of the officers started to curse Tashi ... No one else was in the area when this occurred.
     At the top of the escalator he threw Tashi down, and other police officers came to the officer's aid. Tibetans at the demonstration who could see Chimi and Tashi rushed over.
     The two were released and complained to the sergeant in charge who told them he basically sympathized with our cause but it would be our word against the two officers'. He apologized and said he would speak to them.
     We are looking into this further. There are issues about access to a theatre when we had already purchased tickets (these were the two tickets I had purchased that CBC cameras filmed), and the issue of police (conduct) and undue force by the Chinese security the previous night.

    DAY 4, Sept. 20: Approximately 60 Tibetans demonstrated at the Prince hotel, where a talk by Tibet academics was scheduled, but was cancelled and replaced by a private dinner. Originally the talk was planned at one of the universities, but was refused because the Chinese would not agree to have Tibetan groups represented. A letter to organizers requesting our own "Tibet expert" to participate got no response. Our demonstration got a lot of honks of support from motorists.
     At U of T about 40 demonstrators were on hand for the films, but we were told we were not allowed on campus and could be charged with trespassing. Later we were allowed on campus, and some Tibetans gained entry to the films.

    DAY 5, Sept. 21: Today we had two demonstrations at films on Tibet shown concurrently at U of T and York University. At York we had over 100 demonstrators.
     Only about 30 people were there to watch the films. We handed out "Facts about Tibet," but were not allowed to shout slogans on university property. No media were present, and we were not allowed entry into the films.
     At U of T there were 60 present until the bus from York brought the number to over 100. Roughly 300 Chinese watched the films. A few Tibetans tried to see the film but were told they needed tickets and there were no tickets left. Demonstrators talked to passersby, including one man from Trinidad who didn't believe we weren't allowed to see the propaganda films. He approached the organizers, who had seen him talking to us, and he was told there were no tickets, and that the films were in Chinese with no subtitles.
     Later, he learned the films were in English and became very angry, and started to yell "Liars!" and said this was discrimination. He could not believe this was happening and that he was "guilty by association." He said he is interested in helping us if we are doing anything about this discrimination. Again, there were no media present.

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