Ep 132 China's Tendrils -- Foreign State Harrassment within Canada
This spring, Amnesty International issued an updated report on Chinese harassment of Chinese human rights critics in Canada. This report and accompanying issues were featured last week in the Globe and Mail. Joining Stephanie and Craig to discuss the report and the issue of Chinese-sponsored harassment are Alex Neve, Secretary-General of Amnesty Canada, and Chemi Lhamo, 2019 student president at the University of Toronto's Scarborough campus. Chemi describes harassment and threats of violence she experienced, as a Canadian of Tibetan origin, during her period in student government — conduct she believes was orchestrated by China. Alex describes the more general pattern of suspected Chinese government harassment activities within Canada, directed at those who oppose the Chinese government’s human rights record and other authoritarian policies. Both guests call for closer attention to this issue by Canadian authorities, and end by describing the recommendations made in the Amnesty report. Thank you to Chemi and Alex for joining us on the podcast.