By our silence on Uyghur genocide in China, we are complicit

By our silence on Uyghur genocide in China, we are complicit – Tóibín

Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín TD today attended a protest outside the Chinese Embassy about the Chinese government’s treatment of the Uyghur Muslim population.

Deputy Tóibín said:

“I was very happy to attend the protest organised outside the Chinese Embassy on Ailesbury Road today along with some members of Ógra Aontú. The situation in China should be condemned by our government here. For some time now we’ve been seeing the photos, videos and articles showing how the Uyghur population in the region are being sent to ‘thought transformation camps’, herded blindfolded onto busses and subjected to forced sterilisation, forced abortions and forced labour”.

Deputy Tóibín continued: “Its now approaching two months since I wrote a letter to Simon Coveney, Leo Varadkar and Taoiseach Micheál Martin requesting that the Irish government condemn the situation. I was very impressed with the support from across political parties and across the political spectrum for my letter, winding up with twenty signatures from fellow Oireachtas members, including some from the three government parties. Simon Coveney’s response to me was wishy washy. He talked about how statements from the UN, of which Ireland is a member, had previously been issued. Talking about the ‘concerns’ the Irish government had, and how they will ‘monitor’ the situation”.

“Now is not the time for small talk, now is not the time for complacency. These approaches don’t work when dealing with authoritative, dictatorial, oppressive regimes. We need strong condemnation from this government, we cannot stand idly by in silence”, concluded Deputy Tóibín.

The Irish political system is radically broken

In Ireland the vast majority of elected representatives put a finger in the air to check which way the political wind is blowing. They have one eye on their leaders – seeking brownie points – and another eye keeping their seat safe. If elected reps shut up and do as they’re told, they are promoted; if they stand up for what they believe in, they are demoted. No wonder we have the political class we have. No wonder one point one billion euro is being buried in a hole under the National Children’s Hospital and that Stormont is in stalemate.

Throughout Ireland, many people are now afraid to say what they feel, many are afraid to respectfully engage on a range of different topics. Many feel there is a new censorship and a new political correctness in Ireland, that opposition to the establishment is being deleted.

Respectful opposition is not the enemy. Respectful opposition is a critical element of a functional democracy. Aontú will have the backbone to stand up, without fear, for you.