by KRISTIAN GRAVENOR

Expat Tibetans are busily anticipating the imminent Canadian visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who arrives April 24. Monks are praying in their South Shore temple, other Tibetans are preparing thousands of momos - traditional Tibetan chow - while folk dancers are choreographing their moves for a performance for His Holiness.

The 68-year-old leader's upcoming visit is considered crucial for those devoted to the struggle to free Tibet, which was invaded and has been occupied by China since 1959. "Tibet is going through a very difficult period right now and the Dalai Lama is not getting any younger. The world community mostly tends to pay attention to Tibet when the Dalai Lama is travelling. The rest of the time Tibet is more or less forgotten," says Thubten "Sam" Samdup, president of Canada-Tibet Committee. "We feel a sense of urgency that something has to be done before the Dalai Lama passes away and that's why we launched this campaign and are working very hard to lobby the Canadian public and parliamentarians. Canada has a very unique role to play in this regard because if we believe that we are a society that believes in non-violence and peace and all that good stuff, then it's about time that Canada comes forth and supports the non-violent struggle of Tibet."

Trade versus human rights

Samdup says that the Chinese are increasingly using demographics in their attempt to extinguish traditional Tibetan society. "Tibetans have already become a minority in Tibet. Pretty soon you will see them as the aboriginals in Australia. Most of the larger (Tibetan) cities have become like Chinese cities, with concrete buildings all over the place. Thousands of years of rich culture and tradition that has been kept alive is slowly disappearing in front of our eyes - it's a wealth that belongs to the world that is slowly disappearing and we're just witnessing it."

The Tibetan cause is popular in Canada, where 160 of 298 parliamentarians have signed on to urge the prime minister to do something about the plight of the Tibetans. Early this week the PM agreed to meet the Dalai Lama, but in only a a spiritual, and not political, capacity. There is fear that any meeting with the Dalai Lama will offend China. However, Samdup notes that Western leaders from Clinton, Bush, Blair, Major, Mitterand and Chirac have all met with the Dalai Lama without any ill results from China. "China is like a little baby that makes a lot of noise, yet Canada seems to be afraid of it."

Samdup says overtly pro-Tibetan countries have easily weathered China's wrath. "China has bullied and made all sorts of threats against these countries. The U.S. Congress passed a bill appointing a special coordinator for Tibet - that's a big step - while other world leaders have encouraged China to have a dialogue with Tibet. We don't just want lip service from this government; we want Canada to take an extra step to make [the freeing of Tibet] happen.

"We can't say that Canada prides itself to be the defender of human rights and the peacemaker of the world, and on the other hand you refuse to condemn China. That's a double standard. If you believe in something, you have to pay the price for it, or otherwise just say that Canada's foreign policy is trade first and human rights are secondary. We should never say that human rights are the cornerstone of our democracy, that's a lie."

To the disappointment of many, Montreal, the unofficial capital of Canada's expat Tibetan population, isn't on the Dalai Lama's itinerary. His only stop will be Ottawa. Samdup says there's a "huge interest in Quebec for His Holiness" and hopes to get him here in two or three years' time.

Another reason to embrace, rather than shun, the Tibetan freedom movement is its impeccable record of non-violence, says Samdup. "We all want to stop terrorism in the world. We are trying to show the world that the only way to truly stop it is through dialogue and mutual respect and understanding, because violence breeds more violence. If you want to stop that cycle, it's time the world community starts paying attention to the non-violent struggle of the people of Tibet and reward them."