Press Release – For immediate release
20 August 2018
Contact: World Uyghur Congress www.uyghurcongress.org
0049 (0) 89 5432 1999 or [email protected]

The WUC was deeply saddened to hear of the death of Tsewang Norbu and expresses its condolences to his friends, family and the Tibetan community. Tsewang Norbu was a pivotal figure for the Tibetan community in Germany and was tireless in the struggle for human rights for Tibetans. 

He was also a friend to the Uyghur community in Germany. Through his work with the Tibet Initiative Deutschland (of which he was a founding member and advisory board member), he collaborated closely with the WUC and the Uyghur community in Germany on a number of occasions to collectively raise human rights issues for the Uyghur and Tibetan communities. The WUC sincerely thanks him for his many contributions to the Uyghur cause and for his friendship.

WUC President Dolkun Isa extended his personal condolences to the family of Mr. Norbu. Dolkun Isa and Tsewang Norbu were good friends who cooperated regularly to advance human rights in China, most recently at a demonstration marking Chinese PM Li Kechang’s visit to Berlin on 9 July 2018.

Tsewang Norbu’s passing is not just a blow to the Tibetan community, but to all those who are concerned with human rights in China. In these dire times, as Uyghurs and Tibetans face unparalleled repression and threats to their continued existence as a unique people, we need to draw inspiration from Tsewang’s courage and indefatigable spirit to continue his mission to achieve human rights and freedom.