Good evening,

My name is Namulun Togochog. I am a Southern Mongolian born in the United States. It is a great honor to be here, standing in solidarity with friends and freedom fighters from Southern Mongolia, Tibet, East Turkistan, Hong Kong, Taiwan and elsewhere, to mark the 73rd anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Merely a year after this monumental declaration, Communist China occupied Southern Mongolia by force and established an oppressive colonial regime. During these 72 years of colonial occupation, not only was the right of self-determination of the six million Southern Mongolians completely taken away, but the most basic human rights and fundamental freedoms of these Mongolians have been denied.

Today, learning and using their mother tongue and practicing their traditions and way of life have become a crime in Southern Mongolia. Especially since last September, the Chinese colonial regime has become increasingly more oppressive, outlawing everything with Mongolian characteristics.

The Mongolian language has been removed from all schools and educational systems; Mongolian books and publications are banned altogether; street signs, buildings and sculptures with even the smallest hints of Mongolian identity have been summarily smashed; being Mongolian itself is a crime in Southern Mongolia. I would like to remind the free and democratic world that this is nothing but cultural genocide, aiming at the total erasure of the Mongolian people and the Mongolian nation from Southern Mongolia.

Those who stand up to this massive cultural genocide are being arrested, detained and sent to jail. Since last August, at least 8,000-10,000 Southern Mongolians have either been sent to jail or placed under house arrest for taking part in large-scale protests. The freedom of Mr. Hada and his family members have disappeared; writer Mr. Lhamjab is still under indefinite house arrest; thousands of ordinary herders like Ms. Yanjindulam are still under police surveillance without any personal freedom. Despite the cultural erasure, mass arrest and harsh crackdowns, we Southern Mongolians haven’t lost hope. We are still continuing our resistance. We firmly believe when they will be free, completely free from Chinese occupation.

Thank you.