The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) releases its 2005 Annual Report: Human Rights Situation in Tibet. This year’s report focuses on five spheres of rights violation in Tibet: Civil and political liberties, Religion, Development, Education and Information.
At the end of 2005, TCHRD has documented 20 known arrests of Tibetans during the year for simply calling for freedom in Tibet and for showing allegiance to the Dalai Lama. A total of 132 known Tibetan political prisoners are currently serving lengthy prison terms in a network of Chinese administered prisons in Tibet. The Centre believes that there are many more cases of unknown arrests whereas some cases remain unconfirmed although it has been reported.
In September 2005, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) celebrated with aplomb the 40th founding anniversary of the “Tibet Autonomous Region” (“TAR”). Severe restrictions were placed beforehand as a precautionary measure against any Tibetans showing dissent during the event. Suspected Tibetans had been arrested and former political prisoners had been put under vigilance or detained temporarily. Anti-separatists strategies like the “summer strike hard” campaign and the “patriotic re-education” campaigns were unleashed to purge dissent activities and to inculcate “proper” ideology, and allegiance to the “splittist” Dalai Lama in any form became the chief targets of repression. Sonam Gyalpo, a former political prisoner and a tailor by profession was lifted by the Chinese Security Officials from his home on 28 August 2005. The 43 year-old had earlier served three years’ term for participating in a peaceful pro-independence demonstration on 27 September 1987.
The dramatic rise of religious repression in Tibet has been the most concerning in 2005. China’s new regulations on Religious Affairs, which became effective on 1 March 2005, helped to limit and curtail religious freedom in Tibet. The authorities placed intensive “patriotic re-education” campaigns , anti-Dalai Lama campaigns, imposed control over monastic curriculum, practice and study of Tibetan Buddhism. Throughout the year, newly arrived refugees reported conduct of intensive campaigns in the monasteries and nunneries. Drepung Monastery was in the highlight during 2005 owing to one death, several expulsions and mass sit-in protest by the monks over denunciation of the Dalai Lama under the banner of “patriotic re-education” campaign.
17 May 2005 marked the tenth year anniversary of the disappearance of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the XIth Panchen Lama of Tibet. Total absence of additional information on his whereabouts and well-being and the Chinese authorities’ repeated denial of access to him is of great concern to the Tibetan people.
Along with the Annual Report, TCHRD also releases two special reports: Torture in Tibet and Death Penalty in China. The two reports take a hard look at the practice of two of the most heinous crimes in the PRC.
Click the following links:
Annual Report 2005: Human Rights Situation in Tibet (PDF)
KUNXING:Torture in Tibet (PDF)
Death Penalty in China (PDF)
