Annual Report, 1999 - Tibet: Tightening of Control
The Chinese government authorities continued to commit
widespread violations of Tibetans' rights to freedom
of expression in 1999. All activities viewed as threats
or vehicles for political dissent are not tolerated and
forcibly suppressed. According to credible reports, serious
human right abuses in Tibet include lengthy detention
of Tibetan nationalists for peacefully expressing their
political views.
Out of 130 known arrests in 1999, 115 Tibetans were
arrested for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom
of expression.
In January 1999, the Chinese government launched a
three-year "atheism" campaign aimed at eroding support
for Buddhism and the Dalai Lama in Tibet. Combined
with the "re-education" campaign being carried out at
monasteries and nunneries throughout Tibet, this threatens
the survival of Tibet's unique cultural and religious
heritage. "Patriotic"re-education"" part of the "Strike
Hard" campaign was launched in April of 1996 by the
Chinese government in an attempt to suppress "splittist"
activity by tightening restrictions on monasteries
and nunneries, seen by the authorities as centres of
political activism. There has been widespread resistance
and resentment in monastic institutions in response to this
campaign. As a result, 11,409 monks and nuns are known to
have been expelled from their monasteries and nunneries
since 1996.
Since the Third National Forum on Work in Tibet in 1994,
the authorities have been able to intensify the attack
on "splittism" by portraying the most basic elements of
Tibetan culture, including language and religion as threats
to national unity, portraying them as disguised forms
of separatism. Human Rights Watch in 1999 reported that,
"[s]trict controls remained on expression, association and
assembly, with political and religious dissent . . .and
supporters of nationalist movements often facing arrest
and detention."
Chinese authorities continue to use charges of "endangering
state-security" to suppress freedom of expression in
Tibet. The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary
Detention (UNWGAD) in October of 1997 stated, "Even though
the nomenclature 'counter-revolutionary' crimes had been
abolished, the jurisdiction of the state had been allowed
to expand and acts of individuals in freedom of expression
and opinion may well be regarded as acts 'endangering
state-security.'"
The Chinese government contends that
the aforementioned category of crime conforms to the
principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights (UDHR) and the International Covenant
on Civil and Political Rights (ICCRP), and that these
two documents are subject to restrictions imposed by
(national) law. When examining this claim, the UNWGAD
stated,
"municipal legislation that considers such
activities (issuing and distributing writings or speeches,
instigating national separation harmful to society,
etc.) as counter-revolutionary propaganda and agitation
. . . is liable to be declared inconsistent with the UDHR
and ICCPR."
The year 1999 coincided with significant anniversaries in
China and Tibet. Throughout the year, Chinese authorities
tightened security and surveillance in all major cities
and towns to prevent incidents of nationalist dissent.
In November 1999, the Chinese government issued new
regulations on public assembly, requiring gatherings
of over 200 people to obtain prior approval from PSB
(PSB). The new regulations are believed to be aimed at
members of the banned Falung Gong group who held protests
in China this year, as well as targeting social unrest
arising from economic factors. There are fears that these
new regulations will be invoked to suppress freedom of
expression in Tibet.
Article 19 of the universal declaration of human rights,
states:
everyone has the right to freedom
of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to
hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive
and impart information and ideas through any media and
regardless of frontiers.
Article 35 of the Constitution of the People's Republic
of China declares:
Citizens of the People's Republic of China enjoy freedom
of speech, of the press, of assembly, of association,
of procession and of demonstration.
Additionally, the Chinese Constitution guarantees: freedom
of religious belief; inviolability of the person and their
dignity; protection against arbitrary arrest; inviolability
of the home; freedom and privacy of correspondence; the
right to criticise.
The gulf between the laws and this application remains
significant as authorities continue to place a higher
priority on "stability" than on national and international
laws and norms. The Tibet Information Network notes that,
"[d]espite the potential for significance in revisions of
law and criminal procedure, the outlook for Tibetans who
express political views differing from those mandated by
the state is demonstrably worse today than a few years
ago."
Approaching March 10 and October 1, the 40th anniversary of
the Tibetan National Uprising and 50th anniversary of the
founding of the People's Republic of China respectively,
individuals suspected of political activities were
detained for periods ranging from a few days to several
months. Reports indicate that at least 80 people were
detained in Lhasa. According to one report from Tibet,
"the 'TAR' State Security Bureau has ordered security
personnel to carry out a number of token arrests during
the weeks leading up to March 10 in order to deter others
from participating in protests during the anniversary
period."
Displays of Chinese military hardware and
anti-riot procedures were displayed to further deter all
peaceful forms of political expression leading up to the
anniversaries.
Reports indicate that PSB, PAP and local police stations
in Lhasa were issued with emergency orders to be alert in
all political sensitive areas in Lhasa surrounding these
anniversaries. Orders were issued prohibiting residents
of Lhasa from assembling with two or more people in
public places. Official circulars were also sent to
all educational institutions and government departments
ordering them to remain inside offices on the proscribed
dates. Residents of Lhasa attempting to travel during
these periods were required to seek permission from their
local authorities. Confirmed reports indicate that Tibetans
were threatened with the loss of their jobs if they did
not participate in the celebrations.
Two Tibetan monks,
Phuntsok Legmon
(lay name: Tseten Norbu),
16 years old,
and
Namdrol
(lay name: Sonam Choedrak),
21 years old,
were arrested on March 10, 1999
for staging a peaceful demonstration in Lhasa.
They were sentenced by the Lhasa City's Intermediate People's Court
on charges of "plotting to split the country or undermining
national security" on July 9, 1999 to three years and four
years respectively.
Security was heightened during the National Minority
Games, which was held in Lhasa from August 18 to 23,
1999. Chinese authorities imposed strict measures
restricting attendance. However, several incidents of
protests were reported prior to and during the Minority
Games.
Ngawang Tsedup
(21),
a monk of Taglungdrag Monastery in Toelung Dechen County,
raised pro-independence
slogans on August 20 during a dress rehearsal for a dance
performance. He was immediately arrested by security police
and taken to Gutsa Detention Centre.
An unconfirmed report indicates the arrest of two monks
and two nuns after chanting slogans in the presence of
Chinese dignitaries at the sports stadium in Lhasa during
a cultural performance to celebrate the National Minority
Games.
A week before the 64th birthday of the Dalai Lama, Chinese
authorities banned Tibetan celebrations commemorating the
occasion. The authorities distributed a leaflet which
stated "the celebration of the birthday is against the
law of the country as the Dalai Lama fled Tibet since
40 years and not only does he head his clique but also
never stopped his splittist activities." The custom of
celebrating the birthday is viewed as propagating acts
of"splittism"and instigating masses to oppose the Chinese
government. The document also warns that henceforth this
event is completely banned and failure to abide this
shall be seen as ignoring Chinese law and dealt with
accordingly.
On July 6, the day of the Dalai Lama's birthday, movement
of Tibetan people was restricted and Chinese police
patrolled the route to Ngachen township near Lhasa City
to block Tibetans from visiting the "birthday village" (a
place specifically set aside for incense burning ceremony
on the birthday of the Dalai Lama.).
A monk from Gyutoe Monastery in Lhasa City named
Lobsang Choephel
went to Ngachen to celebrate the Dalai Lama's birthday.
He was reportedly detained on the way and
severely beaten.
A 60 year-old Tibetan man
was returning
to Ngachen when he was stopped and his bags were searched.
On finding tsampa (roasted barley flour often used as an
offering to deities) in his bag, he was accused of planning
to commemorate the occasion and was beaten by the security
personnel.
During a peaceful protest on October 31, 1999 in Kandze
County, Kandze "TAP", Sichuan Province, officials of PSB
opened fire at some 3,000 Tibetans. The protestors were
demanding the immediate release of three Tibetan monks from
Kandze Dhargye Monastery who were arrested on October 24,
1999 on grounds of suspicion of involvement in political
activities. Following the protest, at least 80 Tibetans
are reported to have been arrested.
On July 20, 1999, PSB officials arrested eleven monks from
Kandze Dhargye Monastery after discovering pro-independence
slogans on the walls of the monastery. The monks were
charged with inscribing "Tibet is independent" with red
paint on the gates and walls of the monastery. The details
of their identifications and whereabouts are unknown.
Three monks,
Ngawang Tenzin
(21)
from Toelung Dechen County in Lhasa,
Gyaltsen Jangchup
(21)
from Nagartse County in Lhoka Prefecfure
and
Namdol Choedon
(22)
from Nyemo County in Lhasa
were arrested after staging a peaceful protest in Lhasa
during the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the
founding of the PRC. It is reported that the three monks
from Taklungdrag Monastery were severely beaten at the time
of their arrest. Their present whereabouts are unknown.
Dakpa
(23)
and
Riglo
(22)
from Tawu Nyitso Monastery in Tawu County in Sichuan Province
were arrested in June 1999
on charges of placing independence posters in the streets
of Tawu. They are currently detained in Tawu Detention
Centre.
Lobsang Kunchok
alias Choedar, a 23 year-old former monk
from Kirti Monastery in Ngaba County, Sichaun Province,
was arrested in April, 1999 on charges of pasting
pro-independence posters in Ngaba. He was sentenced by
the Barkham People's Court to five years' imprisonment.
In 1999, the Tibetan people's right to freedom of
expression was consistently and forcibly suppressed by
the Chinese government. All forms of peaceful protest are
viewed as a threat to national security by the government
and not tolerated; in the process, the Chinese government
violated International and National law. Tibetans are
prevented from participating in the cultural, religious and
political affairs of their country. The Chinese government
used threats of punishment and reprisals to coerce Tibetans
to participate in celebrations marking the 50th anniversary
of the founding of the PRC. All expressions of allegiance
to the Dalai Lama, including Buddhism were repressed.
[ Contents ]
[ Recommendations ]
[ Next:
Arbitrary Arrest and Detention ]
|
