30 June 1999
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Re-arrest of a former political prisoner
[ read ]
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"Work team" in Pekarthang Monastery
[ read ]
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Tibetan students face dual problems of unemployment and confiscation of land
[ read ]
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Revised birth control policy
[ read ]
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In the footsteps of his father
[ read ]
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Important announcement:
Human Rights Update becomes monthly
[ read ]
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Correction
[ read ]
A 20 year-old Tibetan girl "P"
arrived in Dharamsala on June 13, 1999.
She and a group of 76 people were arrested
while attempting to flee Tibet in February 1999.
P reported that in her group she encountered a former
political prisoner (name withheld) who had served time
in Drapchi Prison for participating in a demonstration in
Lhasa in 1990.
P reported that she was taken to Gutsa Detention
Centre. The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy
is concerned about her welfare and seeks to ensure that she
does not face further imprisonment due to her background
and previous activities.
Details of her identity are being withheld by the Centre
for her protection and will be released upon confirmation
that it would not pose any threat to her well being.
The group had hired a guide who charged each member 1200
yuan. After travelling for 13 days, about a four hour
drive from the Tibet-Nepal border, the group stopped for
the night. They were immediately surrounded by 15 Public
Security Bureau officials of Nyima County, and taken to
Nyima County in Ngari Region.
The group was detained in Nyima County for three days and
then transferred to Panga County where they were detained
for two more days. Then they were transferred to Nagchu
regional prison where they were repeatedly interrogated
for five weeks. The group maintained their claim that
they were on a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash. However,
the officials refused to believe them and the group was
further interrogated in separate cells. P escaped from
the prison window in Nyima County with four other people
but she does not know what happened to the rest of the
members in the group.
"Patriotic re-education" in schools
Namdhar Tseringz
(18) is from Tsongon Province (Ch: Qinghai Province)
Thungren County Rigomo Township. He was
a student at the Tsolho (Ch:Hainan) Daru Middle school. He
started his schooling when he was six and completed his
primary school by the time he was twelve. He continued
his studies in the Hainan Prefecture ethnic nationality
middle school. This school is divided into lower, middle
and higher middle school. Namdhar gave the following
account on the school he attended in Hainan.
"There are approximately 800 students in this school out
of which there are only 10 Tibetans. The land where the
school is situated belongs to a Tibetan. This is the
biggest and the best school in Hainan Prefecture. The
Chinese students are mostly children of the Chinese
officials and big Chinese businessmen. There are a few
Muslim children. Not many Tibetans can attend this school.
It is only children from rich families or those who have
parents working for the Chinese government who can afford
to attend this school. There are about 50 teachers, none of
whom are Tibetan, but there are two Chinese Muslims. The
school holidays honour the Muslim and Chinese calendar
but not a single Tibetan festival is observed.
"The main subjects taught are Chinese, Maths, English,
politics etc. There are no Tibetan studies. The language
of instruction is Chinese. The Tibetan children are taught
political science by teaching atheism, and opposing His
Holiness the Dalai Lama. However, the school officials
often contradict their views about atheism by enforcing
respect and recognition of the Panchen Lama selected by
China. We are told to denounce the Panchen Lama recognised
by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
"In 1996 one of my Tibetan friends gave me a small pendant
with a picture of His Holiness in it; I would wear it all
the time. One day in class I was feeling hot and removed
a shirt button exposing my pendant. One of the Chinese
teachers saw it and took me to the staff office where
they snatched the pendant off my neck. They told me that
I was not allowed to wear it anymore. They added as part
of their admonishment that His Holiness is a splittist. I
felt terrible but because I was a mere student I could
not say anything. I was at the mercy of these people.
"I completed this course in three years after which I sat
for an entrance test in July 1998. If I passed in this test
I could easily be designated a job. I failed in this test,
but despite my failure I was employed in a business sector
in August 1999. This office which had in recent times faced
bankruptcy due to the increase in private enterprises had
no capital to pay wages to its employees. I chose not to
take up this job".
[ top ]
Gendun Gyaltsen
started primary school at the age of
eight at Mepa village school. He studied there for
about six years. When he turned fifteen, he joined Thunri
County ethnic nationality middle school and he studied
there for three years after which he intended to join
a teacher training school in Rebkong County. Due to his
entrance examination failure, he was unable to join this
school. One month later, on December 3, 1993, he decided
to become a monk and join Pekarthang Monastery in Mepa
village in Thunri County. This monastery was of the Gelug
sect order and had only 60 monks. Despite the relatively
small number of residents, the monks had to bring their
food supplies from their homes.
In March 1996, a 15-member "work-team" from three levels
of the government Region, Prefecture and County -
visited the monastery and ordered all monks to assemble
for a meeting. During the meeting, the monks were told
the principles around which their religious practice
should revolve;"splittism", pro-independence ideologies
and possession of pictures of the Dalai Lama were few of
the restrictive principles imposed on the monks. The monks
were left with no choice but to leave the monastery after
10 days of "re-education".
In July 1997, "work-team" members returned to the
monastery. Further intensive "re-education" was given
to the monks. They stayed at the monastery for 15 days
and made several violent attacks on the monks. The monks
were forced to accept the instructions chalked out by the
"work-team" members. The monks who were 18 and older were
made to sit for an "entrance test" and the 20 monks below
18 were expelled. The test was to ensure complete adherence
to the "work team" members" indoctrination. The members
also announced that those who failed to give satisfactory
answers would not be accepted, thus they would eventually
be forced to leave the monastery.
Two monks failed the entrance test and were subsequently
ordered to leave the monastery. Some of the expelled
monks eventually returned to the monastery following the
departure of the "work team" members. It was reported
that in June 1998 an eight-member "work-team" visited
the monastery for the third time and they stayed for 20
days. This time the "patriotic re-education" was conducted
even more seriously.
The monks were made to sit for another gruelling political
test whereby the answers were already prepared and
the monks just had to select the "correct" choice. The
questions included opposing the Dalai Lama. The monks
were compelled to sign the answer sheet upon completion
but they refused and made excuses about being sick
and illiterate. The "work team" members ordered the
Disciplinary Management Committee of the monastery to get
the papers signed by the monks. The members subsequently
left the monastery. The problem still persists.
Gedun left the monastery before being forced to do the
things against his virtues and wishes.
After his departure from the monastery, Gedun heard that
the "work team" members would come again to conduct
the final "re-education" in 1999. In October 1997,
Gedun reached Garchi village on his way to Amdo Rebkong
County. While he was in Garchi, a violent dispute between
Ling village and Shonpa Village broke out over pasture
lands. There were several shootings and consequently nine
people were reportedly injured in the fight. They were
taken to the Rebkong County hospital. The Chinese
government does not try to solve these problems and
actually does what it can to foster tension and disputes
within the Tibetan community.
[ top ]
Sangye Kyab
(26) reached India in June 1999.
He is a former student from Trika County, Tsolho TAP in
Tso-ngon Province. He came into exile because despite his
education, he was facing severe problems stemming from
his unemployment. Sangye had entered Lob-chung school
(Primary school) at the age of nine and studied Tibetan
and Chinese for three years. In Lob-chung a year course
is divided into two semesters. Students are charged 60
yuan for each semester.
After completing Lob-chung, he joined Lobdring School
(Middle school) which is divided into two sections, Lower
Middle School and Upper Middle School. The duration of
each section is three years. In the Lower Middle School
every residential student has to pay 250 gyama of barley,
30 gyama of oil, and 150 yuan as tuition fees for each
semester.
For non-residential students fees are only 150 yuan. (1
gyama is equivalent to 500 grams)In 1991, Sangye Kyab
joined Tsolho Teachers Training School and completed
it after two years. In Upper Middle school students are
required to pay an amount of 300 yuan as tuition fees, 250
gyama of barley, 30 gyama of oil. In the teachers training
school, the students are required to pay 380 gyama of
barley annually and 500 yuan per semester. In 1994, Sangye
studied in Nub-Jhang Nationalties High School for another
four years. Sangye completed his high school education
on June 11, 1998. In Nub-Jang Nationalities school, the
students need to pay 1000 yuan in the first year and 380
yuan in the subsequent year.
A total of 150 Tibetan students, four from Trika County,
completed their "high school" education in 1998. None of
the four students from Trika County have obtained jobs
in the government sectors and are now working with their
parents on their farms. Many other Tibetan students who
completed high school were also forced to return to their
hometowns due to the authorities refusal to assist them
in job placement.
It is these exorbitant tuition fees and no future prospect
of obtaining employment after completion of studies that
has made many Tibetans reluctant to send their children
to school or undertake further studies.
Furthermore, the policy by which the land of an admitted
Tibetan student is taken over by the government
also interferes with Tibetan children's access to
educational facilities. The land taken is handed over to
a newborn child, or to those who have not received their
share of land. It has been almost a year since Sangye
completed his studies and found himself in the dilemma
of unemployment. His land has been confiscated by the
government and he is enduring great difficulties in trying
to eke out a living.
Sometimes, the authorities are unable to pay salary for
a month or two. Presently, teachers as well as other
government employees may not receive their wages for
several months. However, Tibetan employees are forced
to remain in school as they do not have anywhere else to
go because their land has been taken. Most students who
graduate speaking Tibetan have limited job opportunities
and often end up doing mediocre teaching or translation
work.
As Sangye struggled to find work, he was forced to remain
at home like most of the young Tibetans in his village
who work with their parents as farmers or nomads. Sangye's
family consists of seven members, and possesses 12 mu of
land on which they mostly grow barley. Farmers cannot sell
their yield to enterprises other than the government. The
government pays less than the market rate. The authorities
only pay 65 yuan, whereas the market price is about 95
yuan per 100 gyama of barley. Furthermore, farmers are
subjected to various levies which amount to about 2000
yuan every year. handed over to a newborn child, or to
those who have not received their share of land. It has
been almost a year since Sangye completed his studies and
found himself in the dilemma of unemployment. His land
has been confiscated by the government and he is enduring
great difficulties in trying to eke out a living.
Sometimes, the authorities are unable to pay salary for
a month or two. Presently, teachers as well as other
government employees may not receive their wages for
several months. However, Tibetan employees are forced
to remain in school as they do not have anywhere else to
go because their land has been taken. Most students who
graduate speaking Tibetan have limited job opportunities
and often end up doing mediocre teaching or translation
work.
As Sangye struggled to find work, he was forced to remain
at home like most of the young Tibetans in his village
who work with their parents as farmers or nomads. Sangye's
family consists of seven members, and possesses 12 mu of
land on which they mostly grow barley. Farmers cannot sell
their yield to enterprises other than the government. The
government pays less than the market rate. The authorities
only pay 65 yuan, whereas the market price is about 95
yuan per 100 gyama of barley. Furthermore, farmers are
subjected to various levies which amount to about 2000 yuan
every year.
(1 mu is equivalent to 67 square meters)
[ top ]
In another report in English by the Official Chinese news
agency of June 23, 1999, the Kanze Tibetan Autonomous
Prefecture in China's Sichuan province has given 822
households certificates for one-child couples. This revised
one-child policy regulation is to encourage new birth
control procedures. The Chinese government has targetted
households, providing families incentives such as school
enrolment, medical care and employment. This encourages
families to adopt birth control practices without the
government having to impose these measures.
[ top ]
Bhutuk is a 22-year-old from Drampa Township in Gyantse
County, Shigatse region. He was once a monk of Drongtso
Monastery in Gyantse County, one of the biggest monasteries
in Gyantse County before the Cultural Revolution in 1959
in which it was completely destroyed. His father's name
is Lobsang Khetsun and he is 64 years old. He was also
a former monk of Drongtso Monastery. After the Chinese
occupied Tibet, Lobsang was forced to withdraw from the
monastery. Moreover, he was subjected to public humiliation
(Tibetan: Thamzing) due to his good family background. When
Chinese policy loosened in the early 1980"s, Bhutuk's
father and a few of his friends collected donations from
the local Tibetan people and renovated the monastery; he
even started teaching scriptures to the smaller monks and
took care of the overall administration of the monastery.
In October 1989, Bhutuk's father and a friend pasted
leaflets on the gate of the Chinese government office in
Drongtso Township. The leaflets read:
"Tibet is free", "Tibetan people need rights" and "Chinese
quit Tibet".
In March 1990, the Gyantse County Public Security Bureau
(PSB) officials arrested Lobsang and his friend while they
were in the midst of a village meeting. They were held in
Gyantse PSB Detention Centre for more than five months. On
July 24, 1990 Gyantse County People's Court sentenced his
father and his friend to three years' imprisonment. They
were both charged with "counter revolutionary propaganda"
and transferred to Drapchi Prison thereafter.
In 1996, Bhutuk's father and his friend were released upon
completion of their prison term. However, even after their
release, restrictions were imposed on them especially to
Lobsang because he was the only person in his village at
his age that had political connections.
Bhutuk suffered from the environment in which he grew
up and understood the problems of the Tibetan people as
based on the lay sector or religious institutions. He saw
his father suffer both from his treatment in prison and
the harassment he has had to endure suffered since his
release. Bhutuk felt he had to do something about it.
While still at the monastery, in May 1996 Bhutuk and his
friend, Ngodup (23) initiated a poster campaign modelled
after his fathers" seven years earlier. They pasted
similar political leaflets all over the town, on lampposts,
monasteries and other prominent places. They even
distributed cassettes of speeches of the Dalai Lama. At
that time, the "work team" officials were present at the
monastery. They matched the handwriting on the posters
and the monks"answer sheets to trace the source of the
materials. The answer sheet is part of the "patriotic
re-education" campaign carried out by the Chinese "work
team" members.
In May 1996, the two were arrested by Gyantse County PSB
and were detained in Gyantse Detention Centre for three
months after which they were transferred to Shigatse
Nyari Detention Centre. In November 1996, Shigatse
Intermediate People's Court sentenced them to five years"
imprisonment and two years deprivation of political
rights. They were charged with "counter revolutionary
propaganda". Their family members were not allowed to visit
them in prison until their sentences were confirmed. They
were kept in Shigatse Detention Centre for 15 days after
which they were transferred to Drapchi Prison.
Bhutuk and his friend are currently incarcerated in
Drapchi Prison.
[ top ]
Dear Readers,
Please note that as of July 1999, our fortnightly Human
Rights Update will be made a monthly publication. This
change is to enhance the quality of the content of our
publications.
We hope the change does not inconvenience you. We
assure you that any urgent information which needs to be
immediately relayed shall be done so in the form of press
releases.
[ top ]
Although published in our previous Update, Nam Loyak
had never before visited India. He was confused with his
friend, Lukar Jam. We apologise for the mistake.
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