December 1999
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Fear for Phuntsok Nyidron's health
[ read ]
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Drapchi Prison: Sentences extended, prisoners missing, guards open fire on prisoners
[ read ]
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Ngawang Choephel's detention arbitrary, says UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
[ read ]
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Increase in a monks' sentence following Drapchi protest
[ read ]
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1999 Annual Report:
"Tibet: Tightening of Control"
[ read ]
A 30-year-old nun
Phuntsok Nyidron
is reportedly suffering
from high blood pressure accompanied by acute heart disease
and sudden loss of consciousness
Her cousin, Pasang, who reached Dharamsala in December,
1999 reports that, "her health is precarious and
she requires immediate medical treatment outside the
prison." Nyidron, of Michungri Nunnery was serving
a 17-year imprisonment
Originally from Yardrong village of Gyachoe town in Phenpo
Lhundrup County, Phuntsok Nyidron is the recipient of the
1995 Reebok Human Rights Award. Born in 1968, she joined
Michungri Nunnery when she was 11 years old.
On October 14, 1989 Nyidron led a peaceful demonstration in
the Barkhor area calling for an end to Chinese occupation
of Tibet. She received a nine-year prison term and was
transferred to Drapchi Prison. Her younger sister, Yeshi
Dawa, who was also a nun at Michungri Nunnery was expelled
subsequent to Nyidrons' arrest.
In her fourth year of serving term, she was one of the 14
nuns who recorded messages and songs on a smuggled tape
recorder to friends and relatives outside the prison. Her
sentence was extended by an additional eight years. In 1994
when her brother passed away, she was allowed leave for
an hour by the prison authorities to attend the funeral
ceremony.
The protest in Drapchi Prison in May resulted in a brutal
crackdown by the prison authorities. The inmates were
beaten, detained in their cells without any freedom of
movement, those who had been injured were denied medical
treatment and there was a deterioration in their diet. For
nine months, following the May incident, Nyidron was not
allowed any visitors. Her mother had to be hospitalised for
a long time due to anxiety over her daughter's condition.
[ top ]
Information emanating from sources within Tibet establishes
that the sentence of eight Tibetan political prisoners has
been extended as a result of the protests by prisoners
in Drapchi Prison on May 1 and May 4, 1998 and that two
prisoners are missing since the protests.
The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy has
received confirmed information that Intermediate People's
Court of Lhasa has increased the sentences of eight Drapchi
political prisoners: Ngawang Sangdrol, Phuntsok Rigchog,
Ngawang Ngonkyen, Lhasang, Passang, Norbu Phuntsok, Wangdu
and Choekyi Wangmo in October 1998.
Information from Tibet also indicates that two political
prisoners Lobsang Lungtok and Phuntsok Wangchuk are missing
since July 1998 from their prison cell in Drapchi Unit 5.
Chinese authorities held both of them incommunicado
for more than 14 months after they participated in the
protests in Drapchi Prison in 1998. Phuntsok Wangdu is a
23 year-old former middle school student from Tsethang
villlage in Nedong County. Originally from Chongyas
village in Lhokha Prefecture, he was arrested in June 1994
for pasting posters around the village and was sentenced
to five years prison term. Lungtok, a 26 year-old monk
from Gaden Monastery is a resident of Nyangdren town.
He was arrested on March 20, 1992 and was sentenced to
seven years' imprisonment. Their current whereabouts are
not known.
In a shocking display of power in May 1998, Chinese
authorities opened fire at prisoners during a peaceful
demonstration in Drapchi Prison. On May 1, all the
prisoners were taken to a flag hoisting ceremony to
commemorate the International Labour Day. A total of 900
prisoners were assembled. The prisoners were made to sing
the Chinese national anthem and songs praising Socialism.
While the Chinese flag was being hoisted, a non-political
prisoner threw a bunch of political leaflets in the
air. This was followed by raising of slogans by political
prisoners, leading to a disruption of the ceremony.
On May 4, 1998 a similar function was organised to
commemorate 'Youth Day.' The flag hoisting was disrupted
by a monk named Lobsang Geleg who started shouting
independence slogans. The People's Armed Police (PAP)
then pushed everyone back to their cells. Some of the
other prisoners who heard the commotion, started shouting
and kicking the gates. A prison guard opened fire and
Ngawang Sungrab, a Drapchi inmate from Drepung Monastery
serving a ten-year prison term was shot.
Five months after the incident, Chinese authorities
admitted that a shooting had occurred but the prison guards
"fired guns into the air." Ten deaths were reported
as a result of the protests in Drapchi Prison. Two of
them were shot dead and eight others were tortured to
death for taking part in the demonstrations. At least
60 prisoners had sustained severe injuries and many
were severely tortured following the demonstrations.
A former Drapchi prisoner, who was present at the time of
the incident reported, "In the evening of that same day,
12 prison guards entered each cell and mercilessly beat the
prisoners. Ngawang Dorjee (22) and Dawa (23) were taken
out of their cells and tortured for two hours. Later the
12 prison guards pounced on Thupten Kalsang (25), a monk
of Phenpo Gonsar Monastery, and beat him for half an hour.
The next morning, he was again taken out of his cell and
tortured severely. When he returned he was leaning against
the wall while walking. Prisoners were not allowed to
assist him. He was later released on medical parole and
at present he is in critical condition at his residence."
The following political prisoners' sentences were extended
by Lhasa City Intermediate People's Court in October 1998
for taking part in the two demonstrations:
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Ngawang Sangdrol, who was serving 17 years' imprisonment,
had her sentence extended for the third time, bringing her
total sentence to 21 years. She is the longest serving
female political prisoner in Tibet. Her sentence was
increased by four years. Sangdrol's prison sentence had
previously been prolonged by the Intermediate People's
Court of Lhasa in October 1993 and July 1996. Born in
1977, Ngawang Sangdrol, now 22 years old was from Garu
Nunnery. She was first arrested when she was only ten
years old in 1987 for participating in a demonstration and
was detained for 15 days. On August 28, 1990, at the age
of 13, she again joined a demonstration and was detained
for nine months without being charged. Her current
sentence began from June 17, 1992 when she was sentenced
to three years for attempting to stage a demonstration in
Lhasa along with other nuns from Garu Nunnery.
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Phuntsok Rigchog, lay name Migmar, is a 37 year-old monk
of Tashi Gang Monastery in Nyethang Town, Chushul County
in Lhasa Municipality. On May 31, 1994, Rigchog and six
other monks from the same monastery were arrested for
participating in a peaceful pro-independence demonstration
in the Barkhor area of Lhasa City. The monks were
detained in Gutsa Detention Centre until their sentences
were passed. On November 12, 1994, the Intermediate
People's Court of Lhasa sentenced Rigchog to six years'
imprisonment. After the sentence, he was transferred to
Drapchi Prison. His sentence has been increased by an
additional four years after his participation in the May
1998 Drapchi protests. He is serving a total sentence of
10 years and is expected to be released in 2004.
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Ngawang Ngonkyen, lay name Kalsang Phuntsok, is a 24
year-old monk of Tashi Gang Monastery. Ngonkyen was
arrested in February 1994, after taking part in a peaceful
demonstration in Barkhor, Lhasa City. He was detained in
Gutsa Detention Centre for a year and ten months before
being sentenced to six years' imprisonment in January 1996
by the Intermediate People's Court of Lhasa. After his
sentence he was transferred to Drapchi Prison. In May
1998, he participated in the Drapchi Prison protests
and had his sentence increased by an additional four
years. Ngonkyen's sentence totals ten years.
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Lhasang, a 23 year-old monk from Phenpo Gonsar Monastery,
received an extra sentence of four years. He was
originally sentenced to five years for political reasons
in 1995. He is presently in Drapchi Prison serving a
total sentence of nine years.
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Passang, a 22 year-old monk of Taglung Monastery in Phenpo
Lhundrup County, was originally sentenced to five years'
imprisonment on political grounds in 1995. Passang had his
sentence extended by an additional three years following
the Drapchi Prison protests bringing his total sentence
to eight years.
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Norbu Phuntsok, 22 years old, from Taglung Monastery in
Phenpo Lhundrup County, had his sentence increased by an
additional three years for his involvement in the Drapchi
Prison protests. He was first arrested on political
grounds and sentenced to five years imprisonment in 1995.
Phuntsok is currently serving a total sentence of eight
years.
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Wangdu, a 24 year-old monk of Dechen Sa-ngak Monastery
in Taktse County, was originally arrested in December
1994 on political suspicions. He was sentenced to four
years' imprisonment. Wangdu's sentence was prolonged by an
additional four years for his involvement in the Drapchi
Prison protests. He is currently serving an eight-year
sentence in Drapchi Prison.
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Choekyi Wangmo, a 23 year-old nun of Sharbumba Nunnery in
Phenpo Lhundrup County had her prison sentence increased
by an additional one and a half years. She was originally
sentenced for five years in 1993 for taking part in a
peaceful demonstration in Lhasa City. She is now serving
a sentence of six and a half years in Drapchi Prison.
It has been erroneously reported to us earlier this
year that Choekyi Wangmo had died. As per the latest
reports, she is alive but in critical condition. She had
not completely recovered from the injuries she sustained
during her interrogation in Gutsa Detention Centre when
she was initially arrested. Her condition was aggravated
by the Drapchi incident.
According to a former inmate of Drapchi Prison, "there
is very little hope of Wangmo recovering as the prison
is not included in the doctors visiting rounds. When the
prisoners do get a chance to visit the doctors they are
not given any treatment except in the rarest cases."
[ top ]
The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention of the UN
Commission on Human Rights has declared that Ngawang
Choephel's detention by the Chinese authorities to be
arbitrary and in contravention of Article 19 of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Ngawang Choephel, a Tibetan musicologist and Fulbright
scholar born in India, traveled to Tibet in July 1995 to
do research on traditional Tibetan music. He disappeared
following his arrival and the Chinese authorities
confirmed in May 1998 that he was tried on September 6,
1995 and sentenced on November 13, 1996 to 15 years'
imprisonment on espionage charges and three years for
'counterrevolutionary' activities. The case had been tried
in closed hearing as it related to state secrets. On appeal
this sentence was confirmed by the Tibet Autonomous Region
Higher People's court.
Ngawang Choephel's detention raised a lot of international
protest from various human rights groups and his case was
submitted to the UN. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary
Detention regards deprivation of liberty as being arbitrary
in the following cases:
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If it cannot be justified on any legal basis
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When the deprivation is the result of a judgement
for the exercise of various rights in the UDHR as well
as the ICCPR such as the right to freedom of speech and
expression etc.
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Where the procedural rights related to a fair trial have
been dispensed with.
In Ngawang Choephel's case, the Working Group has held
that the Chinese government while making their charges
against him have not made any specific reference to
any of the articles of their Criminal Code concerning
breaches of state security. In an earlier report on its
visit to China the group had also stated that "unless
the application of these crimes is restricted to clearly
defined areas and in clearly defined circumstances, there
is a serious risk of misuse". The group held that in the
case of Ngawang Choephel, it seemed clear that there was
such a misuse. The government did not specify the nature
of activities for which he was accused apart from the fact
that he was collecting ethnic songs and they did not have
any proof to corroborate their charge of espionage.
In light of the vagueness of the charge, the absence of
any evidence and the denial of his right to a fair trial
the Working Group held that "[t]he deprivation of the
liberty of Ngawang Choephel is arbitrary, as being in
contravention of Article 19 of the Universal declaration
of Human Rights, according to which freedom of opinion
includes freedom to hold opinions without interference
and as in the instant case to receive and impart
information and ideas through any media and regardless
of any frontiers, and falls within category II of the
categories applicable to the consideration of the cases
submitted to the Working group."
The Working Group has asked the Chinese government to take
the necessary steps to remedy the situation.
[ top ]
Phuntsok Rigchog,
layname Migmar, is a 37 year-old monk from
Nyethang town in Chushul County. At the age of eight he
joined 'Mangtsuk School ' (People's School) in Nyethang
town for four years. Rigchog lived with his parents and
five brothers.
In 1988 he became a monk of Nyethang Tashi Gang Monastery
in Nyethang town. While at the monastery, he studied
religious texts and at the same time worked as a treasurer
of the monastery until 1992. He was the storekeeper of
the monastery and had to look after the requirement of
the monks. Tashi Gang Monastery was destroyed during the
Cultural Revolution. In 1985, the monastery was renovated
by some old monks and by the local people, along with
donations from a tourist. Phuntsok Rigchog was one of the
first monks to be admitted in the monastery and there were
only 10 monks in the monastery.
On May 30, during the morning prayer session, two monks;
Sonam Tsering and Tsering Dorjee planned a demonstration in
Lhasa. They were later joined by Phuntsok and three other
monks. However they were not able to arrange posters and
flags. The six of them left for Lhasa the monastery that
same morning at about 11 a.m. By the time they reached
Lhasa in the afternoon, they found many police personnel
patrolling the city. This disrupted the monks' plan to
stage a demonstration that day. They stayed the night in
a friends' house.
The next day, Phuntsok and the five monks started
their protest in front of the Jokhang Temple (central
cathedral) where they raised slogans like "Free Tibet,
Tibet is Free, Long Live H.H. the Dalai Lama, China quit
Tibet." Five minutes later, the Lhasa City's Public
Security Bureau(PSB) arrested the monks and put them in
an armoured vehicle. The PSB started beating them in the
vehicle. They were taken to Gutsa Detention Centre where
they were interrogated individually. During their four
months detention in Gutsa, their family members were not
allowed to visit them.
On November I l, 1994, the Lhasa Intermediate Peoples
Court passed a sentence on the five monks. The sixth monk,
Migmar Jr. was only forteen years old, therefore, he was
not taken to the court. Phuntsok Rigchog was sentenced
to six years' imprisonment and two years deprivation of
political rights. Ngawang Tsangpa, (31) for six years and
political deprivation for three years; Phuntsok Soeldrag
(18) and Thupten Choekyi Gyurme (17) were both sentenced
to two years' imprisonment and denied political rights
for one year; Phuntsok Trimden (19) to four years and
one year deprivation of political rights. Ten days later,
they were moved to Drapchi Prison. When the youngest monk,
Migmar Jr. turned 15 years of age, he was sentenced to
three years reform-through-re-education in Trisam.
In 1996, while working as a cook in Drapchi, Phuntsok gave
food to a new prisoner out of the prison mealtime schedule.
This incident was noticed by the prison guard who severely
beat Phuntsok and he was subsequently dismissed as a cook.
Phuntsok was amongst the protestors who participated
in the May protest in Drapchi in 1998. He was kept in
solitary confinement as punishment for his involvement.
Phuntsok and many other prisoners were severely beaten
with iron rods, sticks, bayonets and shocked with electric
cattle prods. For the next six months Phuntsok was denied
access to any visitors. Finally, in October 1998 Phuntsok's
sentence was increased by an additional four years bringing
his total sentence to ten years. Phuntsok is expected
to be released in 2004, if his sentence is not extended
yet again.
[ top ]
Dear friends,
"Tibet: Tightening of Control" 140-page, Annual Report
1999 of Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy on
human rights situation in Tibet is available for free. To
get a copy of the report please visit us at our office.
To receive this report by post please send US $5
(for overseas post) and Rs.25 (within India) as a
nominal sum to cover the postage charges. Write to
us at Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy
with your postal address or e-mail us at
1999 marked the official celebration of fifty years of
the founding of the People's Republic of China as well as
forty years of the 'liberation' of Tibet. The symbolic
importance of both these events was characterised by
various attempts by the Chinese government to display its
authority and legitimacy.
Within China and in Tibet there was a tightening of
the state's control over every sphere to consolidate
its power. Therefore any attempt at questioning the
legitimacy of the state was ruthlessly crushed. And yet
as the state tightened it's iron grip over its citizens
and subjects there were also various protests undermining
the state authority, ranging from the protests within
China by members of the Falung Gong sect, the continuing
resistance in Tibet and the international community over
China's illegitimate occupation of Tibet and the abuse of
Tibetan human rights for the past 49 years.
Preparations for the twin anniversary celebrations took
the form of an increase in surveillance and repressive
measures. The anniversaries were thus a celebration
of state control rather than an expression of people's
exercise of their freedom. The harsh suppression of a
peaceful demonstration in Kandze in October resulted in the
arrest of at least 80 Tibetans. This is an illustration of
the extent of freedom of speech and expression granted to
Tibetan people. Information received this year about the
May 1998 Drapchi protests is equally disturbing. Eight
prisoners have had their sentences extended by up to
four years. 11 Tibetans are confirmed dead as a result
of gun fire and torture following the protests.
China continues to violate the human rights of the Tibetan
people. Fundamental aspects of Tibetan society, including
language and religion are viewed with suspicion by the
government and are officially discouraged. The exercise of
their right to speech results in their arbitrary arrests
and detention. The disparities between the standard
of living of Tibetans and the Chinese settlers are
glaring. China's population transfer policy is greatly
threatening Tibetan identity and access to resources.
International governments, lured by China's economic
prospects, continue to capitulate to the Beijing
government. The European Union decided not to co-sponsor a
U.S. human rights resolution during the 55 UN Commission on
Human Rights in Geneva, assuring its defeat. During state
visits by Jiang Zemin to England and France, extraordinary
efforts were made to prevent the Chinese leader from
encountering peaceful protesters. These visits ended as
victories of commerce and large contracts for British and
French corporations but defeat of human rights.
Ever since the protests in the late 1980's, the Chinese
government increased its domination of Tibet. The
"Strike Hard" Campaign, initiated in 1996 is resulting in
widespread violations in Tibet. Over 11,000 monks and nuns
have been expelled from their monasteries, as 'work-teams'
imposed restrictive measure on religious activities. In
1999, this campaign was extended to lay communities as
well. More than 2,000 Tibetans escape over the Himalayas
every year to avoid these repressive and discriminatory
measures.
The World Bank sponsored Western China Poverty Reduction
Plan marks the involvement, for the first time of an
international organization in a project entailing massive
population transfers into Tibet. Two foreign researchers
and one Tibetan were arrested for attempting to research
this project.
The positive developments in international politics in 1999
included the increasing recognition of self-determination
movements. The intervention of the international community
in Kosovo and East Timor along with the worldwide
condemnation of Russia's aggression in Chechnya is an
encouraging sign for Tibet. There is an urgent need for
increased pressure from foreign governments if Tibetans
hope to gain their fundamental freedoms and human rights.
FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
The existence of a right to freedom of speech and
expression is rendered redundant by the harsh crackdown
on people exercising this right. The expression of any
view that contradict Chinese government policies are
deemed anti national and the consequences include arrests
and detention. In 1999, 115 Tibetans were arrested for
peacefully expressing their beliefs.
The 'Strike Hard' campaign launched in 1996 aimed at
eliminating allegiance to the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan
Panchen Lama and Tibetan nationalism. Initially limited to
the monastic institutions, the campaign was broadened in
1999 to include all of Tibetan society. In January of 1999,
China launched an 'atheism' campaign thereby infringing
on the right of Tibetans to freely practice their religion.
In Kandze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province,
the People's Armed Police opened-fire at over 3,000
Tibetans who were holding a peaceful demonstration. As a
result, 80 Tibetans were arrested, and an unknown number
were injured or killed.
ARBITRARY ARRESTS AND DETENTION
All forms of expression contrary to the policies of the
Chinese Communist Party are grounds for detention in
Tibet. In 1999, 130 Tibetans were arbitrarily arrested
and detained by the Chinese government. The arbitrary
nature of these arrests are reflected both by the reason
for the arrests as well as the disregard of procedural
safeguards. Once detained, their rights in the areas of
pre-trial detention, fair trial guidelines and appellate
procedure are violated.
In 1997, China revised their Criminal Procedure Law. These
changes fall short of international standards and have
not had any impact on the legal protections afforded to
Tibetans accused of 'endangering national security'.
POLITICAL PRISONERS AND PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE
There are currently 615 known political prisoners and
prisoners of conscience in Tibet. Of these, 156 are women,
2 are juveniles, and 63 are serving sentences of ten years
or more. 79 per cent of the known political prisoners
are monks or nuns. In 1999 there was confirmation of 27
new political prisoners. The Chinese authorities monitor
information about Tibet very strictly and it is possible
that these numbers are higher.
The Chinese government continues to detain 10 year-old
Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the XI Panchen Lama of Tibet, along
with his family. His current condition and whereabouts
are unknown. The Chinese authorities have consistently
refused requests by concerned government and organizations
seeking access to the child, including one by the UN High
Commissioner for Human Rights. He is the youngest prisoner
of conscience in the world. Chadrel Rinpoche, the head of
the Panchen Lama search committee is also being held in
Chuangdong # 3 Prison.
Reports received in 1999, indicate that the prisoners
involved in the May 1998 Drapchi prison protests were
beaten severely, placed into solitary confinement, and
have had their sentences extended by up to four years. At
least eight Tibetans were killed in beatings sustained in
the days and weeks following the protests. Eight political
prisoners including Ngawang Sangdrol, the longest serving
female political prisoner (currently serving a total of
21 years) in Tibet, have had their sentences extended.
TORTURE IN DETENTION CENTERS AND PRISONS
The widespread use of torture by agents of the state
reduce the Chinese national laws prohibiting torture into
hypocritical etchings on paper, with no corresponding
realities.
The various methods of torture include: beatings, electric
shocks, attacks by dogs, painful shackling, forced labour
and exercise, prolonged periods of solitary confinement,
deprivation of food and sleep, and denial of adequate
medical care.
The Chinese government is a State Party to the Convention
Against Torture. Since signing the convention in 1986,
70 Tibetans have died as a direct result of torture by
officials of the Chinese government. Six Tibetans died
due to torture in 1999. An additional four Tibetans died
from torture in previous years, but information on these
cases reached TCHRD in 1999.
RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION
Since the expression of Tibetan nationalism is
intrinsically linked to its religious practices, the
Chinese government looks at religious persecution as one
of the means to crush Tibetan nationalism.
In January 1999, a three-year 'atheism' campaign alleging
that Buddhism is "alien" to Tibet was launched. Allegiance
to Tibet's religious leaders the Dalai Lama and Panchen
Lama are banned, and the Chinese government attempts to
control all aspect of religious activity. These policies
are reminiscent of the policies imposed during the cultural
revolution.
In 1999, 1,432 monks and nuns were expelled from their
monasteries and nunneries. Since the beginning of the
'Strike Hard' campaign in April of 1996, TCHRD has recorded
11,409 expulsions, and 541 arrests of monks and nuns. 440
monks and nuns below the age of 18 were expelled from
their religious institutions this year, and 49 Tibetans
were arrested for resisting 're-education'. According to
Chinese statistics, the number of expulsions represents
one third of all monks and nuns in Tibet.
Since 1996, 181 monasteries and nunneries have been
subject to the 're-education' program. The other bodies
that infringe religious freedom include the Democratic
Management Committees and local Religious Affairs
Bureaus. These bodies have the authority to supervise
the activities of the monasteries. Under the pretext of
supervision there are a number of restrictions placed on
the age of the monks and nuns, in an attempt tp reduce
the number of monks and nuns.
WOMEN AND FORCED BIRTH CONTROL
Despite the existence within national and international
laws of protections afforded to the rights of Tibetan
women, the Chinese government continues to violate these
rights. Disregarding legislation guaranteeing concessions
for minority groups, coercive family planning measures
continue unabated in Tibet. Tibetan women are subjected to
forced abortions, contraception and sterilisations by the
Chinese authorities.Unauthorised pregnancies have resulted
in fines, intimidation and denial of privileges, including
the right to education and employment for children.
There are confirmed cases in 1999 of pregnant Tibetan
women dying from forced abortions and sterilisation. The
Chinese government's birth control policies results in
the reduction of the Tibetan population.
RIGHTS OF THE CHILD
In contravention of its treaty obligations, the Chinese
government consistently violates the rights of Tibetan
children. As a consequence of transfer of Chinese
into Tibet, Tibetan language and customs are becoming
redundant. Thus Tibetan children are being deprived
of their cultural rights and the long term effect of
this is the dilution of the distinctive character of
Tibetan identity. The long term effects of a denial of
the rights of children is also to ensure that the Chinese
authorities cultivate a more 'disciplined' and assimilated
set of citizens for the future ensuring that the Tibetan
resistance will not have a future.
The choice left to Tibetan parents is either to assimilate
their children into the new Chinese society, or send them
to India for a Tibetan education. Parents are increasingly
forced to send their children on the perilous journey into
exile. In 1999, 968 children below the age of 18 arriving
in India for education in Tibetan schools.
Tibetan children are denied their right to freedom of
expression. There are currently 23 political prisoners
below the age of 18 in prison in Tibet and 47 others who
were imprisoned as children but are now adults. Tibetan
children are also denied their guaranteed right to freedom
of religion. In 1999, 244 monks and 196 nuns were expelled
from their religious institutions as age restrictions were
implemented throughout Tibet.
POPULATION TRANSFER
The transfer of Chinese into Tibet is the most serious
threat to the survival of the Tibetan people and
culture. Population statistics estimate that there are now
more Chinese than Tibetans in Tibet. Tibetans are getting
marginalised in all sectors of the economy. Combined with
repressive birth control measures, it is clear that the
effect of the Chinese policy is reducing the Tibetans to
an insignificant minority in their own land.
The Western China Poverty Reduction Plan funded partially
by the World Bank, if implemented will reduce the
percentage of Tibetans in Dulan County from 22 to 14 per
cent of the total population.
VIOLATION OF THE RIGHT TO SUBSISTENCE
Despite the claims made by the Chinese authorities of
economic development and growth in Tibet the reports
received indicate that these developments have benefited
only the Chinese settlers. According to recent United
Nations Development Program data, Tibet places somewhere
between 131 and 153 out of the 160 countries on their
Human Development Index.
Repressive and unequal rural taxation measures are further
exacerbating the conditions of poverty for Tibetan nomads
and farmers. The unchecked power given to local authorities
results in the further violation of the Tibetan peoples
rights, and there have been many cases reported of forced
labour being extracted in lieu of taxes. Most of the basic
rights associated with a 'welfare state' like the right
to housing and health remain unfulfilled.
ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCE
In 1999, TCHRD received information on 16 new cases of
enforced disappearance in Tibet. Of the 12 cases reported
in 1998, the conditions and whereabouts of three remain
unknown. The Chinese government continues to detain
Tibetans in unknown locations for prolonged periods of
time. The families of these victims are not provided with
any information about their whereabouts.
The condition and whereabouts of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima,
the 11th Panchen Lama of Tibet and with his family remain
unknown
RACIAL DISCRIMINATION
Despite being a State Party to the International Convention
on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,
Tibetans continue to be discriminated against by the
Chinese government. The crucial factor is the lack of
genuine political representation as this curtails the
Tibetan people's ability to resist discriminatory measures
in education, employment, health-care and housing.
Chinese population transfer and economic incentives
favoring Chinese in Tibet exacerbate these discriminatory
conditions. The Tibetan people are hence becoming the new
social underclass in Tibet.
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