November 2004
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China relaunches "Strike hard" campaign to curb Tibetan dissidence and religion
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"Drapchi 14 Singing Nuns" testify torture in prison
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Monk refutes China's claim of religious freedom in Tibet
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Minors raped enroute to exile
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Discriminatory practice in Nubchang Nationalities University
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Distressed father arrives in exile to educate handicap son
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A farmer sentenced to 14 years term
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Executive Director attends ACSF-II in Bangkok
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Briefings by TCHRD staff
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Former Nepalese Minister visits TCHRD
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In its latest attempt to intensify hard-line policies, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has relaunched the "strike hard" campaign to systematically curtail Tibetan political dissent and to control religious institutions. A series of recent official meetings held in Lhasa has re-affirmed the need to curb dissidence by "striking hard" in the "Tibet Autonomous Region"(TAR).
According to the State media China Tibet Information Centre (www.tibetinfor.com) and Lhasa Evening daily on 4 November 2004, "the "Strikehard" campaign for the winter - 1 November to 30 December 2004 - in Lhasa, TAR, has begun. The current campaign aims to eliminate internal secret splittist groups, separatists based outside, influence on religion, terrorists and their activities, criminal activities, stability stiflers and exile returnees linked with splittist groups."
On 19 October 2004, "TAR" law enforcement bodies met for a weeklong meeting in Lhasa and emphasised the need to maintain social stability by "striking hard" on the "separatist forces". "TAR" Public Security Bureau ("PSB") head, Yang Song, said on 20 October 2004, "Social stability is not only an essential need of the society, but also a very important political matter to strike hard and suppress the separatists."
According to Lhasa Evening of 1 November 2004, a weeklong workshop for officials in charge of "patriotic education" in monasteries and nunneries in Lhasa formally opened on 31 October 2004. Lhasa City Party Deputy Secretary, Lhasa National People’s Congress President, Head of the Committee for Patriotic Education in Lhasa City, members of the Lhasa Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, officials from the United Work Front Department, officials of the Religious Bureau, and Head of Patriotic Education in "TAR" attended the opening ceremony. Lobsang Gyurmey, head of the Committee for Patriotic Education in Lhasa, in his opening speech, said, "Patriotic Education should be implemented to the fullest in the monasteries and nunneries to prevent separatist activities. Precautionary measures should also be taken to stop the infiltration of literatures from the splittist group based in exile." [Referring to Dharamsala - temporary headquarters of the Dalai Lama]
The participants are to implement the content of the workshop in two or three monasteries by the year end as a trial in Lhasa. A successful trial result will lead to city wide implementation in the next couple of years beginning in 2005.
The essence and guidelines of the "Patriotic Education" campaign was formulated during the third Tibet Work Forum in 1994. It was practically implemented from 1996 onwards. Although PRC claims that the "patriotic education" campaign was officially concluded in 2000, TCHRD maintains that it is still being conducted in the religious institutions in Tibet.
"Strike Hard" (Ch: Yanda) Campaign which was initiated in China in 1983 as a domestic campaign against crime in China evolved into a political tool of oppression. In Tibet, the campaign is implemented with a singular aim to stifle political dissent.
During "strike hard" and "patriotic education" campaigns, the State law enforcement bodies abuse the fundamental human rights of the Tibetan people through arbitrary arrest, detention, interrogation and torture, dismissal from jobs and expulsion from religious institutions. TCHRD is gravely concerned over the Chinese authorities’ current intensification of its campaign to "strike hard" on the Tibetan people.
The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) met Gyaltsen Dolker, 33, and Namdrol Lhamo, 39,two of "Drapchi 14 Singing Nuns" who arrived in Kathmandu, Nepal, at the end of October 2004.
The nuns testified to TCHRD about torture and maltreatments for political prisoners inside the prison and also after release.
Gyaltsen Dolker testifies, "In 1988, I got ordained as a nun at Garu Nunnery in the outskirt of Lhasa City. For two years I studied Buddhist Philosophy. In 1990, during the Shoton Festival (Opera Festival), 13 nuns; five from my Nunnery and eight nuns from Michungri Nunnery raised slogans calling for "freedom in Tibet" and "Long Live the Dalai Lama". However, in no time nearly 30 Public Security Bureau (PSB) and People’s Armed Police (PAP) officers arrived at the spot. The officers beat us severely and led us to Gutsa Detention Centre where all of us were made to stand facing the scorching sun for two hours."
"Each of us were then called in for interrogation, during which the officials used electric batons on our neck and other parts of body which made us unconscious. Some of us were electrocuted with live wires with an officer spinning a device that generated electric shocks. The pain was excrutiating. They also let lose dogs on us and sometimes we were hung from the ceiling and inserted electric batons in our mouth. Later in the night, we were put separately in the women cells."
"In the following days, two or three officers interrogated us daily demanding to know the group leader and other "separatist" activities we have done in the past. Torture in various forms like electrocution, hitting with iron rods and electric shock batons was a routine in Gutsa Detention Centre."
"After three months of rigorous interrogation and torture, on the second day of the tenth Tibetan lunar month, Lhasa People’s Intermediate Court sentenced us to varying sentence ranging from three to seven years term . I was given four years term. After the verdict, we were transfered to Drapchi Prison and imprisoned in the third unit which was for female prisoners."
"The newly arrived prisoners were not allowed to interact with the old inmates. The prisoners perform exercise drills in the morning and for two weeks we had to learn prison rules and regulations. If we fail to memorize the rules by heart, we are beaten and made to stand in the sun for more than two hours."
"After two months, we were alloted green houses to grow vegetables. Each green house is required to produce vegetable worth ten thousand Yuan annually, failing to do so the prisoners are beaten severely."
"Despite the fact that the prisoners constantly have health problems, the prison is facilitated with a small dispensary. However, the political prisoners avoid visiting the dispensary as the doctors and the nurses don’t treat them properly. Al though it has been stipulated in the Chinese law that all the prisoners should be treated equally but in practice, there is gross discrimination against political prisoners. The political prisoners are watched closely and beaten or visitations from family members denied at the slightest instance. The criminal prisoners on the other hand get the lighter works and receive proper medical treatment even for minor injuries."
"In 1993, 13 nun inmates including me in the third unit recorded patriotic songs and a brief biography in an audio tape that was smuggled inside the cell. Unfortunately, the prison guards came to know about it and the cassette was confiscated. All of us were tortured badly for the act and our sentences were extended. My original term of three years was extended by another eight years term."
"On 21 March 2003, I was released from Drapchi Prison upon completion of my 12 years term. Two prison guards took me straight to the Lhasa Public Security Bureau. My photographs were taken and I was made to put my thumb print on a document pledging that I will not engage in any political activities in the future. I was then led to my hometown and the guards handed me over to the County head."
"Since my health condition was grave, I was admitted in a hospital in Lhasa. After few days, I left to my hometown but couldn’t stay for long as I was depressed that my parents had died while I was in prison. I returned to Lhasa and started earning my livelihood by selling breads, and noodles. However, I couldn’t live freely even after my release from the prison. Political prisoners face great hardship after their release. It’s very hard for us to get a proper job in the community due to our poor health condition and political activity background. Moreover, the police constantly harasses the former political prisoners and their freedom of movement is restricted. Political prisoners are bound by an invisible chain even after release from prison."
Gyaltsen Dolker fled from Lhasa in the end of September 2004 and reached Kathmandu Tibetan Reception Centre on 22 October 2004.
Namdrol Lhamo born in Khangshung Township, Tsangren Bum County, "TAR" testifies, "We were a poor family and I helped in the family farmworks during my childhood. I couldn’t go to a school to receive education.
Later as per my parents consent and my wish, I got ordained as nun at Tashi Choeling Ratoe Nunnery and stayed there till 1992. That year, a lay friend belonging to Taktse County and I mutually agreed to hold a pro-independence protest. Accordingly, on 11 May 1992, we met at the garden in front of Lhasa Jokhang Temple. The man unfurled a Tibetan national flag and we started shouting "Free Tibet", " Chinese Leave Tibet", "Tibet belongs to Tibetan" and so on. Two monks from Gaden Monastery joined us and soon few others also joined in. While going around Barkhor circumambulation, Civil clothed People’s Armed Police officials arrested me and my friend. Both of us were thrown in a meat delivery vehicle and led to the nearest Public Security Bureau Detention Centre. Upon reaching there, an officer grabbed me from behind and threw me on the wall and hit me with an electric shock gun. After two hours of severe beatings, we were led to Gutsa Detention Centre."
"For the next month and a half, the officers interrogated us twice a week. During the interrogation sessions, the officers gave electric shock and beat us mercilessly with anything they can lay their hands on."
"Lhasa People’s Intermediate Court sentenced us to varying imprisonment terms. I was sentenced to six years term whereas my friend was sentenced to seven years term and the two Gaden Monastery monks were sentenced to six years imprisonment."
"In July 1992, all of us were taken to Drapchi Prison to serve our term. I was imprisoned in the third unit with other women inmates. I was asked not to interact with the old inmates and to adhere with prison rules. I had to read newspaper, learn prison rules and had to go through query session. Later I was made to work in garden."
"In 1993, first, fourth and seventh cell of third unit recorded patriotic songs and brief history of each prisoner in an audio cassette. Unfortunately, two prison guards came to know about it, snatched our cassette and took it to the prison authority. The matter was left without any decision for two months. Thereafter the prison court resolved the matter with increment of imprisonment term for the fourteen nuns involved. My term was extended by six more years whereas others were extended from three to nine years imprisonment."
"With this incident, the political prisoners were kept under strict surveillance and were subjected to severe torture and brutal treatment. In 1998, a camera was installed for observation of the prisoners."
"I was released on 21 September 2003 after completing 12 years’ imprisonment term. I was instructed to return to my hometown within a week. On reaching my hometown I had to report to the PSB office and had to seek permission to travel to other places."
Namdrol Lhamo sought permission from the authorities to go to Lhasa to meet relatives. After a few months stay, she decided to escape into India and reached the TRRC on 22 October 2004.
Monk refutes China’s claim of religious freedom in Tibet
Jigme Dorjee is an 18 year old monk from Tsanyak Village in Paschoe County. Unable to tolerate constant interference in his monastic studies, he escaped into exile to pursue his studies peacefully.
Jigme reports, "My parents died during my childhood. I was raised by my maternal uncle. I helped him in the family farm works. My uncle taught me to read and write, apart from that I didn’t receive any formal education. When I reached 13 years of age, I joined Chamdo Monastery. There are around one thousand monks in the monastery. Although I do my scripture studies in the monastery, I never got formal admission. For three years, I studied in the monastery. One day Chinese work team officials consisting of ten officers came to the monastery to conduct the "Love your Country, Love your Religion" campaign in the monastery. The officials screened the monastery population and expelled 60 monks belonging to my native place (Paschoe County) including me from the monastery and also many other monks who had come from different places."
"Upon expulsion from Chamdo Monastery, I joined Paschoe Monastery and continued my monastic studies. Although the authorities have imposed a ceiling of 240 monks, there were around 400 monks in the monastery. The surplus monks who do not have official endorsement went into hiding whenever the officials came for inspection to the monastery."
"Team of officials consisting of three to seven officials from the County Government Administration Office frequented the monastery. They take political classes demanding the monks to denounce the Dalai Lama, make the monks pledge loyalty to the Motherland and to accept that Tibet is a part of China. Certificate of completion of the campaign classes were issued to the monks belonging to the monastery officially. Those monks not registered officially go hiding or go home when officials visit the monastery. The monks who are registered officially are not happy in the monastery as they have to criticize the Dalai Lama against their will in order to receive the official endorsement certificate to remain in the monastery. They have no choice but to follow the official instructions or lose their stay in the monastery or face detention if matters turn worse for them."
"Certificates of the older monks who die or those who leave the monastery voluntarily are deposited with the authorities but new admissions are not given, hence the number of monks have decreased gradually. All teachers have to seek official permission from the authorities before they give any spiritual teachings."
"The Chinese claim of religious freedom in Tibet is totally false. I am a monk but it is a huge struggle for me to stay in a monastery and study peacefully."
Jigme Dorjee arrived at Kathmandu Tibetan Refugee Reception Centre on 14 November 2004. He intends to continue his religious studies in a monastery in exile.
A new arrival from Tibet wishing to remain anonymous reported to TCHRD that two minor girls in their group were raped when a gang of armed Nepalese dressed in Nepali police uniform attacked the fleeing Tibetans.
The interviewee reported, "We were five men and two girls, one aged 13 and the other 16, in our group. After crossing the Dram town (Nepal-Tibet border town), we reached the woods of Tatopani area. A group of eight men dressed in Nepali police uniform, armed with knives suddenly attacked us. The girls were stripped naked in front of us and the men raped both of them in turn. Some of the men raped the girls repeatedly. The other men laughed and urinated on the side when the girls were being raped. One men in our group was knocked down with a knife on the head when he tried to fight the armed men out of anger."
Tibetans who flee Tibet are at great risk during their journey into exile. They often come across gangsters on route if not the Chinese or Nepalese border patrol police. Many are deported back and some face imprisonment on either side of the border.
Dukarkyap, 24, was born in Rinchen Village, Genkya Township, Ladrang County. After finishing his schooling in Sangchu County, he underwent four years further studies at Nubchang (North-West) Nationalities University.
Dukarkyap reported to TCHRD about the discriminatory practices at the university.
He told TCHRD, "There are over 13,000 students and around a thousand teachers in the University. There are only twenty Tibetan teachers out of the total number of teachers. Although every student pays 5,000 Yuan for each academic semester, facilities at the Tibetan Department are poorer in comparison to other departments. Tibetan language is a subsidiary subject and most of the students do not take interest in it as a graduate in Tibetan studies does not have any bright career options."
"There is tendency of pretending ignorance on the part of the school management in cases of disruptive behavior by the Tibetan Students, which ultimately spoils them and their careers get dim. The school staff give high priority to the Chinese students and make constant efforts to pave them on the righteous path. In cases of quarrel between Chinese and Tibetan students, the Tibetan students often face dismissal or severe punishment as compared to the Chinese students."
"During vacations, I visit my hometown and give tuition to students at a rented house to earn some money. In 2003 when I was returning to my hometown, I met a western tourist who gave me a book "footprints of spring" containing picture and a speech by the Dalai Lama. I wrote the speech on the black board of the class and explained it to the students. However the next day around 3p.m, seven local PSB officials dropped in and started searching my house. The officials found small photographs of the Dalai Lama and inquired me where I got those from. I was led to the PSB office and interrogated. However, my family secured my release with the help of an influential person. I was directed to stop the tuition classes."
"In June 2004, I finished my university so I returned to my hometown. There are 90 families in my hometown who earn their livelihood as farmers. So far, the area is stripped of any development. The people were facing great difficulties in absence of proper medical facility and infrastructure."
"Chinese government instead has been encouraging the Tibetans to reduce their herds because according to them, excessive grazing by the cattle harm the environment ecological balance whereas in reality they are the ones responsible. For example every year, a group of thousand Chinese army from the nearby military camp visits the nearby area for military exercise. Initially, they have been kind to the local people by giving oil but soon they started causing trouble."
" The Government has been telling that they have brought development in Tibet but the remote villages are devoid of any development and they are as in the past."
"I came to exile for education and to seek audience with the Dalai Lama."
Dukarkyap reached Kathmandu Reception Centre in October 2004.
Yeshi Thupten, 45, hails from Tsethang Village, Nedong County, Lhoka Prefecture, "TAR". Yeshi has two children who are deaf by birth. His younger son died falling into a pit at a construction site. Unable to admit his son in any school in Tibet, Yeshi escaped with his elder son to provide him education in a handicap school in India.
Yeshi recounts, " I got married and my wife gave birth to two sons. Both were deaf by birth and we faced lots of hardships in our early years of marriage. My wife left me and married another man in 1997."
"Unable to raise the two children without their mother, I submitted a petition to the Nedong Coutny Court asking my wife to share the responsibility. The court returned my petition demanding it to be rewritten in Chinese language. Accordingly I submitted the petition in Chinese but the court didn’t pay any attention to it. I took the petition to a senior staff of Lhoka Intermediate People’s Court and he sign it to be reviewed in the lower court. Therefore, I resubmitted my petition to the County Court. Without any legal proceedings, on 10 April 1998, the court dismissed my petition and ordered not to resubmit it on the gound that my wife has rightly deserted me as I have planned to escape to India with my children and wife."
"I went to Lhasa in order to enroll my children in a handicap school. However, the school administration denied admission on the ground that my children were not handicap, although the real reason was that I wouldn’t be able to pay the fees on time as I am a poor farmer. I returned to my native village. In Lhoka, I tried to admit my children in Government School no 3, but the administration there also denied admission saying that my kids cannot hear and therefore can not be accepted in the school."
"In order to earn some money, I kept my children under the care of my mother who stays in Lachen Neighbourhood. The Chinese construction workers have dug up a pit and filled with water. My younger son fell into the pit and died on 27 September 2002. Since it is required by law to put fence and warning signs near danger zones, there was no sign near the pit. I submitted my petition to the Procutarate , however, my petition was dismissed without any reason thereby depriving me of justice."
Yeshi further reported about the poor financial situation in the area. Nedong County with around 1000 families in the Nedong Neighbourhood is the poorest in comparison to 18 other counties under Lhoka Prefecture. The Government pledged financial support to the families but none has received till date. During the annual round by Tibet Television crew showing different places in the "TAR", the neighbourhood head is instructed to lead the crew to the few selected well-furnished houses only. The house owners are told in advance to prepare for the television crew visit and they put new carpets and decorate their houses well before the visit. Even the interview content is prepared as they would have been instructed to praise the Communist Party and the Central Government."
Yeshi Thupten and his elder son reached Kathmandu Reception Centre on 20 October 2004. He hopes to get an audience with the Dalai Lama and admit his son in a school in India run by the Tibetan-Government-in-Exile.
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Butuk is a 50 year old farmer in Serchu Township, Kardze County. He has a younger brother and an old father in his family. Being the sole bread winner in the family, he worked hard in the field to feed his family.
In 1989, Butuk and his friend Tsering Dorjee pasted bills with slogans calling for "Tibetan Independence", "Long live the Dalai Lama", and "Chinese go back". The bills written in English, Tibetan and Chinese were pasted in the market. On the fifteenth day of the first month of Tibetan Lunar Calendar in 1990, the two hoisted a Tibetan national flag on the roof of the local monastery. A year after the incident the PSB couldn’t trace the "culprits" after much investigations.
However, Tsering Dorjee during a pilgrimage to Lhasa narrated his activity to his friends. The vigilant Lhasa PSB came to know about it and arrested Tsering. A few days later, Butuk was also arrested in his hometown by Kardze PSB officers.
In 1991, Kardze Intermediate People’s Court charged the two of "Counter-revolutionary" activity and passed a verdict of 14 and 13 years’ imprisonment terms for Butuk and Tsering Dorjee respectively.
They were taken to Ra-nga-kha Prison to serve the term. After un
dergoing four years of torture in the prison, Butuk was transferred to Aba Prison located in Maowan Qiang Autonomous County in Ngaba Tibet Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province. The prison accomodates prisoners with long-termimprisonment sentences from Ngaba and Kardze regions.
Butuk is now in the final year of his 14 year term and is known to be in frail condition physically after years behind the bars where torture is a regular feature.
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Ms. Tsewang Lhadon, Executive Director of TCHRD, attended the Asian Civil Society Forum (ACSF) 2004 at Bangkok between 20 to 25 November 2004.
The conference was a multi-faceted process and event with a focus on UN/Civil Society Relations, human rights and democracy and a host of related human rights issues. The event also was meant to strengthen cross-sectoral networking and cooperation and to enhance Asian NGO’s advocacy capacity.
Although Ms. Lhadon was able to distribute reports and information materials to the many participants of the Forum, she was unable to display them outside the conference hall like other NGOs. A complaint from Chinese Embassy officials had certain reports confiscated by the UN Secretariat. The reports on display by the Non-Violence International contained information and pictures of the Dalai Lama.
Ms. Lhadon took the opportunity to interact and exchange reports with many Chinese civil society representatives including a Tibetan, Mr. Tenzin Lhundup from the China Tibetology Research Centre in Beijing.
The Forum came out with a declaration that raised strong concerns and reservations of the Asian Civil Societies with regard to certain aspects of the Millennium Declaration Goals +5, UN GA resolution and Kofi Annan report on UN/Civil Society Relations which will be forwarded to the Secretary General.
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- A musical concert to generate awareness and hope for the release of Trulku Tenzin Delek was organised by the Students for a Free Tibet, Friends of Tibet and Regional Tibetan Youth Congress Dharamsala Chapter, on 16 November 2004. Mr. Jampa Monlam, Tibetan Researcher, was invited by the organisers to brief the audience who had come in large number at the concert ground infront of Tsuklakhang temple. He spoke about the life of Trulku Tenzin Delek, his social works and the unfortunate implication in a bomb explosion and the subsequent sentencing to death with a two year reprieve which would end on 25 January 2005. He urged the crowd to step up the campaign to save Trulku Tenzin Delek from execution. Campaigns to stop the execution are being held world wide by Tibetans and Tibet supporters in different countries.
- Ms. Norzin Dolma, Senior Programme Officer, met with a group of American law students on 16 November 2004. The students were briefed about the human rights situation in Tibet and the role of TCHRD in protecting the human rights of Tibetans in Tibet.
- Mr. Jampa Monlam and Mr. Ugyen Tsewang, Information Officer, briefed about human rights situation in Tibet to a group of Tibetan youths who would be visiting England as part of a youth exchange programme by Longsho-Tibetan Jewish Youth Exchange.
- On 24 November 2004, Mr. Tashi Choephel, Researcher, and Mr. Tenzin Norgay, Field Officer, met with members of Delhi based Wiscomp Foundation and Foundation for Universal Responsibility of H.H the Dalai Lama at the Chonor Hotel in Mcleod Ganj, Dharamsala. The staff interacted with members of the foundations and exchanged each others experiences and the roles of the respective organisations’ work and its mission.
- Mr. Tsering Agloe, Reseacher, and Mr. Ugyen Tsewang, Information Officer, attended the presentation by the foundations at the Central Tibetan Administration complex on 25 November.
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On 18 November 2004, Mr. Shailendra Kumar Upadhyay, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nepal, and Mr. Wangchuk Tsering, Representative of the Dalai Lama to Nepal have visited TCHRD.
Ms. Norzin Dolma, Senior Programme Officer, introduced the Centre, briefed the minister about challenges faced by Tibetan refugees in Nepal and put forward few recommendations for consideration to improve the situation and status of refugees.
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