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Human Rights Update and Archives
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| Image of the dead nun (Source: mounteverest.net Courtesy: Slovenian climber Pavle Kozjek) |
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| Image of some of the captured children and border guards (Source: mounteverest.net Courtesy: Slovenian climber Pavle Kozjek) |
The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) condemns the Chinese People’s Armed Police (PAP) firing live ammunitions on a group of Tibetan refugees on 30 September 2006. The shooting, which resulted in the death of at least two Tibetan (Kelsang Nortso, a 17-year-old nun, and a man in his twenties) happened as 75 refugees (excluding two guides) were preparing to cross the glaciated Nangpa La, an 18,753 ft. pass close to Everest base camp. Several other reports say up to seven Tibetans may have been killed after the group was fired upon by the Chinese troops.
The whereabouts of the 32 refugees is unknown. Fourteen of these were children, the youngest is eight years old. Of the refugees who were not injured or arrested, some are missing, whilst 41 (27 minors below eighteen years) managed to reach Kathmandu, Nepal, where they were kept under the protection of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees. The group reached Dharamsala, the seat of His Holiness the Dalai Lama via Delhi on 24 October 2006.
Recently the Chinese government has taken the unusual step of issuing an official statement on the shootings. The Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed that several Tibetans had been injured in a border incident, but denied anyone was killed as a result of gunfire. The authorities claim one of the injured succumbed to ‘oxygen shortage’ in hospital. The official news agency, Xinhua, stated that when asked to turn back, Tibetan refugees ‘refused and attacked the soldiers’ so ‘[t]he frontier soldiers were forced to defend themselves and injured two [refugees].’ The Foreign Ministry agreed with the claim that any violence on the part of the PAP was in ‘self-defense’.
However, according to testimony of the fleeing refugees corroborated by eyewitness accounts of nearby Everest mountaineers testify that the refugees were running uphill, away from the shooting. They also claim that at least one refugee was killed by gunfire. According to mountaineering website, MountEverest.net, an American climber reported, 'Without warning, shots rang out. Over, and over and over. The line of people started to run uphill -they were at 19,000ft. 2 people were down, and they weren’t getting up.’ There are no reports of any Tibetans carrying weapons. A British climber reported that climbers ‘could see Chinese soldiers quite close to Advance Base Camp kneeling, taking aim and shooting, again and again, at the group, who were completely defenseless.’ while Romanian climber Sergiu Matei, reported, "The Chinese militias were hunting Tibetans onto the glacier... shooting them like rats, dogs, rabbits -you name it."
In light of testimonies by the refugees, the foreign eyewitnesses and confirmed by video, TCHRD dismisses the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s comment of "self defense" by the PAP officers. The Centre demands a detailed accounting by the Chinese government.
The actions of the PAP violate a number of international and national laws. Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights provides ‘everyone the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution’. The 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees also accords legitimate refugees with the same human rights as those enjoyed by nationals.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry’s claim of self-defense is also illegitimate under international law. Whilst Article 51 of the UN Charter does enshrine a right to self-defense, this right can only be legitimately exercised if a national is under armed attack. The refugees testimony corroborated by foreign national eyewitnesses confirm that the refugees were not armed. The 27 July 2006 ‘Prevention of human rights violations committed with small arms and light weapons’ report, submitted by the UN Special Rapporteur Barbara Frey, further clarifies the rights of states in self defense: ‘Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations applies to States acting in self-defense against armed attacks against their State sovereignty. It does not apply to situations of self-defense for individual persons.’ She adds that ‘[s]tate officials must refrain from violations [of human rights] with small arms’.
TCHRD calls upon the UN High Commission for Human Rights and the Human Rights Council to seek justice for the Tibetan refugees shot in the Nangpa La incident, and to ensure that the Tibetans now in custody of the Chinese police are freed immediately and without harm.
A mountainer eye-witness speaks out
A European mountaineer, who witnessed the shooting of unarmed Tibetan refugees in Nangpa la pass by Chinese People’s Armed Police (PAP) reached Kathmandu, Nepal on 11 October 2006.
He testified that, "On 30 September 2006, we were on the Cho Oyu, and were inside the tent. It was around 7.30 am and we had not washed our face, nor had our breakfast. The first thing we heard was continuous five shots very quickly. After hearing those shots, we came outside to look at the Nangpa La Pass. We saw a line of Tibetan refugees making up the pass and right behind them was Chinese armed with guns shooting at them continuously. We saw two people get shot and could confirm it with binoculars that they did not get up again."
"There were 20 to 25 Chinese border patrolling armies, all equipped with gun and they started shooting at the group of Tibetan refugees without any warning. If they shouted, we could have heard their voices but they opened firing without any prior warning. Upon witnessing the shooting incident, we westerners felt an extreme sense of sadness for the Tibetans. After shooting down the two Tibetans, some of the border patrolling officers came to search our tents, to see whether any escapees were hiding in our tent. At that time two Tibetans (one who was a guide of the group) were hiding in our toilet tent and left at 2 am to cross the pass. I tried to visit the spot of shooting, but was not allowed by them. The Chinese armies threatened to shoot us if we came out of the tent."
"Before this incident, I had no knowledge about Tibet and its cause. But upon witnessing the inhuman act on Tibetans from such a close proximity; me and many of my fellow mountaineers began to roll our tears automatically. Later on that day, our hired cook (a Tibetan) told us that atleast seven Tibetans were said to be killed and I would believe this to be true. The first thing I have done, since witnessing the incident was to desseminate and spread the news of the shooting to the international media and press."
"My two fellow mountaineers (one a Police officer from London), upon reaching Kathmandu, was called by Nepal based Chinese Embassy and was asked to refrain from speaking out about the incident. However, they left the Nepal after two days in order to avoid obstruction from Chinese Embassy."
"If I was contacted by Chinese Embassy,, I would ask them, why they are oppressing the Tibetan people who are trying to get a better education, a better life and to follow their own religion. And why would they choose to end someone’s life, simply wishing for a better life for themselves."
NGOs and foreign diplomats condemn the Nangpa La shooting
Various NGOs including Human Rights in China (HRIC), Unrepresented Nation’s Peoples Organisation (UNPO)and Human Rights Watch and many foreign diplomats condemned the 30 September shooting incident, where Tibetans refugees crossing the Nangpa La Pass from Tibet to Nepal, were shot at by Chinese People’s Armed Police (PAP).
HRIC urges the Chinese government to guarantee the safety and well-being of the detained children and to release them to their concerned families. HRIC invites an independent expert to conduct an investigation into this incident. It also calls on the U.S and other governments to lodge official objections with the People’s Republic of China regarding its flagrant violation of human rights standards, which resulted in the Nangpa La shootings. It is important for these nations to recognize and show their concern for human rights with the government of Nepal, thus ensuring the full protection of those Tibetans now in Nepal.
UNPO has raised concern at the current and ongoing situation for the Tibetan people fleeing from Tibet to Nepal. UNPO General Secretary Marino Busdachin appealed to United Nations and Netherlands authorities to issue a public statement calling upon the Chinese authorities to provide the European Union with an official clarification on the shooting on Tibetans, including the list of those killed. He also urged the Chinese authorities to immediately release the children who were arrested by their soldiers; and advocated the Chinese authorities to refrain from the practice soldiers shooting upon civilians in the Himalayas.
The U.S. ambassador to Beijing, Clark T. Randt, also condemned the shooting incident by formally protesting "China’s treatment of the refugees" in a visit to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay while "strongly" condemning the killing of an unarmed Tibetan fleeing into Nepal, told the House of Commons that "Canada strongly condemns this act of violence against unarmed civilians as an egregious violation of human rights. We have formally raised these concerns with the Chinese government." By citing China’s obligation under the UN Convention on the Rights of Children, He said, "We have called upon the Chinese to conduct a full, independent investigation and punish those responsible, as well as release the detained Tibetan children immediately to their families."
Whilst Ben Bot, Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs opined that China should identify and punish those responsible for the shooting on Tibetan refugees late September. At the end of the discussions about his budget for 2007, he said that, He will raise the issue of the shooting incidents by, "contacting his European colleagues, and arranged for the matter to be on the agenda during a Human Rights-meeting in Beijing between Chinese officials and their colleagues from the European Union. On that occasion the EU will emphasize that the backgrounds of the incident should be clarified, and that those guilty of the shooting need to be punished. The scheduled Hague meeting between representatives of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese ambassador in Holland will be dominated by the issue of the Nangpa La shootings. Moreover, during the Dutch envoys visit to China in December, the Human Rights issues will be raised again."
A question concerning on the tragic event of death of innocent Tibetan refugee fleeing occupied Tibet to Nepal was also raised in Italian Government. The question was raised by deputies Bruno Mellano and Sergio D’Elia of Radical Party ( Radicali della Rosa Nel Pugno) during the question-answer session at the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
French MP, Senator Lionnel Luca called for an independent inquiry into the shooting of Tibetan refugees at Nangpa La on 30 September 2006. The Deputy, who is also the President of the Tibet Group in the French Parliament, said that, "the 140 members of the Tibet Group in French Parliament are outraged by this cowardly aggression, firmly denounce the violation of the international rules, and call upon the international community to open an independent inquiry supervised by UN." He has also urged President Jacques Chirac, to raise the issue with the Chinese counterpart during his forthcoming trip to China.
During the European Union-China dialogue on human rights in Beijing on 19 October 2006, EU raised the shooting of Tibetans at the Nangpa La pass with their Chinese counterparts. A press release made by EU presidency state that, the EU had called for ‘clarification’ of the shootings at Nangpa Pass on 30 September and ‘urged China to investigate the incident thoroughly’.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) based in the U.S.A released a statement, where it called upon Chinese government to permit an independent inquiry into attack by a Chinese troops on a group of 75 Tibetan refugees which resulted in the killing of at least one girl near the border of Nepal.
"Despite its pledges to the rule of law, China has never mounted a credible and transparent investigation into questionable actions by its security forces," said Sophie Richardson, Deputy Director of Human Rights Watch’s Asia division. "An inquiry undertaken by officials -who either implicitly or explicitly permitted this shooting -is likely to lack integrity, so the government must permit an independent body to determine what happened at Nangpa Pass."
It also called on Beijing to rescind any orders that allow border troops to open fire on unarmed civilians.
European Parliament (EP) on 26 October 2006 condemned the Chinese People’s Armed Police (PAP) for its brutal shooting on unarmed 75 Tibetan refugees and unanimously adopted a resolution on Tibet, particularly noting the Nangpa La incident.
The members also thanked the Finnish EU Presidency for issuing an official statement condemning the Chinese Government on 20 October 2006 and for refuting the claim of China that shooting was done as a part of self defence.
The commission also found that the Chinese policy in Tibet inconsistant with the provision of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which People’s Republic of China signed on 5 October 1998.
[ top]Tibetan monk disappears, whereabouts unknown
A 19-year old Tibetan monk, Thubten Samten, disappeared from his room in Sera Monastery in Tibet. Sources believe that the Chinese police lifted him for alleged political activities.
According to reliable information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), Thubten disappeared on the morning of 23 May 2006, and his whereabouts remain unknown till date. Reportedly, Chinese work team members earlier warned him about displaying prohibited items in his room, which included pictures of the Dalai Lama, Panchen Lama and a Tibetan national flag. At the time, he reportedly showed his defiance by telling the work team members that it is his personal will and respect. Sources suggest that the police lifted him for his defiance against the authority’s order and also for his possible involvement in numerous wall-posters appearing in Sera Monastery and in certain areas of Lhasa City.
Thubten Samten was born in Zachukha, Sichuan Province. Before coming to Lhasa, he studied in Margey (Tib translit: Mar Dge) Monastery. Four years ago he joined the Sera Monastery in Lhasa and since has been studying in Ser-Jhe Jadrel Khangtsen until his disappearance in May 2006.
Beginning in January 2006, TCHRD has documented eighteen known cases of arbitrary arrest on various alleged political activities.
[ top]Railway: Development and Myth
Continued from previous issueChina’s one party rule means that the government often has absolute authority when implementing development policies. The Communist Party of China has a poor record when it comes to consulting local people about development projects. The large evacuation and displacement of millions of river valley Chinese people for the construction of the controversial Three Gorges Dam bears witness to this fact. The construction of Three Gorges Dam did not generate serious public outcry and even the private newspapers in China hardly mentioned the negative repercussions of the project on Chinese citizens. The approach of the Chinese State exemplifies ‘bottom down’ development strategy.
A closer look at the project shows that the initial survey studies and the feasibility of the construction was conducted during the Ninth Five Year Plan (1996-2000). The decision to construct the railway was finalized with the tenth Year Plan (2000-2006). The authorities instructed the Number One Survey and Design Institute of China’s Ministry of Railways to prepare blueprints for the Golmud-Nagqu-Lhasa Route and the Lanzhou-Nagqu-Lhasa Route. The Number Two Survey and Design Institute was instructed to prepare blueprints for the Chengdu-Nagqu-Lhasa Route and the Dali-Nyingtri-Lhasa Route.
The planning and execution of plans for the construction of the railway were all conducted without the participation of the Tibetan people, despite the official rhetoric espousing the benefits of economic development. This represents a denial of the rights of the Tibetan people to be informed, to participate in the decision making process, and to express their feelings without fear of repercussions.
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| Train to Lhasa |
As a result of railway construction, a number of Tibetan nomads have been displaced. Since July 2006, the Chinese government has resettled Tibetan nomads in uniformed and poorly built houses on the outskirts of townships and towns. Many areas of Amdo have been hit hard by the campaign, most vividly in the Golog region. The Chinese government’s strategy of modernisation conflicts with the Tibetan traditional nomadic way of life whereby Tibetan people graze livestock on the grassland pastures.
"The resettled nomads now receive few sacks of flour in aid even after the initial official promise of adequate compensation and special aid packages. They had to sell the livestock at half the market price. For e.g, a yak that sed to cost 1500 yuan, added the source. The grassland are now fenced with barbed wires and grazing is banned. Those who moved near Pema County town were given two rooms per household but were asked to pay half of the cost of construction (around 50,000 yuan) but people believe it could only cost around 10,000 yuan. The newly resettled nomads are a worried lot with their livestock gone; jobless and government help not in sight. With the rise in newly resettled nomads in towns, the number of unemployed and frustrated Tibetan nomads is increasing. Jobs are hard to come by as they cannot speak Chinese."
While the Chinese government argues that the resettling of nomads increases productivity, older nomadic folks maintain that the Chinese government has resettled nomads in order to curb the flooding in the Yellow River belt, which originates in Golog region. This is an outrageous violation of the fundamental human rights of Tibetan people and a denial of the right to equal and meaningful development.
On the contrary, investments in human capital development such as health and education have been significantly smaller than investments in hard infrastructure development projects. Therefore, in regards to the most basic and fundamental aspects of human development, Beijing has mismanaged its priorities inside Tibet. Hence, Beijing’s actions established the fact that it is more concerned with laying an iron track, a tool of control and administration, than in constructing clinics and schools in rural areas, which actually empower and bring positive development to Tibetan people. Beijing’s actions further demonstrate that, in formulating its developmental designs and urbanization in Tibet, Beijing has served its own interests and long-term designs at the expense of the Tibetan people.
In only its early stages, the Qingzang Railway has already brought difficulty to Tibetan nomads and farmers. The construction swallowed significant portions of farmlands and nomadic pastoral grassland that have served as the basis of nomads’ livelihood for many generations. At certain points in the construction, the track has encroached farmlands and pastoral areas. According to testimonies of some affected people who recently came to Kathmandu, Nepal, the Chinese government has done little to address their problems, and has not provided adequate monetary compensation or rehabilitation for the affected people.
The demolition and confiscation of houses and farmland has been reported in Chusur County, Lhasa as well as in Damxung County, near Lhasa.
"No Tibetans like Railway coming to Tibet because many Chinese from Mainland China would come to Tibet and Tibet would be full of Chinese, people in our Township were ordered to build new houses on their farmland according to number of household members, we don’t have enough space to keep our livestock, all these campaigns are to make room for Chinese settlers when they arrive in Tibet" says Tsering from Chushur County".
"Tenzin Dhargey from Damshung County says, "Nowadays Railway is harming livestock and nomads are very worried. Many livestock fell to death in pits dug up for Railway construction and some died consuming poison sprayed along Railway track to kill rabbits and picas but Chinese claim the deaths were caused by a pig disease to cover up the matter and no compensation were given; several nomad households of Choten Village were moved to give way for Railway track and several more households were ordered to move but they have to build their own house with small government compensation but no compensation was given for nomadic grassland".
Toelung Dechen County witnessed the eviction and displacement of inhabitants from their ancestral lands in order to facilitate the construction of the railroad. However, there were no reports of compensation and rehabilitation provided for the affected people.
Tashi Dolma of Tölung Dechen County says, "Many good farmlands of Tölung Dechen were destroyed for Railway track construction; the track was constructed in the middle of farmland. First a hump is made, then fertile soil of farmland were used to level it; then they brought soil from the hills also and livestock grazing areas were also damaged. Farmers are facing problems because both their farmland and livestock grazing land are either destroyed or damaged. Over 55 households of our village lost big parts of their farmland for Railway track. The government gave compensation but households received only a small amount and suffered big losses due to embezzlement of funds in between. One household did not receive any compensation at all. Our household also did not receive compensation for a part of our farmland but we could not complain and no one dares because government claims that the land belongs to the nation and whenever government needs land, people should be ready to give up their land. Some people became ill by worrying, all the people are living with worries and anxiety nowadays because their income have decreased. The compensation money was spent quickly, now they have to find alternatives".
These testimonies represent the quintessence of ‘development error,’ by which Tibetan farmers and nomads remain poor and neglected, that now plagues Tibet. However in urban enclaves, many modernization and economic activities have taken place. More alarming still, the statistics from National Statistical Year Book show that 90% of all Chinese and Han immigrants live in urban enclaves or newly formed urban settlements. Thus, the statistics reinforce the view that Chinese immigrants come to Tibet to prosper and grow at the expense of Tibetan people. The decades of exclusionary and polarized economic strategy and policy have produced neo-Chinese-Han settlements and enclaves, and the native Tibetans have been pushed into the far fringe of rural hinterlands in a state of political apathy and economic discrimination.
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Almost all of development projects in Tibet undertaken by Chinese government reflect the stark contrast between beefed up infrastructure development and poor per capita human development in Tibetan rural areas, which are also supposed to be the recipient of benefits. As the ICT4 report argues,"Beijing’s economic development policy for the PRC’s western regions neglects "soft" infrastructure such as health and education provision. Official Chinese statistics show that the GDP value of the health care sector in the TAR decreased in nominal value between 2001 and 2003, and fell from 6.8 to 4.5% of the tertiary sector despite frequent government proclamations that it is been pouring money into health care. The failure of the health system to reach rural areas, coupled with prohibitive medical costs, is leading to large numbers of Tibetans dying from easily treatable conditions such as diarrhea, dysentery and pneumonia. The proportion of resources allocated to education in the TAR has also dropped, and parents often cannot afford to send their children to school".
Apart from the said long-term gains and benefits for the Tibetan people, the construction of the Qingzang Railway as well as the other developmental projects in general can bring immediate sources of income, generate jobs and, in long run, train and groom the Tibetan labour market. According to a report in the Xinhua News Agency, 6000 skilled labourers and technicians from China participated in the railway construction. All the business contracts were outsourced to provinces in other Mainland areas. In the six years it took to complete construction, only 600 Tibetans, mostly unskilled and manual workers, participated in the railway construction. People of Tibetan origins compose only a meager 10% of the total work force or labour market, which painfully contradicts Beijing’s claims that it intends the railway to benefit Tibetans. Thus, during six years of construction, the Qingzang Railway has harmed rather than benefited the Tibetan people, and it remains a monumental question for China, how will the train bring development to Tibetans in a long run.
Many experts on Tibet have raised their fears and concerns over the construction of the railway line, particularly the physical changes and further alienation of Tibetan identity that will inevitably take place once the population influx begins. Thus, many believe that the railway will continue to erode the Tibetan identity as well as the socio-economic-linguistics and cultural facets of the Tibetan people. Steven Marshall who authored "Tibet Outside the TAR" responded to TIN: "There is nothing I can think of that could more dramatically or incontrovertibly hasten the end of the Tibetan character of the region than putting a railroad loop through Qinghai, the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), and perhaps into Yunnan or Sichuan. It’s for that very reason that I think the state will do whatever it must to push the project through. Economically it’s not a high-profit proposition, as was extending railroads across America’s middle and western reaches. But despite the expense, it will create possibilities for mineral exploration and commerce that did not exist before, which will generate large-scale and small-scale opportunities for employment and enterprise. That will stimulate the flow of ‘human capital’ into the area, bringing about demographic transformation."
In the coming years, the influx of Chinese settlers will find their way to the entire Tibet. It has so far been seen in many parts of Tibet. Chinese settlers dominate the industrial, economic and tourist hub-nub centers with their superior education. These Chinese immigrants often wield more comparative advantages when it comes to starting enterprises, winning contracts and gaining access to markets and ‘gaunxi’ (Ch: networks and bribes) compared to native Tibetans who move to urban centers to make a living.
Nomads and farmers in the rural Tibetan hinterlands have no mandate, and they are not in a position to demand that Chinese officials ensure that the railway benefit them. They have no role and no voice in the decision-making process. Furthermore, these Tibetan nomads and farmers have no protection against intense competition in markets, price fixing, service sectors, exploitation of minerals, exports, imports, and protection to ecological damages that threatens their ancestral grassland and the fragile native ecology. Again and again, Beijing usurps the ‘rights’ aspect of development properly belonging to the Tibetan people as it horrendously ignores the interests and issues of the native Tibetan people in their development missions and strides.
To be continued in next issue... [ top]PROFILE OF A FORMER POLITICAL PRISONER
Biography of former political prisoner Penpa Tsering
Penpa Tsering was born in Tsemonling, Lhasa, in 1970. During his childhood, he joined Gya-Bum-Gang elementary school in Lhasa, "Tibet Autonomous Region" ("TAR"). Afterwards, he learned painting and earned his livelihood by doing paint work in and around temples and monasteries.
On 27 September 1987, Penpa participated in the first pro-independence demonstration since 1959, launched by twenty one monks of Drepung Monastery. Later, he also joined mass peaceful demonstration in Lhasa city in 1988 and 1989 by raising the Tibetan national flag in the air and shouting the slogan; "Free Tibet", "Chinese go back", "Tibet belongs to Tibetan" and "long live Dalai Lama".
On 7 March 1989, he was arrested from his house around midnight and was subsequently detained at a police station and later in Lhasa Prison formerly known as Outridu. He was later imprisoned at Seitru "TAR" Detention Centres. During interrogation, he was subjected to severe beatings and inhuman torture. In the same year, Lhasa People’s Intermediate Court charged him for "counter-revolutionary" and "inciting anti-government propaganda" and sentenced him to a three years prison term. Subsequently, he was sent to Unit # 2 in Drapchi Prison, "TAR". In January 1989, a new cell unit called Unit # 5 was made in Drapchi Prison, where all political prisoners of the prison were put together in one unit. This was done so that they could be watched vigilantly. During that time, he was transferred to Unit #5.
On 27 April 1991, prison officials called Penpa from his workplace all of sudden without knowledge by his inmates and took him inside the cell unit. At that time, political prisoners Tempa Phulchung of Lhasa and Gyaldar, a monk of Gaden Monastery, were also called into the cell. Along with two other political prisoners, Tempa Wangdak, a monk of Gaden Monastery and Lobsang Tenzin, a student of Lhasa University, who were earlier put in solitary confinement, they were forcibly taken to Seitru "TAR" Detention Centre from Drapchi Prison, where they were kept there over night. The next day some officials of Drapchi Prison came to them and said that, there was no improvement on their behaviors and were always a source of unrest in the prison. Hence, they were transferred to Powo Tramo Prison (formerly referred as "TAR" No. 2 Prison, near the town of Tramo in Pome County, Nyintri Prefecture, "TAR") as per the directive of higher prison authorities. On that day, they were put in a small police vehicle with their hand and leg chained and sent to Powo Tramo Prison. After reaching the prison, they were subjected to daily hard labour.
After completing his three years prison sentence, he was released on 7 March 1992. He along with four inmates served their sentences in five different prisons. However, his inmate Lobsang Tenzin is still serving his sentence at the newly opened Chushul Prison.
After his release, he stayed at Lhasa City for a month and then secretly came into exile in India. After receiving audience with Dalai Lama, he settled in Nepal. He joined the Gu-Chu-Sum Movement of Tibet (Ex-political Prisoner’s Association) in 1992 and was elected as an Executive Member at the September 2004 general body meeting. Currently, he is working as an executive member of the Association. ¨
[ top]TCHRD ACTIVITIES BULLETIN
XVth Workshop on Human Rights and Democracy
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| Participants to the 15th workshop |
The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) organised its XVth Workshop on Human Rights and Democracy at the Staff Mess, Gangchen Kyishong, Dharamsala from 28 September to 5 October 2006. Over 48 participants from various chapters of Regional Tibetan Youth Congress, Regional Tibetan Women’s Association from India, Nepal, Bhutan and two other NGOs based in Dharamsala, participated in the workshop.
During the 8 day workshop, well known figures from Tibetan community in exile spoke on various topics ranging from human rights to the issues concerning Tibetan people. The participants had a productive interaction and question and answer session with resource persons during the workshop. TCHRD extends its heartfelt thanks to all the resource persons who took time out of their busy schedule to educate the participants, who in turn will share the knowledge with the Tibetans in their locality when they return back. The topics discussed and covered by concerned resource persons were as follows:
- "Present status of the Sino-Tibetan dialogue process and the Middle-Way Approach" by Kalon Tripa, Professor Samdhong Rinpoche.
- "Evolution of the Tibetan democratic system and the responsibilities and prerogatives of the assembly" by Mr. Karma Choephel, Chairman, ATPD.
- "Concepts and types of autonomy and Tibetan perspectives" by Mr. Penpa Tsering, MP, ATPD
- "Relationship between Buddhism and Human Rights" by Ven. Lhakdor, Director, Library of Tibetan Work and Archives
- "Policies and Functioning of CTA" by Mr. Lobsang Nyendak, Former Kalon, CTA.
- "Present status of the issue of Tibet at an international level" by Mr. Dagpo Sonam Norbu, Secretary of DIIR, CTA
- "Human Rights Concept and Human Rights Situation in Tibet" by Mr. Jampel Monlam, Assistant Director, TCHRD
- Personal testimonies by two "singing nuns" Rigzin Choekyi and Lhundrup Sangmo.
- Panel Discussion on the "role of Public, NGO’s and members of Parliament in the development of Tibetan Democracy", Urgen Tenzin, Director, TCHRD, Kalsang Phuntsok, President TYC, Ms. B. Tsering, President TWA.
The participants were later introduced to seven departments of the CTA and also visited Tibet Museum at Mcleod Ganj. The participants were also provided opportunity to observe the proceedings of the 14th ATPD session. In order to provide more interaction among them, participants were divided into four groups and encouraged group discussion and quiz competition. On the concluding day, Ms. Gyari Dolma, Vice Chairman of ATPD, was invited as a chief guest to confer certificate to the participant.
[ top]TCHRD holds press conference in New Delhi
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| Press conference in session |
The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) held a press conference at the Press Club of India (PCI), New Delhi, on 23 October 2006.
41 Tibetan refugees who reached New Delhi on 22 October 2006, interacted with various media agencies based in Delhi. Venerable Thupten Tsering, 36, Dolma Palkyid, 16, and Lobsang Choeden, 27, representing the group testified before media about their experience escaping Chinese armed police shooting incident at Nangpa La pass. Later the media met with the remaining refugees outside the PCI for a group photo and to learn about their personal stories. The media covered the shooting incident extensively in all forms of media both locally and internationally.
Media present at the press conference were Reuters, AFP, AP, Christian Science Monitor, Sydney Morning Herald, CNN-IBN, Infocell, Deutsche Walle, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Societe Radio-Canada, Swedish Radio, Press Trust of India, Pio TV, CBS News, Radio Free Asia, Voice of Tibet, Phayul.com and other media personnel.
[ top]TCHRD briefs Miss Tibet 2006 contestants
Mr. Tenzin Norgay, UN Affairs Personnel, briefed the 2006 Miss Tibet Pageant contestants on "Human Rights Concept" and "Human Rights Situation in Tibet" on 7 October 2006.
[ top]TCHRD participates in TPPRC Workshop
Mr. Urgen Tenzin, Executive Director, participated in TPPRC’s "Effective Communication Training Workshop" which was held from 10 to 13 October 2006 at Asian Health Resort at Dharamsala.
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