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December
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TCHRD press statement on Human Rights Day
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Two political prisoners come into exile
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EP’s China resolution on human rights in Tibet
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Resolution passed by the European Parliament:
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China detain monks from Phelka Monastery
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Official lies create tension in Nyagchu County
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Tibetan writer awarded Freedom of Speech Medal
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The Executive Director briefs TPPRC workshop participants
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Two former Political Prisoners shared their ordeal to visiting students
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TCHRD set up book distribution stall on Human Rights Day
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TCHRD briefs Denver University students
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On the occasion of the 59th International Human Rights Day, the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) salutes those around the world who struggle to defend, protect and promote the fundamental freedoms, the inherent dignity, and the equal and inalienable rights that are the birthright of all members of the human family. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was passed by the UN General Assembly on 10 December 1948 and was proclaimed as the ‘common standard of achievement for all people and nations’ in respect of human rights. Despite taking years to formulate and decades of existence, the struggle to ensure just entitlement of the thirty rights and freedoms enshrined in the UDHR requires our attention today and everyday.
On 10 December, Tibetans commemorate not only International Human Rights Day, but also the conferment in 1989 of the Noble Peace Prize on the Dalai Lama for His continued struggle for peace and human rights through non-violence. TCHRD re-dedicates itself to the objectives of the UDHR, the values it enshrines and to its ongoing efforts to promote and defend human rights of the Tibetan people in Tibet.
In the past eleven months, the human rights and freedom of Tibetans in Tibet have witnessed an unprecedented beating at the hands of the Chinese authorities. It is highly regrettable and condemnable that the People’s Republic of China (PRC), despite being a permanent member of the United Nations and a state party to UN treaties on human rights, fails to respect and uphold the basic principles set forth in the UDHR and that the most blatant forms of violations are regularly occurring in the region with impunity. Chinese authorities continue to practice a systematic denial of human rights to the Tibetan people.
Hence during the past eleven months of 2007, TCHRD has documented, among others, the following known events:
-On 1 January 2007, new “Measures for the ‘Regulation on Religious Affairs’” with 56 articles, issued by the 11th Standing Committee of the “TAR” People’s Government came to be enforced. This new regulation, instead of providing protection for religious affairs, aimed at enforcing compliance with governmental regulations and policies on religious organizations, religious personnel and religious citizens, places of worship and activities.
-Tibetan Communist Party members, civil servants and even the ordinary people in Lhasa were banned from visiting temples for a week corresponding to the National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference being held in Beijing in March. Party members and civil servants were issued stark warnings of facing expulsion and dismissal, if they prayed at Buddhist temples in the Capital.
-China intensified prohibition of religious activities in Tibet with severe restrictions and curbs during the holy month of Saka Dawa, which began on17 May 2007. The China State Administration of Religious Affairs (SARA) office’s issuance of the 14-article; “Management measures for the reincarnation of living Buddhas in Tibetan Buddhism,” which came into effect as of 1 September this year, clearly demonstrates the Chinese Communist Party’s adamant attempt to undermine and tarnish the centuries-old Tibetan tradition of religious practice. The new measures described by the official press as ‘an important move to institutionalize the management of reincarnation,’ are deliberately targeted at one of the core belief systems of Tibetan Buddhism and set out ‘approval procedures’ for new living Buddhas. It also underscores the Communist Party’s agenda to undermine and supplant the Tibetan religious hierarchy and weaken the authority of legitimate Tibetan religious leaders including the Dalai Lama;
-China intensified restrictions in Trulku Tenzin Delek’s Kham Nalanda Thekchen Jangchub Choeling Monastery with the arrest of two elderly women Odho and Apha Bomo, both in their late 50’s and residents of Othok Village, Nyagchuka County, Kardze “TAP” Sichuan Province, on 19 July 2007 by the Nyagchuka County Public Security Bureau (PSB) officials. The women were alleged to have committed the ‘crime’ of instigating people to join their call for Trulku Tenzin Delek’s release. They were later released on 27 August after the authorities called the head of the Othok village to stand as guarantor for their release;
-On 1 August 2007, Ronggye A’drak was arrested for staging a public protest during the annual Lithang horse race festival. In the aftermath of Ronggye A’drak’s arrest, severe restrictions were imposed in Lithang and surrounding areas for fear of a massive popular uprising by his supporters. The authorities sent additional contingents of People’s Armed Police (PAP) forces as reinforcements to monitor and restrict the activities of his supporters. Later on 21 August, three nephews of A’drak-Adruk Lopoe, Adruk Nyima and Adruk Gyatso were arbitrarily arrested. Although Nyima and Gyatso were released after six hours, A’druk Lopoe’s whereabouts remained unknown until his court trial;
-On 19 August 2007, Lothok, a 36-year old Tibetan nomad and a father of five children from Drakar Latse Village, Lithang County was arbitrarily detained from a guesthouse in Chengdu, the provincial capital of Sichuan Province;
-A near complete gold and copper plated colossal statue of Guru Rinpoche in Samye Monastery, in Dranang County, Lokha Prefecture, “TAP” was demolished by Chinese People’s Armed Police (PAP) during the Buddhist holy month of Saka Dawa in mid May this year; and another statue of Guru Rinpoche was also demolished in the first week of October in Ngari Darchen, Purang County, Ngari Prefecture, “TAR”. In a similar incident on 14 August 2007, a statue of Guru Rinpoche under construction at Rongpatsa Village, Kardze County, Kardze “TAP” was suspended following the local authorities’ issuance of an order prohibiting construction of the statue;
-Since the first week of September 2007, the Chinese authorities have commenced an intense “Patriotic Education” Campaign in Lithang and the surrounding counties. On 2 September, Adruk Kalgyam, a Tibetan nomad from Youru Kharshul Village, was arrested for challenging the Chinese authorities during the campaign. In a similar case on 3 October 2007, Jamyang Tenzin, a monk of Youru Geydenling Monastery in Lithang County was arrested for his open opposition to the authorities during the ‘Patriotic Education’ Campaign. The fate of these two still remains unknown;
-On around 7 September, police detained some 40 students alleged to have written slogans calling for the return of the Dalai Lama and a free Tibet the previous day on the walls of the village police station and on other buildings in the village. Within 48 hours, all but seven of the students were released from police custody. The seven students, all from nomadic families, are students of Amchok Bora Village Secondary School, in Labrang County (Ch: Xiahe xian), Gannan/Kanlho “TAP” in Gansu Province. Four schoolboys from the group of seven detained are still in custody after being tortured for the alleged offence of scribbling graffiti. The use of torture is still an endemic and prevalent practice in Tibet despite China’s signature and ratification of the UN Convention Against Torture. The prohibition on torture is well established under international law. It is unambiguous and absolute. It is binding on all States in all territories under their jurisdiction or effective control. It applies in all circumstances and times. Nor is torture permissible when it is called something else: cruel and inhuman treatment is unacceptable and illegal, irrespective of the name it is given;
-Heightened vigilance and strict measures prior to and after the conferment of the highest civilian award by the US on the Dalai Lama on 17 October 2007 have resulted in China’s violation of fundamental human rights of Tibetans in Tibet. The Chinese authorities utilized various precautionary measures including heightened vigilance, closer supervision of suspected individuals and former political prisoners, even resorting to arbitrary arrests and detention. In particular, the atmosphere at Drepung Monastery remains tense, with monks under continued heightened surveillance. A massive contingent of PAP forces was deployed around the monastery, restricting people’s right to freedom of movement. A monk and four laypersons were arrested in Amdo Labrang Tashikyil Monastery in Sangchu County, Kanlho “TAP”, Gansu Province following offering of Sangsol Prayer and bursting firecrackers in celebration of the award to the Dalai Lama. There were also reports of two Tibetans having been arrested from Othok Village, Lithang County, Kardze “TAP” on 17 October following hoisting prayer flags and offering Sangsol prayer in honor of the Dalai Lama’s receiving the US’ highest civilian award;
-Another shooting incident on fleeing Tibetan refugees at Nangpa Pass on 18 October this year left nine missing and three arrested from the initial group of 46 Tibetans;
-On 20 November, Kardze Intermediate People’s Court sentenced Ronggye A’drak to eight years of imprisonment and deprivation of political rights for four years on charges of “inciting to split the country to undermine the country’s unity,” and “severely disrupting the public order”. Whereas Adruk Lopoe, a nephew of Ronggye A’drak received the heaviest sentence of ten years’ imprisonment on charges of “colluding with foreign separatist forces to split the country and distributing political pamphlets.” Kunkhen (“Jacmyang Goinqen”), an artist who was arbitrarily arrested on 22 August by the Lithang County PSB officials for unknown reason, was sentenced to nine years of imprisonment on charges of “carrying out splittist activities,” and Lothok was given three years imprisonment by the same court.
-Over 130 Tibetans still remain detained in various prisons in Tibet for exercising their freedom of expression. The Panchen Rinpoche, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and many more senior religious leaders’ whereabouts still remain unknown.
The case of Ronggye A’drak and three others from Lithang County and the lengthy prison terms given by Kardze Intermediate People’s Court under vaguely defined charges of ‘endangering state security’, clearly epitomize the magnitude of repression and the price Tibetans inside Tibet are paying for the peaceful exercise of rights enshrined in the Chinese constitution and other fundamental human rights, which are protected by international covenants to which China is a party.
On this important occasion, TCHRD expresses its concerns over China’s increasing use of vague terms such as “endangering state security”, “disrupting social order” and “public order crimes”, etc., as a part of Chinese law, to arrest and imprison Tibetans. TCHRD urges the Chinese leadership to put an immediate end to the practice of torture in Tibet and to the conduct of “patriotic education” campaigns in the monastic institutions of Tibet. The Centre urges China to respect the provisions in the UN Convention against Torture (CAT) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), to both of which it is a state party. China should honor its commitments to and ratify the optional protocol to the CAT and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). The Centre also calls upon the Chinese government to respect and comply with international standards of human rights practices and its constitutional guarantees.
On the occasion of International Human Rights Day, TCHRD has released a poster and sticker entitled “Celebration of Human Rights Violations, Beijing 2008- One World, One Dream, and Let There Be Human Rights in Tibet.” It depicts various human rights violations -viz. torture, curtailment of freedom of expression, arbitrary arrests and detentions, lengthy prison terms, and repression of religious freedom - taking place inside Tibet by using the symbolic Olympic mascots inside the five Olympic rings. The overall human rights situation in Tibet and China remains grim despite international scrutiny of China’s human rights policies and practices before the 2008 Beijing summer Olympics. The international community should remind itself that behind all the glitz and glamour of the biggest international sporting event next summer, there are people inside China and Tibet who are harassed and imprisoned everyday for exercising their fundamental human rights enshrined in the UDHR and in China’s very own Constitution.
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Two political prisoners, Jampa Tashi and Lobsang Palden, who spent 12 years in Chinese prisons, came into exile on 23 December 2007. They were released on 29 March 2006 from Pawo Tramo Prison in Nyingtri County, “Tibet Autonomous Region” (“TAR”).
Upon their arrival at the Tibetan Reception Centre in Kathmandu, Nepal in December 2007, they testified to TCHRD about their prison days.
On 29 March 1994, the Public Security Bureau officers arrested Jampa Tashi, Lobsang Palden, Chime Dorjee, Lobsang Tsegyal and Pema Tsering on charges of removing boards from the Chinese government offices and for pasting pro-independence leaflets and pamphlets in front of the Chinese government offices. The pamphlets called for freedom in Tibet.
While they were shouting slogans such as “free Tibet”, the Chinese security personnel arrived at the spot and took them to Public Security Bureau office (PSB). While they were in PSB office, they were put in separate rooms for three days. During the interrogation, they were beaten, tortured with various torture weapons to force them to confess the name of their leader.
After three days of interrogation and torture, the Chinese security personnel failed to extract confession about who plotted the protest. They were later transferred to another prison Pawo Tramo Prison in Nyingtri County, “Tibet Autonomous Region” (“TAR”). In Pawo Tramo Prison they were subjected to most inhumane ways of torture, beatings and maltreatment. The interrogation and torture lasted for three months. After that they were again transferred to another prison in Parshul County, Chamdo Prefecture for two months and 15 days. It was during that time; Tsultrim Lobsang, Pema Choephel and Tashi Palden from Parshul County Chamdo prefecture were arrested on alleged charges of shouting “free Tibet” slogans and demanding the release of five other monks.
In April 1994, the People’s High Court convicted Jampa Tashi and Lobsang Palden of “counter-revolutionary crimes”and sentenced them to 12 years of rigorous imprisonment. In addition, they were deprived of political rights for four years. Chime Dorjee, Lobsang Tsegyal and Pema Tsering were also charged with the same crime and sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment and deprivation of political rights for five years.
On 22 November 1994 Jampa Tashi and Lobsang Palden were imprisoned in Pawo Tramo prison, Nyingtri County. Tsultrim Lobsang, Pema Choephel and Tashi Palden were imprisoned in Drapchi, “Tibet Autonomous Region” (“TAR”).
In prison, the prisoners worked in fields, vegetable gardens and did cleaning activities such as washing toilets. Every morning the prisoners carried out their morning drill. The prisoners were usually made to do hard labour and conditions in the prison were not up to international legal standards at all.
Political prisoners were usually not given enough visitation rights while non-political prisoners had far better visitation rights, as they could spend more time with their visitors at prison.
On 29 March 2006, Jampa Tashi and Lobsang Palden were released from Tramo prison after completing 12 years of prison term each. During his release, his relatives were made to express verbal assurances that he won’t be involved in any political activities in future. They were also barred from re-entering the monastery and from performing religious rituals and prayers in homes of Tibetan families.
As it has been the case with many political prisoners who have been released, the Chinese security personnel kept them under constant vigilance. They were categorized as third classes and also not allowed to work in higher offices by the Chinese local authorities. Having no hope in Tibet, they finally decided to escape to India and reached Dharamsala on 23 December 2007.
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The European Parliament passed a resolution criticizing China for its poor human rights records in Tibet. The EU Parliament also urged the European Commission to take a stronger stance on China.
The resolution regrets China’s poor response to the Dalai Lama dialogue initiatives to solve Tibet’s status peacefully with China. It said, “ The sixth Sino-Tibetan round of talks has brought about no results; calls on the parties to make every effort in order to continue the dialogue and calls upon the Chinese government to engage in substantive negotiations taking into due consideration the demands of the Dalai Lama for autonomy for Tibet; calls on China to refrain from exerting pressure on states that have friendly relations with the Dalai Lama”.
EP’s resolution accused China of violating the fundamental human rights of Tibetan people in areas of torture, the intensification of the ‘patriotic education’ campaign in Tibet’s religious institutions, forcing Tibetans to denounce the Dalai Lama as a “separatist”. The EU also demanded China to allow an independent body to meet Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the eleventh Panchen Lama of Tibet as demanded by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC).
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1. whereas since the set up of the EU-China Summit mechanism in 1998, China-EU relations have strongly developed politically and economically,
2. whereas any decision to initiate a human rights dialogue is taken on the basis of certain criteria adopted by the Council, which notably take into consideration the major concerns on the part of the EU about the human rights situation on the ground in the country concerned, a genuine commitment on the part of the authorities of the country concerned, with regard to such dialogue, to improving the human rights situation on the ground, and the positive impact which a human rights dialogue may have on the human rights situation,
3. whereas the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games should constitute an ideal opportunity for focusing the world attention on the human rights situation in China,
4. whereas the EU is based upon and defined by its adherence to the principles of liberty, democracy and respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law; recalling, at the same time, that the EU considers that adherence to these principles constitutes the prerequisite for peace and stability in any society,
5. whereas the EU-China strategic partnership is of great importance for the relations between the EU and China and whereas a genuine partnership must be based on shared common values,
6. whereas the strengthening and deepening of EU-China relations could help to develop convergent views for actions to tackle global challenges such as climate change, security, terrorism and non-proliferation of arms,
7. whereas there are continuous disturbing reports of political repression, particularly of journalists, human rights activists and members of religious and ethnic minorities, allegations of torture, widespread use of forced labour, frequent use of the death penalty and systematic repression of freedom of religion, speech and the media including the Internet, and the strict controls exercised by the Chinese Government over information about and access to the Tibetan areas of China; whereas it is therefore difficult to determine accurately the scope of human rights abuses,
8. whereas China’s engagement and influence in the world have increased considerably over the last decade, and considering that credibility, democratic values and responsibility should constitute the fundamental basis of the relationship between the EU and China,
9. EU-China human rights dialogue9. Regrets that China’s human rights record remains a matter of serious concern; emphasises, therefore, the need to considerably strengthen and improve the EU-China human rights dialogue; calls on the Council to provide a more detailed briefing to the Parliament; considers it relevant to continue to organise the EU-China legal seminar on human rights, which used to precede the dialogue, with the participation of academic and civil society representatives, and in this regard welcomes the establishment of an EU-China Human Rights Academic Network under Objective 3 of the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (IDHR) and calls on the Commission to ensure that this network will effectively function in cooperation with Parliament;
10. Considers that the matters discussed in the successive rounds of dialogue with China, such as ratification of the ICCPR, reform of the criminal justice system, including the death penalty and the system of re-education through work, freedom of expression, particularly on the Internet, freedom of the press, freedom of access to information, freedom of conscience, thought and religion, the situation of minorities in Tibet, the release of detainees following the events in Tiananmen Square, and workers’ and other rights, must continue to be raised in the context of the dialogue, in particular with regard to the application of the recommendations resulting from previous dialogues mutually agreed upon by both parties and seminars on legal affairs; to this end, calls on the Council to consider extending the time period of the dialogue and to allow more time for discussion of the issues raised; calls, furthermore, on the Council and Commission to pay special attention to compliance with the International Labour Organisation’s conventions with regard, in particular, to independent trade unions and child labour;
11. Notes China’s commitment to support the UN Human Rights Council in performing its function of addressing human rights issues in a credible, objective and non-selective manner, and calls for a strengthened cooperation in the UN system as well as to cooperate with the UN human rights mechanisms and the international human rights standards provided for in the relevant international human rights instruments, including the rights of minorities;
12. Draws attention to the need for China to allow the free expression and practice of religion and thought; affirms the need, particularly in the light of the discussions among Chinese officials about the definition of ‘religion’ and especially ‘legal religion’, for a comprehensive law on religion meeting international standards and guaranteeing genuine religious freedom; deplores the contradiction between the constitutional freedom of belief (enshrined in Article 36 of the Chinese Constitution) and the ongoing interference of the state in the affairs of religious communities, in particular as regards the training, selection, appointment and political indoctrination of ministers of religion;
13. Regrets that the sixth Sino-Tibetan round of talks has brought about no results; calls on the parties to make every effort in order to continue the dialogue and calls upon the Chinese government to engage in substantive negotiations taking into due consideration the demands of the Dalai Lama for autonomy for Tibet; calls on China to refrain from exerting pressure on states that have friendly relations with the Dalai Lama;
14. Reiterates its concern over the reports of continuing human rights violations in Tibet and in the other provinces inhabited by Tibetan people, including torture, arbitrary arrest and detention, repression of religious freedom, arbitrary restrictions on free movement, and rehabilitation through labour camps; deplores the intensification of the so-called ‘patriotic education’ campaign since October 2005 in Tibet’s monasteries and nunneries, forcing Tibetans to sign declarations denouncing the Dalai Lama as a dangerous separatist; calls upon China to allow an independent body to have access to Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the Panchen Lama of Tibet, and his parents, as requested by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child;
15. Calls on China, as a member of the UN Human Rights Council, to implement the recommendations of the UN special rapporteur on torture and to issue a standing invitation to China to UN experts; Is of the opinion that human rights concerns should receive much more focus in the buildup to the Beijing Olympic Games; and reiterates “respect for universal fundamental ethical principles” and the promotion of a peaceful society concerned “with the preservation of human dignity’ as enshrined in Articles 1 and 2 of the Olympic Charter;
17. Requests the International Olympic Committee to publish its own assessment of China’s compliance with the undertakings given in 2001 before the Games were awarded to Beijing; stresses the responsibility of the EU to take note of such an assessment and to work with its Olympic Network to create a basis for responsible behaviour in preparation for, during and after the Olympics;
18. Is strongly concerned by the recent increase of political persecutions related to the Olympics of human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers, petitioners, civil society activists, ethnic groups such as the Uighurs, religious of all beliefs, especially Falun Gong practitioners; calls on the Chinese authorities to release these people immediately and to put an end to these human rights violations, as well as to the demolition of substantial numbers of houses without compensation to make way for the Olympic infrastructures;
19. Calls on China to make concrete steps to grant freedom of expression, and to respect freedom of the press, both for Chinese and foreign journalists, raises particular concerns about the lack of implementation of the new regulation on international journalists active in China, and urges the Chinese authorities to immediately stop censoring and blocking - especially with the help of multinational companies - thousands of news and information websites based abroad, calls for the release of all journalists, Internet users and cyber dissidents detained in China for exercising their right to information; reiterates its call on the Chinese authorities to establish a moratorium on executions during the Olympic Games in 2008, and to withdraw the ban list of 42 categories of people;
20. Draws attention to the conclusions of the 17th Chinese Communist Party National Congress, held in mid-October 2007, at which different perspectives and openness arose towards the implementation of higher international human rights benchmarks in China.
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China detained six monks from Phelka Monastery, Driru County, “Tibetan Autonomous Region” (“TAR”) according to confirmed information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD). The detention of monks came in the wake of “patriotic education” campaign conducted in Phelka Monastery by the Chinese authorities. On 20 November 2007, the monks were forcibly made to sign documents denouncing the Dalai Lama as “splittist” but they refused to sign the papers.
In addition to the detention of six monks, two other monks Nani and Tenphel were also detained after they refused to pay a fine of 10,000 yuan to the Chinese government. There was no further information about the monks.
The Chinese government has intensified the restrictions on religious institutions long described as a bastion of Tibetan nationalism. The daily activities of monks inside the monastery were kept under a close scrutiny. According to a reliable report, monks of Phelka Monastery were asked to vacate the monastery premises. The monastery used to house around two hundred monks but in the aftermath of the recent clamp down by the Chinese government, the monks have returned to their respective homes leaving the monastery abandoned and deserted.
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Ngawang Dakpa, a monk from Miyak testified to the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) about displacement of over 900 families in Shete village, Watuchoe Township, Nyagchu County, (Kham Miyak), “TAP”, Sichuan Province.
The Chinese government ordered the construction of a hydroelectric power station in Watuchoe Township, Nyagchu County, Kham Miyak which had been inhabited by Tibetans for many centuries. The local Tibetan communities were rife with rumours about China’s government setting up a mining camp.
The Tibetans were facing a serious crisis in the area. The local Chinese authorities told the Tibetans , “Your possessions were only houses, give us a rough estimate of how much the house cost. In accordance with that we would compensate. Apart from that you can’t claim anything else, as the land belongs to the State”.
Afterwards, the local authorities ordered the affected Tibetans to sign an agreement that they would be evicted from the area for which they must sign an agreement paper. However, the local Tibetans refused to do so. Incidentally, a well respected local Lama in Miyak, Choekyi Gyaltsen Rinpoche, advised local Tibetans to petition the case to the central government in Beijing. He told them that there was no reason for them to sign the compensation agreement and also that they had inhabited the place for so many centuries, had a land to till on and house to stay. Therefore, there was no need of any hurry from the part of local Tibetans to go ahead and sign the compensation agreement. As a result, the local Tibetans have not signed the compensation agreement to date.
In 2006, it was known that the Chinese mining companies had already started mining activities in a few mountains in and around Watuchoe Township. In response, around 30 local Tibetans approached the Chinese miners and requested them not to mine at their ancestral dwelling place. Having their request turned down by the Chinese miners, the angry local Tibetans stoned the Chinese miners.
This year, around 60 local Tibetans fought with the Chinese miners and as a result the Chinese local authorities imposed curfew on the angry local Tibetans. The Nyagchu local Tibetans were not even allowed to go out to buy essential commodities from other places. As a result, around 30 enraged and furious local Tibetans confronted the miners and this resulted in another fight.
Later, in order to bring the situation under control one of the Chinese local authorities visited the area and told the angered Tibetans not to fight with the Chinese miners. He promised that he would take responsibility for not taking any further action if the local Tibetans stop fighting with the mining workers. Later the angry Tibetans withdrew to their homes and moments later the local Chinese authorities sent several hundred people’s armed police for a crackdown on the Tibetans. During the crackdown, many Tibetans were injured, some seriously.
Ngawang Dakpa further testified that the Chinese police hit with iron bars four Tibetans who had their hands broken. One of the Tibetans was hit at the hip, critically crippling him. A few other Tibetans received serious head injurious and wounds caused by blunt objects used by Chinese police personnel.”
During the incident, Tibetans gathered together and lodged a complaint with the County security personnel through telephone. Unfortunately the County security personnel instead of responding positively to Tibetans’ complainta again beat them seriously.
Strangely, a Tibetan employed in the Chinese security force, expressed his displeasure to the Chinese security personnel accusing them of mistreating the Tibetan protestors with bias and discrimination. Later, the higher senior apparatus of the Chinese security polices accused him of ‘verbal excess’ and was later sacked him from the job.
In the aftermath of police beatings, the local Tibetans lodged a complaint with the head of County authorities. He too rebuked the local Tibetans and categorically ignored their petition.
In the end, local Tibetans were victims of a double jeopardy, many of them were permanently crippled and the concerned authorities gave no medical compensation to the victims.
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India-based Association of Tibetan Journalists (ATJ) awarded a prolific and widely acclaimed Tibetan writer Tsering Woeser in Tibet a ‘Freedom of Speech Medal’ on 17 December 2007 during its 10th founding anniversary at Gangchen kyishong Dharamsala. The award was given to her for her long-standing defiance of the Chinese government in speaking up as the voice of theTibetan people about the human rights atrocities committed by the Chinese government in Tibet.
Upon receiving the medal, she described it as a vindication of the enormous international concern on the human rights situation inside Tibet.
Norwegian Authors Union also awarded her “Freedom of Expression Prize” for championing the freedom of expression of Tibetan people inside Tibet. She is today one of the most respected writers writing in Chinese language. Her writings are concerns for their known by its audacity, defiance and issue based.
She rose to international limelight with her highly controversial book “Notes on Tibet” (Ch: Xizang Biji) a compilation of 38 short stories on Tibetan culture, first published in 2003. The book became a best seller in China for its sensitive depictions of issues faced by Tibetan people in Tibet. The Chinese authorities later banned her book, removed her from her literary association accusing her of committing “political errors” in her work, and stating her opinions in the book “are harmful to the unification and solidarity of the nation.”
Some of her works are “Tibet Above” (Xizang Supreme), “Notes on Tibet” and“Map of Burgundy Red” (Xianghongsede Ditu).
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On 27 December 2007, Mr. Urgen Tenzin, the Executive Director briefed some of 80 students and 16 teachers from 16 Tibetan Senior Secondary Schools across India and Nepal on the sidelines of the workshop on “Tibetan Democracy in exile and situation of Tibet,’ organized by the Delhi based Tibetan Parliamentary and Policy Research Centre (TPPRC) at Tibetan Children’s Village School, Lower Dharamsala. Mr. Urgen Tenzin gave a slide presentation on the current human rights situation in Tibet to the students. Later he explained to them the democratic principles in the context of the current exile Tibetan democracy. He later fielded many questions from enthusiastic students at the end of his presentation
On 19 December 2007, Mr. Dawa Tsering, Centre’s field officer, and a former political prisoner, Ms. Rigzin Choekyi were invited by (fill forum) for their workshop on “ Tibetan Democracy and Situation of Tibet” to a large group of Tibetan students from various senior Secondary Schools at Lower Tibetan Children’s Village School Hall. Mr. Dawa and Ms Rigzin Choekyi, both former political prisoners, shared their personal stories, prison ordeal, life outside prison and situation inside Tibet with the visiting students. After their talk, students raised many pertinent questions which were answered to the satisfaction of the students by both the speakers
On the occasion of the 59the International Human Rights Day, TCHRD put up a stall for publication distribution, near the venue of the official function, in order to create general awareness on the importance of human rights and their abuse and violation inside Tibet. Various special reports and publications which included the Centr’s Annual Reports, monthly Human Rights Updates, news letters in both English and Tibetan were distributed.
The Centre’s staff Bugahgah, Palden Tsering, Tenzin Migmar and Yardrong Lobsang Tsultrim were in charge of book distribution.
On the occasion, TCHRD released a poster and a sticker entitled “Celebration of Human Rights Violations, Beijing 2008-one world one dream, let there be human rights in Tibet”, depicting various human rights violation-viz torture, curtailment of freedom of expression, arbitrary arrests, detentions, lengthy prison terms, religious persecution taking place inside Tibet by using the symbolic Olympic mascots inside the five Olympic rings.
On 9 November 2007, Mr. Yardrong Lobsang Tsultrim, Centre’s field officer participated in a workshop given by Active Non-Violence Organization at Gangkyi staff mess, Dharamsala on an invitation sent by the active non-violent organization. The workshop was to reiterated the principles and ideologies of Mahatma Gandhi and the Dalai Lama in the context of accepting the global realism and to also to affirm that the active non-violent approach can be the most suitable strategy to engage China and to resolve Tibet issue in the context of global geopolitical scenario. The workshop attendees discussed various aspect of the non-violent freedom struggle of the Tibetan people.
