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Human Rights Update and Archives
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| Sonam Rabgay |
The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) expresses its deepest concern over the fate of former Chanzoe (manager and the treasurer) Sonam Rabgyal and four other monks of Ramoche Temple, whose whereabouts could not be ascertained since their arrest during a midnight raid in monks’ residence on 7 April 2008.
Before the major protests that broke out in and around Lhasa city on 10 March Tibetan Uprising anniversary, Sonam Rabgyal, 39 years old, native of Markham County, Chamdo Prefecture, “Tibet Autonomous Region” (‘TAR’), Damdul, Rabgyal and two other monks of Ramoche Temple located in Lhasa came under scanner of the Chinese authorities for their involvement in initiating long life prayer offerings to the Dalai Lama - the exile Tibetan leader and for reciting (Tib Kyabtho) which made direct reference to the Dalai Lama’s long life and for a quick resolution to the Tibet issue during the annual Great Prayer Festival called Monlam Chenmo on the eight day of the Tibetan New Year (which corresponds to 14 February this year).
According to sources, the “work team” under the “Patriotic Re-education” Campaign stationed inside the temple came to know about their action and interrogated them intensely for many days.
On 7 April 2008, around 70 monks of Ramoche Temple were detained after the PSB and PAP forces carried out midnight raid in monks’ residences. Although all were released after days of interrogation in the detention centre, the whereabouts and conditions of the five-aforementioned monks still continue to be completely unknown to their family members and affiliated monastery. During the raid, valuables such as ornaments spiritually adorned on the ancient statues of the temple and religious objects made of gold and silver were known to have disappeared. Severe restrictions still continue to be put on the movement of the monks of major monasteries since the major protest broke out in March. Even today major monasteries around Lhasa remain virtually sealed off despite officially declaring them reopened to tourists and pilgrims.
Ramoche Temple, which lies to the north of Lhasa City, and other surrounding areas were epicenters of Tibetan protests in March 2008. Ramoche Temple houses 115 monks, a mandatory limit set by the Chinese authorities.
Following massive clampdown particularly on monastic institutions after protests led by monks in Lhasa city, Ramoche temple was not spared. There were even reports of desperate and helpless monks resorting to extreme step of committing suicide, sustaining injuries or complete disappearance slowly surfacing from Tibet. For instance, Thokmey a.k.a Tsangpa Thokmey (prefix name used of his origin) a monk of Ramoche Temple committed suicide on 22 March 2008 following massive crackdown by the Public Security Bureau (PSB) and People’s Armed Police (PAP) forces in Ramoche Temple. Another credible report confirmed by sources reveal that, Ngawang Tenzin, a monk of Ramoche Temple sustained injuries on his hand from the gunshot fired by the Chinese security personnel during the March 14 protest in Lhasa. At the moment, the physical condition of Ngawang Tenzin could not be ascertained and there is no information on whether he receive proper medical attention or not.
The Centre expresses it’s deepest concern over the safety of those Tibetans who still continue to be detained since the protest broke out in Tibet in March this year, and fears for the worst particularly of those whom the authorities deemed as the prime instigators or the perpetrators of protests. The cases of missing persons that is slowly filtering out of Tibet is one of the biggest concern at the moment.
[ top]Many Tibetans charged with heavy sentences
On 29 April 2008, China handed down sentences to 30 Tibetans ranging from three to life imprisonment in a closed trial. The trial was already overshadowed by political campaigns against what China called “Dalai Clique” and “separatist forces”.
On 28 April 2008, Lhasa People’s Intermediate Court sentenced Yeshe, a 35 year-old Tibetan from Phenpo Lhundup County to 12 years prison term on two accounts of “crimes”. He was awarded 7 years of imprisonment for “storming and charging at the government offices” and another 5 years imprisonment for “inciting unrest”. In all he has to serve a 12 years of prison sentence and a deprivation of political rights for 2 years.
In what has appeared to be a political witch hunt, the Chinese authorities issued harsh rhetoric on numerous occasions. For instance, the “Tibet Autonomous Region” (“TAR”) Communist Party and Government officials called for a swift and quick judicial process to strike back at the “separatists” and the “Dalai clique”. During a conference of “TAR” court officials in the evening of 2 April 2008, “TAR” government Vice-Chairman, Pema Thinley, urged “the usage of law as a tool to strike back at the enemies”. He called for a “swift and quick judicial proceedings” for those involved in the March protest. Jampa Phuntsok, during his briefing at the Foreign Ministry of the People’s Republic of China on 9 April told reporters “953 have been arrested out of which 328 have been released where as 403 will be carried forward for sentencing by the court.”
The Chinese authorities are currently implementing a major “Patriotic Education” campaign drive in Phenpo County which commenced on 24 March 2008. The “Patriotic Education” this time is permeating almost every sections of society beginning primarily with the monastic institutions, party cadres, security forces and government employees, farmers and private entrepreneurs, educational institutions and common people, to denounce the Dalai Lama and the “splittist forces” in the coming months. As a consequence, many fundamental human rights of Tibetan people are taken by the whim and fancy of the ruling authorities for what they called “safeguarding national security” and “achieving unification”.
[ top]China arrests two young monks of Tehor Tsitsang Monastery in Kardze
In the recent spates of sporadic protests reported from Kardze County, more reports of protest led by group of two or four persons continue to surface from the area. According to confirmed information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), two young monks in their early 20’s from Tsitsang Monastery were detained by the County Chinese security forces for their peaceful protest in Kardze County.
On 20 May 2008, two monks, Loyang from Tsaklab Village, Lhopa Township, Kardze County, and Tenzin Ngodup from Pharingtsang of Kardze County, Kardze “Tibet Autonomous Prefecture” (“TAP”) Sichuan Province, staged a peaceful protest at the main Kardze County headquarters and chanted slogans, “Dalai Lama return to Tibet”, “Long Live the Dalai Lama”, and “Immediate release of all political prisoners including Trulku Phurbu Tsering Rinpoche”. The latter is a prominent religious figure arrested on 18 May by the Chinese security forces from his residence for unknown reasons and was taken away to an undisclosed location. The two protesting monks were immediately detained by the Kardze County Public Security Bureau (PSB) officials and bundled away in a waiting police vehicle to the Kardze County PSB Detention Centre for questioning. There is no information on the condition of two arrestees at the moment.
Kardze Tsitsang Monastery, to which the two young arrested monks belong, was established by Venerable Hor Choeje Ngawang Phuntsok of Kardze County. Apart from Kardze Tsitsang Monastery, he established twelve other monastic institutions in Kardze region. Venerable Hor Choeje Ngawang Phuntsok is a highly revered and respected figure among the local people of the region.
Incidentally on the same day, three nuns of Tehor Nyagay Nunnery, Achoe from Rida Village, Soe Choekyi from Lamna Village and Taga a.k.a Tashi Yangtso from Noekab Village under Kardze County staged a similar protest at Kardze County government headquarters and were later detained by the PSB officials.
Similarly more protests and arrests were reported from the same area on 11, 12, 14 May 2008 where twelve nuns from Drakar Nunnery and scores of nuns from Kardze Ganden Choeling Nunnery and 55 nuns of Pang-ri Nunnery in Su-ngo Township, Kardze County were arrested by the Chinese security forces.
[ top]A Tibetan woman succumbs to torture
A Tibetan woman in Ngaba County died after being subjected to brutal torture by the Chinese prison guards, according to confirmed information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD).
A 38 year-old Nechung, mother of four children died days after being subjected to brutal torture in the Chinese prison. She hailed from Charu Hu Village in Ngaba County, Ngaba “TAP”, Sichuan Province.
Sources told TCHRD that she was involved in peaceful protests on 16 and 17 March 2008 in Ngaba County. Later on 18 March, she was arrested by the Chinese security forces for allegedly being the first person to pull down the door plate of the Township office.
On 26 March 2008, she was released from the prison. She spent nine days in prison undergoing brutal torture in the hands of Chinese prison guards. At the time of her release from the prison, her health was in an extremely critical condition. There were many bruise marks on her body, she was unable to speak and eat food, constantly vomiting and could hardly breathe properly.
After the release, her relatives immediately took her to the County government hospital for treatment. However, the County government hospital refused to admit her to the hospital to receive timely medical treatment, apparently under influence and intimidation of the local Chinese authorities. She was completely denied from accessing timely medical treatment in the hospital.
After remaining in critical condition for 22 days without medical treatment she died on 17 April 2008 in abject state of neglect, pity and apathy of local Chinese authorities. Even after her death, the Chinese authorities issued terse warning to Tibetan monks for offering prayers and ritual rites for her deceased soul. This goes to show that the Chinese authorities traverse extreme lengths to deprive Tibetan people of their basic and fundamental human rights in a cruel and bizarre abuse of power.
She is survived by her four children, all minors. Her husband has been on the run since her arrest, apparently to avoid being arrested by the Chinese security forces.
[ top]PROFILE OF A FORMER POLITICAL PRISONER
Biography of political prisoner Lobsang Tenzin
Lobsang Tenzin, 40, was born in the Dranak Shol area of Lhasa City and lived with his mother, Dolkar, and eight brothers and sisters before his arrest. From age 8 to 13, Lobsang was a student at Bonshod Elementary School. From 14 to 19, he studied at the Lhasa Intermediate School and he then enrolled at Tibet University, at the age of 20. On 27 September 1987, there was a peaceful pro independence demonstration led by monks of Drepung Monastery which sparked a series of similar protest through out the late 1980s and early 1990s. On 5 March 1988, Lobsang actively participated in a demonstration in Lhasa and was subsequently arrested for throwing stones and fighting with a Chinese official during the demonstration. He was then implicated as the “principal culprit” in the death of a PAP officer. Lobsang was immediately taken to Gutsa Detention Centre, where he was severely beaten with wooden sticks and iron rods. His entire body was bruised and he sustained 4 large wounds to his head. These events were described to his mother, during a visit with him in prison. On 16 April 1988, the Chinese authorities widely broadcasted Lobsang’s arrest and expulsion from the university through the use of television, radio, and newspapers. At this time, the Special Police legally notified the family of his arrest.
On 19 January 1989, after a summary judicial procedure, Lobsang Tenzin, along with 5 other Tibetans, was sentenced by Lhasa People’s Intermediate Court. All six had been charged in connection with the death of the PAP officer and Lobsang Tenzin had been charged as the primary instigator. He was sentenced to death with 2 years’ reprieve. The other men involved were Sonam Wangdue (layname Shugden), sentenced to life imprisonment (who died on 8 April 1999 at his residence in Lhasa after being granted medical parole in 1993 but who was unable to recover from the injuries he sustained through torture and inhuman and degrading treatment in Drapchi Prison); Gyaltsen Choephel, sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment; Tsering Dhondup, sentenced to 5 years imprisonment; Bhakdro, sentenced to 5 years imprisonment; and Tamding, sentenced to 5 years’ imprisonment. All except for Lobsang Tenzin were released.
On 31 March 1991, Lobsang and Tenpa Wangdrak were caught attempting to hand over a letter to the then US Ambassador, James Lilley, detailing prison torture and maltreatment. The interpreter accompanying the Ambassador snatched the letter from his hands. The 2 were viciously beaten and moved to unlit isolation cells. On 27 April 1991, after protest by fellow prisoners in relation to their continued isolation, the 2, along with 3 other prisoners, Lobsang Palden, Tenpa Phulchung, who died in November 1998 following his release, and Penpa, were taken to Sangyip Prison with both their hands and feet chained. The following day, they were again handcuffed and transferred to Powo Tramo Prison, a RTL unit in Kongpo. They were held at Damchu, a unit within Powo Tramo Prison Complex.
By 1 June 1991, when Lobsang Tenzin’s manacles were removed, his health had been severely affected. While in prison, Lobsang Tenzin has sustained severe beatings which have caused his health to deteriorate. His brother reported after visiting him in October 1992, that both his memory and general physical condition were deteriorating. In August 1999, a visitor of one of Lobsang Tenzin’s fellow inmates reported that he was in very poor health. He had suffered a damaged kidney causing his body to become numb and making it extremely difficult for him to stand. He has also developed psychological disorders while in prison, as well as other minor diseases. Under pressure of international protests, Lobsang’s death sentence was commuted to a term of 18 years’ imprisonment in 1994. The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Dr. Manfred Nowak, during his visit to China, Tibet and Xinjiang Autonomous Region between 20 November-December 2005, met with Lobsang Tenzin at the newly operational Chushul Prison near Lhasa. Before Lobsang’s transfer to this newly built prison, he served majority of his prison sentence in Powo Tramo Prison.
[ top]12 monks of Dingri Shelkar Choedhe Monastery arrested for opposing the “Patriotic re-education” campaign
The Chinese security forces arrested twelve monks of Dingri Shelkar Choedhe Monastery during a night raid for opposing the “patriotic re-education” campaign on 19 May 2008, according to confirmed information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD).
The Chinese authorities re-launch and reinvigorate the “Patriotic re-education” campaign in the “Tibet Autonomous Region” (“TAR”) and other Tibetan areas in neighboring provinces for a stipulated two-month period covering almost every sections of society beginning primarily with the monastic institutions, party cadres, security forces and government employees, farmers and private entrepreneurs, educational institutions and common people, to denounce the Dalai Lama and the “Splittist forces”.
During one of those campaigns re-launched since 1 April 2008, the Chinese “work team” visited Shelkar Choedhe Monastery in Tingri County (Ch: Dingri Xian), Shigatse Prefecture, “Tibet Autonomous Region” (‘TAR’) on 19 May 2008, to conduct the “Patriotic re-education” campaign which resulted in a bitter and heated argument between the monks and the Chinese “work team”. According to the source, Ven. Khenrab Tharchin, a member of so-called Democratic Management Committee (DMC) of Shelkar Choedhe Monastery stood up while the campaign was in session by openly opposing the “patriotic re-education” and even told the visiting “work team” that he cannot denounce the Dalai Lama as required under the campaign. Another eleven monks of the same monastery stood up in support of Ven. Khenrab Tharchin and adamantly opposed the campaign in unison. According to source, after the incident, entry to the monastery was closed for faithful devotees and visitors. Monks were ordered from leaving their monastery compound and even cell phones were known to have been confiscated to curb the report of the incident from leaking to the outside world and the monks were even known to have been threaten with dire consequences if found ‘leaking’ the information to the outside world.
In order to avoid the public glare, on the same night, scores of Chinese People’s Armed Police (PAP) forces and Public Security Bureau (PSB) officials stormed into the monastery and forcibly taken away the twelve protesting monks from their residences to unknown location. There is no information on the current whereabouts and the condition of arrested monks. The identities and origins of the those arrested monks were as follow:
- Ven. Khenrab Tharchin, 32 years old, Drushe Village, Shelkar Township,
- Ven. Tsewang Tenzin, Phelbar Village, Shelkar Township, Dingri County
- Ven Tenzin Gayphel, Lingshar Village, Gaymar Townsip, Dingri County
- Ven, Khenrab Tashi, Mashak Village, Shelkar Township, Dingri County
- Ven. Topgyal, Drushe Village, Shelkar Township, Dingri County
- Ven. Tenzin Tsering, Bichu Village, Gyatso Township, Dingri County
- Ven. Lobsang Jigme, Norgay nomadic area, Shelkar Township, Dingri County
- Ven. Khenrab Nyima, Shelkar Township, Dingri County
- Ven. Dhondup, Che Village, Tsakhor Township, Dingri County
- Ven. Tenpa, Lolo Langga, Shelkar Township, Dingri County
- Ven. Samten, Shollingshar, Shelkar Township, Dingri County
- Ven. Choedhen, Shollingshar, Shelkar Township, Dingri County
According to source, few days after their arrest, the family members of the monks went to enquire the local PSB officers about the exact place of their detention and requested authorities for visitation. Instead of listening to their request, the family members and relatives of those arrested monks were intimidated with stern warning for damaging the image of the government ‘and questioned their source of information about monks’ detention.
The stipulated two-months’ renewed “Patriotic re-education” campaign launched at the beginning of April following unprecedented protests across Tibetan plateau since 10 March, not only permeates the monastic institutions but also government employees, security forces, farmers, nomads, private entrepreneurs and educational institutions. The principle and underlying message of the campaign is to “vehemently oppose the Dalai ‘clique’” and “to expose the true nature of ‘Dalai clique’” and “March 14 riot”. Under the supervision of the Communist Party leaders, new committees were formally formed to formulate and execute the campaign across all sections of the society within two months stipulated time period. In the subsequent period, numerous cases of Tibetans having arrested or detained for openly opposing and defying the campaign were reported from numerous places especially from monastic institutions.
China’s Constitution, adopted on December 4, 1982, specifically provides, in “Chapter II- the Fundamental Rights and Duties of Citizens” – Article 36 states, “Citizens of the People’s Republic of China enjoy freedom of religious belief. No state organ, public organization or individual may compel citizens to believe in, or not to believe in, any religion; nor may they discriminate against citizens who believe in, or do not believe in, any religion. The state protects normal religious activities. No one may make use of religion to engage in activities that disrupt public order, impair the health of citizens or interfere with the educational system of the state. Religious bodies and religious affairs are not subject to any foreign domination.”
However, as seen by the events unfolded since the beginning of this year in Tibet, in reality China’s grand promises of freedom for religious belief provide meager protections for human rights and religious freedom of the Tibetan people. This is evident from the re-launch of the “patriotic re-education” campaign in supplement to the last year’s implementation of the “Tibet Autonomous Region Implementing Measures for the Regulations on Religious Affairs”, on 1 January 2007(“Implementing Measures”), and the more specific Measures on the Management of the Reincarnation of Living Buddhas in Tibetan Buddhism (the Reincarnation Measures).
The Chinese authorities, like in the past, have issued and implemented “TAR” specific measures on religious affairs such as the previous two measures and the “Patriotic re-education” Campaign. The prominent theme evidenced by these measures and campaign is the connection drawn by the Chinese Communist government between splittism, or threats to the Chinese state’s “national security”, “social stability” and “ethnic unity”, from Tibetan Buddhists’ religious beliefs and activities. Because of the close link between Tibetan Buddhism and Tibetan culture and national identity, China associates the practices of Tibetan Buddhism as a threat to its state security. China nourishes a deep fear of any expression of religion as a guise for protest or unpatriotic activity. The Chinese government demands absolute loyalty from its subject and does not tolerate or allow any activities that construes as challenge or threat to its authorities. The Chinese Communist Party requires its citizens to “love the country”- to respect the authority of the Party above all other would-be competing loyalties. “TAR” Party Secretary Zhang Qingli, claimed that the Chinese Communist Party is the “real Buddha” for Tibetans.
On 29 May 2008, “TAR” Communist Party Secretary, Zhang Qingli, during a meeting of the Party heads under various administrative regions under “TAR” convened at Lhasa, formulated a six major areas of works to be carried forward in their respective areas. Of the six areas of works, the third point set to focus on the reinvigoration of “Patriotic re-education” campaign and proposed the head of the monastic institution to be more stringent in implementing the campaign in religious institutes under their area.
[ top]TCHRD ACTIVITIES BULLETIN
TCHRD conducts XVII workshop for monks and nuns
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| TCHRD XVII Workshop on Human Rights and Democracy |
The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) conducted its XVII workshop on Human Rights and Democracy exclusively for the monks and nuns at Gangkyi staff hall, Dharamsala from 3-10 September 2008. Keeping in view that the monks and nuns play important roles in social and cultural spheres of Tibetan society that this workshop was conducted. Moreover, in order to make this workshop tailor-made for the concerned participants, the XVII workshop was a slight deviation from the Centre’s workshop convention. The eight-day workshop was exclusively given to Tibetan monks and nuns from India, Nepal and Bhutan.
A total of 73 monks and nuns participants representing 36 different monasteries and nunneries in India, Nepal and Bhutan attended the eight-day workshop at Gangchen Kyishong, Dharamsala. During the course of the eight-day workshop, it dealt on many aspects of Tibetan politics and culture in a livley and frank manner. The monks and nuns raised many key questions concerning the human rights, democracy and the issue of Tibet.
The resource persons for the eight-day exclusive workshop on monks and nuns were invited from important departments of the Tibetan government in exile and other independent academies and independent bodies of the democratization process in exile Tibetan community.
The eight-day workshop covered on the broad arena of Tibetan polity, human rights and democracy. The key note talk of the workshop was delivered by Professor Samdhong Rinpoche, the honorable Kalon Tripa (PM) of the Tibetan government in Exile. The honourable Prime Minister spoke on the “Method of Non Violence strategy and Middle Way Approach”.
The Chief Justice Commissioner of the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission Mr. Namgyal Tsering (Drelmay) delivered a talk on the “Role of Judiciary and its responsibility”.
The Tibetan people’s participation in the electoral democracy has been the chief goal of Centre’s initiative. For this occasion, the Centre invited Mr. Tashi Phuntsok, the Chief Election Commissioner to give a talk on the vital subject of “Essence of election in Democracy form of government”.
In order to appeal to the very nature of the workshop participants, Venerable Geshe Lhakdor, the Director of the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives (LTWA) was requested to explore on the topic of “Relationship between Buddhism and Human rights”.
The monks and nuns who came from the far-flung monasteries and nunneries were given a first hand briefing of their own Tibetan government in exile by Geshe Tsering Phuntsok, the Minister of department of Religious and Culture (DoRC) of the Tibetan government in exile. The topic of his talk was “Policies and Functioning of Central for Tibetan Administration (CTA)”.
It is the primary challenge of the Centre in creating a thorough understanding on the functioning and role of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile. In an attempt to fulfill this important goal, Mr. Pema Jungney, a veteran member of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile delivered a key talk on the “Importance of Parliamentary systems and its functioning”.
Mr. Penpa Tsering, a member of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile gave a talk on “Concept and types of autonomy and Tibetan perspectives”.
The workshop participants were treated with a first-hand account of trials and tribulations of Tibetans who fought for human rights and freedom inside Tibet.
The Centre invited two former political prisoners Mr. Ngawang Dripsel and Mr. Dawa Tsering (who is currently working as Centre’s Field Officer) recounted their “Personal Testimonies” to the enraptured audience.
To address and discuss the Tibetan issue beyond the domestic Tibetan society and circle, the Centre arranged Mrs. Gyari Dolma, the Deputy Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile to deliver a talk on the topic of “Present status of Tibet in international platform”.
The part of the workshop concerning the concepts of Human Rights and Democracy were handled by the Centre’s staff members on case by case basis. The Centre’s Executive Director Mr. Urgen Tenzin addressed on the “Democratization of Tibetan government in Exile”.
The Centre’s Assistant Director Mr. Jampa Monlam gave a talk on the “Human Rights situation in Tibet”.
The Centre’s UN Affairs Personnel Mr. Tenzin Norgay delivered a talk on the “UN structures and to issue Human Rights cases to UN human rights mandate”.
The Centre’s researcher Mr. Tashi Choephel gave a talk on the “concept of human rights and Universal Declaration of Human Rights”.
The Centre’s reseacher Mr. Chukora Tsering Agloe conducted a discussion on the “China’s Regulation on the Reincarnation of Lamas” to pool in and gather views and opinions from the monks and nuns themselves.
On the final day of the workshop, the participants were given a guided tour of the seven departments of the Tibetan government in exile. It was one of the main high-light of the eight-day workshop since many of the participants from far-flung Tibetan communities and settlements never have had the opportunity to see for themselves the physical and internal structure of the Tibetan government in exile.
In addition to that the participants were introduced to offices and premises of the three autonomous bodies such as office of the Audit General, Election Commission, Public Service Commission and the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission.
The participants were provided with rare opportunity to witness the live proceedings of the 15th Tibetan Parliament in Exile. The eight-day workshop and discussion concluded with Mr. (Jeshong) Lobsang Tsultrim, the secretary of the Department of Religious and Culture giving the conclusion speech and distributed certificate of completion to each participants with traditional Tibetan scarf.
Digital Security and Privacy Training for Human Rights Defenders
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| Digital Security and Privacy Training for Human Rights Defenders |
The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) and FrontLine- International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders jointly organized a three-day workshop on Digital Security and Privacy Training for Human Rights Defenders at Mcleod Ganj, Dharamsala from 17-19 September 2008.
The workshop was organized in wake of ever increasing malware attacks and cyber threats face by various of Tibetan governmental and non-governmental organizations. The workshop seeks to provide better protection and security in their every day field of works.
In recent times, both Tibetan government and non-governmental organizations are facing numerous threats from various potential cyber threats. In an attempt to equip Tibetans with these new forms of cyber attacks, this workshop was organized and conducted.
A total of 24 participants from various Tibetan and Indian NGOs and exile government departments attended the workshop. Mr. Ugyen Tenzin, the Director of the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) opened the workshop with brief key note speech.
The aim of the workshop was to equip Tibetans on various areas such as Physical security of information, general computer safety (viruses, spyware, firewall and good passwords), file encryption, backup policy, information destruction and cleaning your computer from traces of your work, communication security and privacy (encryption of email, instant messaging and voice communication), Communication circumvention (web censorship circumvention and anonymous publishing) and developing the broader digital security strategy. The workshop of this kind will go far in making human rights defenders, self-reliant and competent in combating cyber terrorism and threats.
The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy is immensely grateful to FrontLine and Mr. Wojtek Bogusz for giving such an essential training for the Tibetan Human Defenders at this crucial time. We are certainly convinced that there will still be many organizations which needed this kind of specialized training while combating cyber threats and attacks in their every day work.
The Centre requests Mr. Wojtek Bogusz and the esteemed FrontLine to organize and conduct more such workshop for human rights defenders in the future.
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