The authorities of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) stepped up a close vigil and control in Lhasa, Tibet’s capital city and other parts of Tibet around the 40th founding anniversary of the “Tibet Autonomous Region” (“TAR”). The celebration was marked by repressive crackdowns, increased vigil and preventive measures to ensure a smooth and hassle-free event and propagate an image of a “happy, modern and prosperous Tibet”. These measures have violated the fundamental human rights of Tibetans in Tibet.
On 28 August 2005, Chinese security officials arrested the former political prisoner Sonam Gyalpo from his home in Lhasa. There is no information available about his place of detention. The 43-year-old Sonam Gyalpo hails from the Lhoka region in Tibet. He participated in the peaceful protest organised by the 21 groups of monks from Drepung Monastery who participated in a peaceful pro-independence demonstration on 27 September 1987. Sonam had spent three years in Gutsa Detention Centre and Drapchi Prison.
The PRC authorities have overriding paranoia about maintaining stability in the region. Hence, to avert upheavals by Tibetan people during significant celebrations and events, Chinese authorities embarked on various preventive measures, including heightened vigilance, closer supervision of suspected individuals and former political prisoners, and even resorting to arbitrary arrest and detention. Tibetans with political backgrounds are being taken away from Lhasa city and interrogated. The family members are made to testify that the individual will not carry out any political activities. All these have created an atmosphere of fear in different parts of Tibet.
On 22 July 2005, the “TAR” Anti-separatist Committee and the Security Bureau Committee launched the “Summer Strike Hard” Campaign to prevent any outbreak of political incident that might undermine the celebration of the 40th founding anniversary of “TAR”. Individuals with political activism records, ex-political prisoners, and criminal prisoners are the chief targets of the Campaign.
A report published in the Tibet Daily Newspaper of the China Tibet Information Centre says that the combined effort of the Tibet Affairs Bureau and Security Bureau Committee have enabled the “Strike Hard” Campaign to be carried out in the entire region of “TAR”. The article also stressed the need for good discipline and conduct from the Tibetan people.
On 14 August 2005, a giant Military Exercise drill code-named “Task Force 05” started in Lhasa to deal with a sudden outbreak of incidents. The security wings that participated in the Military Exercise were the Lhasa Security Bureau Polices, People’s Armed Police and National Security Departments. Influential leaders such as Yang Chuangtang, Secretary of “TAR” and the Chairman of the ‘security and stability committee, made speeches calling for more people’s efforts to achieve a long period of ‘Peace and Stability’ in Tibet.
Again, on 18 August 2005, the stationed security personnel of Lhasa Security Bureau conducted a ‘Motivation’ meeting and asked the security personnel to put extra effort to avert political incidents during the celebration. The senior officials directed security personnel to consider the celebration a crucial political responsibility, not merely maintaining stability and security.
On 31 July 2005, the Lhasa City’s People’s Municipality forcefully picked up beggars from Lhasa streets. It returned them to their native hometowns to clean up the environment of Lhasa city. Also, tourists and visitors in Lhasa City must report to the Lhasa Security Bureau office along with their host starting the first week of July. The hosts are made to promise their accountability and responsibility for the guests. The regulation and control over monasteries in the surrounding areas of Lhasa city are intensified more than they had been in the past. Tibetans are also barred from going to Lhasa city for circumambulation during both daytime and evening. In the Sera Monastery, more Chinese Government officials arrived at the monastery in the first week of July and resumed the “patriotic re-education” campaign.
In Lhasa city, the Security Bureau personnel and People’s Armed Police (PAP) have taken a round-the-clock vigilance and examined the streets. All the roads and check posts are checked and monitored 24 hours a day. The security policies of the locality maintained a tight vigil and control of their region. They barred Tibetans in the surrounding areas from going to Lhasa City on the day of the celebration. There is an immense restriction on the freedom of movement.
The Chinese Government continues to deprive and violate the fundamental human rights of the Tibetan people. Under such circumstances, Tibetan people live under an atmosphere of fear, tension and deprivation of political freedom. The 40th founding anniversary of the so-called “Tibet Autonomous Region” is celebrated amidst restriction and control by the People’s Republic of China authorities.