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.
Today marks the 57th year since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was proclaimed. Although many countries in the world today observe the principles set forth in the UDHR, regrettably China as a member of the UN Security Council and the international community, has failed to respect the principles set therein.
In March 2004, China made a historic amendment to its Constitution by adding the clause “The State respects and safeguards human rights”. However, the amendment fell short of details, leaving the interpretation of the term “human rights” open and ambiguous. After almost two years of the amendment, there are no explicit signs of respect for human rights and any improvement in the human rights situation in China and Tibet. In 2005, the human rights situation in Chinese occupied Tibet remains to be tense and grim. Throughout the year, the Dharamsala-based Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) has received consistent reports of human rights concerns.
Today marks the 57th year since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was proclaimed. Although many countries in the world today observe the principles set forth in the UDHR, regrettably China as a member of the UN Security Council and the international community, has failed to respect the principles set therein.
In March 2004, China made a historic amendment to its Constitution by adding the clause “The State respects and safeguards human rights”. However, the amendment fell short of details, leaving the interpretation of the term “human rights” open and ambiguous. After almost two years of the amendment, there are no explicit signs of respect for human rights and any improvement in the human rights situation in China and Tibet.
Drepung Monastery in Lhasa, Tibet’s capital is currently under intense restrictions following a crackdown order issued by the “Tibet Autonomous Region” (“TAR”) government authorities on monks sitting on mass silent protest, according to confirmed information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD). Reportedly the situation is tense and the monastery under tight control by the Chinese authorities.
Since the first week of October 2005, “work team” officials have been conducting the “patriotic education” campaign in the monastery. During the Campaign, on 23 November 2005, the monks were ordered to sign a document denouncing the Dalai Lama as a “separatist” and to pledge their loyalty to the Chinese government by accepting “Tibet as a part of China”. The monks showed their disagreement to the official directive and refused to sign the document. Among the monks, five showed strong reactions against the document and the officials. They were immediately expelled from the monastery and handed over to the Public Security Bureau (PSB) Detention Centres in their respective places of origin.
Ngawang Jangchub, 28 years old, died in the first week of October 2005 under mysterious circumstances in his quarter in Drepung Monastery, according to confirmed information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD). He was found dead a day after he had a heated argument with “work team” officials conducting the “patriotic education” campaign in the monastery.
The “work team” officials have arrived in the monastery in the beginning of October 2005 to conduct the campaign. As stipulated by the guidelines of the campaign, the monks in the monastery were required to condemn the Dalai Lama as a “splittist” and to pledge their loyalty to the Chinese government. Some of the monks refused to be “educated” and an argument erupted between them and the officials. It is reported that during the argument, Ngawang flatly refused to condemn the Dalai Lama calling him “the saviour for the present and the next life”. He told the officials that he had no regrets, even if he was to be expelled from the monastery.
Four Tibetan monks from Labrang Tashikyil Monastery in Sangchu County, Ganan Tibet Autonomous Prefecture (“TAP”), Gansu Province, have been arrested by Chinese Public Security Bureau (PSB) officers on 23 May 2005, according to confirmed information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD). Jamyang Dhondup, Dhargay Gyatso and two other unidentified monks were arrested on suspicion of…
March 17, 2005 marks the 10th year disappearance of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the XIth Panchen Lama of Tibet. It has been ten long years that the government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has failed to provide information on the whereabouts of the 16-year-old Panchen Lama.
Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, went missing with his family since 17 May 1995 after the Dalai Lama, Tibet’s spiritual leader, officially recognized him as the XIth Panchen Lama of Tibet. In his place, the PRC government appointed another child named Gyaltsen Norbu as the Panchen Lama but the majority of the Tibetans calls him the “fake” Panchen Lama. Despite repeated requests from the international community, independent observers have not been given access to Gedhun Choekyi Nyima to see if he is in good health and receiving a proper education. The continued detention or disappearance of the Panchen Lama for a decade contradicts PRC’s obligation as a permanent member of the United Nations, and as a signatory member to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
China’s Western Development Plan has brought numerous spins on the lives of Tibetans. On some occasions, old buildings are brought down, people are displaced to make room for dam plans whereas at times Tibetans are issued with afforestation and construction orders to beautify or reverse earlier mistaken policies. On no occasion, has the voice of the affected people been considered thereby bringing confusion and insecurity to Tibetans.
Yungdung Lodoe, 33, a painter in Chamdo County who arrived in Nepal on 10 December 2004, described to TCHRD about town development activities in his native town.
The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) deplores the Chinese authorities closing down of Tibetan culture website-www.tibetcul.com
According to China Information Center on 30 March 2005, “Tibetan Culture, a website run by the Xueyu Zangren Cultural Exchange Co Ltd in China’s northwest Gansu Province, was closed on March 25, by the Internet Administration Department of the Public Security Bureau (“PSB”) of Lanzhou.” It is speculated that “sensitive topics” and articles posted by surfers have led to the close down. Tsewang Norbu, a Tibetan who is the writer and editor-in-chief of the website, is reported to be disappeared.
The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) has received information from a reliable source that, Rinzin Wangyal a.k.a Rinwang, 59, died in prison at the end of 2004. There has been no official confirmation of Rinzin Wangyal’s death. It has been reported that his body was not handed over his family.
Rinzin was serving a life imprisonment term in Pawo Tramo Prison, 250 km east of Lhasa. According to the most recent information received by TCHRD on 31 May 2004, his health condition was known to have gravely deteriorated due to constant torture over the years in prison.
In its latest attempt to intensify hard-line policies, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has relaunched the “strike hard” campaign to systematically curtail Tibetan political dissent and to control religious institutions. A series of recent official meetings held in Lhasa has re-affirmed the need to curb dissidence by “striking hard” in the “Tibet Autonomous Region”(TAR).
According to the State media China Tibet Information Centre (www.tibetinfor.com) and Lhasa Evening daily on 4 November 2004, “the “Strike hard” campaign for the winter – 1 November to 30 December 2004 – in Lhasa, TAR, has begun. The current campaign aims to eliminate internal secret splittist groups, separatists based outside, influence on religion, terrorists and their activities, criminal activities, stability stiflers and exile returnees linked with splittist groups.”