As we commemorate the 55th Human Rights Day on 10 December, it is a day to reflect upon the situation of the world in the year gone by and resolve further to work towards a more peaceful and free world. The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) expresses grave concern and fear over China’s continued gross violation of human rights in Tibet.
On this day last year, TCHRD strongly condemned and expressed concern on China’s sentencing of a well-known Tibetan Buddhist teacher Trulku Tenzin Delek to death with two years suspension and his co-accused Lobsang Dhondup to immediate death on the ground of alleged involvement in “bomb explosions”. However, in complete disregard to international appeals, the Sichuan Higher People’s Court in Chengdu upheld the earlier verdict and executed Lobsang Dhondup on 26 January 2003. The event has left little doubt over the concern we shared last year of China’s attempts to use the global campaign against ‘terrorism’ to suppress the Tibetans’ peaceful political and religious expressions. It has also exposed China’s true intention despite the show of bonhomie with western governments when dealing with the issues of human rights.