June 2016 – TCHRD

30/06/2016 News

Tibetan nun disappeared since 2008 died of torture

An undated photo of Yeshi Lhakdron, the daughter of a former political prisoner — An undated photo of Yeshi Lhakdron, a niece of a former political prisoner

A 25 yr-old Tibetan nun disappeared after her arbitrary detention by Chinese security forces during the 2008 uprising in Tibet.

Yeshi Lhakdron, a nun from Dragkar Nunnery went missing after her detention along with two other nuns eight years ago in Kardze (Ch: Ganzi) County in Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, in Tibetan province of Kham. The two other nuns are identified as Sangay Lhamo and Tsewang Khando from the same nunnery. Both nuns were sentenced to two years each and were released after completing their prison terms.

27/06/2016 News

TCHRD holds roundtable discussion on improving Tibetan democracy

The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) organised a two-day roundtable discussion among 40 Tibetan researchers, educators, legal experts, NGO workers, independent activists, university students, as well as monks and nuns on 23 and 24 June in Dharamsala, India. The two-day event called ‘Reflections on the 2016 Tibetan Election: Roundtable Discussions on Improving Tibetan Democracy’ largely focused on…

26/06/2016 News

No justification for such heinous crime as torture

In March this year, a 30-yr-old Tibetan man called Tashi took his own life soon after his detention because he was unable to bear the torture inflicted on him in Chinese police custody. The same month, another Tibetan man named Ngodup Phuntsok aka Ngoe-ga, 61, was released from prison after eight years with crippled back and legs, unable to walk. Weeks before Ngoe-ga’s release, news surfaced that Chinese prison authorities had suddenly hospitalised the courageous monk Jigme Gyatso aka Jigme Guri just six months prior to his release. Jigme Gyatso was serving a five-year sentence for exposing human rights violations particularly Chinese torture methods in Tibet. There are fears that Jigme Gyatso might be subjected to medical torture or unnecessary treatment, and similar concerns have been expressed in regards to Dolma Tso, a 30-yr-old Tibetan woman who could be subjected to forced medical procedures. In late March this year, Tibetan language and culture advocate Tashi Wangchuk, 30, has not been heard or seen after being held in prolonged secret detention and charged of inciting separatism . Just last month, a Tibetan writer named Lobsang Jamyang (Pen-name: Lomik) was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for “leaking state secrets” and “engaging in separatist activities”; he had been held in secret detention since April 2015.

21/06/2016 News

Bilingual Education with Chinese Characteristics: China replacing Tibetan textbooks with Chinese

In keeping with its assimilationist policy, Chinese authorities have recently introduced mathematics textbooks in Chinese language in a number of primary schools to gradually replace the Tibetan version in Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR).

Recent media reports exposed steps taken by the TAR education department to introduce Chinese language mathematics textbooks for Tibetan primary school children that have caused deep concern among educated Tibetans some of whom have expressed their concern in writing on online platforms.

15/06/2016 News

China issues demolition order on world’s largest religious town in Tibet

Chinese authorities have announced the destruction of thousands of monastic dwellings and expulsion of monks, nuns and lay practitioners at Serthar Larung Gar Buddhist Institute, the famed Tibetan Buddhist religious encampment located in Serthar (Ch: Seda) County in Kardze (Ch: Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, in eastern Tibet.

An eight-point document issued by the Chinese authorities spells out the step-by-step guide to demolishing housing facilities of thousands of monks, nuns and lay practitioners and their expulsion, so as to reduce the number of residents to government-set ceiling of 5000. Citing the decisions taken at the Sixth Tibet Work Forum Conference and the Second National Work Conference on Religion, the document stated that the demolition order was aimed at proper regulation and management of Larung Gar Buddhist institute. Mainly prefecture-level departments under the direction of mostly Han Chinese officials would carry out the demolition order.

14/06/2016 News

Canada, China and Human Rights: Who does Michael Chan speak for?

Michael Chan (Colin McConnell / Toronto Star File Photo)

When Wang Yi, the foreign minister of People’s Republic of China (PRC), was asked a question about human rights and a Canadian citizen who has been detained since 2014, the foreign minister responded aggressively and dismissed criticisms of the PRC as “prejudiced” and “unacceptable.” He then asserted that the PRC and the Chinese people are in the best position to assess human rights. As criticism over the minister’s response grew, a Chinese language webpage, 51.ca, published an interview with Ontario Minister Michael Chan. The interview echoed and fleshed out the points made by Wang Yi.

08/06/2016 News

Photos of Tibetan youth self-immolators become available after 4 years

The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) has received photographs of two Tibetan youths who died of self-immolation in 2012. For the past four years, Chinese government surveillance and restrictions on the self-immolators’ family and friends had made it impossible to get hold of their photographs and give them proper recognition.

08/06/2016 News

Lone Tibetan protester holding Dalai Lama’s portrait detained incommunicado

Lobsang Tsering walking along the 'Heroes Road' — Lobsang Tsering walking along the ‘Heroes Road’

Chinese authorities have detained incommunicado yet another Tibetan monk from the local Kirti Monastery for staging a lone protest against repressive policies in Ngaba (Ch: Aba) County in Ngaba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, in the Tibetan province of Amdo.

Lobsang Tsering, 20, was arbitrarily detained at about 4 pm local time on 7 June when he staged a lone protest walking along the main road of Ngaba County town, holding high above his head a portrait of the Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama and raised slogans such as, “May His Holiness Live for 10,000 years!” and “Freedom for Tibet!” Local police personnel immediately took him into custody as soon as they saw him. Like many other lone protesters before him, Lobsang Tsering’s whereabouts and condition remain unknown.

07/06/2016 News

TCHRD calls on Chinese government to stop mining at sacred mountain

Anti-mining protesters in Amchok with the banner the in background bearing the slogan: "Stop Mining at Amchok Gong Ngon Lari!” — Anti-mining protesters in Amchok with the banner the in background bearing the slogan: “Stop Mining at Amchok Gong Ngon Lari!”

Rampant open-pit mining activities conducted for more than a decade by the Chinese authorities at Tibet’s sacred Gong Ngon Lari Soul Mountain have faced renewed and sustained protests from local Tibetans living in Amchok (Ch: Amuqu) Township in Sangchu (Ch: Xiahe) County, Kanlho (Ch: Gannan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province.

Thousands of Tibetans living in eight villages within Amchok Township are involved in the series of anti-mining protests that entered its sixth day on 5 June. To deter these protests, Chinese security forces including the police, armed police and the military have launched a violent crackdown on peaceful anti-mining protesters who were beaten and detained. The situation remains tense.