Page 3 – TCHRD

01/08/2023 News / UN Engagement / upr

TCHRD Makes Submission for China’s UN Universal Periodic Review

The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) submitted a UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR) report ahead of the fourth periodic review of the People’s Republic of China in January 2024.

The submission outlined a number of concerns and recommendations on specific human rights issues, including repression of Tibetan Buddhism, systematic attacks on the Tibetan language, freedom of expression and association, denial of legal rights of detainees and prisoners, and torture.

TCHRD will conduct a series of advocacy and lobbying activities in the months leading up to the review, targeting embassies in New Delhi and permanent missions in Geneva, respectively, so that States will raise the issues during the interactive dialogue with the PRC government.

23/07/2023 News / political-prisoner

Records of politically-motivated verdicts against Tibetans removed from Chinese national databases

The Chinese authorities are systematically erasing the court verdicts of Tibetans charged with the vaguely worded and broadly defined crimes of
“endangering state security,” wiping them from public databases. This unlawful practice extends beyond Tibet’s Autonomous Region, resulting in secret trials and sentences for numerous Tibetans without any acknowledgement or information about their imprisonment. Human Rights Watch reports shed light on the absence of records for suspected state security cases involving Tibetan monks and the silence of Chinese state media.

The court verdict of Tashi Wangchuk, a Tibetan language activist released in January 2021 after serving five years in prison on a trumped-up charge of “inciting separatism,” cannot be found on China’s national database of court verdicts. Equally troubling is that the persecuted activist was not given a copy of his verdict upon his release from prison.

17/07/2023 Judges and Lawyers / News

Release anti-corruption and environmental activist A-nya Sengdra from unjust imprisonment

Prominent Tibetan activist A-nya Sengdra, the victim of unjust imprisonment for nearly five years on politically motivated charges, continues to endure further injustices.

Renowned for his campaigns against corruption and environmental degradation in his hometown, Sengdra and his eight companions received a seven-year sentence on 6 December 2021, more than three years after his detention and torture at the hands of local Public Security Bureau officers in Gade County.

Despite relentless efforts by his lawyer, Li Qilei, to appeal the verdict, the Chinese courts have consistently dismissed these appeals. Even the recent effort to inquire about his appeal case faced hostility and uncooperative personnel at the Sixth Circuit Court of the Supreme People’s Court.

26/06/2023 News / TCHRD Statements / torture

International Day in Support of Victims of Torture

Every year on 26 June, the United Nations observes the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, explicitly focusing on torture’s lasting generational impact and consequences. Recognising torture as the deliberate infliction of severe physical and mental suffering without justification, the United Nations General Assembly designated this day as an urgent call to eliminate this abhorrent practice, serving as a platform to promote the eradication of torture and to urge governments worldwide, including China, to fulfil their obligations under the UN Convention Against Torture. Recent cases, such as the severe torture endured by a Tibetan monk and the testimonies of Dorje Tashi, shed light on the systematic use of torture by Chinese authorities to suppress freedom of expression and assembly. These distressing incidents underscore the pressing need for the international community to take a firm stand and demand an immediate end to all acts of torture against Tibetans in Tibet.

17/05/2023 Arbitrary Detention / Freedom of religion and belief / Involuntary Disappearance / News / TCHRD Statements

28 years since the enforced disappearance of Tibet’s Panchen Lama by the Chinese government

On the 28th anniversary of the Chinese government’s arbitrary detention and subsequent enforced disappearance of the 11th Panchen Lama Jetsun Tenzin Gedhun Yeshi Trinley Phuntsok Pal Sangpo, widely recognised by his lay name Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) reiterates its call to the Chinese government to immediately and unconditionally release the Panchen Lama, his family members, and all the Tibetan political prisoners. TCHRD emphasises that without ensuring the Tibetan people’s fundamental human rights, including freedom of belief and religion, Chinese authorities can never hope to win the hearts and minds of Tibetans, let alone earn any legitimacy for its repressive policies and campaigns in Tibet.

12/05/2023 Arbitrary Detention / Freedom of Opinion and Expression / News

Gonpo Kyi’s struggle to free her brother continues despite police coercion and threats

On 3 May, Gonpo Kyi shared a video condemning the unjust verdict against her brother, Dorje Tashi, stating that leaders do not follow the law while the masses are subject to punitive measures. Despite peaceful protests, such as wearing a shirt with slogan and holding a copy of the verdict, authorities detained and physically abused her. In response, Gonpo Kyi stated that she would continue to protest until justice was served. Her brother’s case has been marred with allegations of false conviction and judicial irregularities, and despite numerous appeals, he remains behind bars for false loan fraud charges. The Chinese authorities’ repeated detention and intimidation of peaceful protesters like Gonpo Kyi violate fundamental human rights.

04/05/2023 News

Tibetan teacher detained for expressing joy over Dalai Lama’s video put under house arrest and fired from work

A Tibetan teacher detained on 10 April for expressing joy at seeing the recent video of His Holiness the Dalai Lama interacting with a young Indian boy on social media has been released from detention but placed under house arrest, and his employment has been terminated. He was held incommunicado for two weeks.

01/05/2023 Education / News

Chinese medium education imposed in schools across Ngaba despite criticisms from Tibetan scholars and educators

Earlier this year, Chinese authorities enforced the “Model 2 education system” in Tibetan primary schools in Ngaba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, replacing all Tibetan medium education systems with Chinese medium. Under this system, all subjects except the Tibetan language are taught in Chinese, which critics argue is a means to destroy the Tibetan language and culture. The plan to introduce this system in the spring of 2020 was temporarily abandoned when Chinese authorities faced widespread criticism. Tibetan writer and public intellectual Thupten Lodoe (Sabuchey), 34, was among the prominent critics of the policy,

28/03/2023 Annual Reports / News

Worst in recent years: 2022 Annual Report on human rights situation in Tibet

The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) has published its annual report on the human rights situation in Tibet, revealing it to be the worst in recent years. The Chinese government’s COVID-19 measures have caused great distress for Tibetans, with the report highlighting the expansion of involuntary mass DNA collection, online surveillance, and CCTV cameras as social control mechanisms to suppress dissent and tighten state control. Exiled Tibetan activists and dissidents with relatives in Tibet are particularly vulnerable to the PRC’s campaign of transnational repression. The report calls for concrete action to prevent and punish human rights violations and urges the international community to hold China accountable for its treatment of Tibetans.

07/02/2023 Freedom of Opinion and Expression / Freedom of religion and belief / News / religious-repression

China bans display of Buddhist flags at Tibetan New Year show, detains and fines organiser

Information received by TCHRD confirmed that Gephel, a Tibetan student from Muge Township in Zungchu (Ch: Songpan) County, Ngaba (Ch: Aba) Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, in the Tibetan province of Amdo, was detained on the evening of 24 January from his home for displaying Buddhist flags instead of Chinese flag as the backdrop on the stage during ‘Losar’ New Year celebration show.

12/01/2023 News / TCHRD Statements / UN Human Rights Experts

UN Human Rights Experts’ Communication to China on Forced Cultural Assimilation in Tibet

The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) welcomes the letter sent to China by four UN human rights experts urging Chinese authorities to clarify how the recent developments in Tibet regarding oppressive laws, policies and practices on education, language and religion are compatible with China’s obligations under the international human rights laws and standards.