TCHRD calls on the Chinese authorities to ensure that the efforts to control the pandemic must be guided by the principles of transparency, integrity, and accountability, in addition to providing timely and proper assistance and support to the affected individuals and families in overcoming one of the greatest public health challenges of our time.
A new report released today by TCHRD provides evidence that using the Tibetan Plateau to offset China’s carbon footprints has not translated into eco-compensation for rural Tibetan landholders for their provisioning of ecosystem services. China distorts the concept of payment for ecosystem services by dislocating Tibetan nomadic communities, and forcibly removing them off their lands.
Chinese authorities have announced the stationing of more than 20,000 cadres in 5,464 villages as part of the controversial ‘Solidify the Foundation, Benefit the Masses’ (Ch: qianji huimin) campaign in TAR.
The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) welcomes the review of People’s Republic of China (PRC) by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (‘Committee’) that took place on 10 and 13 August in Geneva. The Committee subsequently released the findings of the review known as ‘concluding observations’ on 30 August.
The UN body working towards the elimination of racial discrimination worldwide has asked for additional information from the government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), according to a document dated 13 June 2018.
The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (‘Committee’) that monitors implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (‘Convention’) conveyed a set of questions (‘List of Themes’) to the PRC after reviewing the PRC’s national report to the 96th session of the body. The PRC delegation will appear before the Committee on 10 and 13 August 2018 with the meeting being webcast live by the UN. The Committee is composed of 18 Experts as members including Ms. Li Yanduan, the current Ambassador of China to the Independent State of Samoa.
On 24 October 2016, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) began the sixth plenum, an annual meeting of senior members of the CCP that shapes policy. The last three plenums since Xi Jinping became president have produced some human rights reforms that fail to address the structural problems in the People’s Republic of China (PRC). In practice, these reforms have done little to protect human rights or the rule of law. Two weeks before this year’s plenum, an opinion on reforming criminal procedure was released. Similar to reforms from previous plenums, the opinion will not produce real reforms to protect or respect human rights.
The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) condemns the detention of Tibetan Buddhist believers and disruption of the 81st birthday celebration of the Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama on 6 July 2016 at Srongtsen Bhrikuti Tibetan School located at Boudhanath area in Kathmandu, Nepal.
The Kathmandu-based NGO Human Rights Organisation Nepal (HURON) informed TCHRD that the local police detained 30 people including 28 Tibetans on the morning of 6 July for participating in the religious event to celebrate His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s birthday. Nine Tibetans were arrested around 11 am at Srongtsen School and an additional 19 were arrested outside the school, and then taken to Mahindra Police Club. Around 5 pm, the 30 detainees were released and handed over to HURON.
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.
Two new torture cases involving former Tibetan political prisoners have emerged this month, just a couple of months after the People’s Republic of China (PRC) faced tough questioning from a UN rights watchdog. Both men served seven years each for their participation in 2008 uprising and are undergoing treatment for injuries sustained during detention. One of them is in critical…
A Tibetan monk self-immolated on 9 July 2015 in the eastern Tibetan province of Kham.
Sonam Topgyal, the 26-year-old monk, staged his self-immolation protest at approximately 6 pm local time in the Gesar Square located in Kyegudo town, in Yulshul (Ch: Yushu) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (TAP), Qinghai Province.
“A large contingent of Chinese security forces immediately arrived at the spot of the self-immolation and blocked all the main roads,” a source with contacts in Tibet told the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD).
The Beijing-based Tibetan writer Woeser reported on her social media pages that a large number of special paramilitary troops had been sent to Kyegudo soon after self-immolation; they have since blocked the main roads leading to the spot of the self-immolation. All communication services, including telephone lines and Internet, have been shut down in the area.
Recently, Chinese authorities have blocked all Internet lines in Golog (Ch: Guoluo) TAP (Qinghai Province), 11 counties of Kardze TAP (Sichuan Province), and some parts of Ngaba (Ch: Aba) TAP (Sichuan Province). It has been more than half a month since this Internet blockade, making it difficult to get immediate updates on the situation in these areas.
The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) is deeply concerned about the new National Security Law that was released in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) on 1 July 2015. As a human rights organization, TCHRD believes that this new law will enable Chinese authorities to further justify the human rights abuses that continue to take place for Tibetans today.
The new National Security Law does not make any concessions to human rights, rule of law, or the interests of other States or peoples. Instead, the National Security Law relies on broad and vague language to announce that the PRC will confront and fight-back against any perceived threat. This is a continuation of failed policies that do not seek to peacefully settle disputes, and simply exacerbate problems in the PRC instead.
Despite paying lip service to human rights in four articles (Articles 7, 16, 27 and 83), the National Security Law takes the position that is hostile to basic human rights protections. For example, Article 27 says that the PRC protects freedom of religion but then lists duties and responsibilities for religious management, including opposing foreign influence and interference. The PRC views any acknowledgment of the Dalai Lama, including possession of his teachings, praying for his long life or celebrating his birthday, as counter to the Party. For monks, such as Tsangyang Gyatso, the charge of “contacting outsiders” can result in long prison sentences.