October-December 2013

Party Boss in Tibet Plans to SeparateThe 14th Dalai Lama from Tibetan Buddhism

Rights Day: Tibet issue raised in Senate 3Australian Parliamentarians celebrateHHDL’s 24th Nobel Prize anniversary 4China’s new white paper on Tibet:Another Whitewash 5UN Member states urge China toimprove human rights in Tibet 5What happens when Tibetans refuseto fly the Chinese flag 6

US Congressional Report ondeteriorating situation in Tibet 8

REPORT

Self-immolationprotests in Tibet reach123 under China

Continued page 2

Tibet NewsNEWSLETTER OF THE TIBET INFORMATION OFFICE FOR AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND & SOUTH EAST ASIA

October - December 2013. Vol. 20. No. 3. ISSN 1328-2964

28 November, 2013By TseringWangchukRECENTLY, JUST PRIOR TO THE THIRD PLENUM, ChenQuanguo, the current Party Secretary of theTibetan Autonomous Region (TAR), publishedan article in Qiushi (“Seeking Truth”) titled‘Ensuring the Security of Tibet’s Ideological

Realm with the Spirit of Daring to Show theSword’. He pledges to “thoroughly carry outthe educational activities of comparing oldTibet with theNew Tibet, instructing people ofvarious ethnic groups to be grateful to theParty, listen to the Party and follow theParty”.Ironically, he is expressing the kind of

imperialist mentality that the CommunistParty criticizes and claims to fight against.In dealing with Tibetans, he vows to

“educate and guide cadres and ordinarypeople of various ethnic groups to separateTibetan Buddhism from the fourteenth DalaiLama, and separate the fourteenthDalai Lamafrom the title of Dalai Lama…”.This statement shows that after 60 years of

rule in Tibet, some CCP leaders are yet tounderstand Tibet’s intrinsic spiritual andcultural aspects. Tibetans believeHisHolinessthe Dalai Lama is the manifestation ofAvalokiteshvara (the Buddha of Compassion).This reverence exceeds any political leverageand is not born out of greatness of the title, butthe greatness of the person. It represents theTibetans’ active participation in serving thesacred duties of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.This act of service is at the center of theMahayana tradition of Buddhism, whichpredates the Communist Party in China , aswell as the Marxist ideology.During the last few decades, His Holiness

the Dalai Lama has been proposing dialogue

Central Tibetan Administration urgesChina to address grievances of Tibetans4 December, 2013DHARAMSHALA: THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HASINCREASED SECURITY clampdown in Ngaba innortheastern Tibet after a Tibetan set himselfon fire to protest against its repressive rule inTibet, reports coming out of Tibet say.Kunchok Tseten, 30, set fire to himself in the

main market of Meruma town in Ngaba onTuesday (3December). After setting himself onfire, he raised slogans for the long life of HisHoliness the Dalai Lama, the return of His

Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet and the earlyreunion of Tibetans in Tibet.Eyewitnesses say police and security forces

immediately arrived at the spot to take theself-immolator into their custody. But the localTibetans prevented them from doing so,resulting in clashes between the two sides.The police took away the self-immolator afterarresting several Tibetans, including the wifeand relatives of the self-immolator, whosewell-being andwhereabouts remain unknown.

Continued page 2Photo: Kunchok Tseten/File photo/Phayul

PhotocourtesyOHHDLarchive

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2 TIBET NEWS October-December 2013

AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND

with the Chinese communist leaders, inorder to find a mutually beneficial solution.Along with the Tibetan people, he haspeacefully sought genuine autonomy for Tibetwithin the scope of the constitution of thePeople’s Republic of China, while advisingagainst violence that drive other movementsto militant struggles worldwide.However, Chen Quanguo’s article will

further antagonize Tibetans in Tibet. This isbecause his article disregards Tibetanvalues and imposes his perceived superiorideology. Such leftist opportunism played outin Tibet will derail any lofty proclamation like‘Chinese Dream’.Chen Quanguo’s hardline pronouncement on

Tibet are encouraged by two main reasons. Oneis the example shown by Hu Jintao who wascatapulted from Party Secretary in TAR to thehighest position in China after series of violentrepression carried inside Tibet in late 80s.More than often, Party’s hardline mood in

Beijing overdrives local leaders into employingrepressive means. Last April, the CentralCommittee of the Communist Party’s Generaloffice in China circulated a confidential memoto its Party leaders, now leaked and known asDocument 9. The document details“Noteworthy Problems Related to the CurrentState of the Ideological Sphere” and aims toimpose a “unwavering adherence to theprinciple of the Party’s control of media”.The document calls on Communist leaders

to ”persist in correct guidance of publicopinion, insisting that the correct politicalorientation suffuse every domain and processin political engagement, form, substance, and

technology”. It lists seven perils that couldunsettle the Communist Party monopoly inChina and directs its cadres to engage in an“intense struggle” against constitutionaldemocracy, civil society, “nihilistic” views ofhistory, “universal values,” and the promotionof “the West’s view of media”, among others.Such a hardline tendency will empowerprovincial leaders to carry out unwarrantedrepression of ethnic groups who have differentvalues and views than the Communist Party.For instance, in Tawu (Ch. Daofu), Yulshul (Ch.Yushu) in eastern Tibet and Driru (Ch. Biru)under TAR earlier this year, local People’sArmed Police had their hands free to violentlysuppress Tibetans without slightestprovocation. This was obviously encouragedby the mood in Beijing. Chinese leaders in Beijing should be

mindful of the implications of such policies inTibet. His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the mostauthoritative person for Tibetans, with areconciliatory intent and a path to solve theissue of Tibet. He is constantly guidingTibetans towards nonviolence andcompassion. Tibetans inside Tibet risk gravepunitive actions by the police just in order toprocure his portrait. In light of such conducivefactors, the failure to reach a peacefulresolution to the Tibetan issue while the 14thDalai Lama is healthy and active would be adevastating mistake on the part ofcontemporary Chinese leadership. �Tsering Wangchuk is the Press Officer ofDepartment of Information and InternationalRelations, Central Tibetan Administration.Reach him at: tibetpressofficer@tibet.net

All the shops and restaurants remainedshut and mobile phones of Tibetans wereconfiscated as the Chinese governmentstepped up security across the region.Sources said Kunchok Tseten had told a

relative this summer that he would sethimself on fire to protest against the Chineseatrocities on the Tibetans. The relativeadvised him not to take his own life. KunchokTseten is a native of Chukhama village inMachu county (incorporated into China’sGansu Province). He has two children.“Tibetans inside Tibet are living under

heavy repression. There is a totalclampdown on any conventional means toexpress their grievances. These conditionshave led to the growing number of self-immolations inside Tibet. We imploreChinese leadership to address thegrievances of Tibetans immediately,” said MrTashi Phuntsok, Secretary for Informationand International Relations of the Central

Tibetan Administration.Political repression, cultural assimilation,

social discrimination, economicmarginalisation, environmental destructionand lack of religious freedom are theprimary factors driving Tibetans to self-immolation. According to Human RightsWatch, two million nomads were resettled inghetto-like accommodations without theirfull consent and proper consultation. Therepressive policies have also resulted inrecent incidents of violence in several miningareas in Tibet. The only way to end this brutaland grave situation is for China to change itscurrent hardline Tibet policy by respectingthe aspirations of the Tibetan people.The Central Tibetan Administration has

consistently appealed to and discouragedTibetans from drastic action, including self-immolation, as a form of protest. The blame aswell as the solution for the self-immolationslies with the Chinese government. �

Tibet News

Continued from feature Report

October-December 2013 TIBET NEWS 3

AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND

Tibet Issue Raised in Australian Senate on Rights Day

10 December, 2013DHARAMSHALA: MY COMMITMENT AND SUPPORTFORHUMANRIGHTSfrom work and activities beforebecoming a senator and my time in this placehave continued my resolve to stand up for a justand humane world free of discrimination andfor equality. One example of that comes frommy involvement with the Australia TibetCouncil. I had the privilege last year of travellingto Dharamshala in India, which is the exiledcapital of Tibet. This experience gave me anundeniable insight into the desperate plight ofTibetans and to understand more fully thehuman rights abuses taking place in our globalcommunity. I had the pleasure this evening ofjoining some of the Tibetan community here inAustralia in Parliament House to recognise thestruggles that continue for their families andfriends living in Tibet.It was on 22 October 2013 that the UN

Human Rights Council reviewed China’shuman rights record as part of their universalperiodic review. This was the second review forChina and it allowed for a review of therecommendations and pledges made by Chinaduring the 2009 session as well asencompassing a review of the overall humanrights record of China. Sadly, from all reportsthe overall human rights situation in China,particularly in Tibet and also against the Uygurpeople, has continued to deteriorate over thelast four years. I take this opportunity tohighlight the important region of Xinjiang inChina where the native Uygurs continue to fightreligious intolerance and discrimination.Labelled as terrorists, their plight has becomeincreasingly difficult.Repressive policies and the continuous

suppression of fundamental human rights arecausing immense suffering. Tibetans havepeacefully struggled and held hope of

obtaining freedom of religion, freedom tocelebrate their culture and language, andfreedom of expression. Since China’s first UPRin February 2009, Tibet witnessed its very firstself-immolation by a young 20-year-old monkby the name of Tapey. This act of desperationwas Tibet’s first in its 60-year continuoussuppression of human rights. Tapey shouldnever have lost his life. He should never havehad to resort to such an act. In 2009 the loss ofhis life was already one too many, and sincethat time there have been many more.I wish I could report that his life was the only

one taken by self-immolation, but they havecontinued to increase since 2009 and aconfounding 122 cases have been confirmed todate. This is no small number and it clearlyshows the desperation and repression of thosein Tibet. In what is another constraint to humanrights, recent reports confirm friends andrelatives of self-immolators are now beingsubject to sentencing by Chinese authorities foralleged association with the self-immolators.Tibet’s spiritual leader, His Holiness the

14th Dalai Lama, has travelled the globeseeking compassion and peaceful solutionsfor his country in exile. This year I once againhad the privilege to meet His Holiness here inAustralia. His struggle for liberation of Tibethas always strongly opposed the use ofviolence. His Holiness understands thepower of universal responsibility for allthings and through his leadership he hasactively pursued peaceful solutions tohuman rights abuses.Today is the 24th anniversary of the

conferment of the Nobel Peace Prize on HisHoliness. In 1989 the Norwegian NobelCommittee declared His Holiness worthy ofthis prestigious prize. I believe, and I am suremany will agree, that his leadership through

non-violent action and spiritual guidance tothe Tibetan people is most commendableand worthy of global recognition. During hisacceptance speech the Dalai Lama spoke ofcultivating a universal responsibility andsaid: I believe all suffering is caused byignorance. People inflict pain on others in theselfish pursuit of their happiness orsatisfaction. Yet true happiness comes froma sense of brotherhood and sisterhood. Weneed to cultivate a universal responsibility forone another and the planet we share.These words are valuable and worth

reflecting on, particularly today as we markHuman Rights Day and celebrate theanniversary of the establishment of the HighCommissioner for Human Rights. Today aswe acknowledge Human Rights Day weshould acknowledge the ongoing struggle ofthose living in Tibet. We should not only acknowledge but also

commit to act on their behalf. �Photo: Lisa Singh (R) joined with the local Tibetan community and supporters for Tibetan people on 10 March 2013 to mark the anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan National Uprising.

6 December, 2013NEW DELHI: IN A LETTER TO THE FAMILY OF NELSONMANDELA, His Holiness the Dalai Lama expressedhis deep sadness on learning of the passingaway of Nelson Mandela.His Holiness wrote: “In his death the world

has lost a great leader, whose steadfast andunflinching determination played a key role insecuring peace and reconciliation during SouthAfrica’s transition from apartheid rule. Underhis leadership South Africa was transformedthrough peaceful means, in the spirit ofreconciliation.”His Holiness said that he will personally miss

a dear friend, who he had hoped to meet again

and for whom he had great admiration andrespect. In his letter, His Holiness continued, “Hewas a man of courage, principle andunquestionable integrity, a great human being,someone of whom we can truly say, “He lived ameaningful life.” I pray for him and offer myheartfelt condolences to you, the members ofyour family and the entire people of South Africa.”Finally, His Holiness expressed that

although Nelson Mandela had physicallydeparted, his spirit will go on. He expressedthat the best tribute we can pay to him is to dowhatever we can to contribute to honoring theoneness of humanity and working for peaceand reconciliation as he did.� Source: tibet.net

Raising the issue of Tibet in the Senate on World Human Rights Day on 10 December, Australian lawmaker fromTasmania, Lisa Singh, urged the international community to commit to act on behalf of Tibetans suffering humanrights violations under the Chinese rule. Below are excerpts from Senator Lisa Singh’s statement:

His Holiness Expresses Condolences at the Passing Away of Nelson Mandela

His Holiness the Dalai Lama with Nelson Mandela duringtheir first meeting in Cape Town, South Africa, in 1996.

4 TIBET NEWS October-December 2013

AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND

Tibetans celebrate the Anniversaryof His Holiness The Dalai Lama'sNobel Peace Prize Award withAustralian Parliamentarians 10 December, 2013Canberra, Australia: TIBETAN EXILES AND

SUPPORTERS all over the world marked the24th anniversary of His Holiness the DalaiLama receiving the Nobel Peace Prize andthe 65th International Human Rights Day.Tibetan communities and supportersorganized various events in different cities ofAustralia to mark the occasion.Tibet Information Office and the Australian

Capital Territory (ACT) Tibetan Community,organized a celebration event at theParliament House on 10 December, 2013.Members of the local Tibetan communityopened the function by singing the NobelPeace Prize song in praise of His Holiness

the Dalai Lama. This was followed byspeeches by Mr. Sonam Dagpo,Representative of His Holiness the DalaiLama in Australia, Hon Mr. Warren Entsch,MP, Chair of the Australian ParliamentaryGroup (APGT) Co-Chairs Hon Mr. MichaelDanby, MP and Senator Sarah Hanson-Youngand Mr. Qin Jin, China Democratic Forum.They highlighted the grim human rightssituation in Tibet and China and expressedsupport for the rights of the Tibetan peopleand the resolution of the issue of Tibetthrough dialogue and non-violence. They alsoshared their determination to keep workingto ensure that the Tibet issue was notforgotten during Parliamentary debates. Yang

Yun, a young Chinese friend of Tibetperformed a melodious rendition of theNobel Peace Prize song on his violin.On behalf of the Tibetans, Tibet Information

Office and ACT Tibetan Community felicitatedthe re-elected and new members of theAustralian Parliamentary Group for Tibet atthe recent Federal election. They were offeredtraditional Tibetan scarves in gratitude fortheir wholehearted support for the just causeof the Tibetans. The celebration was attendedby 15 APGT members, Australian andChinese friends and Tibetan Communitymembers. �

Report filed by Tenzin Dolma Dagpo

13 October, 2013 BEIJING: FOUR TIBETANS WERE KILLED AND 50WOUNDED after Chinese security forces firedon a crowd of protesters at Driru in theTibet Autonomous Region on Tuesday,according to Washington-based Radio FreeAsia (RFA).Reports said Driru villagers were

demanding the release of a local leader,

who had led an anti-governmentdemonstration recently to protest ordersissued last month to fly Chinese flag fromhomes and offices.“On Tuesday morning, three Tibetans from

Sengthang village and one Tibetan fromTinring village were killed when the Chineseopened fire on protesters,” the RFA quoted aTibetan source in exile as saying.“Around 50 Tibetans from Yangthang

village were also injured,” he said,

speaking on condition of anonymity.He said Driru is now flooded with

Chinese paramilitary police, and Tibetansare being stopped from traveling with noreason given.Tibetans in other Chinese provinces like

Sichuan and Yunnan regularly protest butauthorities usually manage to keepprotesters under strict control in theTibetan autonomous region. �By Saibal Dasgupta

9 October, 2013PRESS RELEASE

CHINA: End “outrageous” police violenceagainst Tibetan protestersCHINESE AUTHORITIES MUST END excessive useof force against peaceful Tibetanprotesters, Amnesty International saidafter police fired on and injured dozens ofdemonstrators.Reports emerged today that Chinese

police had opened fire on Tibetanprotesters in the town of Diriu in the TibetAutonomous Region on 6 October, injuringat least 60 people, some seriously. It isunclear if the police used live ammunitionor tear gas.“It is outrageous for the police to start

firing on a peaceful gathering. This latestincident shows that the Chineseauthorities have done nothing to reign inexcessive use of force by their security

forces or to increase respect for Tibetans’right to freedom of peaceful assembly,”said Corinna-Barbara Francis, AmnestyInternational’s China Researcher.There have even been reports that some

of those seriously injured were deniedmedical care for several days, at least oneof whom is still in very critical condition.The protesters had gathered to demand

the release of a local Tibetan who hadbeen detained on 29 September afterspeaking out against authorities’ efforts toforce local families and monasteries to flythe Chinese flag.According to the International Campaign

for Tibet 40 others were detained on thesame day, some of whom remain indetention and the whereabouts of theothers remains unknown.The 6 October incident is the second

time in recent months that security forceshave fired on a peaceful gathering of

Tibetans. On 6 July, in Tawu, Sichuanprovince, at least ten Tibetans who hadgathered to celebrate the Dalai Lama’sbirthday were injured.Since the Tibetan mass protests of 2008

against Chinese rule, the Chineseauthorities have stepped up repression inTibetan areas and imposed intrusive,pervasive, military and security controls onthe local population.The authorities also continue to subject

Tibetans to humiliating "patrioticeducation", which forces them todenounce the Dalai Lama and expresssupport for the Chinese Communist Party.“Across the Tibetan region the situation

remains tense, and the Chineseauthorities are doing nothing to improve itby continuing to deny Tibetans their mostbasic human rights. The daily harassmentand humiliating treatment have to end,”said Corinna-Barbara Francis. �

Amnesty International Statement on Driru Shooting

4 TIBETANS SHOT DEAD, 50 INJURED

October-December 2013 TIBET NEWS 5

INTERNATIONAL

UN Member States Urge China toImprove Human Rights in Tibet

23 October 2013PRESS RELEASECHINA’S HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD WAS REVIEWED AT

the 17th session of Universal Periodic Review inGeneva on 22 October, with several UN memberstates urging the Chinese government to takenecessary measures to improve the humanrights situation in Tibet.Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany,

Japan, New Zealand, Poland, Switzerland, theUS, the UK and Iceland raised their concerns onthe deteriorating human rights situation in Tibet.They pressed China over its systematic

attempts to undermine the rights to freedom ofreligion, culture and expression andrecommended China take necessary measuresto ensure that the rights of Tibetans and otherethnic minorities are fully observed and

protected. Furthermore China, they said should facilitate visits of the Office of HighCommissioner for Human Rights and SpecialProcedures to assess the real situation inTibet.Both New Zealand and the US referred to

the Sino-Tibetan dialogue process, NewZealand recommended China resumemeaningful dialogue to address the interest ofall communities in Tibet, while the USsubmitted a written question asking “willChina resume unconditional direct dialoguewith His Holiness the Dalai Lama or hisrepresentatives?” On behalf of all Tibetans, the Central Tibetan

Administration based in India, expressesgratitude towards the UN member states ascited above for their efforts to hold China

accountable with regards to its human rightsrecord in Tibet. “The white paper issued by the Chinese

government on 22 October is replete withinformation about Chinese state investmenttowards development in Tibet. Yet, the 121self- immolations that have taken place inTibetan areas since 2009 as a form of politicalprotest send an unequivocal message to theworld that the policies in Tibet have failed toaddress the aspirations of the Tibetan people,”said Kalon Dicki Chhoyang of the Departmentof Information and International Relations forthe Central Tibetan Administration. �Visit: http://tibet.net/2013/02/02/cta-releases-white-paper-on-self-immolations-in-tibet-2/ to read CTA’sWhite Paper on self-immolations in Tibet.

26 October, 2013 PRESS RELEASETHE ULTIMATE JUDGE OF CHINA’S RULE IN TIBETshould be the Tibetan people. Even after 60years of China’s invasion of Tibet and morethan 50 years after Tibet came under thecomplete control of Beijing in the aftermathof the repression which crushed that year’spopular uprising against Chinese rule, todaylarge parts of Tibet are still under martiallaw like control. The alarming escalation indesperate forms of protest, including self-immolations, in Tibetan areas, is a clearjudgment made by the Tibetan people ofChina’s sixty years rule of Tibet.Since 2009, over 121 Tibetans have set

themselves on fire to protest against theChinese government’s continued occupationof Tibet. The self-immolators have called forfreedom for Tibetans and the return of HisHoliness the Dalai Lama to Tibet.The white paper issued by China’s State

Council on Oct. 22, it is clear economic andmaterial development have failed Tibetans intheir struggle to survive as a people with adistinct culture.In fact, the latest white paper is an attempt

to cover up the darkest period experiencedby the Tibetan people after China’s invasionof Tibet. No less a figure than Hu Yaobang,the general secretary of the ChineseCommunist Party, who visited Lhasa in 1980,

apologized to the Tibetan people and said theconditions in Tibet were worse than pre-1959Tibet. The late Panchen Lama, said in 1989,a few days before his untimely death, thatChina’s rule in Tibet brought greatersuffering than benefit for the Tibetan people.Over 1.2 million Tibetans died as a directresult of Chinese communist rule and morethan 6,000 monasteries were razed to the ground.Interestingly, no other minorities in China

have been the object of so many whitepapers. In light of growing public awarenessand sympathy for the Tibetan cause, Chinais constantly challenged to justify thelegitimacy of its presence in Tibet. �

China’s New White Paper on Tibet – Another Whitewash

HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH

4 November, 2013 PRESS RELEASEIN LIGHT OF THE RECENTLY CONCLUDED UniversalPeriodic Review of China’s human rightsrecord by the United Nation Human RightsCouncil and China’s upcoming election tothe seat of UNHRC, the Central TibetanAdministration deplores the China’s recenthardline stance vis-à-vis His Holiness theDalai Lama.In an article published in China’s

Communist Party’s journal Qiushi on 1November, Chen Quanguo, the PartySecretary of the Tibet Autonomous Region,

openly stated plans to reinforceinformation blackout about His Holinessthe Dalai Lama in Tibet by censoringtelevision, radio broadcast and closelymonitoring internet and telephonecommunications.As China seeks to defend its human

rights record, such statement clearlycontradicts the spirit of the UN HumanRights Council for which China is seekingmembership.His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been a

staunch supporter of the Middle-WayApproach, which seeks to resolve the long-

standing problems in Tibet by remaining apart of China. This position is also sharedby the Central Tibetan Administrationbased in India.“Such counter-productive measures by

the Chinese government to stifle free flowof information in Tibet will only furtherexacerbate the resentment of Tibetansinside Tibet. We are deeply concerned thatsuch measures will give Chineseauthorities free hand to intensifycrackdown on Tibetans,” said Kalon DickiChhoyang of the Department ofInformation & International Relations. �

CTA concerned over China’s plan for information blackout in Tibet

6 TIBET NEWS October-December 2013

INTERNATIONAL

From Left: Thupchen, Kundrak and Tempa.November 11, 2013 DHARAMSHALA: WITH THE CONTINUING

CRACKDOWN ONTIBETANS in Driru county in TibetAutonomous Region’s Nagchu Prefecture,the Chinese authorities have arrested over 17Tibetans who have been demanding therelease of two fellow villagers.The Tibetans in Tenkhar village near

Shamchu town in Driru county held apeaceful protest on Sunday (3 November),demanding the release of Tibetan writer,Tsultrim Gyaltsen and his friend Yougyal.Tsultrim and Yougyal were picked from theirhomes by the police during a night raid inOctober. Tsultrim was charged with engagingin separatist activities and disrupting social

stability by spreading rumours.Those arrested include Sarkyi, 49;

Tsophen, 47; Yangkyi, 25; Tsering, 22;Tsering Phuntsok, 21; Tador, 21; Kundak17; Gabuk, 41; Tenpa, 22; Thupchen, 27;Soeta, 25; Tsering Jangchup, 21; JigmePhuntsok, 23; Lamsang, 24 and TsewangLhakyab, 19.The arrests of Tibetans took place amid

the ongoing Chinese government’scampaign of political indoctrination and re-education, which force Tibetans to swearallegiance to the Chinese communist partyand denounce their revered spiritual leader,His Holiness the Dalai Lama. A hugenumber of Chinese officials arrived in thevillage on Sunday to enforce the campaign.

The situation in Driru county remainstense after the Chinese governmentstrengthens measures forcing Tibetans tohoist Chinese flags in their homes in earlyOct. The Tibetans have shown strongopposition against this measure. On 6 Oct,the Chinese police opened fire on peacefulTibetan protesters in Dathang township,which left over 60 Tibetans injured. Theprotesters were demanding the release ofDorjee Dragtsel, a Tibetan who wasarrested from Nagchu township,apparently for his persistent advocacy offreedom and truth on the issue of Tibet.The police firing drew condemnation

from Amnesty International, a prominenthuman rights group. “It is outrageous forthe police to start firing on a peacefulgathering. This latest incident shows thatthe Chinese authorities have done nothingto rein in excessive use of force by theirsecurity forces or to increase respect forTibetans’ right to freedom of peacefulassembly,” Corinna-Barbara Francis,Amnesty International’s China Researcher,said in a statement on 9 October.“Across the Tibetan region the situation

remains tense, the Chinese authorities aredoing nothing to improve it by continuing todeny Tibetans their most basic humanrights. The daily harassment andhumiliating treatment have to end,” said Francis. �

17 Tibetans arrested as crackdown continues in Driru county

7 October, 2013 By Max Fisher, The Washington Post

ONE OF CHINA’S CREEPIER POLICIES in the TibetanAutonomous Region is a 2011 initiativeknown as the “nine haves.” Some of the nineare about development (“to have roads, tohave water, to have electricity”), but one isless about helping Tibetans and more aboutentrenching Beijing’s control in a region thatdoesn’t seem to want it: ??“to have anational flag.” Every house and monasterybuilding would be required to fly the crimson,five-starred flag of China. (Monasteries arealso required to display portraits of Chineseleaders.) It was to be a show of submission toChinese rule and a continuation of Tibet’sslow cultural dilution.The rural Tibetan county of Driru, though,

has defied the rule, with villagers refusingto fly the flag. On Sept. 27, Chineseauthorities responded by sending in“thousands” of Chinese troops to force upthe flags, according to Tibetan exile outlets

and Radio Free Asia, a U.S. government-backed outlet that’s among the few foreignmedia organizations regularly reporting onTibet. Now, a week later, Chinese flags arestill not flying.Some Tibetans initially clashed with the

troops when they arrived, precipitating a tightsecurity clampdown. “Groups of sevenparamilitary policemen have been stationedat each house and are watching theTibetans,” an unnamed Tibetan local toldRadio Free Asia. “Villagers are not beingallowed to tend to their animals, and anyTibetan found loitering in the town is beingtaken away.”Earlier in the week, hundreds of Tibetans

reportedly gathered in the Driru county seat,a village called Mowa, to protest on behalf ofthe civilians who had been taken away by theChinese troops. It’s estimated that 40 localshave been taken.The most significant moment may have

been on Tuesday, Oct. 1. That was China’sNational Day, the equivalent of America’s July

4, a major national holiday– and one in whichthe flag is particularly important. It seemslikely that the troops had arrived to ensurethat all Chinese flags would fly in Tibet by theNational Day. They didn’t – and photos ofDriru, taken clandestinely by locals, make itappear as akin to a military occupation.Tibetans in Driru have held a number of

protests against Chinese rule. In August 2012,demonstrations against Chinese miningexpansion there ended when Chinese troopsshot and killed one of the protesters. Localsheld more anti-mining protests in May.The nature of China’s rule has changed

dramatically over the past four decades,easing with remarkable speed from theindoctrination and totalitarianism of MaoZedong’s era to the market reforms andflexible civil rights of today. But these sorts ofstories from Tibet – portraits of politicalleaders required to be displayed inmonasteries, national flags forced up overthe homes of villagers – are a reminder thatsome of the old habits still remain. �

This is what happens when Tibetan villages refuse to fly the Chinese flag

October-December 2013 TIBET NEWS 7

Statement of Kashag: on 24th Anniversary of Conferment of Nobel Peace Prize to His Holinessthe XIV Dalai Lama of Tibet

10 December, 2013 The KashagON BEHALF OF THE 6 MILLION TIBETANS, the Kashag pays its deep reverence andhumble respects to His Holiness the Great XIVDalai Lama of Tibet on this special occasion ofthe 24th Anniversary of the conferment of theNobel Peace Prize to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.The Kashag also extends its warmest

greetings to fellow Tibetans, friends and well-wishers all over the world.On this day in 1989, His Holiness the Dalai

Lama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize forhis consistent resistance to the use of violencein his people’s struggle for basic freedoms. TheNobel Peace Prize to His Holiness the DalaiLama catapulted the Tibetan struggle togreater international visibility. His Holiness theDalai Lama’s global stature directly andpositively impacted on the image of the Tibetanpeople and fundamentally strengthened theTibetan cause. Tibet became synonymous withnon-violence and justice. This day is also observed as World Human

Rights Day, to celebrate the proclamation andadoption of the Universal Declaration ofHuman Rights by the United Nations in 1948as the common standard to measure thefreedoms to which all peoples and nationsshould live.Unfortunately, even after 65 years of

proclamation there is not much for Tibetans tocelebrate given the deteriorating human rightscondition in Tibet.China continues to negate the principle of

the universality of human rights by violating theprovisions of the Universal Declaration ofHuman Rights. Tibet is still under occupation.It continues to suffer from political repression,economic marginalisation, socialdiscrimination, environmental destruction andcultural assimilation. Worst is the massChinese migration to Tibet which has turnedTibetans into second-class citizens in theirown homeland.Living under such a repressive environment,

with no space for conventional methods ofprotest, Tibetans from all walks of life areforced to take drastic measures to expresstheir outrage and despair. Just a week ago, Mr.Kunchok Tsetan, only 30 years old, self-immolated and died. Despite our repeatedappeals not to do so, 123 Tibetans have self-immolated in Tibet since 2009. 123 is neithersimply a number nor a list of names. They arehuman beings just like any one of us who willwish to live a complete life, if given a choice.China cannot deny the blatant human rightsviolations which are the causes for the

self-immolations.Recently in Driru, Nagchu, Tibetans refused

to hoist the Chinese national flag. They wereshot at and 4 of them were killed. Many weredetained. The situation in the area continues toremain tense.Instead of seeing His Holiness the Dalai

Lama as the solution, he is labeled an archenemy. Chen Quanguo, the Party Secretary ofthe so-called Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR),threatened to silence His Holiness the DalaiLama’s voice and ban his own people insideTibet from hearing his message. Similarly, thevoice of their own Nobel Peace Prize winner,Liu Xiaobo, is silenced as he is currentlyimprisoned in China.The deteriorating human rights situation

inside Tibet is being criticised and castigatedin the US State Department Human RightsReport, Amnesty International Report andHuman Rights Watch Report. The FreedomHouse ranked Tibet among the ‘worst of theworst’ in civil rights and political liberty in itsFreedom in the World Report 2013. In the recent United Nations Human Rights

Council’s Universal Periodic Review of China,12 nations including Japan, Australia, Icelandand Canada expressed their concern overChina’s human rights violations. Amongothers, New Zealand called on China toresume two-way dialogue to resolve the issueof Tibet.The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA)

remains committed to the Middle-WayApproach and reiterates that dialogue is themost realistic approach and the only way to finda mutually beneficial solution to the Tibet issue.The Middle-Way Approach neither seeksseparation from the People’s Republic of Chinanor “high degree of autonomy”, but GenuineAutonomy for all Tibetan people under a singleadministration. This is consistent with both theNational Regional Autonomy Law and theConstitution of the People’s Republic of China.The CTA does not use the term “Greater

Tibet.” The three traditional provinces of U-Tsang, Kham and Amdo have always beenessential parts of Tibet that covers the entireTibetan plateau. They share not just the samegeography and topography but also culture,language and religion. Division of Tibet intoseveral provinces of China is a clear violationof Chinese laws and of Article 4 of theConstitution which recognises the right ofminority nationalities to practice regionalautonomy “in the areas of where they live inconcentrated communities” and to “set uporgan of self government for the exercise ofpower of autonomy.” 99% Uyghurs live in

Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and 95%of Zhuangs live in Guangxi ZhuangAutonomous Region. Tibetans living in oneconcentrated community are divided intodifferent provinces with less than 50% in the TAR while the majority isincorporated into neighbouring Chineseprovinces as Tibetan autonomous prefecturesand counties.Tibet constituting one-fourth of China is not

a recent political creation but a naturaloutcome of Tibetans inhabiting the Tibetanplateau for thousands of years. The fact thatTibet constitutes one-fourth of China shouldnot be a concern for the Chinese governmentbecause one-fifth of China is alreadyestablished as Xinjiang Uyghur AutonomousRegion and one-eighth as Inner MongoliaAutonomous Region. Moreover, GenuineAutonomy for all Tibetans is notgeographically specific, but administrativelyspecific, aiming for actual implementation ofChinese laws in the areas to empowerTibetans to become masters of their own affairs.Having all Tibetans with the same tradition,

economy and even geography in a singleadministrative unit will be an efficient andeffective form of governance rather thandividing them into TAR and four Chineseprovinces with Chinese majority, i.e. Qinghai,Sichuan, Gansu and Yunnan. TheMemorandum on Genuine Autonomy for theTibetan People has clearly explained that it isnot our intention to expel “all Chinese” fromthe Tibetan areas as alleged by the Chineseauthorities. But the Tibetan areas should haveTibetan majority for the preservation andpromotion of the unique Tibetan identity.For all these reasons, the moderation and

pragmatism of the Middle-Way Approach hasattracted support and recognition amongintellectuals, parliamentarians, leaders andindividuals, including Chinese scholars,writers and Chinese Buddhists. Since 2011,more than 6 different countries have passedresolutions and motions in support ofresumption of dialogue between envoys of HisHoliness the Dalai Lama and the newleadership. More than 16 foreign ministries, spokespersons and individualparliamentarians have urged China to resolvethe Tibet issue.On this occasion, the Kashag would like to

thank all these countries and others forsupporting our cause.We take this opportunity to thank, above all,

the Government and people of India for theirgenerosity and hospitality all these years. Ourwords of thankfulness cannot fully express our

Photo: His Holiness the Dalai Lama being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Norway, 10 December 1989.

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AUSTRALIA

8 TIBET NEWS October-December 2013

profound feelings of gratitude towards India forits generosity.We also thank the Tibet Support Groups and

individual supporters all over the world for theirvoluntary and steadfast support for all ourendeavours.In his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech,

His Holiness the Dalai Lama stated, “The prizereaffirms our conviction that with truth,courage and determination as our weapons,Tibet will be liberated.” Furthermore, HisHoliness the Dalai Lama on September 22,2013, reassured all Tibetans by categorically

stating that he would live a very long life andsee the day when the Tibet issue is resolvedthrough the Middle-Way Approach.We must all remain united and dedicate

ourselves to fulfill the auspicious words of HisHoliness the Dalai Lama. Tibet’s cause and itsstruggle for human rights will triumph. Thestrength and perseverance of the Tibetanpeople will never diminish. Non-violence andpeace are a universal aspiration not only for us,but for all humanity. The success of the Tibetanstruggle will be a success of non-violence and peace.

So, our beloved brothers and sisters in Tibet,though your suffering is unbearable and seemsendless, the only certainty in life is change.Things never stay the same forever. Though weremain separated by political force, we willnever stop working to be reunited with basicfreedoms and with His Holiness the Dalai Lamain Tibet.Finally, the Kashag and Tibetans everywhere

wish His Holiness the Dalai Lama continuedgood health. May all his wishes be fulfilled.Thank You! �The Kashag

11 October, 2013

DHARAMSHALA: THE US CONGRESSIONALEXECUTIVE COMMISSION ON CHINA on Thursdayreleased its 2013 Annual Report on humanrights and rule of developments in China,including the situation in Tibet.The Commission documented the status of

Sino-Tibetan Negotiations, Tibetan self-immolations and the Chinese government’srepression on fundamental human rights ofTibetans in Tibet, including religious freedomand Tibetan political prisoners.On the Sino-Tibetan negotiations, the

Commission noted with optimism the views of asenior official of the Central Party School,Professor Jin Wei, who said the Chinesegovernment should resume talks with therepresentatives of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.“In June 2013, Professor Jin Wei, with theCentral Party School, stated in an interview that,if the Party ‘‘can use creative ideas to break theimpasse’’ in dialogue, it would ‘‘promote socialstability and prevent the creation of long-lastingnationality wounds.’’ Jin noted that the Party‘‘cannot simply treat [the Dalai Lama] as anenemy,’’ recommended ‘‘restarting the talks,’’and suggested discussing that the Dalai Lamavisit Hong Kong ‘‘in his capacity as a religiousleader,’’ the report said.There was a significant rise in the number of

self-immolation protests by Tibetans in the

reporting year, the report said, adding that theChinese government failed to address thegrievances of Tibetans and its policy ofrepression and blame games worsened theprevailing situation. “Instead of addressing thegrievances, the Chinese authoritiesstrengthened a security crackdown based on thepremise of ‘‘stability maintenance’’ that infringedon Tibetans’ freedoms of expression,association, and movement, and curtailed theirability to communicate or share information,”the report said.The report noted the efforts made by the then

US Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues MariaOtero, who urged the Chinese government to‘‘engage in dialogue with the Dalai Lama or hisrepresentatives without preconditions.’’ MsOtero, in December 2012, pointed out that severegovernment controls on Tibetans, underminingof the Tibetan language, intensive surveillancesand forced disappearances of peaceful Tibetanprotesters and intellectuals, as some of thereasons for Tibetans’ resentment.The report also documented the forced

resettlement of Tibetan nomads and theexploitation of Tibet’s natural resourcesthrough illegal mining. It said the TibetAutonomous Region government would settle460,000 farmers and herders in 2013, and that‘‘nearly 2.1 million’’ had been settled (orresettled) during 2006–2012. It pointed outillegal mining activities carried out in Tibet

resulting in disastrous consequences like thelandslide disaster at a gold mine near Lhasa inMarch 2013.Assessing the situation of Tibetan political

detention and imprisonment, it noted that as ofSeptember 1, 2013, the Political PrisonerDatabase (PPD) contained records of 642Tibetan political prisoners believed orpresumed currently detained or imprisoned. Ofthese, 314 are Tibetan Buddhist monks, nunsand teachers or Trulkus. About 88 percent ofthe Tibetan political prisoners are male, 7percent are female, and the remaining are ofunknown gender.“The report noted ongoing and tragic self-

immolations in Tibetan areas of China and someof the most severe unrest in Xinjiang since 2009and urged Chinese officials to adopt a moreinclusive, democratic approach that fully takesinto account the views of Tibetans and Uyghursand respects their culture, language, andreligion,” Commission Chairman SherrodBrown and Cochairman Christopher Smith saidin a statement.“The report recommended that Members of

Congress and the Administration urge Chinato commit to a specific timetable to ratify theInternational Covenant on Civil and PoliticalRights and to raise this issue at the UNHuman Rights Council’s Universal PeriodicReview of China’s human rights record onOctober 22, 2013.” �

2013 US CONGRESSIONAL REPORT DOCUMENTS DETERIORATING SITUATION IN TIBET

If undelivered, return to: Tibet Information Office, 8/13 Napier Close, Deakin ACT 2600 Australia

NEWSLETTER OF THE TIBET INFORMATION OFFICE, CANBERRAPrint Post Approval No. PP 229219 00 131

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