Human Rights in Tibet
In 1949, newly communist China sent 35,000 troops to invade Tibet (Tibet Support Group UK 1). The year after that a treaty was made. The treaty acknowledged sovereignty over Tibet, but recognized the Tibetan government s autonomy with respect to internal affairs. The Chinese violated the treaty on many occasions, though. This lead to the National Uprising in 1959, and after that, the exile of the Dalai Lama, spiritual leader of Tibet, and many governmental leaders (Office of Tibet 1).
During and after the Chinese invasion of Tibet, there was mass destruction of Tibetan buildings. Over 6,000 monasteries, temples and other cultural and historic buildings were destroyed. The contents of the thousands of buildings destroyed was taken back to China and sold (Office of Tibet 3). The Tibetan people tried to rebuild their country, but the political leader who tried to start the recuperation policy was forced to resign from office shortly after (Office of Tibet 2).
During the National Uprising alone 87,000 Tibetans were killed. Another 430,000 died in the fifteen years of guerilla warfare that followed. Sources also say that up to 260,000 have died in prisons and in labour camps (Tibet Support Group UK 3). Also, 200 unarmed civilians were killed during non-violent protests between 1987 and 1989. Overall 1,200,000 Tibetans have died since 1959. That is roughly one fifth of the population of Tibet (Office of Tibet 1). That does not include all of the deaths of Tibetans during the Chinese invasion, and all of those who froze to death trying to flee Tibet.
The Tibetan people who survived the killing were denied what most consider primal freedoms. One of which is freedom of religion. Tibetan religious practice was forcibly suppressed until 1979 (Tibet Support Group UK 4). Also, in early 1989, Chinese authorities undertook a campaign to tighten control over religious practice. This campaign intensified the crackdown on the pro-democracy movement (Churchward 1). The campaign affected Catholics, Protestants, Muslims, and Buddhists. Another religious suppression on the part of the Chinese is that they have banned public celebrations of Tibet s Great Prayer Festival because China believed that it would lead to nationalist demonstrations (Churchward 2). Now all Tibetan churches, mosques, and temples must be registered, and to do so, they must meet official standards (Churchward 1). Also, the only people permitted to perform religious duties, according to Document #19, are those who after examination are deemed politically reliable, patriotic, and law-abiding (Churchward 3).
On May 23, 1951, the 17-point agreement was enacted. It stated that the Chinese would not interfere with Tibet s existing system of government and society. China never kept those promises, though, and in 1959 reneged on the treaty altogether (Tibet Support Group UK 1). China renamed two of Tibet s three provinces as part of China. The remaining province was named Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), but there is no evidence to support China s claim that TAR is autonomous. All of TAR s local legislation is subject to approval of the central government in Beijing, and all local government is subject to the regional party, which in Tibet has never been run by a Tibetan (Tibet Support Group UK 3).
The Tibetan people also do not have the right to a fair trial. In Tibet non-violent opposition to the Chinese is met with charges of counter revolution and the offender is classed an enemy of the people. Chinese authorities regard anyone arrested for nationalist activities as undeserving of the protection of the law, because they have lost their right to be considered part of the people (Lawasia and Tibet Information Network 31). The Tibetans suspected of opposing the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) have been held as political prisoners for lengthy periods, decades for some. The US government presented China with a list of 108 political prisoners in 1993. Nine months later China finally responded. They listed 51 as can not be found and did not even say where the other prisoners were being held. The charges against them are often unknown, some were even sentenced or executed without a trial. Thousands of Tibetans are in custody for political reasons, but accurate figures are impossible to find due to China s reluctance to provide any information and their insistence that political prisoners are only criminals. There is further confusion created by the system of administrative detention, which allows for long periods of imprisonment under forced labour without need for trial. Since August 1989, the names of 27 Tibetans sentenced to up to three years re-education through labour , have been publicly announced. However, reports from Tibet suggest that number to be more like 60, and that s in the capitol, Lhasa, alone (Lawasia and Tibet Information Network 36). The Chinese do not allow observers to attend so-called public trials. Often, the prison sentence is decided before the case goes to trial. When the cases do go to court less than 2% of the cases are won by the defense (Tibet Support Group UK 4).
Article 125 of PRC constitution states, the accused has the right of defense , but there is no known case of a Tibetan receiving legal assistance prior to, or during, the hearing. Also, there is no known case of a Tibetan defendant accused of a political crime being acquitted (Lawasia and Tibet Information Network 35). The PRC Criminal Procedure Law also states all trials are to be public, except those dealing with state secrets, private individual matters or minors (Articles 8 and 11, PRC Criminal Procedural Law). In reality however, the majority of the trials in Tibet are held in secret or before a specially selected audience (Lawasia and Tibet Information Network 34).
An example of an unfair sentence is the case of Yulu Dawa Tsering. He was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for spreading counter-revolutionary propaganda. All he had done was tell a Western tourist, May Tibet be released from the mouth of the wolf . Another case was that of Wang Langjie, who was sentenced to an unspecified term of imprisonment for shouting for Tibetan independence in public (Lawasia and Tibet Information Network 37). A final example is that of two monks convicted of counter-revolutionary crimes, and sentenced to one and a half years imprisonment. They had unfurled a Tibetan national flag in a street. Neither of them was legally represented nor were they given a chance to defend themselves (Lawasia and Tibet Information Network 35). There is practically no way for detainees or the people representing them to make any complaints, and if a friend or relative tries to, they are likely to be brought suspicion as an independence sympathiser.
There have been reports of various torture techniques used against political prisoners. Such as electric shocks, aerial suspension, sexual assault and attacks by ferocious dogs. Over the years the techniques have become more sophisticated. They have begun to inflict internal injuries to cover up visible signs of torture. This results in mental anguish, permanent disablement and death (TCHRD 2). One account of mistreatment is that of Tenzin Choedon, who was sexually abused with electric batons while in prison. The 28 year-old nun describes her horrific experience, First I was hit with a stick all over my body. After five strikes, my body became senseless. As I was coming back to my senses, I saw my fellow nuns being abused with electric batons in their anuses. They inserted a stick into my vagina four times with full force and the stick was rammed into my mouth. When the baton was used on my body, I felt as if a nerve in my heart was being pulled out and my stomach was in pain. The severe pain lasted for three days and I had problems when urinating (TCHRD 2). Another victim of the torture is Sonam Wangdu, a 41 year-old man from Lhasa. He is now permanently bound to a wheel chair, paralyzed from the waist down from the severe torture. While serving his life term imprisonment, he was routinely tortured and chained for up to six months. There were five different occasions in which he had to be treated in a hospital. His health became so poor that he was released on medical parole in 1993. He will never recover from his injuries (TCHRD 3). In 1995 a monk named Palden Gyatso described the Chinese practice of making people stand outside for several days at a time, sometimes on blocks of ice (Lawasia and Tibet Information Network 47). There have also been reports of Tibetan juveniles dying in prison as a result of torture and mistreatment.
On October 4, 1988 the People s Republic of China attended the United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT), which they had signed onto in 1986. After the Convention there were 60 deaths from torture while in detainment reported. There were also dozens killed while demonstrating in pro-independence movements (TCHRD 1). In 1993 and again in 1996, the UN s Committee Against Torture, a group of legal experts, asked China to create a genuinely independent judiciary and to create laws to ban all types of torture. China refused to change its laws and did nothing to change its judicial system. The UN s experts interviewed Tibetans who had been political prisoners to get an idea of what the treatment is like. They were told about the torture inside the prisons and they realize that they have only learned a fraction of there is to find out (TCHRD 1).
To remedy all of these problems the Dalai Lama proposed a Five-Point Peace Plan. He released this in 1987, and the Chinese were quick to reject it and the revisions that followed it (Office of Tibet 3).
Five-Point Peace Plan
Transformation of the whole of Tibet into a zone of Ahisma, a demilitarized zone of peace and non-violence.
1. Abandonment of China s population transfer policy, which threatened the very existence of the Tibetans as a people.
2. Respect for the Tibetan people s fundamental human rights and democratic freedoms;
3. Restoration of and protection of Tibet s natural environment and abandonment of China s use of Tibet for the production of nuclear weapons and dumping of nuclear waste;
4. Commencement of earnest negotiations on the future status of Tibet and of relations between the Tibetan and Chinese people.
To recap, China invaded Tibet, and began its reign of terror. They killed political prisoners and non-violent protesters, 1,200,000 all together. They destroyed monasteries and temples. They took away the Tibetan s freedom of religion, and they turn down any agreement giving the Tibetan people back any freedoms. They also break Tibetan laws, their own laws, and United Nations laws with their human rights.
To help, contact:
Tibet Support Group UK
9 Islington Green
London N1 2XH
Telephone +44 (0) 171 359 7573
Fax +44 (0) 171 354 1026
e.mail: tibetsupport@gn.apc
Work Cited
Churchward, Jack. Freedom of Religion in China n.page. online. internet. 11/29/99-available www.afn/ afn20372/pol/foraw.html
Lawasia and Tibet Information Network. Defying the Dragon: China and Human Rights in Tibet. March, 1991.
The Office of Tibet. The Government Of Tibet In Exile n.page. onlline. internet. 11/25/99-available www.tibet/status/history.html
Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD). n.page. online. internet. 11/23/99-available www.tchrd/press/pr990105.htm
Tibet Support Group UK. Major Allegations On The Chinese Occupation n.page. online. internet. 11/23/99-available www.tibet/Why/occupation.html
Другие работы по теме:
Civil Liberties Essay Research Paper Civil LibertiesThe
Civil Liberties Essay, Research Paper Civil Liberties The term civil liberties refers to the “freedoms that individuals enjoy and that governments cannot invade”. These rights include a persons freedom of speech and religion.
Equal Rights Essay Research Paper Throughout history
Equal Rights Essay, Research Paper Throughout history equal rights has always been a major issue in the United States, and around the world. People have fought and even died to protect their rights and the rights of others in this country. Most people assume that colored citizens are the only one?s that are affected by the lack of equal rights, but that?s not true.
Buddhism Essay Research Paper BuddhismBuddhism is the
Buddhism Essay, Research Paper Buddhism Buddhism is the fourth largest religion of the world after Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism. Although it originated in India, it has been adopted in countries like Tibet, China, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia. Buddhism was founded in India by prince Siddhartha Gautam, who was born about 550 B.C in Northern India.
Basic Iseals Of Declaration Of Independance Essay
, Research Paper The introduction to the Declaration of Independence posses the basic of ideals of America. Four of the ideals extolled in the document are; equality, natural rights, consent if the
Abortion Essay Research Paper ConceptionI believe that
Abortion Essay, Research Paper Conception: I believe that life begins at the ending of the first trimester through the pregnancy. I consider it a human when there is a beating heart and a brain that is functioning. A beating heart to me represents that there is life, and that there is signs of growth, while still in the mother’s womb.
Animal Rights Essay Research Paper Chris Morra
Animal Rights Essay, Research Paper Chris Morra En-105-03 Animal Rights In Brigid Brophy s essay, The Rights of Animals, there are some statements that I agree with and some that I don t. Unlike Brigid Brophy, I am not a vegetarian, nor would I ever become one, but I do believe that animals have certain rights.
Ethics 3 Essay Research Paper EthicsThere are
Ethics 3 Essay, Research Paper Ethics There are many people in the world today that want their lives to end in a certain way. Some want to fulfill a dream or do something they weren t able to do before; yet there are some people who want to feel like they have done something for others which have helped another person in there live today.
The Revolutionary Trend Essay Research Paper In
The Revolutionary Trend Essay, Research Paper In every revolution, there seems to be a few guidelines that it must follow. It seems that almost all revolutions, in their radical phases, tend to have the characteristics of excessive cruelty, extreme violence, and denials of the rights of freedom. But the question that befuddles many is why they always become this way.
Abortion Essay Research Paper Abortion is pro
Abortion Essay, Research Paper Abortion is pro choice and women all over the United States are struggling and coping to make the critical decision. The genesis of a new human life begins when the egg with 23 chromosomes joins with a sperm with 23 chromosomes and creates a fertilized cell, called a zygote, with 46 chromosomes.
Abortion 11 Essay Research Paper In the
Abortion 11 Essay, Research Paper In the United States, one out of every four women decide to abort their baby during their pregnancy. Although, abortions are a greater problem in other countries such as the Soviet Union and Romania. In these countries over one-half of the pregnancies end in abortion. The amount of abortions in the United States is far less then in these countries.
Tibetan Independence Movement Essay Research Paper History
Tibetan Independence Movement Essay, Research Paper History of East Asia The Tibetan Independence Movement The Independence of Tibet is one of the hottest topics in the world today, undoubtedly due in part to the massive media exposure and attention given to the Dalai Lama and his movement in America. Recent Movies such as Kundun, The Wind Horse, and the extremely popular Seven Years in Tibet have had an astounding impact on the arousal of international awareness of Tibet s situation with China.
Citizenship Essay Research Paper 1 What is
Citizenship Essay, Research Paper 1. What is citizenship? According to The Citizenship debates, by the term citizenship, we must understand not only a bundle of formal rights, but the entire mode of incorporation of individuals and groups into the society (251). Citizenship is important because it has become a legal status carrying with it rights to certain things?perhaps immunities, perhaps possessions, perhaps expectations?available or available to many kinds of person for many kinds of reasons (37).
Nixon Essay Research Paper NixonI Civil
Nixon Essay, Research Paper Nixon I. Civil Rights A. Some people, mostly blacks, did not get equal rights. B. Nixon believed fundamentaly in responsible civil rights policy on
Nazi Essay Research Paper John Mendes 83000Critical
Nazi Essay, Research Paper John Mendes 8/30/00 Critical Thinking Philosophy 100 Singer?s Final solution Singer and the Nazis both took away the rights of other human beings. Both men took away rights because of physical ability, self-awareness, or intelligence.
Stealing Our Rights Essay Research Paper Stealing
Stealing Our Rights Essay, Research Paper Stealing Our Rights From the dawn of the first organized communities, to the powerful United States of America today, there have always been power hungry people who
Legislation Essay Research Paper What then is
Legislation Essay, Research Paper What, then, is legislation? It is an assumption by one man, or body ofmen, of absolute, irresponsible dominion over all other men whom theycan subject to their power. It is an assumption by one man, or body ofmen, of a right to subject all other men to their will and theirservice.
Tibet Essay Research Paper TibetTibet needs better
Tibet Essay, Research Paper Tibet Tibet needs better leadership. The Dalai Lama does not qualify as a good leader. If this man was a good leader, then he would have had this cleared up a long time ago. The life of the Tibetans is horrible. Their homes and living style has been changed ever since the invasion.
Kurds Essay Research Paper Even so 15
Kurds Essay, Research Paper Even so, 15 million individuals of Kurdish origin presently live in the Republic of Turkey. Kurds have for decades been subjected to economic disadvantages and human rights violations which bear the hallmarks of systematic persecution intent on destroying the Kurdish identity by silencing the Kurdish language and other cultural expressions through violence or censorship.
Tibetan Struggle For Independence Essay Research Paper
The Tibetan struggle for independence is illuminated by the flight of the Chinese controlled religious leader. China feels they have the right to persecute and destroy a culture that has survived peacefully for so many years. Unfortunately nobody is currently stopping them from these atrocities, but some shocking actions have been taking place recently in China.
China Foreign Policy Essay Research Paper Paul
China Foreign Policy Essay, Research Paper Paul Kanitra Public Policy Paper-Draft #1 9-28-99 Since the initial warming of U.S.-China relations in the early 1970’s, policymakers have had difficulty balancing conflicting U.S. policy concerns in the People’s Republic of China. In the strange world of diplomacy between the two, nothing is predictable.
Social Democracy Essay Research Paper Austria is
Social Democracy Essay, Research Paper Austria is a democratic, federal republic. The constitution of Austria provides for a distinct division of power among the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government. Basic human rights and liberties are granted by the constitution and so are the rights of minorities granted as well.
Seven Years In Tibet Essay Research Paper
It is a pleasure to report on the move Seven Years in Tibet. This film is about the transformation of an arrogant, self-absorbed bully by the name of Heinrich Harrer who becomes a compassionate and loving man. His change his brought about by the influence of the young Dalai Lama Buddhist religion. Throughout the coarse of the film, the Buddhist culture and beliefs are what change Harrer.
CHINESE OCCUPATION IN TIBET Essay Research Paper
I believe that Chinese occupation in Tibet is a tragedy that should be delt with before a total genocide of the Tibetan cultures occurs. This is a very serious topic that has been avoided since the late 1940’s.
Tibet Essay Research Paper Tibet is a
Tibet Essay, Research Paper Tibet is a peaceful country, which has never posed a threat to another nation and has even been thought of as the most religious country in the world. However, Tibet was invaded and annexed by China in 1950. Yet, China asserts that Tibet should be rightfully under its control. They argue that the Tibetans have signed documents that invited the Chinese to occupy Tibet in order to help the Tibetans.
Capitalism Essay Research Paper The protection from
Capitalism Essay, Research Paper The protection from force, that is, the protection of individual rights, would be achieved through the use of a police force to protect the rights of citizens at home; a military, to protect the rights of citizens from foreign aggression; and a court system to enforce contracts and settle disputes between citizens.
The Bill Of Rights Essay Research Paper
The Bill of Rights Bill of Rights The first ten amendments to the US constitution are called the Bill of Rights because they provide basic legal protection for individual rights. The
Article 23 Essay Research Paper Universal Declaration
Article 23 Essay, Research Paper Universal Declaration Of Human Rights ARTICLE 23 -Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment-
What Is Human Rights Abuse Essay Research
Paper What are Human Rights Abuses? Human Rights Abuses are occurrences where there are violations on an individual’s right to act in a way to make moral decisions. Tis includes violations against an individual’s political rights,worker rights, and freedom of religion,speech, press,peaceful assembly and association.
Human Rights Essay Research Paper Human rights
Human Rights Essay, Research Paper Human rights are universal, indivisible and interdependent. Human rights are what make us human. When we speak of the right to life, or development, or to dissent and diversity, we are speaking of tolerance. Tolerance will ensure all freedoms. Without it, we can be certain of none.
Locke And The American Political System Essay
, Research Paper John Locke and his ideas about philosophy was a major influence on the American political system, not to mention many other political systems, too. His ideas were very
Should Animals Be Used For Research Testing
? Essay, Research Paper Animal rights activists continually oppose the medical research that involves animals as test subjects. Too many people have come to the conclusion that medical researchers are cruel and inhumane. In many cases the good of the research is overlooked and the bad is used. Even though many people may believe that animal research is morally wrong, animal research should continue because it is critical to helping heal human lives.
Human Rights Essay Research Paper Human RightsThroughout
Human Rights Essay, Research Paper Human Rights Throughout history, people?s human rights have been violated, but efforts have also been made to address the violations, and protect their rights. Human rights are rights as regarded as belonging fundamentally to all persons. Today, everyone is entitled to the same rights.
Animal Rights Essay Research Paper Animal RightsNo
Animal Rights Essay, Research Paper Animal Rights No animal should be killed unless it is for food. None of the animals of this planet deserve to die. The only animal that can do bad is humans. Just because we think we rule the world this does not mean we are allowed to kill the creatures of the world we live in. Humans believe that they are the best of all animals, this is an extremely arrogant point of view.
Animal Rights 2 Essay Research Paper Animal
Animal Rights 2 Essay, Research Paper Animal Rights As Doctor Zola-Morgan stated in a speech to animal right activists, “I ve seen the impact of the animal rights movement. I believe this is an attack on science of the worst kind. If we allow it to prevail it will take us back to the dark ages.” Too much of the public has come to think of medical researchers as “tormenters rather than healers.” The good is overlooked and the bad is exploited.