Tibet Under Siege - Part 1

Tibet Under Siege

By Jane Ayers

It is now very obvious to the world community: something is very wrong and very bad in Tibet to make these peaceful monks and nuns set themselves on fire. The whole world is watching in sadness and shock, and every time another Tibetan dies from these acts, the collective heartbreaks, but the world's eyes are also opened. Why, why, why? What is happening?

The Tibetan hunger strikers (who just ended their 30 day fast outside the United Nations) pointed out that "undeclared martial law" is in effect. Obviously the immense concern is a reality: Chinese officials conducted a formal closure to all foreigners (and journalists) to the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) from February 20 to March 31, and have many monasteries locked down.

It is during this time period that the majority of protesting Tibetan monks and nuns has been setting themselves on fire. Thirty Tibetans are confirmed to have self-immolated since the first on February 27, 2009. But alarmingly - and most important - it is over the past two weeks (since March 16) that most of these self-immolations have taken place. These suicides are occurring in the blackout period happening right now, during the crackdown by Chinese authorities on all monasteries of Tibet. Many monasteries are in lockdown, and all communication to the outside world has been shut down.

These fire suicides include 25 men and 5 women. Out of the 30 Tibetans, 22 are known to have died following their protest with fire. Six of the monks (of the 30 total) were from the Kirti Monastery in Ngaba, and eight were former monks at the same monastery. The two nuns who self-immolated were from Mame Dechen Chokorling nunnery in Ngaba.

Tibetan Youth Sets Himself on Fire to Protest Chinese President's Arrival at Economic Summit in India

Just two days ago, one more Tibetan-in-exile youth, Jampa Yeshi, set himself on fire and ran through the streets outside the BRICS 5-Nation Economic Summit in New Delhi, India. Chinese President Hu Jintao is to meet with leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, and South Africa this week. Jampa Yeshi, who had escaped from Tibet in 2006, was rushed to the hospital with critical injuries, suffering burns over 85% of his body. He died this morning.

 The Associated Press reported today that China blamed the Dalai Lama of "single handedly" planning this specific suicide in India because the Chinese President was visiting. Tibetan rights groups announced that it was not planned, and was a surprise to all when it occurred. The Dalai Lama has stated that the self-immolations resulted because of the "cultural genocide by Chinese."

The International Campaign for Tibet stated that "the Chinese government is the responsible party as the restive situation in Tibet continues to escalate, and Tibetans continue to sacrifice themselves to free others from the suffering."

What brutal conditions in Tibet are the monks and nuns trying to alert the world to? These highly dedicated Buddhist practitioners do not believe in suicide, knowing deeply what such actions do to their soul's journey, so for them to actually self-immolate is a desperate act to alert the world of something causing great despair.

The regions in Tibet that the Chinese forces have closed off are the Tibetan provinces of Sishuan and Qinghai. These are the provinces where most of the Buddhist monks/nuns have been protesting and self-immolations have occurred.

Reporters Without Borders Alarmed at Blackout in Tibet

Reporters Without Borders released a new crisis report on February 22 entitled "Tibet Cut Off From Rest of the World," in which their journalists reveal, "The head of the Communist Party in Tibet, Chen Quanguo, has ordered local authorities to step up surveillance of all means of communication, particularly mobile phones and internet, in order to 'maintain the public's interest and national security.'

"Reporters without Borders is alarmed at the blackout imposed by Chinese authorities on the provinces of Sichuan and Qinghai, as well as the TAR, preventing all media coverage of the protest movement there.

"Out of sight of the world, a major crisis is unfolding. As in the past, the Chinese authorities aim to control the Tibetan people behind closed doors, excluding journalists, foreign ones in particular, who might be troublesome witnesses of what is happening."

In late January 2012, Chinese security forces killed several people when they fired on Tibetans in a peaceful demonstration. Since then, there has been a massive buildup of security forces in Tibet.

Tibet's Parliament-in-Exile Passes Emergency Resolution

 On February 23, Lobsang Sangay, Prime Minister of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, headquartered in Dharamsala, passed an Emergency Resolution to highlight the current grim atmosphere in Tibet, and to seek help from the international community to end the current crisis.

At a press conference in India, PM Sangay stated, "The resolution makes it very clear; the Tibetans are in really critical condition. Thirty Tibetans have self-immolated, of which twenty-two have died, and many are in critical condition. The reasons are very clear; the self-immolators and the peaceful protestors are showing their resentment against the continuing occupation of Tibet and the repressive policies of the Chinese government. What the self-immolators, and those who have died, and those who are imprisoned, are demanding or seeking is for H.H. Dalai Lama to return to Tibet and freedom be restored for Tibetans inside Tibet."

Three Hunger Strikers Conduct Indefinite Fast for Tibet

On the first day of the Tibetan New Year, February 22, three Tibetan hunger strikers started their plea for justice outside the United Nations building in New York City by conducting a water-only Indefinite Fast for Tibet, organized by the Tibetan Youth Congress, the largest worldwide organization for Tibetans.

The three hunger strikers were: His Eminence 11th Shingza Rinpoche Tenzin Choekyi Gyaltsen, age 32, founder/editor of Wokar.net, a site that is popular with Tibetan scholars and writers; Dorjee Gyalpo; and Yeshi Tenzing, age 39. The hunger strikers had five requests for the United Nations to consider in an effort to end the crisis in Tibet:

1.     to immediately send a fact-finding delegation to Tibet to assess the critical situation there;

2.     to urge China to stop the undeclared martial law in Tibet;

3.     to urge China to allow international media to investigate and report on the ongoing atrocities in Tibet;

4.     to urge China to release the Panchen Lama, Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, and all political prisoners;

5.     and to urge China to stop its 'Patriotic Re-Education' campaign in Tibet.

United Nations Officials Respond to Hunger Strike

On March 10, the Tibetan Uprising Day rally in New York City took place. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon voiced concern for the Tibetan hunger strikers.

On March 12, which marked day 30 of their hunger strike, United Nations Asst. Secretary General Ivan Simonovic met with the three hunger strikers. The three Tibetans told him that before they would consider ending their hunger strike, they wanted "concrete action" by the Chinese authorities to end the current crackdown in Tibet. Mr. Simonovic agreed that he would convey their concerns "to the relevant Special Rapporteur, and to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva, in line with established procedures in handling human rights matters."

The three hunger strikers gave their list of 5 Requests to Mr. Simonovic and ended their victorious hunger strike at the United Nations. However, Dorjee Gyalpo had to be hospitalized due to his deteriorating condition, and from his hospital bed he continued his hunger strike to ensure real change by the United Nations.

Mary Beth Markey, President of the International Campaign for Tibet, announced, "We sincerely hope that the hunger strike will draw the attention of the United Nations to the critical situation in Tibet and compel China to change its policies."

In a press conference in Dharamsala, India, the Prime Minister of Tibet-in-Exile, Lombay Sangay, further stated, "There were three hundred strikers in front of the UN, supporting the three hunger strikers, stating for the UN to investigate the real conditions inside Tibet. Truth will be heard, supported, and will prevail. Many NGOs have urged the United Nations to send Special Rapporteurs or an envoy to Tibet to investigate the repressive policies of the Chinese government, especially the brutal repressive policies since 2008, which has been an unprecedented brutality.

"The Australian Ambassador in China has requested to be allowed to go to Tibet immediately. 1.2 million Tibetans have lost their lives since the 1950s. We are seeking the return of H.H. the Dali Lama to Tibet, to his rightful place at the Pogola Palace in the capital of Tibet, and we are seeking freedom for Tibetans inside Tibet."

Worldwide Vigil to Highlight Martial Law in Tibet

The Tibet-in-Exile Prime Minister Sangay had previously called for the worldwide vigil that took place on February 8 because "Tibet is under martial law." He claimed, "Basic human rights are being denied to Tibetans, the fragile environment is being destroyed, the Tibetan language and culture is being assimilated, portraits of H.H. Dalai Lama are banned, and Tibetans are being economically marginalized. The only way to resolve the Tibet issue and bring about lasting peace is by respecting the rights of the Tibetan people and through dialogue."

Richard Gere Sends Encouraging Word to Tibet From UN

Richard Gere, Chairman of the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) also had attended the Indefinite Fast for Tibet gathering with hunger strikers outside the United Nations building in NYC. He stated in a message to all Tibetans in Tibet, "There is a correlation to be a member of the United Nations that you implicitly agree to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They are legally bound to give you basic human rights: freedom of assembly, freedom of language, freedom of religion, and access to health care, all the basic rights that most of the rest of the world have.

Gere pointed out, "We are at the United Nations to make it be clear: You deserve to be treated a certain way.... These hunger strikers are very good representatives of your views of forgiveness, love and compassion, and there is no anger and no hatred associated with the hunger strike. It is a strike for world responsibility."

Chinese Officials Now Infiltrating All Monasteries Permanently

But the Tibetans (inside Tibet) had been dealing with big changes in their regions. Major tensions had already been intensified on January 4, 2012, when Chen Quanguo, the Party Secretary of the Tibetan Autonomous Region, had announced that the Chinese government or party officials would now be permanently stationed in all monasteries inside Tibet.

Human Rights Watch considered this official decision a troubling indication that China is becoming increasingly controlling and invasive in its religious repression in Tibet.

These current policies obviously contributed to the enhanced tensions that exacerbated the current self-immolations and protests by the monks and nuns, a culmination of increased intimidations occurring since 2008.

At present, there are 1787 Tibetan monasteries still allowed to operate in the TAR. Chinese officials state that they are establishing "harmonious monasteries" and that they are ensuring that "monks and nuns have the freedom to perform their religious rituals."

The Human Rights Watch director in China, Sophie Richardson, states, "Although the Chinese government has placed many restrictions on the practice of religion in Tibet, these new regulations represent an entirely new level of intervention by the State. This measure, coupled with the increasing presence of government workers within monasteries, will surely exacerbate tensions in the region."

She added, "If the Chinese government is committed to reducing tension in Tibetan areas, it should repeal these policies immediately."

China's Premier Wen Jiabao stated this week, "We should respect Tibetan compatriots' freedom of religious belief, and treat all of our Tibetan compatriots with equality and respect." But the monks and nuns would not be protesting so adamantly if this "respect" were being given. Possibly they are resisting a "re-education" by Chinese forces. These policies are hitting the core of the being of all Buddhist Tibetan monks and nuns who have been practicing their Dharma given to them by H.H. the Dalai Lama. This cultural, spiritual connection and loyalty is at the heart of Tibetan Buddhism.

Karmapa's Perspective of Current Tibetan Crisis

On February 6, the young 17th Gyalwang Karmapa released a statement that focused on the current crisis. The Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje, now assisting the H.H. Dalai Lama by teaching the Tibetan Lineage Dharma path, stated, "Having been given the name Karmapa, I belong to a 900-year-old reincarnation lineage that has historically avoided any political engagement, a tradition I have no interest in changing. And yet, as a Tibetan, I have great sympathy and affection for the Tibetan people and I have great misgivings about remaining silent while they are in pain. Their welfare is my greatest concern."

 The 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje grieved, "Each new report of a Tibetan death brings me immense pain and sadness: there were three in a single day and is more than a heart can bear. I pray that these sacrifices have not been in vain, but will yield a change in policy that will bring our Tibetan brothers and sisters relief."

He also stated, "Tibetan demonstrations and self-immolations are a symptom of deep but unacknowledged dissatisfaction. If Tibetans were given a genuine opportunity to lead their lives as they wished, preserve their language, religion, and culture, they would neither be demonstrating nor sacrificing their lives ...

"China speaks of having brought development to Tibet, and when I lived there it was materially comfortable. Yet prosperity and development have not benefitted Tibetans in the ways that they consider most valuable. Material comfort counts for little without inner contentment. Tibetans live with the constant suspicion that they will be forced to act against their conscience and denounce H.H. the Dalai Lama."

The Karmapa further stated, "The Chinese authorities persistently portray His Holiness as the enemy. They have rebuffed his repeated efforts to find a peaceful and negotiated solution to the Tibetan-Chinese problem. They dismiss the heartfelt faith and loyalty with which the Tibetan people universally regard His Holiness.

"Even Tibetans born in Tibet decades after H.H. the Dalai Lama had gone into exile still regard him as their guide and refuge, not only for this life, but for life after life. Therefore, constantly depicting H.H. the Dalai Lama in hostile terms is an affront that benefits no one. In fact, striking at the heart of Tibetan faith damages the prospect of winning Tibetans' trust. This is neither effective nor wise. "

The Karmapa offered further advice to China, stating, "I call on the authorities to see past the veneer of well-being that local officials present. Acknowledging the real human distress of Tibetans in Tibet and taking full responsibility for what is happening there would lay a wise basis for building mutual trust between Tibetans and the Chinese government. Rather than treating this as an issue of political opposition, it would be far more effective for Chinese authorities to treat this as a matter of basic human welfare."

The Karmapa ended his statement, "In these difficult times, I urge Tibetans who are in Tibet to stay true to yourself, keep your equanimity in the face of hardship, and remain focused on the long-term, and always bear in mind that your lives have great value, as human beings and as Tibetans."

Advice from the International Campaign on Tibet

Lodi Gyari, Executive Chairman of the International Campaign on Tibet (ICT), stated on March 23, "The international community and particularly world leaders now understand that the Tibetans are rising up against oppression and mis-rule, and that, therefore, it is only the Chinese authorities who can bring this tragic situation to a close."

According to ICT, during a recent visit to Dharamsala, India, ICT President Mary Beth Markey met with several monks from Tibet's Kirti monastery. She asked the monks what would help stop the self-immolations, and they responded, "When China stops demeaning our culture, our identity, our language, and our leader, H.H. Dalai Lama."

In January, ICT Chairman Richard Gere delivered a speech about the world's choice in dealing with China, as either "money or truth." Gere had previously stated, "H.H. the Dalai Lama continues to focus on the six million Tibetans still living in Tibet. His return will depend entirely on the rights and well-being of Tibet and its people." Referring to the Tibetans in exile, he noted, "They have been dislocated from their homeland since 1959. Under the continuing brutal occupation of the Chinese, thousands of Tibetan refugees risk their lives every year escaping to freedom to India, Nepal, Mongolia, and elsewhere."

 Concern for Tibetans in Nepal

Anytime any country brings up China's human rights violations, China responds that no other country should interfere in China's domestic affairs, but at the same time, China itself pressures other countries to refuse Tibetans any kind of refuge. Nepal is an example of this precedent since it is the main escape route for refugees from Tibet. Beijing is trying to block this escape route for Tibetans by training Nepal security forces to increase its human rights violations against Tibetans.

Two weeks ago, at the UN Human Rights Council's 19th Session in Geneva, the International Commission of Jurists and Human Rights Watch voiced their concerns for the safety of Tibetans in Nepal, noting the escalating manner in which the police forces have prevented Tibetans from exercising their rights of freedom of movement. Currently, there are approximately 20,000+ Tibetan refugees living in Nepal.

Last week, the UK government delegate to the UN Human Rights Council called on the Nepal government to "adhere to international Treaties" and protect the rights of Tibetans living in Nepal. This same UN human rights monitoring group had to close its offices in Nepal last December, under the demands of the government of Nepal.

Seeking Release of H.H. Panchen Lama

The Tibetan Policy Act of 2002 states that the US Ambassador to China should actively pursue meeting with the 11th Panchen Lama, whom Tibetans allege was removed from his home by Chinese authorities in 1995, and held incommunicado since that time. The US Ambassador to China should also request immediately that the Chinese government allow the Panchen Lama to freely pursue his religious studies, especially within the Tibetan Buddhist lineages in which he has a position of authority and responsibility for the continuation of the culture.

If China cares about a peaceful future with Tibet, then they can make a major goodwill gesture to prove this: release Gedhum Choekyi Nyima, the Tibetan Panchen Lama, a young innocent "soul boy," the second highest spiritual leader in Tibetan Lineage Buddhist rites.

After spiritual leader H.H. the Dalai Lama blessed this "soul boy" as the "authentic" Panchen Lama in 1995, the Chinese government declared his selection of this child "totally illegal and invalid" and installed its own selected version immediately.

The young authentic Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, subsequently vanished along with his family and Chadred Rinpoche, the abbot of Tashilhunpo Monastery (who had helped H.H. the Dalai Lama in the appointing process). For years now, Tibetans have had to endure the pain of worry and concern over the safety of their beloved Panchen Lama, and many Tibetan monks, nuns and lay people have been detained in connection with the dispute. After years of denial from the Chinese government, they finally admitted that they were indeed holding the Panchen Lama incommunicado all these years.

According to the International Committee of Lawyers for Tibet, "China's interference in the search for the Panchen Lama almost certainly violates international law protections for the Tibetans' rights to freedom of religion, and also freedom of opinion and expression. In addition, the Panchen Lama's detention undoubtedly violates his rights to liberty and to be free of religious discrimination ... There is no doubt that Gedhun Choekyi Nyima's rights as an individual have been violated by his arbitrary detention.

"The detention of an innocent boy for his religious status alone violates the right to be free of religious discrimination under the Universal Declaration, the International Covenant on Civil & Political Rights, the Declaration on the Elimination of Religious Intolerance and Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief and perhaps more importantly, the United Nations Charter to which China has bound itself by its membership."

 H.H. the Dalai Lama has noted that "The search and recognition of the Panchen Lama's reincarnation is a religious matter. Because of the unique historical and traditional relationship between the Dalai Lamas and the Panchen Lamas, I conducted all the necessary religious procedures with great care, and then determined Gedhun Choekyi Nyima as the reincarnation of the late Panchen Lama. Therefore, my Recognition of the Panchen Lama's reincarnation cannot be changed."

He emphasized, "It's unfortunate that the Chinese government has chosen to politicize this issue and appointed a rival Panchen Lama, and it saddens me that once again the religious sentiments of my People have been deeply hurt and offended.

"At this moment, the safety of the Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, and his proper religious training is of particular concern to me. He has not been seen in public for years, and is reported to be detained somewhere in Beijing. I, therefore, appeal to all governmental, religious and human rights organizations for their intervention in ensuring the safety and freedom of our young Panchen Lama."

To be continued.

This article was published at NationofChange at: http://www.nationofchange.org/tibet-under-siege-1333373853. All rights are reserved.

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"The master class has always declared the wars; the subject class has always fought the battles. The master class has had all to gain and nothing to lose, while the subject class has had nothing to gain and everything to lose--especially their lives." Eugene Victor Debs