TIBET BRIEF A REPORT OF THE INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR TIBET
AUGUST 2016
China Demolishes Tibet's Largest IN THIS ISSUE
Buddhist Academy Larung Gar 1. China Demolishes Tibet's Largest Buddhist Academy Larung Gar
2. EU and China Hold their 18th Summit in Beijing
3. Dalai Lama’s 81st Birthday: Quiet Tributes in Tibet, Celebration Broken Up in Nepal
4. 2016 ‘Lhasa Consensus’ Draws Foreign Delegates to Endorse Beijing Propaganda on Tibet
5. Political Prisoner Focus
Demolition at the important religious institute of Larung Gar in Serthar, Sichuan (Kham, eastern Tibet) began last week with images appearing on social media in China, and netizens expressing concern and distress. 6. Reading Suggestion © ICT 7. Upcoming events The demolition of monks’ and nuns’ dwellings began last month at the 8. Cartoon by Fifi important Buddhist centre of Larung Gar in eastern Tibet, one of the world’s largest monastic institutions with a population of thousands of Chinese and Tibetan practitioners.
The demolitions were ordered by the Around 1400 houses were marked for authorities have intensified efforts county government - which gave no demolition in July, with nuns’ homes to attract investment and develop indication that Larung Gar’s religious and elderly peoples' hostels among tourism, and have invited several foreign leaders had any involvement in the the first buildings to be destroyed. delegations on propaganda visits to decision-making process. The order the region in recent months. Official stated that homes for all but 5,000 Local authorities denied the destruction tours by diplomats from Germany, UK, monks, nuns and laypeople would of the institute, and instead described Canada and other countries took place be demolished, and that “By 30 the demolitions as a ‘construction last month, which included visits to a September 2017, the population of development’ that is part of a process well-known Tibetan Buddhist monastery. the encampment must be limited of “accelerated urbanisation” towards to 5,000 persons” (translated into “a more orderly, beautiful, secure and As the demolition started, the Tibetan English by Human Rights Watch). peaceful land.” The Kardze prefectural lamas in charge of the institute, who have
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> Continued from page 1 a large following in China, have urged increasingly prominent in both Tibet and calm among religious practitioners at the China in recent years as a vital centre centre. They advised monks and nuns to for the study, practice, and promotion continue with their studies, insisting on of Buddhist teachings. These have been the importance of focusing on Buddhist difficult to access or non-existent in regular teachings, not the destruction of physical monasteries and nunneries as a result of dwellings. Despite their requests, restrictions put in place by the Chinese according to Radio Free Asia, a Tibetan government. Matteo Mecacci, President Buddhist nun called Rinzin Dolma of the International Campaign for Tibet, hanged herself on July 20, leaving behind said: “These demolitions are part of a set a note in which she said that “she could of policy measures implemented by the not bear the pain of the endless Chinese Chinese government that severely restrict harassment of innocent Buddhists the religious freedom of Tibetan Buddhists. who quietly studied at the institute." It is a regressive and dangerous approach Demolition at the important religious institute of aimed at managing and controlling Tibetan Larung Gar in Serthar, Sichuan (Kham, eastern Tibet) Larung Gar, located in Serthar (Chinese: Buddhism that sends a chilling signal to began last week with images appearing on social media in China, and netizens expressing concern Seda), in Kardze (Chinese: Ganzi) Tibetan the outside world about the pressures and distress. Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan (the faced by people seeking to peacefully Tibetan area of Kham) has become practice their religion in the PRC.”■
EU and China Hold their 18th Summit in Beijing The 18th bilateral Summit between the European Union and China took place in Beijing on 12-13 July.
President, Federica In advance of the Summit, ICT, along Mogherini, Vice- with the International Federation for President for Jobs, Human Rights (FIDH), Human Rights in Growth, Investment China (HRIC) and Amnesty International and Competitiveness, (AI), sent a letter to the President of the Jyrki Katainen, and European Council Donald Tusk, urging the Commissioner him to ensure that human rights remain for Trade, Cecilia at the centre of the EU – China talks. Malmström, also The joint NGO letter urged the EU to participated, and the publicly and unambiguously condemn EU leaders had talks the increasingly repressive environment with the Chinese and deteriorating human rights situation President Xi Jinping. in China. It also called for concrete action Donald Tusk, President of the European Council and Li Keqiang, Prime Minister in order for China to respect the rule of of China at the 18th EU-China Summit in Beijing on 12 July 2016. The discussions law and international human rights law. included investment, It also expressed concerns regarding climate change, the the trend of overarching securitisation The Summit was hosted by Premier Li, global refugee crisis, capacity in the in China’s laws and policies, in particular who represented the People’s Republic steel industry and the debate on market the vaguely worded new law on counter- of China, while European Council economy status for China. Leaders also terrorism, which links ‘terrorism’ with an President Donald Tusk and European agreed to have another round of the unclear ‘extremism’ tied to religion, and Commission President Jean-Claude human rights dialogue between the EU allows for the criminal prosecution of Juncker represented the European and China later this year in Brussels, Union. The High Representative/Vice- and signed an energy roadmap. > Continued on page 3
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Uyghur Muslims and Tibetan Buddhists major opportunities for the relationship, and security of Chinese society and the for virtually any manifestation of their in particular aimed at creating jobs and world order. (…) The EU and its Member religious and cultural beliefs in blatant growth in Europe as well as a greater States will continue to work with China contravention of international human opening up of the Chinese market to and its people to promote human rights rights law. European businesses, and highlights and foster the rule of law, civil society, opportunities for closer cooperation political accountability and freedom of Following the Summit, the Council of the and partnerships between the EU expression, association and religion. This European Union adopted on 18 July the and China in the fields of foreign and will require the full range of diplomatic, EU Strategy on China. Together with the security policy. According to this new advocacy and other tools at both bilateral Joint Communication to the European strategy, “the protection of human rights and multilateral level. The EU should Parliament and the Council “Elements will continue to be a core part of the also continue to urge China to release for a New EU Strategy on China” adopted EU's engagement with China. The EU political prisoners, ensure fair trials, and by the European Commission on 22 believes that treating human beings with fulfill its international commitments in June, it sets out the European Union's dignity and respect is essential if citizens terms of protecting the rights of people relationship with China for the next are to fulfill themselves and flourish belonging to minorities, not least in Tibet five years. The two documents identify creatively, and is good for the stability and Xinjiang.”■
Dalai Lama’s 81st Birthday: Quiet Tributes in Tibet, Celebration Broken Up in Nepal
Tibetans across Tibet celebrated the Dalai Lama’s 81st birthday on 6 July 2016, by burning incense and praying before his image placed on shrines, while a peaceful celebration by the Tibetan community in Kathmandu, Nepal, was broken up by police in riot uniform. the event. Police told community observed at close quarters how Tibetans to leave or peacefully the Tibetans were celebrating risk detention, and this important religious and cultural detained 28 people occasion, and the outcome.” The 28 people in the nearby police detained were released later that day, station. Radio Free following an intervention from Nepalese Asia reported that human rights advocates. The Nepalese police also pulled organisation Inhured (International down large portraits Institute for Human Rights, Environment of the Dalai Lama and Development) issued a press release that had been placed condemning the “unconstitutional and on a stage in the anti-human rights” actions of the police. school’s courtyard and A Tibetan man being detained by Nepalese police during the Dalai Lama’s scattered banners, In the context of a close relationship birthday celebration in Kathmandu on 6 July 2016. (Picture: phayul.com) flowers and other with the Chinese authorities, Nepalese offerings that had police have varied degrees of tolerance been arranged at the for celebrations of the Dalai Lama’s Nepalese police arrived in force at the site. A Tibetan present at the event said: birthday, an important and hugely Dalai Lama’s birthday celebrations held “It was very emotional, some people were symbolic occasion for Tibetans. While at a school in Boudhanath, Kathmandu, crying. This showed a very ugly face of last year a quiet celebration was on 6 July, even though official permission the Nepalese authorities; diplomats had been granted by the authorities for who had attended from the international > Continued on page 4
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> Continued from page 3 allowed to take place, in 2011, several locations stopping Tibetans heading to homes or at gatherings that may not hundred Nepalese riot police were the birthday celebrations. have been recorded on social media due deployed in various areas of Kathmandu to concerns about repercussions from to prevent Tibetans from celebrating In Tibet, video footage of a prayer the authorities. On the Dalai Lama’s the Dalai Lama’s birthday. They also ceremony in a monastery in Lithang, and birthday in 2013, two Tibetan monks confiscated pictures of the Dalai images of incense smoke in Draggo were were shot in the head and several Lama and birthday greetings hanging among the low-key celebrations of the others seriously injured after Chinese inside a walled courtyard at Samten Dalai Lama’s birthday observed through police opened fire at a peaceful crowd Ling monastery in the Boudha area of monitoring of social media. There are who had celebrated in Nyitso, Tawu, Kathmandu. The year before, in 2010, likely to have been many more quiet eastern Tibet (see Tibet Brief edition police set up checkpoints at different celebrations across Tibet in people’s 39 (September 2013)). ■
2016 ‘Lhasa Consensus’ Draws Foreign Delegates to Endorse Beijing Propaganda on Tibet
Questionable international endorsements of Beijing Propaganda on Tibet were recently highlighted by the Chinese Communist Party’s controlled media, while independent observers and institutions continue to be denied unhindered access to Tibet.
Chinese state media has circulated a This year's ‘Consensus’ used a (ICT) is concerned about the integrity ‘Lhasa Consensus’ as a result of the smokescreen of opaque terminology to of such a forum with individual foreign ‘Development Forum’, held in Lhasa on attract the backing of foreign delegates participants of the conference in 7-8 July 2016, which emphasized the and to convince them that China’s Lhasa, such as a German politician importance of ‘helping the world better land use policies, which are having a Markus Rudolph from the political party understand Tibet’ - political language devastating impact on Tibet’s fragile CDU. His colleague, Michael Brand, for the endorsement of Chinese environment, are aimed at conservation a German lawmaker who chairs the Communist Party propaganda. More of the plateau. Bundestag’s Human Rights Committee, than 130 researchers, officials and was refused access to China in May correspondents from over 30 countries Christine Davies, Vice President, Global after he criticised rights violations in attended the conference in Lhasa. The Partnerships, of the Asia Society, was Tibet (see Tibet Brief edition 54 (June Vice President of the Asia Society, the among delegates cited by Xinhua as 2016)). chief economist of the Environmental endorsing China’s environmental Defense Fund in the US, a German policies, saying: “As we have been “In the case of Tibet, it is astonishing politician and a French writer were informed or reminded of through several that foreign individuals representing among the participants. excellent tours and discussions this week, respectable institutions would endorse China intends to make sure that the Tibet Beijing propaganda,” said ICT President The Lhasa Consensus this year was Autonomous Region is firmly included Matteo Mecacci."While hundreds of worded more cautiously than the in its ambitious nationwide development Tibetan political prisoners are still in previous ‘Consensus’, produced after effort. The infrastructure development jail for expressing their views and while the first meeting of such a group in plans here are bold and far reaching.” Tibet continues to be practically sealed 2014, when foreign signatories came (Xinhua, 8 July 2016). off to all independent observers and under fire for endorsing a statement institutions, such as UN rapporteurs and that was hostile to the ‘Dalai Clique’. The International Campaign for Tibet major international NGOs.” ■
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Political Prisoner Focus Reading Suggestion
Khenpo Kartse Tibetan Democracy: Governance, Leadership and Conflict in Exile, by Trine Brox
Publisher: I.B.Tauris Publication Date: 30 May 2016
How do you govern some 130,000 people Khenpo Kartse in an undated photo taken after his release from prison. from exile? Tibet -and the struggles of (Photo from social media) diaspora Tibetans- are elements of an ongoing and highly debated issue. The Dalai Lama's democratisation process during his time in India between 1959- Khenpo Kartse, the popular and for his health in custody as medical 2011, and the subsequent election of respected religious teacher whose problems that were known before his Lobsang Sangay as prime minister-in- detention in 2013 sparked peaceful detention went untreated. He was kept exile, showed the Tibetan people the move protests and a silent prayer vigil (see in a cold cell and had inadequate food. away from a seemingly feudal societal structure and traditional theocratic Tibet Brief editions 41 (January 2014), governance. Central to these Tibetan 44 (July 2014) and 46 (November Khenpo Kartse’s imprisonment democracy aspirations is the 'freedom 2014)), has been released after attracted significant international struggle' in which Tibetans dream of an serving two and a half years in prison. attention, as well as expressions of ideal politics which includes both Tibetans solidarity and brave vigils by Tibetans residing in Tibet and those in exile, with the ultimate goal of returning to a self-ruled An abbot from Gongya monastery in in Tibet. Thousands of ICT supporters Tibet. However, some have questioned worldwide added their names to Nangchen, Yulshul (Yushu) Tibetan whether the fight for democracy has Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai, petitions for his release and his case helped or hindered a united and free Khenpo Kartse is well-known for his was raised by several governments in Tibet. To elucidate this complex debate, environmental activism and support dialogues on human rights with China. Trine Brox has undertaken extensive for the preservation of the Tibetan fieldwork investigating how democracy is viewed and practised amongst Tibetans language and culture. He was detained Full details are not available about in exile. She explores how the Tibetans on 6 December 2013 in the provincial circumstances or the exact date of his living in India imagine, organise and capital of Sichuan, Chengdu, and taken release, nor about his current health negotiate governance that is modern and to Chamdo (Qamdo or Changdu), where condition, and he is likely to be under democratic, but uniquely Tibetan. This he was apparently sentenced behind close supervision by the Chinese is an important book for those with an closed doors. There was concern authorities. ■ interest in Tibet, diaspora communities and democracy. ■
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UPCOMING EVENTS
▶ 8-10 SEPTEMBER 2016 ▶ 16 SEPTEMBER 2016 International Tibet Support Groups Conference in Tibet Solidarity Rally at the UN, Geneva (for more Brussels, Belgium information, contact [email protected])
▶ SEPTEMBER 2016 ▶ 16-19 OCTOBER 2016 Visit of the Dalai Lama to Europe (Brussels on Conference “Courage to Take Responsibility” at 9-11 September, for a Dialogue: http://www. FORUM 2000 in Prague, Czech Republic powerandcare.org/ and a Public Talk: http:// www.dalailama2016.be/ and Strasbourg on 17-18 ▶ NOVEMBER 2016 (TBC) September) 5th 16+1 Summit in Riga, Latvia
▶ 13-30 SEPTEMBER 2016 ▶ NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016 (TBC) Human Rights Council 33rd Session 35th EU-China Human Rights Dialogue
Cartoon by Fifi © ICT
A cartoon by Belgian artist Fifi (Philippe Sadzot).
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