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China: Minority Exclusion, Marginalization and Rising Tensions by HRIC report Ё೑Ҏᴗ HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA China: Minority Exclusion, Marginalization and Rising Tensions By HRIC. Commissioned by MRG. Farmer from the ancient Uyghur settlement of Kelpin, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Rhodri Jones/Panos Pictures Acknowledgements Minority Rights Group International Minority Rights Group International (MRG) gratefully Minority Rights Group International (MRG) is a non- acknowledges the support of DfiD and the Ford Foundation, governmental organization (NGO) working to secure the and all of the organizations and individuals who gave rights of ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities and financial and other assistance for this report. indigenous peoples worldwide, and to promote cooperation Project Coordinator: Zoe Gray, Report Editor: Katrina Naomi, and understanding between communities. Our activities are Production Coordinator: Richie Andrew focused on international advocacy, training, publishing and outreach. We are guided by the needs expressed by our The authors worldwide partner network of organizations, which represent Founded by Chinese students and scholars in 1989, minority and indigenous peoples. Human Rights in China (HRIC) is an international, Chinese, non-governmental organization (NGO) with a mission to MRG works with over 150 organizations in nearly 50 promote international human rights and advance the countries. Our governing Council, which meets twice a year, institutional protection of these rights in the People’s has members from 10 different countries. MRG has Republic of China. HRIC’s approach is a long term process consultative status with the United Nations Economic and of engaging multiple international actors, including the Social Council (ECOSOC), and observer status with the media, governments, corporations, and multilateral African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights organizations. HRIC also aims to maximise and leverage its (ACHPR). MRG is registered as a charity and a company resources by collaborating with other local, regional and limited by guarantee under English law. Registered charity international NGOs. no. 282305, limited company no. 1544957. The primary researchers and drafters for this report were HRIC research and advocacy staff Wing Lam, Bonny Ling and Carol Wang, with review and oversight by Executive Director Sharon Hom. © Minority Rights Group International 2007 All rights reserved Material from this publication may be reproduced for teaching or for other non-commercial purposes. No part of it may be reproduced in any form for commercial purposes without the prior express permission of the copyright holders. For further information please contact MRG. A CIP catalogue record of this publication is available from the British Library ISBN 1 904584 56X. Published February 2007. Typeset Kavita Graphics. Printed in the UK on recycled paper. China: Minority Exclusion, Marginalization and Rising Tensions is published by MRG as a contribution to public understanding of the issue which forms its subject. The text and views of the author do not necessarily represent in every detail and in all its aspects, the collective view of MRG. China: Minority Exclusion, Marginalization and Rising Tensions By HRIC. Commissioned by MRG. Contents Preface 2 Maps 4 Introduction 7 Legal framework: international obligations and PRC law 10 Limited and ineffectual political participation 13 Inequitable and discriminatory development 18 Inadequate protection of cultural identity 26 Conclusions: remaining challenges 33 Recommendations 34 Notes 36 Preface When the Central Committee of the Communist Party of as internal intimidation against ‘insurgents’. Finally, China announced its plans for building a harmonious as Han Chinese migrate to the urban centres of socialist society in 2006, President Hu Jintao said it autonomous regions, they are favoured for jobs and would be founded on ‘democracy, the rule of law, justice, bank loans. sincerity, amity and vitality.’ But a close examination of • Lack of protection of minority cultural identity: such the realities faced by three minority communities in expressions, particularly of religious identity, are China tells a different story. Behind the progress, there are often taken as examples of political separatism which brutal civil and political rights violations, with rising lev- can incur violent punishment. The education system els of exclusion, poverty and social unrest. is implemented in a way that denies Mongolian, Instead of tackling these problems at root, any Tibetan and Uyghur children the opportunity and actions that challenge the regime’s legitimacy have been ability to learn their own histories and languages, met with retribution. The government has promoted a and to practice their religions and cultures. Tibetan system that allows generations of repressions to go unac- children who wear traditional clothes or sing tradi- knowledged and as such remain unaddressed. State tional songs in class have experienced corporal sponsored violence has ensured no one dares to speak punishment, ridicule and abuse. out. This report shows the extent to which Hu Jintao’s ‘harmonious society’ is in reality a thinly veiled cam- The report shows how the PRC’s overarching agenda for paign to crack down and exert more control over society. ‘unity’ or ‘harmony’ undermines China’s stated commit- This report demonstrates how this repression is hav- ments to international law, and to the many minority ing a particularly grave impact on Mongols in the Inner rights protections that exist in its domestic policy. The Mongolia Autonomous Region (IMAR), Tibetans in the existence of such provisions in the Constitution provides Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) and Uyghurs in the further defence when criticisms of the state’s treatment Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR). It of minorities are raised. But the depth of unaddressed examines how this repression is being exerted under the discrimination minorities face provides a sharp contrast guise of ‘development’ and ‘security’. China continues to – even what constitutes ‘discrimination’ in the Constitu- use both its status as a ‘developing’ country and the jus- tion remains ambiguous. Signs at job fairs stating tification of the United States of America (USA)-led ‘Uyghurs need not apply’ are common. ‘war on terror’ to deter critics of its human rights poli- This report is critical for those in international gov- cies. Both provide a smokescreen for: ernments and business who are seeking to build trade • Ongoing exclusion from political participation: links with China, for journalists and human rights minorities are unable to exercise any significant legis- activists. It exposes China’s development strategy and the lative or administrative powers. There is a need for a exact price that ethnic minority communities continue genuinely inclusive process at the highest levels of to pay. It offers clear recommendations as to how this decision making. Women from minority communi- price can be redressed. ties are even further excluded than men. Evidence in China should devolve more legislative authority to the report shows that the very autonomy system that the autonomous regions so that there is genuine self- should empower self-governance in autonomous governance. Minority women and men should have regions works as a mechanism for minority exclusion more opportunities to serve at all levels of government. and state control. There should be transparency and inclusion, promoted • Inequitable development strategies: in the IMAR, by the central government, where issues concerning TAR and XUAR, oil and gas are piped away from development of minority lands, employment, access to autonomous regions to fuel Beijing, Shanghai and health and education arise. Laws that violate the right to other coastal cities. Benefits are rarely reinvested in freedom of cultural expression should be repealed. The local health and education. Further, as the PRC must ensure that children from minority areas are autonomous areas have been developed, they have supported in learning their language and culture, and been increasingly militarized. While this allows can practice their religion without fear. China should China to defend its international borders, it also acts ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political 2 CHINA: MINORITY EXCLUSION, MARGINALIZATION AND RISING TENSIONS Rights (ICCPR), and ensure its provisions and those in continues to meet protests with denial or violence, all other international treaties it has ratified are imple- grievances could accumulate and result in widespread mented and extended to minorities. discontent – an outcome that would undermine the Until these issues are addressed, the vicious cycle of PRC’s stated aim of a peaceful, prosperous nation. political, economic, social and cultural exclusion that results in human rights abuses will go on. If the PRC By Minority Rights Group International CHINA: MINORITY EXCLUSION, MARGINALIZATION AND RISING TENSIONS 3 China 0 500 1 000 km RUSSIA KAZAKHSTAN HEILONGJIANG MONGOLIA JILIN LIAONING XINJIANG UYGHUR AUTONOMOUS REGION NORTH KOREA INNER MONGOLIA BEIJING (XUAR) AUTONOMOUS REGION GANSU (IMAR) TIANJIN HEBEI SOUTH KOREA SHANXI NINGXIA HUI SHANDONG AUTONOMOUS REGION QINGHAI HENAN JIANGSU SHAANXI TIBET ANHUI SHANGHAI AUTONOMOUS REGION CHINA (TAR) HUBEI CHONGQING SICHUAN ZHEJIANG NEPAL BHUTAN HUNAN JIANGXI GUIZHOU FUJIAN BANGLADESH YUNNAN GUANGXI ZHUANG INDIA GUANGDONG AUTONOMOUS REGION BURMA VIETNAM LAOS HAINAN LIGHTLY SHADED AREAS SHOW THE THREE AUTONOMOUS
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