Overview

The current situation in Karze Tibet Autonomous Prefecture (TAP), Sichuan Province, continues to be grim and tense.  Started on 6 June 2011, more and more peaceful protests – sloganeering, distributing pamphlets and raising Tibetan national flag- continue to be carried out by Tibetans from different walks of life in Karze. They are raising their voices in demand for the “return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet, “Independence for Tibet” and “Freedom in Tibet”.

Fear over the possibility of more peaceful protest coupled with two politically sensitive anniversaries going on in China, a large number of securities personnel have been deployed in the region.  The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), a Dharamsala based NGO, reported deployment of thousands of troops to suppress peaceful protesters and people are reportedly living in a climate of fear.

As of 5 July 2011, the Dharamsala-based Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) has identified more than 39 Tibetans arrested in Karze.

1) Military build-up

In order to brutally suppress the peaceful protests, the Chinese authorities have stepped up security measures in and around the Karze region since 6 June 2011. According to a foreign tourist who visited Karze recently said: “There are thousands of police and army, in riot gear, in trucks patrolling the streets, and on foot in formation patrolling the streets.  As well as many standing on street corners, and many more in plain clothes”. 1

The same source also reported that the number of security personnel has doubled during his second visit to Karze region.

Photos showing presence of heavy security forces in the Karze region during the holy Buddhist month of Saga Dawa (month of June) are available at https://tibet.net/en/index.php?id=2440&articletype=flash&rmenuid=morenews&tab=1.

A Tibetan in contact with people living in Karze reported that “the current security situation in Karze is extremely tense, with Karze County town completely locked down by paramilitary forces who have set up so many checkpoints – there’s one at every road junction…” 2

2) Freedom of Speech and Expression

The Chinese constitution guarantees freedom of speech and expression to its citizen. Under this right, citizens are free to express their views and opinions through any medium they seem fit. However the Chinese authorities do not respect this right in practice.  Since 6 June 2011, the Chinese authorities imposed heavy restriction on people’s rights to freedom of speech and expression.

Tibetans were arrested on the charge of exercising their basic rights to freedom of speech and expression through peaceful protests.

3)  Restriction over Freedom of Movement

With the ongoing peaceful protests in Karze and the politically significant 90th Anniversary of Communist China, Tibetan people’s freedom of movement is strictly restricted.

According to Radio Free Asia (RFA) the Chinese authorities in Karze imposed strict restriction over the movement of Tibetans, especially nuns and monks. Authorities have ordered the monks and nuns in Karze not go out to the town without prior permission. Nuns and monks need to take their identity cards while travelling. Failure to do so often results in being arrested by the Chinese police.

On 27 June 2011, two nuns of Lamdrak monastery – Chemi, 37 years-old, and Choega – were arrested on their way to work at a Tibetan clinic built by the Lamdrak Rinpoche, who had also built schools for girls in Karze. The two nuns were arrested on the charge of failing to produce their identity cards.3

It was also reported that those Tibetans who needed to visit the hospital for medical check up should seek written permission from the local authorities and must be accompanied by a government official. Failure to conform to the diktat would result in arrest.

4) Arbitrary Arrest

The Chinese Constitution (article 37) guarantees rights against arbitrary arrest and under this right, no citizen can be arrested without a formal arrest warrant.  However, since 6 June 2011 more than 39 Tibetans have been arrested arbitrarily.

These 39 Tibetans, mostly monks and nuns, were arrested on the charge of exercising their fundamental freedom of speech and expression.  The fate of these 39 Tibetans remains unknown as the Chinese authorities refuse to disclose information on them and till date no family members were allowed to visit them. 4

5) Brutal Treatment of Tibetans

The main demands of the current protesters in Karze region are “Freedom for Tibet”,”Human Rights in Tibet” and” The Return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama”. Instead of addressing the legitimate demands of the Tibetan people, the Chinese authorities are suppressing them brutally.

From the 39 reported cases of arrest, in most of the cases the peaceful protesters were subjected to severe beatings.  The Chinese police used iron batons to beat them and had them forcibly taken in police trucks.

Conclusion

It is clear that the human rights situation inside Tibet, particularly in Karze region, is deteriorating amidst a dramatic increase of Chinese repression and brutality.  With the kind of repressive measures that are imposed by the Chinese authorities, there is a possibility of more protests at any time and hence arrest of many Tibetans in the Karze region.

1. http://www.tchrd.org/press/2011/pr20110629.html

2. http://www.savetibet.org/media-center/ict-news-reports/dozens-tibetans-imprisoned-new-wave-kardze-demonstrations-protest-lhasa-kardze-monk

3. http://www.rfa.org/tibetan/chediklaytsen/khamlaytsen/kham-stringer/two-tibetan-nun-detained-in-karze-07012011101837.html

4. https://tibet.net/en/index.php?id=2418&articletype=flash&rmenuid=morenews&tab=1#TabbedPanels