Press Release
4 November 2013
In light of the recently concluded Universal Periodic Review of China’s human rights record by the United Nation Human Rights Council and China’s upcoming election to the seat of UNHRC, the Central Tibetan Administration deplores the China’s recent hardline stance vis-à-vis His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
In an article published in China’s Communist Party’s journal Qiushi on 1 November, Chen Quanguo, the Party Secretary of the Tibet Autonomous Region, openly stated plans to reinforce information blackout about His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Tibet by censoring television, radio broadcast and closely monitoring internet and telephone communications.
As China seeks to defend its human rights record, such statement clearly contradicts the spirit of the UN Human Rights Council for which China is seeking membership.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been a staunch supporter of the Middle-Way Approach, which seeks to resolve the long-standing problems in Tibet by remaining a part of China. This position is also shared by the Central Tibetan Administration based in India.
“Such counter-productive measures by the Chinese government to stifle free flow of information in Tibet will only further exacerbate the resentment of Tibetans inside Tibet. We are deeply concerned that such measures will give Chinese authorities free hand to intensify crackdown on Tibetans,” said Kalon Dicki Chhoyang of the Department of Information & International Relations.