GENEVA, 12 March: The EU, USA, Germany, the Czech Republic, Sweden and Austria today expressed concern about the critical human rights situation in Tibet during the UN Human Rights Council 22nd Session.
“The EU is profoundly saddened by the numerous self-immolations in Tibetan-inhabited areas,” said the EU delegate to the UN Human Rights Council.
Speaking on behalf of the 27 members states, EU said it “encourages China to re-engage in constructive dialogue with the Tibetan people and to allow free access to the Tibetan autonomous area.”
EU further urged China to take steps to implement the right to freedom of expression including on the Internet – and freedom of assembly, and to release the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo and other prisoners of conscience.
The EU delegate deplored “the widespread use of the death penalty and calls on the Chinese authorities to take immediate steps to reduce its application whilst moving towards a moratorium.”
The US said China’s policies undermine linguistic, cultural and tradition of ethnic religious minorities – heightening tensions in Xinjiang and Tibetan areas of China.
“Recent decision to use criminal proceedings against families and associate of Tibetans who have self-immolated has further increased tension,” said US delegate.
It said China continues to silence dissidents through arrest, conviction, forced disappearances, extra legal detention & other forms of intimidations. The USA delegate highlighted the tightened controls on Internet, persecution of human rights lawyers and intimidates activist families. It also said China impedes civil society; harass domestic and international journalists and limits religious freedom.
Germany expressed it continued concern about human rights violations in China. It raised strong concerns about the recent reports about “detention and harsh sentences against Tibetans charging them with incitement and incitements to self-immolation.”
Germany called on the Chinese authorities to respect fundamental rights and rule of law. It urged China “to address the deep rooted causes of ongoing self-immolations in peaceful manner respecting cultural & religious rights of Tibetans.” And encouraged China to facilitate the visit of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in near future.
Czech Republic who has consistently raised the Tibetan issue in the UN said, “We would like to address overall human rights situation in China as lack of efforts by authorities to debate this issue. We remain deeply concern by the continuing self-immolations in Tibet.”
Czech raised the detention and prosecution of Tibetans “who have allegedly been associated with self-immolation protests of other Tibetans like Mr. Lorang Tsering and Mr. Lorang Konchok.”
In Austria’s statement, it delegate called upon the Chinese authorities to ensure that the rights of all minorities including Tibetans and Uyghurs are respected as guaranteed in China’s constitution. The Swedish delegation also express its governments concern on the rights of Tibetan and Uyghur people.
“We are particularly alarmed by the rising number of self-immolations among Tibetans,” said the Austria.
Mr. Tenzin S Kayta, speaking on the Society for Threatened Peoples said that the human rights in Tibet areas have significantly deteriorated since March 2008. The dignity of the Tibetans and their very basic human rights has been severely violated.
107 Tibetans from all walks of life have self-immolated since February 2009 calling for “return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama” and “freedom in Tibet”. Sadly 89 of them died.
There is a direct relationship between self-immolations and China’s political repression, economic marginalization, environmental destruction and cultural assimilation in Tibet areas.
He further said that there is no space for protest to express one’s grievances in Tibet today. In June 2012, a 17-year-old Jigme Dolma protested in Kardze region of eastern Tibet. The Chinese security forces beat her and two months later, she was sentenced to three years imprisonment.
He said though Chinese officials are saying “We have nothing to hide. Anyone can come and see by themselves”, yet China has failed to invite visit requests by 12 UN Special Procedures mandate holders as well as foreign journalists and diplomats are not allowed to travel to Tibetan areas.
Mr. Kayta said the International community must hold China accountable to its pledges and obligations to protect human religious freedom and freedom of expression of people in Tibetan, Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia.
