Governments and NGOs Demand Visit of UN Human Rights Experts to Tibet Wednesday, 18 March 2009, 3:28 p.m.
Dharamshala: Representatives from government, human rights groups and Non Governmental Organisations (NGO) on Tuesday called on the Chinese government to allow UN human rights experts and independent observers to visit Tibet to assess human rights situation.Speaking on behalf of the European Union at the tenth session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Tomas Husak, the Czech Republic’s ambassador and permanent representative in Geneva expressed concern over China’s repressive measures being taken against those who wish to express their views peacefully, including human rights defenders.The Czech Republic reiterated that all those who wish to express their views peacefully should be allowed to do so, without fear of reprisal, including in Tibet.The European Union also noted the progress on economic and social rights made by China over the years.The United States expressed concern over increased detention of dissidents, petitioners, human rights defenders, religious freedom advocates and defense lawyers in China.The representative from Amnesty International called for access for UN human rights experts and other independent observers to investigate the human rights situation in the Tibetan Autonomous Region and in Tibetan populated areas in neighbouring provinces.“This Council has heard about, but not discussed sufficiently, the dire human rights situation in Tibet,” the representative said.The International Commission of Jurist (ICJ) condemned the arbitrary arrests and torture of Tibetans since China’s violent clampdown on peaceful protests in Tibet last year.The ICJ urged the UN High Commissioner to seek a visit to Tibet to assess the situation.”We wish to draw the Council’s attention to the growing number of Urgent Appeals transmitted to China by Special Procedure mandate-holders, including by the Special Rapporteur on Torture following the “people’s war” military crackdown against the predominantly 150 peaceful demonstrations on the Tibetan Plateau which started on this day last year,” Mr Tashi Choephel said on behalf of Asian Indigenous And Tribal Peoples Network.“We regret that many responses from the government of China are not available due to lack of translation and note with disappointment that in the information provided by China, the entire Tibetan Uprising last year is being portrayed as the “March 14th smashing, looting, beating and burning incidents”, without a shred of evidence that the Dalai Lama “instigated” the demonstrations,” he said.He further said: “Mr. President, today as Tibetans commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising Day of 1959, independent reports have analysed that the fate of more than one thousand Tibetans arrested last year remain unknown, including from the cases on which the Special Rapporteur on Torture intervened. In this period of the continuing crackdowns, a tense and uncertain atmosphere now prevails on the Tibetan Plateau with a huge military build-up. Reports emerge that 109 monks from Lutsang monastery in Qinghai province were “moved” yesterday to an undisclosed location after the Chinese authorities found them responsible for organizing a candle-light protest march which reached the Mangra county building on 25th February, the first day of the Tibetan New Year.”“With enforced disappearances being a major abuse confronting by the Tibetan people, we wish to know about the interventions the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances has initiated with China. Furthermore, we are hopeful that the Working Group will continue to pursue the outstanding case of the enforced disappearance of Gedhung Choekyi Nyima, the Eleventh Panchen Lama, who will turn 20 next month,” he added.–Based on a report filed by Tenzin Samphel KAYTA, Office of Tibet, GenevaRelated reports:UN Human Rights Council Discuss Tibet
