Latest US Congressional Report on TibetFriday, 23 October 2009, 3:03 p.m.
Dharamshala: The
Chinese Government and Communist Party strengthened the policies and
measures that frustrated Tibetans prior to the wave of Tibetan protests
that started in March 2008, the US Congressional-Executive Commission
on China’s 2009 report on Tibet released on 16 October noted. (Click here to read full report)The
report detailed Chinese government’s policies and measures on Tibet
which include: refusing to engage the Dalai Lama in meaningful talks;
amplifying the scope and hostility of the anti-Dalai campaign;
increasing the repression and control of religious freedom for
Tibetans; poor implementation of the PRC Regional Ethnic Autonomy Law;
and strengthening economic development initiatives that will increase
further the influx of non-Tibetans into the Tibetan autonomous areas of
China (and in doing so, increase the pressure on the Tibetan culture
and heritage). The report said that the Chinese government has
failed to provide adequate information about the detention,
prosecution, and release of Tibetans detained since 10 March 2008.The
government took no publicly reported steps during the Commission’s 2009
reporting year to allow international observers to visit Gedun Choekyi
Nyima, who turned 20 years of age in April 2009. Chinese officials have
held Gedun Choekyi Nyima and his parents in incommunicado custody at
unknown locations since May 1995, the report said.The
Commission observed the continued failure of Chinese officials to
protect the right of citizens to engage in free expression, as
guaranteed under the PRC Constitution and international law. “We
are deeply concerned about continued human rights abuses and stalled
rule of law reform documented in the Commission’s 2009 Annual Report.
Many Chinese government policies designed to address social unrest and
bolster the Communist Party’s authority are resulting in a period of
declining human rights for Chinese citizens,” said Senator Byron L.
Dorgan, Chairman of the Commission in a joint statement with
Representative Sander Levin, Cochairman of the Commission.
