Dharamshala: The Central Tibetan Administration is highly concerned by the brutal crackdown on peaceful Tibetan protesters in Derge, Tibet by the authorities of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) resulting in mass arbitrary detention and injuries to many Tibetans. Since last month, Tibetans have been appealing to halt the planned construction of hydroelectric power plant that would result in forceful relocation of hundreds of Tibetans from their ancestral village and destruction of centuries-old monasteries dating back to the 13th century that house a wealth of ancient relics and murals of Buddha.
On 14 February 2024, at least 300 Tibetans peacefully protested outside the Derge (Ch: Dege) County government in Karze “Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture” in the traditional province of Kham, now incorporated into Sichuan Province, appealing to stop the hydroelectric dam construction and to withdraw the official order for Tibetans to relocate. A week later, on 20 and 21 February, County officials and security forces in large numbers arrived at the two monasteries – Wontoe and Yena – in Wonpotoe (Tibetan: དབོན་པོ་སྟོད། Ch: Wangbuding) township to prepare for their demolition. At that time, a large number of Tibetans appealed again by kneeling and crying in desperation to the Chinese officials to stop the demolition. Chinese police deployed in the region on 22 February severely beat Tibetans using weaponries resulting in injuries that necessitated hospitalization for many participating in the peaceful protest and also led to mass arrest and detention.
The construction of Kamtok (Ch: Gangtuo) dam, the 6th of 13 dams proposed along the upper reaches of Yangtze river, or Drichu in Tibetan, will submerge two villages – Wonpotoe (or Wontoe for short as locally known) in Derge County, Karze, and Shepa Village in Jomda County in Chamdo (Ch: Changdu) – as well as six monasteries along the riverbanks namely Yena, Wontoe, Khadho, Rabten, Gonsar and Tashi Monastery. Additionally, the Wontoe and Yena monasteries are at immediate risk of irreparable destruction of its ancient relics and murals of historical and religious significance.
Tibetan protesters are primarily concerned about the Chinese authorities’ failure to legitimately consult with local Tibetans whose traditional livelihoods and customary way of lives are at the risk of facing complete disruption with the planned dam construction to which they have no say. The massive power of this hydroelectric plant, capable of generating 1.1 million kilowatts of electricity, will be transferred through the Ultra High Voltage “West to East” (Ch: xi dian dong song) transmission network only to Chinese cities, while Tibet will not be benefited from the hydropower plant in any significant way.
This recent crackdown on peaceful Tibetan protesters in Derge County demonstrates the disregard for the fundamental rights and freedoms of the Tibetan people by the Chinese Communist Party. Currently, the Chinese authorities have completely shut down internet access and censored information relating to the protest on social media platforms as part of the widespread security clampdown in the area.
Sikyong Penpa Tsering, the President of the Central Tibetan Administration, said, “The crackdown of non-violent protests in Derge, as well as the disregard for Tibetans’ fundamental rights by the Chinese authorities, is unacceptable on all levels. These punitive measures demonstrate China’s preference for its communist ideology and economic interests over ensuring and upholding fundamental human rights of Tibetans. We urge the PRC government to immediately release all Tibetans detained in Derge protests and to respect the rights and aspirations of Tibetans. There is an urgent need for the world to hear the Tibetan voices and to confront the reality of Chinese misrule in Tibet.”
As we have urged and communicated to all foreign ministries, UN bodies and relevant offices for immediate attention and action, we reiterate our appeals to the international community, to call upon the PRC government to:
- Immediately and unconditionally release these Tibetan protesters who have been wrongfully detained for exercising their fundamental rights and to ensure proper and timely medical treatment for the injured Tibetans;
- Immediately halt the construction of mega hydropower dams in Tibet without the consent of the local population and taking into consideration its ecological implications;
- End the current crackdown, the forced and involuntary mass relocation of Tibetans from their ancestral lands and stop forced relocation without their consent in order to implement so-called economic development projects;
- Respect the religious sentiments and rights of the Tibetan people to practice and preserve Tibetan Buddhism and ancient monasteries;
- As a signatory to multiple international covenants and treaties, the PRC government must respect the rights and aspirations of the Tibetan people.
Dharamsala, March 7 2024