Geneva: At the ongoing 42nd session of the UN Human Rights Council, a Tibetan representative voiced concern over an unabated violation of Tibetan religious rights with impunity by China at the 14th meeting of the session on Monday, 16 September.
Expressing concern over China’s heightening crackdown on Tibetan religious rights and its interference over Tibetan Buddhist reincarnation system in particular, Ms. Kalden Tsomo, UN Advocacy Officer at the Tibet Bureau in Geneva, speaking on behalf of Society for Threatened Peoples called for council’s attention over China’s “erroneous move in diluting centuries-old Tibetan Buddhist practices of reincarnation system”.
China’s interferences over reincarnation system “to meet its political goal” is “extremely concerning” that “requires council attention”, said Ms. Kalden Tsomo.
She also drew the council’s attention on recent Chinese official orders banning all retired Tibetan officials from performing Kora, a Tibetan spiritual practice of circumambulating a sacred site while reciting prayers. She further added reports of Chinese authorities in Lhasa Middle School, Chamdo and Lhoka Tsethang prohibiting Tibetans students partaking in any religious festivities particularly during Saga Dawa, the holiest Tibetan Buddhist month.
Mentioning the case of Tashi Wangchuk, an imprisoned Tibetan language rights advocate, she said his lawyer was “yet again denied to access him earlier this year”.
Ms. Kalden concluded her statement by urging the council to “Encourage the People’s Republic of China to resume meaningful dialogue with the representatives of His Holiness the Dalai Lama on the basis of the Middle Way Approach”. Click here to watch the full proceedings of the session.
-Filed by Tibet Bureau in Geneva