Wednesday, 24 April 2013

Severe repression in Tibet says US Human Rights Report

DHARAMSHALA, April 22: US Department of State has released a Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2012 in which says the China's respect for and protection of human rights in Tibet "deteriorated markedly".

"The [Chinese] government engaged in the severe repression of Tibet's unique religious, cultural, and linguistic heritage by, among other means, strictly curtailing the civil rights of China's ethnic Tibetan population, including the freedoms of speech, religion, association, and movement," report says.

It highlights human rights violation in Tibet, including Tibetan self-immolation, freedom of speech and press, internet freedom, arbitrary arrests and detention, freedom of religion and movement and many others.

"Repression was severe throughout the year but increased in the periods before and during politically and religiously sensitive anniversaries and events,"

In 2011, 85 Tibetans have set themselves on fire in Tibet calling for freedom in Tibet and return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile. The Chinese government, the report said, responded harshly to self-immolations and routinely vilified the Dalai Lama and blamed the "Dalai clique" and "other outside forces" for instigating the self-immolation protests in Tibet.

Disappearance of Panchen Lama Gedun Choekyi Nyima and various detentions and punishments to suspects of being associated with the self-immolations are also reported.

"Arbitrary arrest and detention was a growing problem in Tibetan areas. With a detention warrant, police may legally detain persons for up to 37 days without formally arresting or charging them. Police must notify the relatives or employer of a detained person within 24 hours of the detention. Following the 37-day period, police must either formally arrest or release the detainee."

The human right report emphasized on the denial of fair public trials stating legal safeguards for detained or imprisoned Tibetans were inadequate in both design and implementation. "Prisoners had the right to request a meeting with a government-appointed attorney, but in practice many defendants, particularly political defendants, did not have access to legal representation."

The US State Department report noted restrictions on foreign journalists and Tibetans attempts to provide information outside the country and other expressions of discontent through cell phones and internet were subject to harassment or detention.

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