• China further tightens control over sharing information from Tibet

    From Peter Terpstra@21:1/5 to All on Tue Aug 23 11:58:36 2016
    XPost: hk.politics, soc.culture.china, soc.culture.indian
    XPost: soc.culture.usa, talk.politics.tibet

    China further tightens control over sharing information from Tibet
    Monday, 22 August 2016 20:11 Tibet Post International

    Dharamshala — Chinese authorities in Ngaba County, Amdho region of north-eastern Tibet (Ch: Aba County, Qinghai Province, northwest China) have issued a handbook – which features prohibitions already in place against
    any form of peaceful protest and sharing of information from inside Tibet
    to abroad via social media platforms, according to sources in the region.

    In a newly issued handbook, the Chinese authorities have warned Buddhist
    monks of Kirti monastery in Ngaba county, against staging any form of
    peaceful protest, including self-immolation and sharing of information
    from inside Tibet to abroad via social media platforms.

    The leaked handbook copies obtained by the Kirti Monastery in exile–
    bans monks from engaging in any form of protest, including distributing "separatist" leaflets, and displaying portraits of His Holiness the Dalai
    Lama at any public gatherings that promote "separatist" goals or oppose
    China's repressive rule.

    "The handbook was issued by Chinese authorities in Ngaba district, on July
    28, 2016,' source said, its containing a set of decrees, criminalising all forms of peaceful protest, silent march, self immolation and the use of
    His Holiness the Dalai Lama's portrait, banners, posters, leaflets during protest as an act of "disrupting social stability".

    The tightening of increasing restrictions on religion in Tibetan areas
    clearly shows the systematic compromise of the human rights of the Tibetan people by the Chinese government.

    Another provision in the handbook prohibited the monks from sharing
    information on social media such as wechat, to the outside world, declaring
    it as an illegal act of "leaking state secrets" and "engaging in separatist activities."

    The bilingual handbook, written in Tibetan and Chinese, was circulated among all monks of Kirti Monastery. Each monk was given strict instructions to
    abide by provisions in the handbook.

    The Chinese authorities have reportedly conducted a meeting of
    representatives of all the monasteries in Ngaba to declare enforcement of
    the handbook in each of the monasteries.

    Tibetans inside Tibet describe it as a conspicuous move by the Chinese government to justify its brutal repression of peaceful dissent,' the
    source said, adding that this brought to light the extreme nature of
    community party brutality in Tibet.

    The source also revealed that the new handbook stipulates: Anyone violating these directives will be punished according to the law. Those who are
    inciting self-immolation will be charged with murder. Those who are using social media- WeChat to send, download or publicise images, drawing, audio
    or videos that contain information endorsing separatism will be severely punished according to the law under "leaking national secrets".

    Since 2009, a total of 144 Tibetans have set themselves on fire in protest against the Chinese government's repressive policies in Tibetan areas. Many such protests have taken place in Ngaba region, especially by the monks
    of Kirti monastery.

    However, Chinese authorities have responded to such protests with
    heightened repression and severe punishments to the family members of
    the self-immolators.

    Last year in August, Dolma Kyab, 32, was sentenced to death by an
    intermediate people's court in Ngaba (Ch: Aba) prefecture for allegedly
    killing his wife, Kunchok Wangmo. Kunchok Wangmo, aged in her 30s, was
    believed by Tibetans to have set herself on fire in protest against the repressive policies of the Chinese government.

    In a similar case, Lobsang Tsondue, who is a paternal uncle and teacher of
    the deceased Phuntsok (who self-immolated on 16 March 2011) was sentenced to
    11 years in prison on charges of "intentional homicide for hiding Phuntsok
    and preventing him from getting medical treatment after he set himself
    on fire".

    Hundreds of Tibetans, including writers, bloggers, singers and environmentalists, have been detained or are imprisoned since 2008, after attempting to express their views or share news of the situation in Tibet
    with the outside world, and provides further evidence of a widespread
    crackdown against free expression in Tibet.

    Sporadic demonstrations challenging Chinese repressive rule have continued
    in Tibet since widespread protests swept the region in 2008, with more than
    140 Tibetans to date setting themselves ablaze to oppose Beijing's repression and call for freedom in Tibet and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

    http://thetibetpost.com/en/news/tibet/5144-china-further-tightens-control-over-sharing-information-from-tibet

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