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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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