News Summary: events surrounding the 50th Anniversary of Tibetan National Uprising Day

Posted Fri, 03/13/2009 - 05:06 by Jigme

News Summary on March 10, the 50th Tibetan National Uprising

Strike Hard Campaign Launched in Tibet:

Chinese authorities in Lhasa launched a ‘strike hard’ campaign on 18 January. In a 23 January report, Tibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy stated that, ‘to tighten its grip on the Tibetan people in Tibet and intensify its hard-line policies prior to any major events, the Chinese authorities' in Lhasa city launched a stipulated 42-day winter "Strike Hard" Campaign’.

International Campaign for Tibet reported on 28 January that, the ‘strike hard campaign appears to be intended to intimidate Tibetans still further in the buildup to the Tibetan New Year in late February, followed a couple of weeks later by the 50th anniversary period of the March '59 Uprising and the Dalai Lama's flight to India, when the authorities fear further unrest following the wave of protests that swept across the plateau last year.

Related Articles:
- China 'Strikes Hard' in Tibet (Radio Free Asia)
- Chinese Launch Raids, Detentions in Tibet (The Washington Post)
- Chinese police carry out checks on 6,000 in Tibet (Times Online)

On 29 January, Tibetan Cabinet in exile (Tib: Kashang) issued a press release urging the Chinese government to withraw the Undeclared Martial Law in Tibet. It stated, ‘The Kashag especially regrets the re-launching of the strike hard campaign, patriotic re-education and forcing Tibetans to celebrate Tibetan New Year. The Kashag is convinced that this show of military force by the PRC authorities and the accompanying strike hard campaign are acts of provocation. In view of this the Kashag once again ask the PRC authorities to call off the strike hard campaign and to withdraw the undeclared martial law imposed to suppress the Tibetans’.

Tibet Sealed Off and Security Forces Increased:

As the Tibetan New Year approached, Tibet was shut off to foreigners while Chinese security personnel steadily increased. The Associated Press reported on 12 February that ‘China has sealed off Tibetan populations in Gansu, Sichuan and Qinghai provinces, China. Chinese officials say the areas are closed to tourists and other foreigners until late March or April’.

A blogger wrote on Time Magazine’s website on 16 February: ‘We meant to go on to the town of Xiahe in neighboring Gansu province and visit the huge Labrang monastery (the site of disturbances last year that left a number of monks dead) but we were told by several people that the way was blocked and foreigners were being taken off buses or turned round and sent back. (Update: the government has now announced that all Tibetan areas in Qinghai, Sichuan and Gansu provinces are closed to foreigners, so it looks as though we got in just in time).

On Tibetan New Year's day, Free Tibet Campaign released photos of the security clamp down in Labrang in Amdo (Ch: Xia He, Gansu Province).

Students for a Free Tibet also released photos of the security presence in different places in Tibet, including Lhasa.

Related Articles:
- China closes Tibet to foreign tourists: agencies, hotel (AFP)
- China Reportedly Sending Security Forces to Tibet (VOA)
- Clash Over Tibet Has County in Lockdown (The Washington Post)
- China Adds to Security Forces in Tibet Amid Calls for a Boycott (The New York Times)
- Beijing steps up Tibet security (Financial Times)

Not only was Tibet sealed off but the Chinese authorities also tried to control the information flow in and out of Tibet. On 23 February, Asia News reported that Internet is blocked for the celebration of Tibetan New Year. The blog, High Peak Pure Earth wrote on 22 February that popular Tibetan sites have remained stagnant.

In light of the heightened security and state of lock-down, Human Rights Watch urged Chinese government to open Tibetan areas to media and independent monitors.

Despite the increased security, a few protests
and arrests have been reported since the beginning
of the year. ITSN has complied a summary of
confirmed protests and arrests.
[CLICK HERE to view summary of incidents of
protest in 2009]

As reported by AFP on 26 February, Chinese Foreign spokesman Ma Zhaoxu rebutted reports of the lock-down when he told reporters that, ‘to my understanding, up to date, no agencies in Tibet have received instructions to restrict the entrance of foreign visitors to Tibet.’

The Chinese government also denied that any protest had taken place in China as reported by Tibet campaigners. On 3 March Xinhua reported that, ‘an official in southwest China's Sichuan Province said Tuesday that a ritual held Sunday by dozens of lamas in the Se Monastery was a case of normal religious activity, and not a "Tibetan monks protest" as reported by some foreign media’.

Related Articles:
- ‘No Tibetan protests' in Sichuan (BBC)

These two video reports from Reuters and Channel 4 show intense security presence and Tibetan people’s reaction to it:

China Issued White Paper on Tibet:

On 2 March, the Information Office of the State Council of China released a ‘White Paper’ on Tibet, entitled “Fifty Years of Democratic Reform in Tibet’, which was widely featured by China's official media.

The publishing of the White Paper was covered by major news media, such as BBC, New York Times, Aljazeera and Reuters. BBC opened their report with, ‘China has published a paper praising its rule in Tibet and accusing the West of trying to inflame tensions there’. Reuters also focused on the same theme: ‘China's troubles in Tibet have been inflamed by Western forces seeking to divide and weaken the emerging power and distract voters from their own economic woes, the country's top official newspaper said on Monday’.

Related Articles:
- China says it helped Tibet down feudalism (UPI)
- Beijing defends rule over Tibet (Aljazeera)
- Tibet: Beijing Compares Tibetan Serfs to Slaves (New Work Times)

Unofficial State of Martial Law:

As Tibetan National Uprising day neared, media reports on Tibet as being under an unofficial state of martial law increased.
On 4 March The New York Times reported that, ‘the authorities have imposed an unofficial state of martial law on the vast highlands where ethnic Tibetans live, with thousands of troops occupying areas they fear could erupt in renewed rioting on a momentous anniversary next week. And Beijing is determined to keep foreigners from seeing the mass deployment.’
On 5 March, in an article title, ‘Tibet Starts to Hot Up’ by Asia Sentinel ‘A nervous Chinese government, still smarting from a ferocious uprising in Lhasa a year ago, is forcefully suppressing dissent in Tibet in preparation for the 50th anniversary on March 10 of the armed rebellion that sent the Dalai Lama fleeing into exile with thousands of his followers’.
Asia News and Sify quoted Free Tibet Campaign’s press release on Tibet being under de facto martial law on the eve of this sensitive anniversary.

Simultaneously, Chinese media increased its propaganda on Tibet. AFP reported on 9 March that, ‘China has ramped up a public relations blitz ahead of Tuesday's 50th anniversary of a Tibetan uprising, part of a long-time propaganda war that wins support at home but often distrust abroad’. On 9 March, ‘China launches first website on Tibet human rights’ reported Xinhua.

While acknowledging the increase in troop numbers in Tibet, Chinese officials promised that unrest resembling 2008 would not occur. On 4 March, AFP and Reuters quoted Qiangba Puncog, chairman of the TAR as saying, ‘There shouldn't be big problems in Tibet.’ Xinhua quoted Zhang Qingli, party head of TAR as saying, ‘Tibetan people will not let it happen if the Dalai Lama wants to make more troubles’.

Related Article:
- China tightens border control in Tibet (Xinhua)
- Tibet needs more security forces: official (Xinhua)

In an attempt to discredit growing reports of Tibet as being under de facto martial law, Xinhua quoted Qiangba Puncog again on 6 March in a report entitled, ‘No martial law in Lhasa on “special” day’. ‘No extraordinary measures like martial law will be enforced in Lhasa but the city will take usual, necessary security measures during the anniversaries of the riots last year and the democratic reform that emancipated millions of serfs and slaves 50 years ago’.

Human Rights Reports on 50th Anniversary of Tibetan National Uprising:

- Amnesty International: ‘A year of escalating human rights violations’.
- Human Rights Watch: ‘Quick Arrests and Quick Sentencings’ Followed Tibetan Protests.
- International Campaign for Tibet:‘A Great Mountain Burned by Fire: China’s Crackdown in Tibet’.

Reuters quoted ICT’s report in their article entitled, ‘Over 1,200 Tibetans missing after crackdown – report’.

Chinese pressures governments not to support Tibet:

Nepal was the scene of passionate pro-Tibet protests last year but this year under Chinese pressure, Nepalese government not only beefed up the security presence near the Chinese Embassy, but also banned protests near the Embassy. CNN reported on 28 February, "The area within 200 meters (218 yards) of the Chinese Embassy visa section has been declared a prohibited area from Friday," Nabaraj Silwal, the chief of the Kathmandu city police, said. "Rallies, sit-ins and sloganeering will not be allowed within the prohibited area. The decision comes a day after visiting Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Hu Zhengyue had an hour-long meeting with Nepalese security officials in Kathmandu to discuss prevention of anti-Chinese activities’.

Related Articles:
- Nepal ups security along border (Straits Times)
- Nepal says bans protests near China embassy (Reuters)
- Prohibitory Orders Issued Around Chinese Embassy (Himalayan Times)
- Nepal bans protests ahead of Tibetan revolt anniversary (Thaindian News)
- Beijing warns Kathmandu against pro-Tibet rallies in Nepal (asianews.it)

The Sydney Morning Herald reported on 10 March that, ‘the Chinese ambassador in Canberra has sent a stern letter to an Australian MP, warning him against attending a pro-Tibet protest to be held outside Parliament House today’.

Dalai Lama's 10 March Statement

His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s statement on March 10 reaffirmed his commitment to Autonomy under the China and non-violent struggle, He also pointed out the suffering Tibetans have been enduring for the last fifty years under China.

Tibetans commemorate 50 years in Exile

The exiled Tibetan administration, while having Tibetans in Tibet in hindsight, also focused on the 50 years of exile. On 2 March, Deccan Herald quoted Tibetan government in exile’s secretary of Department of Information and reported that, ‘Various events will be organised by the Tibetan settlements across the country to commemorate the golden anniversary under the Thank You India programme’.

On 10 March, Tibet was under virtual lock down. AP reported that, ‘Paramilitary police and soldiers swarmed cities and villages in Tibet and restive western China on Tuesday, on the alert for possible unrest on the 50th anniversary of the failed uprising that sent the Dalai Lama into exile’.

Related Articles:
- All quiet on the Tibetan front (ABC Australia)
- The lockdown is telling (The Globe)

Chinese media reported a peaceful and quiet day on 10 March. Xinhua reported that, ‘the holy city of Lhasa was quiet and peaceful Tuesday, 50 years after Tibet's democratic reform and the 14th Dalai Lama's flee from his homeland’.
A Tibetan official was quoted as saying, ‘No extra security forces in Tibet on March 10’, according to Xinhua.

Resolution on Tibet:

The U.S. House of Representative on 11 March unanimously passed a bill on Tibet. The bill H. Res. 226 reads: ‘Recognizing the plight of the Tibetan people on the 50th anniversary of His Holiness the Dalai Lama being forced into exile and calling for a sustained multilateral effort to bring about a durable and peaceful solution to the Tibet issue.’
On 10 March, China urges U.S. to drop Tibet resolution, saying, ‘We request the related U.S. representatives follow the basic norms guiding international relations and stop pushing the bill on Tibet’. (Xinhua)

The European Parliament also passed a resolution urging China to negotiate. ‘In a resolution adopted by MEPs on Thursday to mark the 50th anniversary of the Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule, the Chinese Government is urged to resume talks with the Dalai Lama's representatives with a view to "positive, meaningful change in Tibet", not ruling out autonomy for the region, a solution that MEPs believe need not compromise China's territorial integrity’.

____________________________________________________________________

Map of Tibet

Map Marking Locations of Self-Immolations (red) and Protest in 2012

Visit: www.standupfortibet.org
for more information on - ENOUGH:
Global Intervention to Save Tibetan Lives.

Facts about Tibet

Tibet lies at the centre of Asia, with an area of 2.5 million square kilometres (approximately 1 million square miles).

Despite over 50 years of Chinese occupation of Tibet, the Tibetan people refuse to be conquered and subjugated by China.

The Tibetan Plateau is the highest and biggest plateau in the world, so Tibet is referred to as “the roof of the world”.

For Tibetans, the term Tibet means the 3 provinces of U'Tsang, Kham and Amdo, the area traditionally known as Tibet before China's invasion.

The English word Tibet is derived from the Arabic word Tubbat. This word is in turn derived via Persian from the Turkic word Tobad, meaning ‘the heights’.

Tibet was occupied by China in 1949, and the Dalai Lama fled into exile in India in 1959.

Hundreds of thousands of Tibetans have died as a direct result of Chinese occupation since 1949.

There are six million Tibetans in Tibet and roughly 150,000 Tibetans in exile in India and other countries.

Tibetans consider the Dalai Lama to be the temporal as well as spiritual leader of Tibet.

Thousands of Tibetans cross the mighty Himalaya on foot every year into exile, risking death, injuries and arrest.

Most Tibetans are Buddhist, but there are Muslims, Christians and practitioners of Bon, the indigenous religion of Tibet.

In 1948 Tibetan government representatives traveled to the US, UK and France on Tibetan government issued passports.

The exiled Tibetan people elected their first Prime Minister in 2000

In 2008, Tibetans took part in more than 130 separate peaceful protests against the Chinese government across the Tibetan Plateau.

Displaying a photograph of the Dalai Lama in Tibet can result in arrest.

In 1995 the Chinese government abducted the 6 year old Panchen Lama, one of Tibet's most important spiritual leaders. He is still missing.

The longest epic poem in the world is the story of a legendary Tibetan king, Gesar of Ling.

The Tibetan Plateau is the Earth's "Third Pole," providing life-sustaining waters for and regulating weather across south and east Asia.

March 10 is Tibetan National Uprising day. It marks the massive uprising in Tibet in 1959 that led to the escape of the Dalai Lama into exile.

Yak is a Tibetan term for the male of the species. Its female counterpart is called Dri.

Tibetans are denied many of the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, including the right to self- determination, freedom of speech and religion.

Untll 1949 Tibet had its own government that managed its own domestic and foreign affairs; Tibet had its own national flag and its own currency.

According to Amnesty International more than 1,000 Tibetans were unaccounted for after the protests of 2008.

In the Tibetan Lunar Calendar, the year 2009 corresponds to the year 2136, the Year of the Earth Ox.

Prior to the uprisings of 2008, the last major protests by Tibetans against China's occupation of Tibet took place in 1989, when martial law was declared.

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