Taipei: Chinese authorities state that they have released "more than 1,200 Tibetans who were detained in connection with the protests" throughout Tibet last year, but there are "still at-least 700 people involved in the July riots who were detained" in east Turkestan. The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination published a review of the human rights situation in China on 7 August. At same time, Beijing issued a written response, stating that, "1,231 people (Tibetans) have been released by the administration of justice with conducting of punishments, presenting repentance and acceptance of units of re-education campaigns in Tibet."
According to the report they issued, "about 77 Tibetans, of those detained, were charged with the commission of a felony, and another 7 Tibetans were charged with spying."
Mr. Duan Jie long, leader of the Chinese delegation to the United Nations Review Conference, confirmed that 718 Uighurs suspected to be involved in the violence were detained and that the Chinese police are still involved in the Xinjiang (East Turkestan) unrest.
"Detained suspects are held under evidence of any crime. Those facing less serious charges are released with lenient punishments; and another 83 people face a felony prosecution, such as murder, arson and theft," he continued.
Since March 2008, 290 Tibetans have received official prison sentences more than 5,600 have been arrested or detained, and over 1,000 have disappeared. These prisoners, and the Tibetan population at large, face serious human rights violations from a government that acts with impunity and justifies its actions with state propaganda. Due to China's harsh restrictions against foreign and Tibetan journalists and human rights activists, we can only guess at the terrible ordeal of those who have been imprisoned.
