Geneva, Switzerland — “China uses its vague terminologies and absurd interpretation of laws to frame Tibetan human rights defenders with criminal charges,” said Thinlay Chukki, Special Appointee for Human Rights at the Tibet Bureau Geneva while briefing EU delegation about Tibet’s deteriorating human rights situation under China on February 3, 2021.
The European Union Delegation to the UN hosted a briefing with EU member states and civil societies on February 3, 2021 for the upcoming 46th UNHRC session, which will be held from 22 February to 23 March 2021. Over 30 civil societies participated in the meeting. The Tibet Bureau Geneva briefed the EU delegation and the Member States about the worsening human rights situation in Tibet under China.
Thinlay Chukki, Special Appointee for Human Rights at the Tibet Bureau Geneva briefed the EU delegation about five major issues: forced militarized labour of over half a million Tibetans by China; torture and custodial deaths; violations of the right to freedom of religion; enforced disappearance of 11th Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and the crackdown on human rights defenders.
She spoke about the increase in torture related deaths of Tibetans and highlighted the cases of 19-year-old Tibetan monk Tenzin Nyima from Dza Wonpo who died on 19 January 2021 after being severely beaten and tortured by the Chinese authorities for staging peaceful protests. And 36-year-old herdswoman Lhamo, who was tortured mercilessly for sending money to her relatives in India and succumbed to injuries in August 2020.
“China uses its vague terminologies and absurd interpretation of laws to frame Tibetan human rights defenders with criminal charges. The recent “release” of language rights advocate Tashi Wangchuk has brought forth the persecution of Tibetan human rights defenders by China,” stated the Special Appointee.
“The Chinese government has consistently instituted repressive policies with a recurring pattern on the practice of Tibetan Buddhism with intense regulation and control over religious institutions,” She further expressed. “The genuine concerns of Tibetans that China will interfere in the right of the Tibetan Buddhist community to select their own religious leaders, targeted to the reincarnation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama which was also highlighted by the Special Rapporteurs in their joint communication to China on enforced disappearance of 11th Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima,” she stated.
Thinlay Chukki urged the EU and the member states to include these issues in their interactions and statements at the Council. She concluded by requesting comprehensive monitoring of human rights violations in Tibet, Xinjiang, Hong Kong and all regions of China as called for by the 50 UN independent experts.
