By Phuntsok Yangchen
DHARAMSHALA, October 13: The Congressional Executive Commission on China (CECC), in its 2014 annual report released on Thursday, said that China has increased harsh security and punitive measures in Tibetan areas following a decline in number of self-immolation protests.
133 Tibetans have set themselves on fire in Tibet protesting against China’s occupation of Tibet and its hard-line policies since 2009. The number of Tibetans resorting self-immolation protest have declined with 25 last year and 8 this year.
The CECC called on China to recognize the role of government regulatory measures and Party policies in the wave of Tibetan self-immolations and other protests.
It further recommended the Chinese government “refrain from using security and judicial institutions to intimidate Tibetan communities by prosecuting and imprisoning Tibetans with alleged links to a self-immolator or for sharing information on self-immolation.”
The report also documents the status of Tibetan language, Economic Development, Tibetan Culture and Religious Freedom for Tibetan Buddhists urging Chinese authorities to promote Tibetan culture by honoring the Chinese constitution’s reference to the freedoms of speech, association, assembly and religion and refraining from using the security establishment, courts, and law to infringe upon and repress Tibetans’ exercise of such rights.
The CECC also encouraged the Chinese government to engage in a constructive dialogue with the Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who the Chinese regard as a “separatist”, seeking separation from China in the guise of Middle Way Approach.
“A Chinese government decision to engage in dialogue can result in a durable and mutually beneficial outcome for the government and Tibetans that will benefit local and regional security in coming decades.”
The whereabouts of the Panchen Lama Gedun Choekyi Nyima, who went missing with his family after the Dalai Lama recognized him in 1995, was also sought by the report.
According to the report, as of September 1, 2014, Political Prisoner Database contained records of 639 Tibetans believed or presumed currently detained or imprisoned. Of those 621 are records of Tibetans detained on or after March 10, 2008, 18 are records of Tibetans detained prior to March 10, 2008.
The annual report also noted that Chinese leaders do not intend to respond to Tibetan grievances in a constructive manner and develop a so called “harmonious society.”
The US Congress created the CECC in October 2000 with the legislative mandate to monitor human rights and the development of the rule of law in China, and to submit an annual report to the President and the Congress.
