By Tenzin Monlam
DHARAMSHALA, October 10: The bipartisan Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) in its 2016 Annual Report observed that there are no signs of China vesting interest in resuming the long-stalled dialogue with the representatives of the exiled Tibetan leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Moreover, the report observes that Beijing has maintained its harsh security measures disregarding basic human rights and its protection in the ethnic minority regions including Tibetan Autonomous Region and Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR).
“Chinese government can best promote stability by respecting ethnic minorities’ right to maintain their language and culture and to practice their religion freely,” the CECC 2016 report recommended.
Indicating more religious repressions, US Representative Chris Smith stated that new regulations are likely to expand repression for religious communities and its growth as the ‘sinicization’ campaign aims to further politicize religious life.
With the continued efforts to control the leadership of Tibetan Buddhism, restrict the religious practices of Uyghur Muslims and demolition of Churches. The report suggested the authorities to deny entry visa for individuals involved in severe religious freedom violations, detentions, torture, disappearances, and other severe human rights violations.
The bipartisan body stated that the human rights situation in China is in ‘increasingly dire’ state and recommended the Congress and the Administration to press Beijing for greater transparency, adherence to universal standards, and development of the rule of law.
“The Chinese government’s human rights record is utterly deplorable, continuing a downward trend over the past three years. It is a dark time for China’s reformers, dissidents, and rights defenders as they face escalating repression and conditions deteriorated again last year,” said US Representative Chris Smith who along with Senator Marco Rubio chaired the report.
