Voices for Tibet at the UN
Over the past week and a half I had the opportunity to speak out for Tibet at the 14th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland. The experience showed me the value and importance of countering the official Chinese rhetoric.
In March 2009, the Chinese government’s presentation to the UNHRC sang their own praises and accolades during their Universal Periodic Review. In fact, throughout their tenure on the HRC, the Chinese delegation has gone to great lengths for self promotion, expounding upon their self-proclaimed successes in development and their “harmonious society.” The lack of vocal protest by many other member states paints a cheery picture of the People’s Republic of China.
Thankfully however, not everyone will accept this high-level propaganda. Take for example Mr. Frank La Rue, the Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression, who has continued to press the Chinese for their censorship and harassment of Tibetan writers and intellectuals. In an addendum to the Special Rapporteur’s report during the 14th session of the UNHRC is a long list of urgent appeals sent to the Chinese government regarding the cases of many Tibetans facing repression by Chinese authorities.
Other mandate holders have also taken up appeals with the Chinese government over Tibetans. During this session of the council, these include the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and the Working Group on arbitrary detention. A joint report by many of these mandate holders highlighted the cases of three Tibetans who had been or are currently secretly detained by Chinese officials.
At the current, 14th session of the UNHRC some states have also challenged the Chinese delegation’s assertions about their “harmonious society.” While the EU highlighted the situation of the Uyghur minority in Urumchi, the United States emphasized the widespread discrimination facing “ethnic and religious minorities in Tibet and Xinjiang [who] are subject to particularly onerous restrictions, including restraint on religious practice.”
Also of note during this current session were the numerous NGO statements condemning Chinese action in Tibet. Human Rights Watch, Reporters Without Borders and Society for Threatened Peoples all called on China to account for their treatment of Tibetans. Speaking on behalf of Tibetans everywhere, the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights and ICT, I had the opportunity to directly refute the official Chinese depiction of human rights in Tibet. In three statements I raised issues including Chinese restrictions on Tibetans’ freedom of expression, the need for Tibetan stakeholder participation in the rebuilding of Kyegudo following the April 14 earthquake, the enforced disappearance of the 11th Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nima, and torture faced by Tibetan political prisoners.
These statements struck a nerve with the Chinese delegates, who found it necessary to interrupt me and later to issue their own counter-statements claiming that “accusations by some non-governmental organizations on other matters were completely groundless.”
While I am confident that my statements were grounded in the reality in Tibet, I can’t help but wonder what reality the Chinese authorities see. My hope is that by continuing this multi-lateral dialogue with the Chinese and other governments, the Chinese leaders begin to see the reality facing Tibetans today and can begin to shift their perspective to include greater understanding and concern for Tibetans and their grievances.
5 Responses to “Voices for Tibet at the UN”
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When will people stop talking and DO something.
Tibet is dying and all anyone does is talk.
The chinese don’t give a damn so why waste time talking to them.
The world knows that every other word a chinese speak’s is a lie. They are a violent greedy inhuman race, unworthy of consideration.
Wow! Thanks to Ms. Leslie for speaking truth to the lies in Geneva at the UNCHR. Unfortunately, the Chinese delegates are mere puppets for the people at the top who get a mere summation report, if anything at all.
I fasted 23 days in Geneva in 1998 at the UNCHR with the Tibetan Youth Congress. During that time I had many discussions with people and it was explained to me that delegates from any third world or totalitarian country would never deviate from the party line. If they did they would lose their position and status and be thrown in jail upon return to their country.
That said, one would hope that the people at the top in China do have increasingly open minds on changing their policy in Tibet. I have just recently visited Tibet and the look of fear I saw on the face of some vendors in Shigatse is burned like a brand into my mind for the rest of this life.
Many congratulations on making these views heard at the UN. The history of Tibet and how China has systematically abused Tibetan citizens over time is extremely sad. I hope they will begin to realise that a modern society is one that is inclusive of the views of the people it assumes responsibility for. China’s tactics on Tibet to date are in the dark ages and need to change if they are really to join other progressive societies in the world.
I find it appaling that in this day and age the blatant crimes against humanity performed by the Chinese on the Tibetan population as a whole, go mostly unchallenged by the world at large.
Nothing seems to have been learned from history? are the governments of the rest of the world turn their head and ignore the atrocities taking place in Tibet just as we speak?
It’s such important work to speak at the UN for those who are powerless to speak out, the Tibetans living in Tibet.