TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.                  Tibetan-language blog shut down

2.                  Misinformation circulates regarding alleged police killing of 20 students

3.                  China renames 30 Locations in Arunachal Pradesh to extend Tibet rule

4.                  Wang Junzheng instructs central media in Tibet to promote Tibet propaganda

5.                  New training manual for Tibetan monks in Gansu

6.                  Relocation of Atsok Monastery commences as part of Yangqu Hydropower Project

7.                  Increased traffic at Tibet-Nepal border crossing

POLITICS

1. Tibetan-language blog shut down

The Chinese government recently closed “Luktsang Palyon,” a widely read Tibetan-language blog, alleging copyright infringement, according to Radio Free Asia. The closure, announced April 2 by the blog’s administrator, adds to concerns about the suppression of Tibetan cultural and linguistic expression under the guise of legal and administrative measures. The administrator of the blog, whose request for the reinstatement of the blog appears unlikely to be granted, highlights a broader issue of language rights and cultural preservation in Tibet.

Established in March 2013, Luktsang Palyon (meaning “Tibet Sheep”) has been a vital resource for the dissemination of Tibetan culture and language, offering around 10,000 pieces of educational content including articles, stories, music lyrics and bilingual translations. This platform not only served Tibetans within the region but also those in exile, fostering a sense of community and cultural continuity. The closure of such an important cultural outlet under ambiguous legal pretexts is seen by many as part of a systematic effort by the Chinese government to marginalize the Tibetan language in favor of Mandarin, the national common language in occupied Tibet.

2. Misinformation circulates regarding alleged police killing of 20 students

New Tang Dynasty TV, affiliated with the Falun Gong group, reported that armed Chinese police killed 20 students during a crackdown on more than 500 Tibetan students demonstrating at Lhasa Normal College, a teacher training institution in Lhasa, on March 16, 2024.

However, the International Campaign for Tibet, after verifying the facts with contacts in Lhasa, determined that no such event took place. ICT considers the report to be misinformation circulating on the internet.

3. China renames 30 Locations in Arunachal Pradesh to extend Tibet rule

The Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs has taken another assertive step in its political agenda regarding Arunachal Pradesh, India, a region it labels as “Zangnan” or the southern part of Tibet. According to a report on April 3 in Global Times, a Chinese state-run tabloid with an international focus, Beijing issued its fourth list of standardized geographical names for 11 locations in Arunachal Pradesh, scheduled to come into effect on May 1.

This move follows previous releases of standardized names in 2017, 2021 and 2023, aimed at solidifying China’s territorial claims over the region, which it asserts as part of its own territory despite strong a Tibetan historical footprint. It forms part of a broader political strategy by Beijing to strengthen its territorial assertions, akin to its actions in the South China Sea. Tensions between India and China have escalated, notably since the violent clash at Galwan Valley in June 2020, with ongoing border disputes exacerbating the situation.

At the heart of the territorial dispute lies the McMahon Line, a boundary established during the 1914 tripartite Simla Convention involving British India, China and Tibet. This boundary delineates approximately 90,000 square kilometers of territory along India’s northeast and Tibet’s south.

4. Wang Junzheng instructs central media in Tibet to promote Tibet propaganda

On April 8, Wang Junzheng, secretary of the Party Committee of the Tibet Autonomous Region, convened a meeting with the heads of Chinese central media operating in Tibet. During the session, Wang emphasized the importance of implementing CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping’s directives on the promotion of ideological work and cultivation of a favorable public opinion for a “socialist modern New Tibet.”

Throughout the discussion, representatives from the Chinese central media outlets in Tibet shared insights and exchanged practices regarding propaganda and reporting. Wang Junzheng commended the central media for its correct political direction and conducting extensive, multi-faceted propaganda campaigns.

Highlighting the significance of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and the 65th anniversary of Tibet’s democratic reform, Wang stressed the pivotal role of the Chinese state media in shaping public perceptions and narratives.

While the party secretary gave his political instructions to the Chinese media operating in Tibet, the Foreign Correspondent’s Club of China coincidently issued a damning report of media freedom in China on April 8. The FCCC’s report “Masks Off, Barriers Remain” states in its findings that:

·                     Almost all respondents (99%) said reporting conditions in China rarely or never met international reporting standards.

• Four out of five (81%) respondents said they had experienced interference, harassment or violence.
• 54% of respondents were obstructed at least once by police or other officials (2022: 56%), and 45% encountered obstruction at least once by persons unknown (2022: 36%).
• A majority of respondents had reason to believe the authorities had possibly or definitely compromised their WeChat (81%), their phone (72%) or placed audio recording bugs in their office or home (55%).
• Almost a third (32%) of respondents said their bureau was understaffed because they have been unable to bring in the required number of new reporters.
• 82% of respondents reported they had interviews declined by sources who stated they were not permitted to speak to foreign media or required prior permission.
• More than a third (37%) of respondents said reporting trips or interviews already confirmed were canceled last minute because of official pressure (2022: 31%).
• 49% of respondents indicated their Chinese colleague(s) had been pressured, harassed or intimidated at least once (2022: 45%; 2021: 40%).

RELIGION

5. New training manual for Tibetan monks in Gansu

Chinese authorities have distributed a stringent new training manual to Buddhist clergy in the monasteries of Kanlho (Chinese: Gannan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu province, according to Golok Jigme, a former Tibetan political prisoner from the region. This manual contains 10 rules, including a prohibition against displaying photographs of the Dalai Lama, the elderly Tibetan spiritual leader, following his eventual death. Additionally, it forbids monks from participating in the process of recognizing the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation, enforcing compliance with state regulations.

The guidelines also prevent monks from engaging in activities deemed to threaten national unity or disrupt societal stability under the pretext of religious practice. This includes banning any cooperation with Tibetan religious leaders and the exiled Tibetan community, whom the government labels as external separatist groups. The manual explicitly bars “illegal organizations or institutions” from monastic settings and mandates that the education of monks should exclude “separatist ideology.” These measures are part of what is described as the “Sinicization” of religion, a policy that aligns with the Chinese Communist Party’s broader efforts to reshape Tibetan Buddhism to conform with its state doctrines.

During a March visit to two counties within the prefecture, He Moubao, secretary of China’s State Party Committee, underscored the need to Sinicize religion and implement the CCP’s religious policies to maintain national unity and social stability. This approach to religion in Tibet equates religious expression with separatism and threats to Chinese security, fostering a perilous political climate for Tibetan monks, nuns and lay Buddhists.

DEVELOPMENT

6. Relocation of Atsok Monastery commences as part of Yangqu Hydropower Project

The relocation of Atsok Monastery, located in Palkha village of Drakar (Xinghai) county in Tsolho (Hainan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, has officially begun as part of the development plans for the Yangkhil (Yangqu) hydropower station, according to exile media outlet the Tibet Times on April 11 . The monastery is being relocated to a site approximately 3 to 4 kilometers away from its current location to a hill in Khyokar Naklo.

Atsok Monastery, founded in 1889, currently accommodates 157 monks after restrictions were imposed in 2021, barring novice monks from enrolling in the monastery. Prior to the commencement of the relocation process, Chinese authorities announced the removal of Atsok Monastery from the list of recognized cultural and historical sites in the county.

The Yangkhil hydropower station located at the junction of Drakar county and Mangra (Guinan) county in the Tsolho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai province, built on the Machu (Yellow) River, is designed to produce 1.2 gigawatts of power.

According to China’s National Development and Reform Commission project document dated November 2021, land acquisition covering an area of 80,691 mu (approximately 53 square kilometers) across 22 villages in three counties, including Drakar, will be undertaken, affecting 15,555 people. The project is scheduled to achieve operational readiness by the end of April 2024 and is projected to deliver over 40 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually to China’s Central Plains region. The Electricity Engineering Construction Company of the Yellow River had been contracted for the construction, commencing site planning activities around Dec. 26, 2021.

7. Increased traffic at Tibet-Nepal border crossing

Chinese state media reported increased traffic at the Dram border, which connects Tibet and Nepal via the Nyalam Entry-Exit Border Inspection Station. According to reports, a total of 100,716 individuals and 4,450 vehicles have crossed the border since the beginning of the year, up to April 1, 2024.

This surge in traffic comes in the wake of the border’s reopening on September 1 last year, following pandemic-related lockdown measures. Since then, a total of 234,634 people and 12,699 vehicles have crossed the border, as reported by Chinese state media.

Authorities have attributed the increase in traffic to heightened police deployment and expedited customs clearance processes for inbound and outbound passengers. While the traffic is largely associated with trade activities, the Dram border has undergone substantial regulation and fortification in recent years to prevent any attempts by Tibetans to seek asylum abroad. As a result, the number of Tibetan refugees has drastically decreased by 99% since 2008

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Family of imprisoned Tibetan businessman sues Lhasa police for mistreatment
2. University spot for hefty investment for non-Tibetans
3. Newly identified unaccounted-for Tibetans after Derge dam protest
4. Senior municipal United Front leader’s monasteries visit indicates party’s continued focus on Sinicization
5. United Front’s national security preaching tour
6. Tourist fees for visiting Tibetan landmarks
7. Chamdo deputy mayor stresses stability maintenance and state ideology alignment in religious site inspection

POLITICS

1. Family of imprisoned Tibetan businessman sues Lhasa police for mistreatment

In a rare and bold move, Gonpo Kyi and her husband Choekyong have sued Lhasa police for the mistreatment they endured for requesting a fair trial for Dorjee Tashi, Gonpo’s imprisoned brother, in December 2023. The incident occurred when the couple staged a sit-in outside the Tibet Autonomous Region Higher People’s Court in Lhasa to demand a retrial for Dorjee Tashi, who is serving a life sentence in Drapchi prison. They were detained and beaten by the police for their sit-in instead of being granted access to Dorjee Tashi in prison.

The lawsuit accuses the police of arbitrary detention and beatings, as well as denying Gonpo Kyi medical treatment for her injuries. However, due to strict government censorship, obtaining full documentation of the legal proceedings has been challenging. It’s alleged that the Lhasa city police, in collusion with the court, prevented the couple from meeting Dorjee Tashi in prison and denied their requests for a fair trial for his case.

Dorjee Tashi is serving a life sentence after being arrested in 2008. Initially facing political charges, he was later convicted of loan fraud, a charge he and his family dispute.

Despite being imprisoned since 2008, the details of Dorjee’s case only became clear when ICT was able to obtain a part of his testimony in August 2021 wherein he wrote details of his arrest, pretrial torture and petition for a fair trial.

Gonpo Kyi, Dorjee’s sister, has been staging sit-ins in front of the TAR People’s Court in Lhasa since June 2022 demanding justice for her brother.

2. University spot for hefty investment for non-Tibetans

Reuters on March 21 reported that Tibet’s government under China extends a perplexing proposition to prospective college exam candidates, allowing them to secure a spot in universities in exchange for a hefty investment of 3 million yuan ($417,000) from their parents.

This university spot in exchange for significant investment raises several concerns.

Past anecdotal evidence of such abuse of the system has not been considered. Although a university spot in exchange for investment is rarely heard of, anecdotes of Chinese students from towns and cities in China using their connections to usurp spots reserved for Tibetans have been reported multiple times in the past by Tibetan students. Unlike the past practices of usurping spots meant for Tibetans through personal networks and bureaucratic corruption, the government of the officially designated Tibet Autonomous Region offering such a scheme is concerning for the systemic problems that come to light, as well as in encouraging potential Chinese settlers in Tibet.

The scheme appears to exploit the access to education affirmative action in Tibet. Equity and fairness in access to education, particularly for local Tibetan students who face increased competition from wealthier students coming from outside the region, are a huge concern.

The issue also highlights broader socioeconomic challenges, including rising unemployment rates among young people in China. While the scheme may bring capital into Tibet, it risks exacerbating inequality and widening the gap between wealthy urban centers and marginalized regions like Tibet.

3. Newly identified unaccounted-for Tibetans after Derge dam protest

Exile Tibetan language media outlet the Tibet Times reported on March 28 that, while most of the Tibetans, including numerous monks, who were detained, severely ill-treated and beaten by Chinese police since late February 2024 in Derge (Chinese: Dege) county of Kardze prefecture, Sichuan province, have been released recently, some of the Tibetans remain missing. More than 10 Tibetans, including university students, who were disappeared after submitting petitions against a proposed hydropower station over the Drichu (Jinsha) river, are yet to be accounted for. Some of them have been identified as Rigzin, Thubphur, Dechen Dolma, Yangkyi, Dechen Palmo, Rinchen Dolma and Tsedrub.

Besides the newly identified unaccounted-for Tibetans, two individuals, Tenzin Sangpo, a senior administrator of the local Wonto Monastery, and a village official named Tenzin, who were arrested on February 23, are still under arrest and have been handed over for prosecution. They are suspected of organizing the protests against the Kamtog (Gangtuo) dam project.

RELIGION

4. Senior municipal United Front leader’s monasteries visit indicates party’s continued focus on Sinicization

On March 18, Kelsang Tseten, a member of the Standing Committee of the Lhasa Municipal Party Committee and Minister of the United Front Work Department, visited remote monasteries in Meldrogongkar county, Lhasa City. While the visit was framed by Chinese state media as a chance to investigate living conditions, it raises concerns about the suppression of religious freedom in Tibet.

Tseten’s emphasis on political control and adherence to Chinese Communist Party doctrine in his instructions to the cadres stationed in the monasteries indicates a focus on curtailing religious expression. His demands for the “three consciousnesses” campaign to infiltrate the monasteries and strict adherence to regulations by the monastics indicate the CCP’s continued focus on “Sinicizing” Tibetan Buddhist monastics, meaning to make them subservient to the Chinese government.

Furthermore, directives to investigate “hidden dangers” and expand propaganda activities reinforce government surveillance and control over religious institutions.

5. United Front’s national security preaching tour

In efforts to bolster the so-called “three consciousnesses”—national awareness, citizen engagement and adherence to the rule of law—campaign among farmers, herdsmen, monks and nuns, the Dzogang (Zuogang) county CCP and government under Chamdo (Changdu) Prefectural-level city dispatched officials from the United Front Work Department of Zuogong County on a “three consciousness” tour across 14 villages and temples. With a focus on reaching out to 500 individuals, including monks, nuns and residents, the officials preached the significance of supporting the Communist Party’s leadership and prioritizing state laws over religious regulations as part of the “Eighth Five-Year Plan” for legal popularization. According to state media, they emphasized the cultivation of “politically reliable monks” and the safeguarding of national security with content focused on the National Security Law of the People’s Republic of China. The Tibetans were instructed to abide by China’s law and uphold national security.

Similarly, on March 21, the United Front Work Department and the District Justice Bureau conducted the “Law into Religious Venues” campaign in monasteries in Nedong County, located in the Lhoka Prefectural-level city. According to Chinese state media reports, this campaign is part of the promotion of the “Eighth Five-Year Plan” aimed at propagating Xi Jinping’s thoughts on the rule of law. During this campaign, monks “receive education” on China’s laws concerning religion, including the “Religious Affairs Regulations,” “Measures on Management of Reincarnation in Tibetan Buddhism” and other state religious regulations.

6. Tourist fees for visiting Tibetan landmarks

Several prominent Tibetan historical, cultural and religious landmarks, including the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Norbulingka Palace, have been converted into tourist attractions by Chinese authorities in Tibet. While Tibetans revere these landmarks as invaluable embodiments of their culture, religion and civilizational heritage, the Chinese authorities impose a tiered ticketing system with prices varying according to season.

For the Potala Palace, the seat of the Dalai Lamas, the off-season runs from March 16 to April 30, 2024, with tickets priced at 100 yuan per person. During the peak season (May 1 to October 31), the price rises to 200 yuan for Line 1 and 100 yuan for Line 2. Similarly, the Norbulingka Palace, the summer residence of the Dalai Lamas, has a set price of 60 yuan per person. Access to Jokhang Temple, the holiest shrine in Tibet, appears to be controlled through a daily ticket reservation limit, though the price is yet to be announced.

7. Chamdo deputy mayor stresses stability maintenance and state ideology alignment in religious site inspection

In a recent development, Dolkar, the deputy mayor of the municipal government, embarked on an inspection tour of temple management committees and religious sites in Menda (Mianda) Township, Kama (Gama) Township, and Chawe (Chaiwei) Township in Kharub (Karuo) District in Chamdo Prefectural-level city, TAR, according to a state media report on March 18.

Dolkar’s emphasis on stability maintenance reinforces the implementation of surveillance and control within religious institutions infringing upon the rights of religious freedom and autonomy of religious communities.

Furthermore, the directive to strengthen temple management and the implementation of “Three Consciousnesses” education to promote ethnic unity are indicative of coercion and manipulation of religious practices and beliefs to align with state ideology.