Tag: tibet

On 15 October, Tsowo Tsering, a Tibetan man in his late twenties, shared a video message on his social media account in a desperate measure to reach out to the central Chinese government. ..reports Asian Lite News

Tsowo Tsering, a Tibetan activist from Tsaruma raised concern over the environmental damage caused by China’s illegal sand mining and called for the restoration of the river ecosystem.

On 15 October, Tsowo Tsering, a Tibetan man in his late twenties, shared a video message on his social media account in a desperate measure to reach out to the central Chinese government. The video, which has now been removed, reveals drone footage of numerous vast open pits caused by the mining of sand from the riverbed of his hometown of Tsaruma and ends with a series of appeals to the central government, reported Tibet Watch.

Tsowo’s message is an example of the growing knowledge of young Tibetans that China does have environmental laws, and that they apply in Tibet, the Water Tower of Asia. Showing understanding of China’s power structures, he calls on the Discipline Inspection Commission of Chinese Communist Party to be asked to take action.

He warned that “the low cost of violating the law” causes not least, destabilsation of the foundation of housing infrastructure of Tsaruma pastoralists, but also threatens the biodiversity of surrounding region, and exacerbates the water security of Machu and Drichu River.

Tsaruma River is a tributary in the township that goes by the same name. Smaller rivers of the county of Tsaruma Township become tributaries of Machu (Yellow) and Drichu (Yangtse) River, both of which flows into mainland China. The township of Tsaruma (Ch: Chaerma) is located in Chungchu (Ch: Hong yuan) County, Ngawa (Ch: Aba )Tibet Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province.

Delivering his message in Chinese, Tsowo emphasised the severe ecological consequences that have arisen since mining activities commenced in May 2023. He highlighted alarming levels of soil erosion and pollution that jeopardise not only local residences but also the integrity of the river ecosystem.

Reports indicate that Tsowo condemned the Chinese government for its failure to engage with local villagers during the review process of their petitions regarding mining activities. Although the Ecological Protection Bureau of Chungchu County has confirmed the illegal actions and imposed penalties on the company, no effective restoration measures have been implemented.

Numerous complaints and photographic evidence submitted to various government agencies have been met with silence, underscoring a systemic disregard for local voices and environmental safeguards, reported Tibet Watch.

Frustrated by the ineffectiveness of the petition system, Tsowo implored the central government to honour its own environmental protection commitments, encapsulated in the principle that “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets.”

He called for thorough investigations into both the ecological destruction and the potential collusion between local authorities and mining enterprises, suggesting a troubling partnership that undermines community welfare.

Tibet faces a myriad of pressing environmental challenges, largely driven by climate change, resource overexploitation, and human activities. Biodiversity is at risk, with habitat destruction from urbanisation, agriculture, and mining contributing to the decline of endemic species such as the Tibetan antelope and snow leopard, Tibet Watch reported.

Water resource depletion remains a major concern, as over-extraction and pollution from industrial and agricultural runoff compromise both ecosystems and human health. Additionally, soil erosion and desertification, fuelled by unsustainable grazing practices and deforestation, continue to diminish the land’s productivity. (ANI)

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The Chinese government has recently closed a prominent vocational high school in a Tibetan region of Qinghai province, adding to a series of closures of Tibetan private schools in recent years…reports Asian Lite News

Amidst China’s clampdown on Tibetan-run private schools in the China’s Qinghai province, the research centre of the Central Tibetan Administration organised a discussion in Dharamshala recently to highlight the issues faced by the community.

The Tibet Policy Institute (TPI), organised a panel discussion titled “Forced Closure of Ragya Sherig Norling Educational Institute: Causes and Impacts,” moderated by its Deputy Director Zamlha Tempa Gyaltsen.

Key participants included Parliamentarian Pema Tso, Director Dawa Tsering from the Tibet Policy Institute, and Shede Dawa, a former student and researcher at Tibet Watch.

The Chinese government has recently closed a prominent vocational high school in a Tibetan region of Qinghai province, adding to a series of closures of Tibetan private schools in recent years.

During the discussion, Pema Tso highlighted the difficulties encountered by Ragya Sherig Norling, expressing her initial disbelief upon learning via mobile about its sudden closure on July 14. She emphasised the institute’s crucial role in Tibetan education, having graduated more than 2,200 students, and provided a historical context on its founder, Gen Jigme Gyaltsen.

Shede Dawa, drawing on personal experiences, emphasised Gen Jigme Gyaltsen’s commitment to preserving Tibetan language and culture, despite modest beginnings. He recounted his own transformation from disinterest to dedication under Gen Jigme’s guidance, underscoring the institute’s significance in nurturing Tibetan identity.

The panel also included parliamentarians, additional secretaries, and representatives from NGOs, all united in their condemnation of the closure and its adverse effects on Tibetan cultural and educational institutions.

According to reports, there’s a deliberate effort to elevate Mandarin Chinese over Tibetan in education and public discourse. Tibetan language instruction is increasingly restricted, with Mandarin becoming the primary language of instruction in many schools. Higher education institutions face limitations on teaching Tibetan, stifling opportunities for Tibetan language development.

The recent report by the International Campaign for Tibet highlighted significant challenges faced by Tibetans on Chinese social media platforms like Douyin, which are part of China’s strategy to diminish Tibetan language and culture in favour of promoting Mandarin.

Despite Chinese claims of supporting minority languages, including Tibetan, there has been no official response to Tibetan protests against these discriminatory practices. The report detailed how Tibetans encounter barriers such as blocked livestreams and restricted comments in Tibetan, severely limiting their online engagement.

Even Tibetan medical professionals struggle to communicate effectively in Tibetan due to platform-imposed language restrictions. These actions are portrayed as deliberate efforts to enhance Mandarin dominance while suppressing Tibetan cultural expression, contradicting official claims of respecting ethnic minority languages.

The International Campaign for Tibet has criticised the stringent censorship and monitoring of Tibetan-related content on platforms like Douyin, which it sees as part of a broader Chinese Communist Party agenda to control narratives and silence dissent. (ANI)

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The relationship between China and Tibet has long been complex and marked by historical tensions….reports Asian Lite News

The recent motion passed by the Canadian House of Commons acknowledging Tibetan self-determination has left China surprised. The motion, proposed by Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, a Member of Parliament representing the Bloc Quebecois, gained unanimous support from attending MPs during Monday’s session.

Expressing satisfaction with the outcome, the Canada Tibet Committee (CTC) declared on social media platform X, “Thrilled to announce that the Parliament of Canada has passed a unanimous motion declaring Tibet’s right to self-determination.”

The relationship between China and Tibet has long been complex and marked by historical tensions.

China asserts sovereignty over Tibet, viewing it as an integral part of its territory. However, Tibetans, led by the Dalai Lama and the exiled Tibetan government, advocate for greater autonomy or even independence.

China’s control over Tibet traces back to the 1950s when Chinese troops entered the region and established authority.

The 17 Point Agreement of 1951 formalised Tibet’s incorporation into the People’s Republic of China, though it remains disputed by Tibetan activists who argue it was signed under duress.

Under Chinese governance, Tibet has faced political, economic, and social control, with controversial policies implemented by Beijing.

Tibetans often feel marginalised and oppressed, with reports of human rights abuses, restrictions on religious freedom, and attempts at cultural assimilation.

Human Rights Watch in May released a report on the relocation of hundreds of Tibetans in recent times, revealing increasing atrocities against members of the Tibet community in China. Over 140,000 residents have been relocated or are currently relocating from 500 villages to new locations, Human Rights Watch said in a release.

The 71-page report – ‘Educate the Masses to Change Their Minds: China’s Coercive Relocation of Rural Tibetans,’ details how participation in “whole-village relocation” programs in Tibet, in which entire villages are relocated, amounts to forced eviction in violation of international law.

Officials misleadingly claim that these relocations will “improve people’s livelihood” and “protect the ecological environment.” The government prevents relocated people from returning to their former homes by generally requiring them to demolish these homes within a year of relocating., said the news release.

“The Chinese government says that the relocation of Tibetan villages is voluntary, but official media reports contradict this claim,” said Maya Wang, acting China director at Human Rights Watch. “Those reports make clear that when a whole village is targeted for relocation, it is practically impossible for the residents to refuse to move without facing serious repercussions.”

The report draws on over 1,000 official Chinese media articles published between 2016 and 2023. It includes three case studies and video footage that show in detail the arguments and methods Chinese officials use to obtain the “consent” of residents to relocate their villages.

Chinese government policy in Tibet sets out that every household in every village targeted is to consent to relocation. Human Rights Watch found multiple references to initial reluctance among Tibetans whose villages were scheduled for relocation.

In one case, 200 out of 262 households in a village in Nagchu Municipality initially did not want to relocate to a site nearly 1,000 kilometres away. The government claimed that all eventually agreed to move voluntarily. (ANI)

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