DHARAMSALA — On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, the Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR) of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) has issued a poignant statement condemning the enforced disappearances of Tibetans in China-controlled Tibet. The statement calls for the immediate release of all Tibetans who have been forcibly disappeared and urges the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to adhere to international human rights standards.
A Crime Against Humanity
The DIIR statement emphasizes that enforced disappearance is a “crime against humanity” that violates a range of internationally protected rights, including the right to life, freedom from torture, and freedom from arbitrary detention. The statement cites the United Nations’ International Convention to Protect All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, which declares that no individual should be subjected to enforced disappearance under any circumstances.
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China’s Obligations Under International Law
As a charter member of the United Nations, China is obligated to assist the UN in fulfilling its duties under the Charter, including adherence to human rights instruments and conventions. The DIIR statement points out that despite these obligations, Tibetans continue to face prolonged and unaccounted-for detentions, often accompanied by severe torture and ill-treatment.
The Case of the 11th Panchen Lama
The statement highlights the case of Tibet’s 11th Panchen Lama, Jetsun Tenzin Gedhun Yeshi Trinley Phuntsok Pal Sangpo, who was abducted by Chinese authorities at the age of 6 along with his entire family. Despite 28 years having passed and numerous international appeals for his release, there is still no information on his wellbeing or whereabouts.
A Two-Fold Approach to Enforced Disappearances
According to the DIIR, China employs a two-fold approach to enforced disappearances, aiming to instill terror in the minds of victims and their families while simultaneously extracting forced confessions to justify unlawful arrests and detentions. The statement notes that a significant majority of those arrested—ranging from lamas and monastics to community leaders, writers, and students—are subjected to enforced disappearance for months before being brought to trial.
Call for Immediate Release of Environmental Human Rights Defenders
The DIIR also reaffirmed a call made by three independent UN experts on August 10 for the immediate release of nine Tibetan environmental human rights defenders who have been detained and sentenced to lengthy prison terms by Chinese authorities.
A Plea for Legal Reform
The statement concludes by urging China to replace its Criminal Procedure Law, which currently allows for enforced disappearances, with a set of internationally acceptable procedural safeguards, particularly for suspects accused of “endangering state security” and “terrorism.”
As the world marks the 40th International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, the Central Tibetan Administration’s statement serves as a grim reminder of the ongoing human rights abuses in Tibet and a call to action for the international community.
(Original report here)
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