UCS 08/12/05: China cracks down on freedom of religion

 

China cracks down on freedom of religion

Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery in Lhasa

UPDATE: (19 December) - The EU Commission issued a statement on 15 December criticising the recent arrest of monks and blockade of Drepung Monastery.

Please click here to read the full statement. Please continue to write to the Chinese authorities listed below."

For immediate action

On 23 November, five monks, Khenpo Ngawang Phelgyal, Nawang Namdrol, Ngawang Nyingpo, Ngawang Thupten and Phuntsok Thupwang were beaten and arrested at Drepung Monastery by Chinese Public Security Bureau (PSB) officials. The incident took place after the monks refused to denounce the Dalai Lama as "separatist" and accept "Tibet as part of China". The five monks had been protesting against the patriotic re-education campaigns, aimed to boost support for the Chinese Government. Chinese authorities have also renewed a campaign to blacklist religious figures close to the Dalai Lama.

According to reports, two days later 400 monks staged a mass silent protest to call for the release of the arrested monks. The People's Armed Police, the Army and PSB officials immediately arrived at Drepung Monastery and quelled the protest by beating the monks. The authorities also secured the monastery and controlled all incoming and outgoing traffic.

Earlier in November, Chinese authorities had expelled the disciplinarian at Sera Monastery and ordered him to stay under surveillance, after they snatched a "request for prayer" from him. Chungchup Gyaltsen, the disciplinarian monk who read the request aloud, was expelled from Sera Monastery. Tsering Dhondup, 30, has also disappeared from the monastery and is believed to have been held in Gutsa Prison since July because he wrote the "request for prayer" mentioning the Dalai Lama and for possessing and distributing documents critical of China's rule over traditionally Tibetan areas.

Sources: Radio Free Asia, Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), International Campaign for Tibet and the Tibetan Government in exile.

Take Action

1. Write to Zhang Qingli, the new Party Secretary of Tibet Autonomous Region:

Name: Zhang Qingli
Address: 1 Kang'angdonglu
850000 Lasashi
Xizang Zizhiqu
People's Republic of China
Salutation: Dear Party Secretary
Telexes: 68014 FAOLT CN or 68007 PGVMT CN

You may wish to use the sample letter provided below or write your own letter referring to the following points:

 

  • Cease the crackdown at Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery;
  • Release the detained monks Khenpo Ngawang Phelgyal, Nawang Namdrol, Ngawang Nyingpo, Ngawang Thupten, and Phuntsok Thupwang and allow their return to their monasteries;
  • Allow Chungchup Gyaltsen to return to Sera Monastery and guarantee his freedom of thought, conscience and religion;
  • Release Tsering Dhondup and allow his return to Sera Monastery;
  • Respect international legal human rights standards including article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, guaranteeing freedom of thought, conscience and religion.

    Sample Letter

     

      Dear Party Secretary,

      I am writing to express my concern for the 5 monks, Khenpo Ngawang Phelgyal, Nawang Namdrol, Ngawang Nyingpo, Ngawang Thupten and Phuntsok Thupwang from Drepung Monastery, that were recently expelled, beaten, and detained for peacefully protesting the "patriotic education" campaign. I would also like to express concern for Chungchup Gyaltsen and Tsering Dhondup from Sera Monastery, both were punished for a simple expression of belief such as a request for prayer.

      The "patriotic education" campaign stands in stark contrast to international legal human rights standards including Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights guaranteeing freedom of thought, conscience and religion.

      I urge you to immediately release all monks and nuns who have been unjustly expelled and detained during the "patriotic education" campaign and allow their return to their monasteries.

      Yours sincerely,

      (Signature) ____________________

      (Name) ____________________

      (Address) ____________________
       

    2. Please send a copy of the letter to the Minister of Justice:

    Name: Zhang Fusen Buzhang
    Address: Sifabu (Ministry of Justice)
    10 Chaoyangmen Nandajie
    Chaoyang Qu
    Beijingshi 100020
    People's Republic of China
    Email: minister@legalinfo.gov.cn
    Fax: + 86 10 6520 5236 or +86 10 6529 2345 (c/o Ministry of Communications)
    Salutation: Dear Minister

    3. Please also copy the letter to Chinese Ambassador to the UK, Zha Peixin:

    Name: Mr Zha Peixin, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to the UK
    Address: 49-51 Portland Place
    London W1B 1JL
    UK
    Fax: 44 (0)20 7636 5578
    Email: press@chinese-embassy.org.uk

     

    (Please send Free Tibet Campaign copies of any responses you receive; this helps us to monitor the situation.)

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