The 31st Session of the United Nation Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review started on the 5th of November and will go on till the 16th of this month. Yesterday marked China’s third human rights situation review by the United Nations whereby the issue of Tibet witnessed an increased number of diplomatic support from the UN Member States in the UNHRC. 13 States criticized China’s abuses in Tibet, 9 countries raised 12 recommendations regarding China’s Human Rights abuses in Tibet. During China’s second UPR in 2013, 7 States made recommendations relating to Tibet.
Recommendations made by the 9 States on Tibet in 2018
Australia
Cease restrictions on Uyghur’s and Tibetans freedom of movement and allow media, UN and foreign official’s access to Xinjiang and Tibet.
Canada
End prosecution and persecution on basis of religion or belief for Muslims, Christians, Tibetan Buddhists, and Falun Gong
Denmark
Denmark recommends the Government to facilitate full access to Xinjiang and Tibet for all relevant UN special procedures.
France
Recommend guaranteeing Freedom of religion and belief including in Tibet and Xinjiang
Germany
Respect rights of freedom of freedom of religion and belief, opinion and expression, peaceful assembly and culture also for Tibetans, Uyghurs and other minorities
New Zealand
Respect, protect and fulfill the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion in accordance with general comment 22 of the HRC (HR Committee). To this end, New Zealand recommends that China resume the two-way dialogue on Tibet
Sweden
Take urgent steps to respect the rights of persons belonging to ethnic minorities including the rights to peaceful assembly, to manifest religion and culture, in particular in Xinjiang and Tibet
Switzerland
China should respect all HR of the Tibetan people and other minorities including the importance of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment which is vital for the enjoyment of a number of these rights
USA
Release those imprisoned for rights and defense work, including Tashi Wangchuk, Ilham Tohti, Huang Qi and Wang Quangzhang.
Cease interference in the selection and education of religious leaders – including the reincarnation of Tibetan Buddhist lamas.
In addition to the recommendations, Austria, UK and Japan raised Tibet critically in their statement to China. Advanced written questions on Tibet had been raised prior to the review by Belgium, UK, Sweden, USA, Austria, Germany and Switzerland.
The Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC), the largest Non-Governmental Organization in exile has submitted a report on Human Rights Violations in Tibet in collaboration with the Human Rights Network for Taiwan and Tibet (HRNTT). The Joint Report highlighted issues regarding the lack of basic human rights and freedom inside Tibet and how China taking steps to Sinicize whole Tibet. The report also flagged lists of recommendations for the member states and UN Human Rights mandate holders.
As China’s UPR was being held in the UNHRC, Geneva on the 6th November, TYC President Tenzing Jigme with other hundreds of Tibetans, Ughyurs, Southern Mongolians, Taiwanese and Vietnamese protested at the United Nations in Geneva to urge the UN to hold China accountable for their actions in these countries. TYC President Tenzing Jigme spoke at the rally and made two main points;
We shall continue our resistance and be that voice for our brothers and sisters inside Tibet and East Turkestan.
We Tibetans, Uyghurs, Southern Mongolians, and Taiwanese need to work together for our movements to be a strong and successful one.
Third China’s UPR left the Tibetans, Uyghurs, and others with a sense of greater hope to see more numbers of the member state coming up and raising their voice against China for Human Rights Violations and to holding China accountable as a member of the United Nations.
Tibetans, Uyghurs, Southern Mongolians, Taiwanese and Vietnamese RallyTYC President Tenzing Jigme addressing the protesters in front of the UN Office, GenevaThe Uyghurs largely raised their concern regarding the scope and potential escalation of the massive system of Detention CampsTibetans holding posters that read ‘We Stand for Tibet’, ‘Tibet is never a part of China’, and Free Tibet Now’. Made by Tibetan Youth Congress.
Lodi Gyari Gyaltsen was one of the co-founders of Tibetan Youth Congress. He served as the Joint Secretary from 1970-74, Vice President from 1974-76 and the President of the organization from 1976-77. Born in 1949 in Nyarong Eastern Tibet, he later came into exile and studied at Mt. Hermon School Darjeeling.
He was one of the special envoys, appointed by HH the Dalai Lama in the nine rounds of negotiations with China. He was also an executive board member and President of International Campaign for Tibet, Washington DC. Prior to that he led the Information Office (now DIIR) for many years as Kalon. He served the Central Tibetan Administration in various other capacities also, as director of Research & Analysis Department and Chairman of the 7th ATPD. He also helped launch and edit the Sheja magazine. Gyari Rinpoche dedicated his entire adult life to the Tibetan people and the cause. The movement has lost a visionary and dedicated leader.
We are deeply saddened to hear that he passed away on Oct 29, 2018 in San Francisco. On behalf of the entire Tibetan Youth Congress family we send our thoughts and prayers for the departed soul and condolences to the Gyari family.
All Tibetan Youth Congress chapters are requested to organize prayer vigils to remember and honor Gyari Rinpoche’s life and legacy.
TYC Executives Tash Lamsang (General Secretary) and Tashi Dhondup (Culture Secretary) will be visiting North America from Nov-Dec 2018. They will be meeting Rtyc Chapters, community members, youth and engage in public speaking events/discussion on our struggle. Please spread the word.
Oct 23, 2018 Delhi: Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC), the largest Tibetan NGO in exile is organizing a protest in the nations capital coinciding with the visit of Chinese leaders to India. A delegation including China’s Minister of Public Security Zhao Kezhi and other high-level Ministers from the TAR are here to have talks with the Home Minister Rajnath Singh and the Indian PM Narendra Modi today.
TYC expresses serious concern on the current critical situation in Tibet and urges Indian leaders including PM Modi to bring up the issue of Tibetan freedom with their Chinese counterparts.
While we recognize that this meeting is a great opportunity for India and China to push for progress, we strongly urge for Indian leaders to hold the Chinese leaders responsible for their actions in Tibet. The current Chinese Communist Government is directly responsible for the current spate of tragic events unraveling inside Tibet including Human Rights Violation and restriction on freedom of religion. Over 150 Tibetans have self-immolated inside Tibet since 2009. The fate and conditions of the others are still not known. Protests are taking place randomly across the plateau, demanding the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Freedom for Tibet and Independence for Tibet.
India is the largest democratic country in the world built on the principles of basic human rights. TYC President Tenzing Jigme states, “Tibetans remain forever grateful to this great nation for the kindness and support it has shown to the Tibetan people and the opportunities for Tibetans to voice their concerns for the situation inside Tibet”. As we forge our movement forward we are constantly reminded of the struggle and the determination of the Indian freedom fighters who got rid of the British occupation while remaining steadfastly committed to the principles of human rights, freedoms, ahimsa and non-violence.
We believe it is time for PM Modi and Indian leaders to confront the Chinese Government on the issue of Tibet and use diplomatic measures sending a strong message that human rights and human lives are as important as trade and economy.
TYC donates the raised funds of Rs. Six lakhs (Rs.600,000)to Kerala Chief Ministers distress relief fund. TYC President Tenzing Jigme personally met with Kerala state government’s Honourable Industries, Commerce, Youth and Sports Affairs Minister Shri EP Jayarajan, who is charged with officially receiving contributions to the Kerala Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund and handed over the cheque to him. The minister expressed his profound gratitude as President Jigme conveyed to him that these are donations made by TYC members and Tibetan living all across the world offering our solidarity during these tragic times. TYC thanks our members, chapters and all those who contributed towards this campaign. Thukje Che!
Tibetan Youth Congress is saddened by the demise of a good friend of Tibet. Former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee remain unchanged with his support for Tibet. TYC expresses its deepest condolences to the dearly departed’s family and the people of India for its loss. #RipAtalBihari
TYC 49th Working Committee Meeting Kicks of in Dekyiling
Dehradun Aug 6: Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) inaugurated the 49th Working Committee Meeting in Dekyiling Tibetan Settlement, Dehradun on the 6th of August 2018 and is to be held till 10th August 2018. The meeting is attended by around 35 Regional Tibetan Youth Congress chapters from India and Nepal with 150 delegates. Since its establishment in 1970, TYC has been holding Working Committee Meeting every year.
The opening ceremony was graced by the presence of chief guest, Kasur Gyari Dolma, Ex Kalon, Parliamentarian and former TYC Executive. Other dignitaries from the Tibetan community, representatives of Tibetan NGOs and former TYC CENTREX executive members and former RTYC Executive member of RTYC Dekyiling also attended the same.
The Chief Guest commenced the ceremony by lighting the butter lamp followed by the Tibetan National Anthem and the Indian National Anthem respectively. A minute’s silence was observedfor the Tibetan martyrs who have sacrificed their precious lives forTibet.
TYC President Tenzing Jigme in his address spoke about the organisation’s aims and goalsfor the future and urged all members to make sacrifices and take responsibility for themovement. He also spoke on the significance of TYC as it being the organisation that keeps the flames of freedom and independence alive and also introduced some of the campaigns of TYC this year.
Chief Guest Kasur Gyari Dolma addressed on the need for unity in Tibetan society despite having difference in opinion. She also spoke about her days as an executive member of TYC and how TYC is one of the major organisations that works for Tibet as a whole without any regional bias and the only organisation that threatens Communist Party of China. In her speech, she said that, “the Strasbourg Proposal suggested by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama in 1988 at the European Parliament has also caused debates regarding the aims and objectives of TYC where issues of reform in TYC’s aims and objectives were brought up but post nullification of the Strasbourg Proposal in 1991, it was made clear that there would be no reform in the aims and objectives of TYC.”
The opening ceremony was concluded with a word of thanks by Vice-President Tamding Hrichoe la. The meeting will end on Aug 10, where resolutions on how to strengthen our struggle, improve the organisation and build unity in the community will be adopted for TYC and its chapters.
Tibetan Youth Congress is the largest Tibetan NGO in exile with around 80 chapters worldwide working towards the freedom and independence of Tibet.
