A Message for Xi Jinping
- Global Tibet movement calls on new generation of Chinese Leaders to acknowledge policy failures and seek resolution to the crisis in Tibet
Tibetan resistance in Tibet strengthens despite China’s intensified crackdown
As thousands of Tibetans in Rebkong, Amdo in eastern Tibet (Ch: Qinghai Province) staged protests [1] against Chinese rule after the 63rd self-immolation protest [2], exiled Tibetans and Tibet campaigners around the world have issued China’s leader-in-waiting, Xi Jinping, a Tibet Challenge; to address the endemic policy failures and seek a just solution to the occupation of Tibet [3], or face growing resistance.
“At this critical moment in history, as China’s Communist Party is on the cusp of handing power to a new generation of leaders, Tibetans in large numbers are taking every opportunity to denounce six decades of policy failures in Tibet; policies that have created this immolation crisis” said the International Tibet Network [4]. “It is increasingly clear that Tibetans in Tibet are determined to shape their own future. China’s Communist Party leaders will ignore this at their peril; or the 5th generation could be the last generation.”
China’s failed Tibet policies have contributed to a society in which Tibetans’ human rights are routinely abused, and where they are marginalised politically, socially and economically. Decades of intense suffering in Tibet have led many Tibetans to feel compelled to engage in extreme acts of protests, reflected in the ever increasing wave of self-immolation protests taking place. To date at least 63 individuals have set themselves on fire in protest against China’s rule and at least 54 have died. On 2 November, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay urged the Chinese government to immediately address the long-standing Tibetan grievances that have led to this dramatic escalation in protests stating, “Social stability in Tibet will never be achieved through heavy security measures and suppression of human rights. Deep underlying issues need to be addressed, and I call on the Government to seriously consider the recommendations made to it by various international human rights bodies, as well as to avail itself of the expert advice being offered by the UN’s independent experts on human rights.” [6]
Today Tibetans and Tibet supporters around the globe are gathered in solidarity with Tibetans in Tibet, to expose the Chinese government’s brutal policies and ensure the incoming leaders know the challenges that lie ahead. Tibet groups in various countries are challenging Xi outside Chinese embassies, in front of government buildings and on-line, supporters are spreading the message that Xi Jinping and the rest of the 5th generation leaders must take this opportunity to address the urgent need for change in Tibet, or go down in history as yet another failed generation of leaders who refused to end the violent and illegal occupation of Tibet [6].
“Ultimately China has failed to crush the Tibetan desire for freedom, and the resistance we see in Tibet today is stronger, more unified and more widespread than ever before” said the International Tibet Network “Xi Jinping must now decide whether he can afford to continue down the same path of repression and brutality, or find the courage to face the Tibet challenge and seek a constructive resolution to the occupation of Tibet.”
Notes
1. Mass Protest After Fatal Burning, Radio Free Asia – http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/ blaze-11042012105433.html
2. On 4 November Dorjee Lhundrup, a young Tibetan farmer, became the 63rd Tibetan to self-immolate in protest against China’s rule of Tibet. For more information about the self- immolation protests see www.standupfortibet.org/learn-more
3. Xi Jinping’s Tibet Challenge: a report highlighting China’s failed policies in Tibet and outlining the Tibet challenges facing Xi Jinping as China continues to maintain its occupation through Three Pillars of Coercive Control: Military Occupation, Colonial Rule, and Fear and Intimidation. Read and download from Issuu http://bit.ly/QXfT3V and/or Google Docs http://bit.ly/RDLYPO
4. The International Tibet Network is a global coalition of over 180 Tibet-related organisations dedicated to ending human rights violations in Tibet and to working actively to restore the Tibetan people’s right under international law to determine their future political, economic, social, religious and Cultural status. See www.tibetnetwork.org for more information.
5. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay Statement: “China must urgently address deep-rooted frustrations with human rights in Tibetan areas.” http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=12729&LangID=E
6. China’s Communist Party seized control of Tibet in 1950. Tibet is comprised of the three provinces of Amdo, Kham, and U-Tsang. Amdo is now split by China into the provinces of Qinghai and part of Gansu. Kham is largely incorporated into the Chinese provinces of Sichuan, Gansu and Yunnan, and U-Tsang, together with western Kham, is today referred to by China as the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR). Tibet’s traditional territory accounts for one quarter of the landmass of today’s People’s Republic of China.
流亡社會四大非政府方聯合舉行新聞發佈會
中共政府新一代領導人必須要承認對藏的錯誤政策，
尋找解決問題的新途徑，若中共政府繼續如此對藏族人民實行暴力統治於對策，藏族人民的反抗運動也會隨之增強。
新聞發佈地點：達然薩拉，西藏境內現已有六十三名同胞自焚抗暴，
近期，在安多區域熱貢幾千群眾在自焚現場聚眾對自焚者進行大規模的祈願活動於火葬儀式，由此表達對中共暴政的不滿情緒。分佈在全世界流亡社會的西藏活動者們針對即將上任的中共政府關於習近平需要面對的西藏問題而舉行了有關活動。
中共政府新一屆領導必須面對中共入侵西藏以來對藏實施的錯誤政策
及其對藏族人民造成的巨大創痛。
婦女會負責人扎西卓瑪表示：在這嚴峻的時刻，中共領導交接之際，
他們需面對西藏存在的諸多現實問題，六十年來，由於中共政府對藏的錯誤政策，由此藏族人民不斷以自焚形式舉行反抗活動，若中共新一屆領導繼續這些違背群眾意願的反動政策，第五代中共領導人也會成為最後一屆中共領導群體。
由於中共政府長期對藏的錯誤政策，
如今西藏境內的人權繼續遭到空前糟蹋，西藏的政治於社會、經濟等領域均被中共獨斷掌控，使得藏族人民在各領域失去了所有自主的權益，也使得如今全藏人民更增強了反抗暴政的決心於信心，這從如今不斷自焚抗暴的活動中明顯地表達出來，現六十三名自焚者當中已有五十三名獻身民族自由事業。
今年十一月二日，聯合國人權組織負責人 Navi Pillay 女士向中共政府要求即刻解決西藏長期存在的問題：“
在人權遭受極端迫害的地區，是無法獲得社會安定的。中共政府必須切實地解決社會存在的很多深刻問題，切實實行國際人權組織等提出的有關要求，並要加入有關國際人權學者講座。”
近期，國際聲援組織正在世界各地舉行聲援西藏活動，
並讓世人清楚現在西藏境內存在的困難，凸顯中共新一屆領導習近平將必須面對的西藏問題活動。
今天，我流亡社會四大非政府方結合上述聲援活動，
聯合發佈這項新聞，舉行“習近平必將面對的西藏問題”新聞發佈會，由此明確表達如今西藏境內實際存在的困難，我們強烈要求新任中共領導人習近平，儘快給予藏族為主的所有人以自由的外部空間，並即時改正對藏的錯誤政策！同時，四大非政府方緊急呼籲：世界各國聲援西藏的國家、團體於個人：請站出來揭露中共的惡行，讓中共統治下的人民早日獲得真正的自由！
駐達然薩拉四大非政府方：
自由學生獨立達然薩拉分會、
西藏婦女會、
九、十、三前政治犯運動協會、
民主於人權機構、
國際西藏鏈接小組
於二零一二年十一月七日聯合發佈
（中文新聞發佈稿內容若有出入，請以英文為主）
Released by:
Tibetan Women’s Association:
National Democratic Party of Tibet:
Gu-Chu-Sum Movement of Tibet:
Students for a Free Tibet India:
Coordinated by International Tibet Network