Tibetan Youth Congress Statement on the 60th Anniversary of the World Human Rights Day

TYC Statement on the 60th Anniversary of the World Human Rights Day
Date: 10th December, 2008

The Human Rights Day is not just an occasion to celebrate, it is also one of stocktaking to assess the progress made in the protection of the basic rights of the entire human family in the world at large - especially in the small and weak nations. Today, as we observe the 60th anniversary, it is also an appropriate occasion to reflect on both the efforts and achievements of the UN, so far, for the protection of human rights in the Chinese occupied Tibet and around the world, with a view to prepare the agenda for the future in that direction.


As we commemorate the International Human Rights Day and the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, China's continued colonial occupation of Tibet remains the single largest challenge to the principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. China continues to carry out its policy of genocide with impunity as Tibetans, Uigyurs of the East Turkistan, People of Southern Mongolia and Manchuria face a grim future under its colonial occupation. The mass migration of Chinese settlers into Tibet has marginalized and disenfranchised Tibetans making us a minority in our own country. China's transfer of millions of Chinese into Tibet to strengthen its occupation is leading to the extinction of the national identity of the Tibetan nation. The accelerated exploitation of Tibet's natural resources threatens Tibet's fragile environment.

We cannot contemplate the urgency for the need to resolve the issue of Tibet without understanding the vastness of the increasing deteriorating situation inside Tibet, the human rights crisis and without looking at the long history of the six decades of the brutal occupation under which Tibetans have suffered tremendously. China's colonial occupation of Tibet has resulted in the deaths of over 1.2 million Tibetans, destruction of over 6000 monasteries and the displacement of over 100,000 Tibetans who have been disrooted from their homes and forced to flee into exile following 1959. For almost as long as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has been in place, Tibetans inside Tibet have been deprived of their civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights. The continued detention of the 11th Panchen Lama, Gendhun Choekyi Nyima is one illustrative example of China's blatant disregard for human rights.

The historic peaceful movement by Tibetans inside all three traditional provinces of Tibet since March 10th 2008 and their calls for independence demonstrate that Tibetans have never wavered in their determination to continue their struggle for the inherent rights and dignity of our people. Their nonviolent protests reflects their dissatisfaction with the status quo and demanded China to address the deeply held grievances of the Tibetan people.

China's merciless use of force and the brutal crackdown inside Tibet to crush the peaceful protests further infuriated the people of Tibet. This resulted in subsequent solidarity protests by Tibetans and Tibet supporters around the world. Eight months have passed since the demonstrations but Tibet still remains sealed, over two hundred deaths of Tibetans have been reported and thousands of Tibetans have disappeared. China continues to hold thousands of Tibetans in undisclosed locations and refuses to disclose their whereabouts and also to acknowlege their detention. China has rejected repeated calls from other governments and Internationally recognised NGO's for access into Tibet to hide its continuing endemic use of torture, abuse and terror.

30 Tibetans last April and Over 55 Tibetans in November this year have been unfairly sentenced by China for their participation in peaceful protests against China. The present trial proceedings are China's attempt to decieve the international community to show that China is a nation of laws and hide the fact that it continues to use coercive measures of subversion to silence dissent. The denial of a fair trial to Tibetans who have been subjected to unjust and harsh sentences for their participation in peaceful protests handed down by China's illegitimate courts in Tibet further illustrates that Tibetans cannot find justice in Chinese run courts that act as the weapon of the oppressors to persecute and prosecute Tibetan leaders, political activists and any Tibetan who voices dissent. Furthermore, China's illegitimate courts and state agents enforce an illegal military occupation of Tibet and function solely as a means of maintaining that occupation and repressing any and all resistance and oppositon. The courts undermine the Tibetan people's political activity and continue to make a mockery of justice.

Since the adoption of Universal Declaration of Human rights in 1948, the UN General Assembly has passed three resolutions on Tibet in 1959, 1961 and 1965 which were still lying without any implementation. And on the other side, China who has voted to adopt the Universal Declaration in 1948, and pledged to uphold human rights through international agreements and its own constitution continues to ignore and violate all the articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other Covenants it has signed. Therefore, we appeal to the United Nations and its member states to take concrete actions against China to resolve the issue of Tibet before it is too late.

The meagre response from foreign governments to the continuing crimes against humanity and cultural genocide inside Tibet without meaningful international force and serious pressure on China has emboldened China to continue its brutal occupation of Tibet.We must ensure that those directing the atrocities in Tibet are brought to justice. We appeal to the International community to not remain indifferent to the sufferings of the Tibetan people and to continue your support for the just struggle of the Tibetans.

On this Human Rights day, we honor the never surrendering Tibetans inside Tibet and the political prisoners who continue to fight for our common goal. The constant defiance of Chinese rule by our brave brethrens inside Tibet is our only strength that transcends all material bounds and touches the deeply rooted human need for a meaningful existence and articulates the aspirations and the grievances of the six million Tibetans inside Tibet. We who are in the free world resolve to continue our struggle from exile and overcome any challenges that lie ahead. We resolve to strengthen our democracy in exile and renew our commitment to struggle for the independence of Tibet even at the cost of one's life.

Issued by the Office of Central Executive Committee of the Tibetan Youth Congress
http://www.tibetanyouthcongress.org/statement-world_human_rights_day.html