Human Rights Violation in Tibet
By T.G. Clown

"All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.  They are endowed with reason an conscience and should act towards one another in spirit of brotherhood."

On April 27, 1998, a Tibetan hunger striker named, Thubten Ngodup, soaked himself with gasoline and lit his body on fire in New Delhi, India.  The hunger strike involved six Tibetan activists raging from ages 25-70, demanding fast action on Tibet at the United Nations.  The Indian police departments forcibly hospitalized the six hunger strikers and were treated for mal-nutrition.  However, two days later Thubten Ngodup died from his injuries.  But the five remaining Tibetan activists managed to start a second wave of hunger strike replacing them.
 
Non-violent protests such as the hunger strike are directly resulted from the human rights violation by the despotic Communist Chinese governments in Tibet.  Since 1949, an estimate of 1.2 million Tibetans have died as a direct result of hunger strikes.  The Chinese Communist invaded Tibet in 1950 and forcibly ruled Tibet under the Chinese Communist Party.  The Communist government resulted in taking away the Tibetans freedom, independence, and diminishing the Tibetan culture.  Furthermore, these Communist authorities have continuously violated the 30 Articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights though out the decades.
 
On May 14, 1995, the Dalai Lama recognized a six-year-old boy named, Gendun Choekyi Nyima, as the 11th Panchen Lama of Tibet, which is the second most important religious figure in the country.  Three days after Gendun Choekyi Nyima's recognition, he and his family and all the monks who were involved in selecting Gendun Choekyi Nyima disappeared.  It is believed that these people are imprisoned in People's Republic of China by the Communist Chinese government.  This vicious act violates Article 9 of the 30 Articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights because it states that "no one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile." 

It is very important that Gendun Choekyi Nyima and other political prisoners be released.  If the Chinese Communist authorities do not want to recognize Gendun Choekyi Nyima as the Panchen Lama of Tibet then they should at least release him and others who were involved in exile.  Moreover, we can encourage the Chinese government for immediate releases by writing to the Chinese authorities.

Ngawang Choephel is a Tibetan student who studied ethnomusicology at Middlebury College.  He grew up living in India in exile and visited Tibet for the first time in May of 1995 to make an amateur videotape about traditional Tibetan music.  In September of 1995 Ngawang Choephel disappeared and was held for one year in jail without any charge of crime.  Then in December of 1996, the Chinese Communist government sentenced Ngawang Choephel to 18 years in prison for false charges of espionage.  This corrupt act by the Communist authorities also violates Article 9 for charging Ngawang Choephel for false charge and arbitrary arrest.  Interestingly, Ngawang Choephel's 16 hours videotape of spectacular scene and traditional Tibetan music does not indicate that he was involved in any political activities or espionage. 

We can help Ngawang Choephel by writing a letter to the US Vice President, Al Gore or Chen Kuiyan, the Chinese Communist Party official, concerning Ngawang Choephel.  Or we can purchase Ngawang Choephel's video and show it in high schools, college classes, or any other human rights related organizations to raise awareness about Ngawang Choephel's issue.

In February of 1992, the Chinese authorities arrested Phuntsog Yangki and a thirteen-year-old nun named, Gyaltsen Pelsang for being involved in a brief nonviolent protest.  Their arrest violates Article 19, which allows freedom of opinion and expression.  Their only crime were singing independence songs and there weren't any violence involved.  Phuntsog Yangki and Gyaltsen Pelsang were taken to a prison where they endured terrible tortures by the Chinese prison guards.  The tortures include forced labor, severe beating, beating with electric cow prods, boiling water, and brutal rape of Tibetan imprisoned nuns.  These nasty and gruesome tortures deteriorated their health.  After Phuntsog Yangki's release she died shortly after.  This disgusting act by the Chinese Communist government violates Article 5, which states "no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment."  Therefore, we must participate in the Amnesty International letter-writing campaign, which forces the Chinese Communist government to stop the violence and release the political prisoners.

There are many ways in which we can bring a closure to the human rights violation in Tibet.  "Every one has the right to life, liberty and security of person." (Article 3)   We can write or e-mail the US President, Bill Clinton at president@whitehouse.gov and urge the President to take a strong stance on the current issue of Tibet.  Or we can simply not buy imported manufactured goods from countries that denies human rights.  Moreover, we can even attend the 1998 Tibetan Freedom Concert in Washington D.C. or purchase a Tibetan Freedom Concert CD; the money that's raised in both events goes to help the Tibetan people.  Most importantly we can all write about the human rights violation in Tibet or in any other countries that denies human rights to raise awareness.  We must unite and work together to stop the human rights violation.