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20 Apr, 2008, 2100 hrs IST, PTI, The Economic Times
DURBAN: A march organised here on Sunday to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi's salt march in India during the British rule saw the South Africans expressing solidarity with the Tibetan cause while stressing on the non-violent means.

Organised by 'Satyagraha', the march had approximately 1500 people walking from the Gandhi settlement, where he once stayed, to the Durban beach-front along with some members of the Tibetan community.

Ela Gandhi, grand-daughter of Mahatma Gandhi and one of the organisers, said the march aimed to instill the non-violent ways of life that Gandhi had fought for.

We support the cause of Tibet, Myanmar and Zimbabwe in a non-violent manner, Gandhi said at the event.

"Mahatma Gandhi has shown there's another way of dealing with conflict, dealing with differences of opinion through non-violence", she said.

Participants in the 22-kilometre long march, which has been an annual affair here for the past four years, echoed the sentiments of the Tibetan cause while stressing on peaceful means of protest.

"We're joining the march to make people aware there's a problem in Tibet and we'd like to bring peace there. His holiness the Dalai Lama is asking people to create awareness but in a peaceful, non-violent way", a participant in the march said.

"The whole Satyahagraha movement, the way he (Gandhi) accomplished so many things with passive resistance really touched me and I thought I should be part of this as well", another said.

Dated: 24 April 2008
Contact person: Tsering Agloe (English) / Jampa Monlam (Tibetan and
Chinese)
Tel: +91 1892 223363 / 229225
Email: office@tchrd.org

25 April 2008: Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the XIth Panchen Lama of Tibet today turns 19. He has been missing for the past thirteen years along with his parents. There has been no information about his well being and whereabouts till date.

Although numerous governments and independent organizations in the past have consistently pressed the Chinese authorities to disclose information about his whereabouts and well being but there were no positive response from the government of China.

The authorities have cited various excuses for denying access to the Panchen Lama and his family. In 2006 the Chinese authorities refused to arrange meetings between the Panchen Lama and Reuters stating that it was done purely out of respect for the family's wishes not to be "disturbed" by outsiders.

In September 2005, Chinese authorities informed the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief that Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was in "good health and just like any other children is leading a normal, happy life and receiving a good cultural education". A year later, in an official communication from China, UN rights experts were told that Gedhun Choekyi is not the Panchen Lama but "merely an ordinary Tibetan child".

Ms Louise Arbour, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and Ms Asma Jahangir, the UN Special Rapporteur on Religious Freedom and Belief discussed the case of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima to the Chinese authorities during their official visits to China in 29 August- 2 September 2005 and 9 January 2005 respectively.

The Panchen Lama is now no longer an infant boy that requires protection from the state according to the Constitution of People's Republic of China (PRC). Therefore, as a citizen he has every right to enjoy his freedom to determine his fate and the freedom of movement without being under the custodianship of anyone, including parents and the state.

The Chinese constitution stipulates that a person who has reached the age of18, he or she is entitled with fundamental rights such as right to religious belief, education and occupation. Therefore the continuing disappearance of the Panchen Lama is a gross violation of the fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution. Article 34 of the Chinese constitution guarantees that,

"All citizens of the People's Republic of China who have reached the age of 18 have the right to vote and stand for election, regardless of nationality, race, sex, occupation, family background, religious belief, education, property status, or length of residence, except persons deprived of political rights according to law".

In view of the civil and political rights guarantee to every citizen, it is the legitimate right of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima to exercise his freedom. In no way should he be kept under any form of detention as a result of political manipulation, custody or protection. If he chooses to remain under state protection and custodianship, China must procure and provide the world with valid document to support the case. If it is not the case, then the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) deems the continuing disappearance of the Panchen Lama as a case of arbitrary detention and imprisonment and total disregard for his fundamental human rights.

The detention of the Panchen Lama starkly contradicts the spirit of the Chinese constitution and its enshrined fundamental rights and freedom. Article 37 of the Chinese constitution states,

"The freedom of person of citizens of the People's Republic of China is inviolable. No citizen may be arrested except with the approval or by decision of a people's procuratorate or by decision of a people's court, and arrests must be made by a public security organ. Unlawful deprivation or restriction of citizens' freedom of person by detention or other means is prohibited; and unlawful search of the person of citizens is prohibited".

According to the Chinese constitution, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima is not a minor citizen, and hence does not require family and state protection. As a adult he has the freedom of movement, since he is now not under the threat, the Chinese authorities should disclose his present whereabouts and well-being and allow international community, media and international dignitaries to access him.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

• On 14 May 1995, His Holiness the Dalai Lama announced that the then six-years old Gedhun Choekyi Nyima as the reincarnation of the Xth Panchen Lama.
• Three days later, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and his parents disappeared and have never been seen again.
• On 24 May 1995 the government of People's Republic of China issued a statement describing the Dalai Lama's proclamation as "illegal and invalid."
• China proclaims another child to be the real incarnation - an unprecedented and bizarre act of an atheist state.
• Shortly after this announcement Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and his family disappeared from their native hometown without any information about their whereabouts and well-being.
• Chadrel Rinpoche, a former abbot of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery seat of Panchen Lama, and Chairman of the Search Committee for the reincarnation of the XIth Panchen Lama and his assistant Champa Chungla also disappeared from Chengdu Airport in Sichuan Province on 14 May 1995.
• On 21 April 1997, the Shigatse Intermediate People's court sentenced Chadrel Rinpoche to six years of imprisonment. He was charged with "plotting to split the country" and "leaking state secrets".
• He was accused of working for and assisting the Dalai Lama in the search for the XIth Panchen Lama. Although his sentence ended on 13 May 2001 following the completion of a six-year prison term, there is no credible information on his whereabouts or on his state of health.

The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) is gravely concerned at the continued disappearance and detention of the Panchen Lama and his parents and appeals for their unconditional release. TCHRD urges the International bodies to pressure the Beijing authorities to ascertain their whereabouts and well-being and to allow the relevant UN bodies to meet the Panchen Lama. The PRC should also ensure that the religious freedom of the Tibetan people be respected including their rights to identify religious leaders.

Times Online
April 24, 2008

Mobs of Chinese supporters were accused of assaulting pro-Tibet campaigners on the sidelines of the Olympic torch relay in Australia today as scuffles broke out and at least seven protesters were arrested.

There was none of the violence or disruption that marred the torch relay in London or Paris, and the Olympic flame travelled uninterrupted through Canberra, the capital.

But observers said that behind the barricades Chinese nationals assaulted Tibetan activists and tore down their flags. Confrontations between an estimated 15,000 China supporters and about 3,000 pro-Tibet demonstrators reportedly flared all along the 16km route as the groups held aloft opposing banners and shouted competing slogans.

In one incident, an Australian couple waving a Tibetan flag were said to have been mobbed by dozens of Chinese activists and punched.

During the relay itself, pushing and shoving broke out between police and two Chinese attendants accompanying the torch.

One spectator said that he and others were assaulted by group of Chinese supporters who were following the torch's progress from behind the barriers.

Alastair Paterson and his seven-year-old daughter were standing next to a small group, which included a woman with a homemade banner saying "Free Tibet".

He said that as the torch passed by a gang of people with Chinese flags and sticks ran past.

"One bloke lined me up and kicked me and as I turned around he ran away," he said. "I took a step towards him and three or four others said 'Come on, Come on'. They wanted to fight me. The woman's husband got hit across the head with a stick. The woman got jostled. The banner got torn down and they basically ran off."

But police also wrestled away some pro-Tibet demonstrators, including at least one who tried to sit in the path of a torchbearer, the former marathon runner Robert de Castella.

Police running with the torch near Parliament House also wrestled a protester to the ground and handcuffed him before he was able to get close to the flame.

The five pro-Chinese and two pro-Tibetan demonstrators who were arrested remained in custody late today.

But officials declared the event "an outstanding success". Jon Stanhope, Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory, said: "It ran its full course. It was peaceful. I'm absolutely chuffed."

Metal barricades and 550 police kept protesters away from the torch. The torchbearers were flanked by Australian police who at one stage repeatedly pushed aside Chinese officials in blue tracksuits running close to the flame.

The incident with the controversial so-called Chinese flame attendants appeared to reflect confusion over their role in the torch's security.

At a press conference yesterday, Australian and Chinese officials argued over exactly what role the Chinese guards would play. Chinese officials said that the guards would "use their bodies to form a kind of defence for the torchbearer" in the event of a threat, while police maintained that they had sole responsibility for security.

Chinese supporters have denied claims they were brought into Canberra in up to 100 buses by the Chinese embassy for the visit of the torch, which was later flown out to Nagano in Japan.

Dharamsala, April 24, 2008 (TCHRD) - The Chinese authorities in the "Tibet Autonomous Region" ('TAR') and other Tibetan areas in neighboring provinces have launched a two-months renewed "Patriotic Education" campaign covering almost every sections of society beginning primarily with the monastic institutions, party cadres, security forces and government employees, farmers and private entrepreneurs, educational institutions and common people, to denounce the Dalai Lama and the "splittist forces" in the coming two months.

Following the recent series of protests across the "TAR" and the non-TAR regions by Tibetans, the Chinese authorities launched a renewed "Patriotic Education" campaign as it was earlier concentrated primarily in the monastic institutions long considered as the bastions of political dissidence, covering almost every section of Tibetan communities with more rigor and intensity. The stipulated two-months' renewed "Patriotic Education" campaign launched at the begining of April following unprecedented protests across Tibetan plateau since 10 March, was reinvigorated and targeted only the monastic institutions but also government employees, security forces, farmers, nomads and privated enterpreneurs, educational institutions. The principle and underlying message of this campaign was to "vehemently oppose the Dalai 'clique'" and "to expose the true nature of 'Dalai clique'" and "March 14 riot". Under the supervision of the Communist Party leaders, new committees were formally formed to formulate and execute the campaign across all sections of the society within two months stipulated time period.

Under the three themes, the renewed "patriotic education" campaign aimed to 'educate' the masses about 'opposing splittism', 'protecting stability' and 'backing development', by holding meetings, inviting experts to give speeches, teaching and discussing the contents of the 'patriotic education' campaign, holding denunciation session of the Dalai Lama and screening propaganda shows and teaching chinese laws and regulations.

According to the state run newspaper, Tibet Daily, dated 18 April, a two-month 'patriotic education' campaign was launched in Zangri County in Lhoka Prefecture, "TAR" for government employees, peasants, retired government employees and party members across all townships under Zangri County, pledged and reaffirmed the work ethics for the party cadres. The Zangri County People's Armed Police (PAP) and security forces were told that it was a right time to struggle and protest against the 'splittist' forces. The heads of townships and PAP under those townships were 'educated' about securing stability and further improving the national security. In various educational institutions, students were indoctrinated with communist ideology and taught how Tibet has flourished under its rule and denounced the old and backward Tibetan society by showing films from the period of the Cultural Revolution. Peasants, nomads and private enterpreneurs were told about the economic development achieved and happy life enjoyed by the Tibetans under the patronage and policy of the Communist party. For the monastic institutes, under this campaign monks and nuns are 'educated' to be patriotic towards nation, one's religion, oppose 'splittist' forces, to help maintain social stability, social legal institutes and to restore religious order.

At the beginning of this month, alongside intensification of security, the Chinese authorities have ordered more stringent ideological education and ramped-up propaganda in Tibet "to build anti-separatist sentiment", according to the Tibet Daily, a state run newspaper of 3 April 2008. Under this campaign, "work team" are sent to especially in monastic institutes on a regular basis to undertake this campaign no matter whether monastic populace are willing to attend or not but are compulsorily made to attend. The "TAR" Communist Party chief, Zhang Qingli ordered harsh punishments for local party officials found lacking in their commitment to Beijing's official line. "We absolutely will not condone violations of political and organizational discipline and will definitely find those responsible and mete out harsh punishment". He even told that efforts should be made to focus on negative portrayals of Tibet prior to the Communist invasion in 1950, and continued vilification of what Beijing calls the Dalai Lama's secret campaign to split Tibet from China and sabotage the Olympics, according to the state run newspaper Tibet Daily.

On 3 April, more than eight people including monks were shot dead and dozens left injured after fellow monks of Tongkor Monastery in Kardze County, staged a peaceful demonstration calling for the release of two monks arrested earlier on 2 April for objecting Chinese "Patriotic Education" campaign in the monastery.

On 11 April, the "TAR" authorities sent the "Legal information Education" "work team" as a part of the "patriotic education" campaign in Drepung Monastery, who were confronted by the monks of the monastery against visit of the "work team" to conduct the campaign and later detained by the authorities. There is no information on the condition and whereabouts of those detainees. However, according to the Chinese official mouthpiece, Xinhau, dated 11 April, reported that a patriotic education group has arrived at the monastery "to help maintain social stability, socialist legal institutions" and "restore religious order" but suppressed the protest and detention of monks in its report and cited "TAR" government as saying the officials involved in the "patriotic education" campaign throughout Tibet "have received the understanding and support of monks and religious followers". Mr. Zhang Qingli, the "TAR" Communist Party chief visited the Drepung Monastery on 18 April 2008.

On the same day on 18 April 2008, the "TAR" Communist Party chief Zhang Qingli visited Sera Monastery giving assurance to the monks that "the Communist Party committee and government of Tibet would protect the legal rights and interests of patriotic and devouts monks and nuns". The Xinhua reported that the Buddhist service have resumed after being suspended due to Lhasa 'riot' bu the official mouthpiece completely skipped the report of the detention of around four hundreds monks of the monastery in the early morning raid in Sera Monastery. There is no information on the condition and whereabout of those detained from the monastery.

On 12 April, a special meeting was convened among the representatives of the various monastic institutions under all eighteen counties of Kardze "Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture" ("TAP") at Dartsedo and instructed to commence the "patriotic education" campaign immediately across all religious institutions in Kardze.

According to official media reports, the campaign was reinvigorated across Lhasa city, educational departments in Lhasa, in Lhoka and Chamdo Prefecture.

On 3 April, monks of Wara Monastery in Jomda County, Chamdo Prefecture "TAR" confronted and challenged the "work team" from carrying 'patriotic education' campaign by saying 'even at the cost of our lives we will never defame and denounce our religious leader, the Dalai Lama".

On 14 April 2008, the PAP forces ransacked the residences of monks of Tsang Monastery in Kawasumdo County(Ch: Thunde Xian), Tsolho "TAP" Qinghai Province, confiscated pictures of the Dalai Lama.

On 21 April, Dorjee Tsering, Lhasa City Mayor, has told that the "Patriotic education" campaign will be a standard litmus test for the party cadres.

With the launch of renewed "Patriotic education" campaign especially in the monastic institutions, which are originally set up for providing religious practitioners with a conducive environment for meditation on religious contents and for achieving inner peace, are being forcibly re-functioned to serve the Party as a production machinery of loyal political followers. Freedom of religion for Tibetan Buddhists would mean that authorities cease not only with their controls and restrictions in Tibetan Buddhist institutes but most importantly cease mixing up a party's ideological messages with religious traditions. Any attempts, the violent destructive ones well as the nearly unperceivable ones that operate through indoctrination and manipulation, any attempts to assimilate politics and religion into a political version of religion are gross downfall against a people's right to freedom of their religion. The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) calls for the immediate end to the practice of conducting so-called "patriotic education" campaign in Tibet and allows the normal religious practice to flourish in the monastic institutions.