Below is an article published by Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy: 

As the Human Rights Council discussed situations that require the Council’s attention, several NGOs raised their concern on the urgent and deteriorating human rights situation in Tibet.

This morning, Tsering Tsomo, speaking on behalf of the Society for Threatened Peoples, highlighted the recent shooting in Kardze (Ch: Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (Sichuan Province) as a recent example of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) being caught in a downward spiral of violence in Tibet.

The Society for Threatened Peoples called for the intervention of the Human Rights Council and urged the PRC to schedule visits of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion and belief and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to the PRC including Tibetan areas.

Human Rights Watch noted that the PRC currently has 13 outstanding requests from the UNHRC Special Procedures and failed to fulfil its commitment to invite the High Commissioner for Human Rights.    

The Asian Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Network (AITPN) cited TCHRD’s recent report that Chinese security forces used machine guns against protesters in Lhasa in 2008. AITPN urged the Committee Against Torture, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, and other relevant mandates to intervene with PRC authorities about how TCHRD’s report contradicted their statements in 2008 that “no legal weapons were carried or used” and that the authorizes “exercised maximum restraint.”

Exercising its right to reply, the PRC accused NGOs of turning a “blind eye” and trying to politicize human rights. The PRC then asserted that the PRC is a multi-ethnic society, the Constitution and other laws protect ethnic minorities under, and the laws are followed. The PRC also emphasized that nobody could be above the law.

The UN HRC is an intergovernmental body that works to promote and protect human rights. The HRC works closely with Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations Special Procedure mandate-holders. Together these mechanisms have been vocal in calling for human rights in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) despite the PRC’s resistance.

When the debate began yesterday [16 September 2014], several States drew attention to the increase of arbitrary arrests and enforced disappearances (United States) in the PRC and the persecution of human rights defenders (Czech Republic). The United Kingdom urged the PRC to start meaningful dialogue with Tibetans and other ethnic minorities and to immediately release people who were arrested for exercising their Constitutional rights.

Italy on behalf of the European Union expressed concern with the human rights situation in Tibet and Xinjiang and encouraged China "to address the root causes of unrest and foster dialogue with and between different ethnic groups."

Below you can find a speech delivered by Ms. Tsering Tsomo

Mr. President,

I wish to address the urgent and deteriorating human rights situation in the Tibet Autonomous Region and its adjacent Tibetan areas. Currently, Tibetans are caught in a perpetual downward spiral of human rights abuses. Tibetans are subjected to arbitrary detention, forced resettlement, and unregulated environmental degradation. These human rights abuses spark protests, which in turn are violently repressed, frequently with killings, arbitrary detention, and torture.  According to Tibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy based in India, the repression sparks further protests and fails to address the root causes of the protest making more protests inevitable.

Shortly after midnight on 11 August 2014, Wangdak, a widely respected village leader in Kardze (Ch: Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province, was arrested. He had recently claimed that Tibetans had a right under both Chinese and international law to freedom of religion, culture, and assembly and should be allowed to observe an upcoming horse festival.[1] When the people in Kardze learned of the arrest they staged a protest. The police responded by firing tear gas and live ammunition into the crowd and then interrogating the women, children and elderly who remained in the village. Four people died of gunshot wounds and the denial of medical care in detention.[2] Two people, including the seven-month pregnant wife whose 18 year-old husband was killed, committed suicide protest of the crackdown.[3]  Two people were detained for taking photographs of the protest.[4] As of now, we have no information on the whereabouts of Wangdak.

This is only one of the most recent stories of ongoing abuses in the Tibet Autonomous Region and its adjacent Tibetan areas —but it is in no way unique. Tibetans have been arrested, detained, tortured, and killed for protesting mining, arrests, repressive measures at monasteries, and attempts to seize the bodies of self-immolators. Recently, local governments have announced punishments for people who are associated with self-immolators[5] or people who travel to religious festivals.[6]

The People’s Republic of China has shown no interest in breaking out of this cycle. These crackdowns are unnecessary, illegal, and do not benefit the Tibetan victims or the Chinese government. Therefore, this Council must intervene to protect the rights of Tibetan people and also urge China to schedule early date for the visit of SR on Religious Freedom or belief and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights including Tibetan regions.

Thank you.

[1] http://www.tchrd.org/2014/08/tchrd-condemns-chinese-police-shooting-of-unarmed-tibetans-in-kardze-2/

[2] http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/gunshot-08182014014610.html

[3] http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/suicide-08262014203210.html

[4] http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/photos-09032014140930.html

[5]http://www.tchrd.org/2014/02/china-announces-unprecedented-harsh-measures-to-deter-self-immolations-in-tibets-dzoege-county/

[6]http://www.tchrd.org/2014/07/china-holds-tibetan-livelihood-to-ransom-to-secure-political-stability-2/