December 2, 2005: UN Secretary General makes his important trip to China, and Tibetan Women’s Association {TWA} takes this opportunity to appeal Mr. Kofi Annan to address the Serious Human Rights Violation in occupied Tibet.
Laying emphasis on Kofi Annan`s proposal to establish a Human Rights Council to replace the UN Commission on Human Right during the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, April 2005. TWA stressed on his commitment “to restore credibility to the UN in pursuit of one of its core missions, the promotion and protection of human rights of the weak and voiceless”.
TWA had drawn his attention to the fact that despite Chinese claims of improved human rights situation in China, there is still continued human rights violation in Tibet with social suppression, political subjugation, economic poverty, religious repression, cultural genocide and ethnic apathy. The Tibetan people today are among the weak and voiceless people in the world under the ruthless regime of Communist China. The situation in Tibet is grave and the most daunting is the religious persecution in a bid to eliminate the religious essence of Tibet.
TWA requested Mr. Kofi Annan to address the issue of,
1.Gendhun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama recognized by His Holiness the Dalai Lama who is still under the custody of China. During the concluding observation of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has stated that an Independent body must be given access to the Panchen Lama and Mr. Kofi Anan is requested to endorse this resolution.
2.Trulku Tenzin Delek, whose death sentence has been converted to life imprisonment without concrete evidence of any illegal work, must be released. Though Chinese authorities have claimed that he is given right to visitations from his relatives, reliable sources confirm that he was not seen by any one for the last seven months and the TWA is deeply concerned about his health and well being.
3.Bangri Rinpoche and his wife Nyima Chodon are still behind the bar for their community service to their own people.
4.The ongoing “patriotic re-education campaign” imposed on monks of the Drepung Monastery in Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet by the Communist China. Those who fail to comply are subjected to arrests and imprisonment, and in utter fear of the ruthless treatment of political prisoners, monks prefer to die by themselves rather than getting arrested.
5.Tibetan women who have fallen as natural and easy prey to ‘torture’ in every sense of the word. This is bound to bring serious repercussions. With the lack of education and life skill training opportunities, prostitution is on the rise in Tibet, especially in Lhasa and Shigatse, eventually leading to high risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS.
On behalf of Tibetan Women in exile, we attach great significance to his visit to Tibet, representing the United Nations starting from 4th of December 2005. We earnestly request him to address the serious issues before it becomes irrevocable and looking forward to positive changes.
