News and Views on Tibet

4th Geneva Forum condemns China for worsening human rights record

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CTA President Penpa Tsering during his inaugural address on Monday (Photo/CTA)

By Choekyi Lhamo

DHARAMSHALA, Nov 3: The Geneva forum held its 4th consecutive meeting on Monday where CTA President Penpa Tsering made the inaugural address, expressing solidarity with Tibetans inside Tibet. The forum condemned ongoing and worsening human rights situation in Tibet and highlighted abuses in East Turkestan, Hong Kong and Macau among other occupied regions. Czech Senator Jiří Oberfalzer, Swiss MP Nicolas Walder and Budapest’s Deputy Mayor of 1st district, Gelencsér Ferenc were present along with the CTA head at the inaugural address.

Sikyong (President) Penpa Tsering in his key address called out United Nations for its continued indifference of the Tibet issue, “There is a certain feeling that the UN is a little undemocratic in its functioning.” He also pointed out that UN often lacked any representation of incarcerated and oppressed communities to express grievances on the international community. “They have burnt themselves in the hope that the Chinese government will pay attention to their plight and resolve the Tibetan issue,” he said referring to the 155 Tibetan self immolators who protested against the Chinese regime.

A special panel on the issue of 11th Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was also held who urged the panellists and the international community to hold China accountable for the disappearance of the revered spiritual figure.

“Here, the victims are Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and his family, on the one hand, and as perpetrators, are those who ordered and carried out the disappearance at the time. The ones who are responsible over time and today for concealing the fate of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima are perpetrators. Those are the relevant representatives of the Chinese authorities of the time, over time, and today. This fact should be very clear to the international community,” Executive Director of ICT- Germany, Kai Mueller told the attendees.

The two-day meeting in Geneva is aimed to build a network of organizations and experts focusing on human rights and religious freedom in China. The in-person forum meeting’s central theme this year was focused on “Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Violations by China” with a diverse group of participants. The annual meeting last year was held virtually from Nov. 9 to 13 on the central theme “China’s Policy on Freedom of Religion: Global Impact”.

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