By Tendar Tsering
DHARAMSHALA, October 29: Following the ongoing fiery episode self-immolations in Tibet, 27 NGOs from across the world sent an appeal to the Chief of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on Tuesday urging the global body to pressure on China to end its repressive policies in Tibet.
Coinciding with the occasion of the United Nations Day, the organisations sent the petition, asking the UN to immediately urge the Chinese government to review its policies in Tibet and restore peace and stability in the Tawo and Ngaba regions of eastern Tibet.
“We believe the recent self-immolations are the direct results of the heightened intensity of China’s control and constraints on fundamental freedoms in Tibet,” said the NGOs.
The group of NGOs demanded the withdrawal of Chinese armed militia from Kirti monastery, Ngaba, and the handing over of the entire day to day management of the monasteries to the monks.
The group also demanded an end to the patriotic re-education campaigns in the Tibetan monasteries, and allow unhindered atmosphere of religious activity at the monasteries for both the monks and lay people in Tibet.
Since March this year, ten Tibetans have set themselves on fire demanding the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile and protesting China’s continued occupation of Tibet.
The group of the 27 NGOs
1. Mahatma Gandhi International, Belgium
2. Mouvement contre le racisme et pour l’amitié les peuples (MRAP), France
3. International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), France
4. Forum Human Rights, Germany
5. Society for Threatened Peoples, Germany
6. World Uyghur Congress, Germany
7. Marangopoulos Foundation for Human Rights, Greece
8. Asian Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Network (AITPN), India
9. Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM), India
10. South Asia Network against Torture & Impunity (SANTI), India
11. No Peace Without Justice, Italy
12. Nonviolent Radical Party, transnational and Transparty, Italy
13. Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation (UNPO), Netherlands
14. International Campaign for Tibet-Europe, Netherlands
15. Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), Nigeria
16. Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, Poland
17. Law and Society Trust, Sri Lanka
18. Saami Council, Sweden
19. World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), Switzerland
20. Rencontre Africaine de Défense Pour les Droits de l’Homme (RADDHO), Switzerland
21. Forum Asia for Human Rights and Development, Thailand
22. Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), UK
23. Mapuche Inernational Link, UK
24. International Educational Development, USA
25. Association of Humanitarian Lawyers, USA
26. Human Rights in China (HRIC), Hong Kong SRA and USA
27. World Sindhi Institute, Canada-USA
