Tsering Dhundup
DHARAMSHALA, Feb. 7: A new report reveals an intensifying campaign of digital repression in Tibet, where Chinese authorities have systematically dismantled Tibetan-language online platforms and targeted writers, intellectuals, and cultural leaders with arrests and lengthy prison sentences.
The report titled “Dissenting Voices: The State of Expression in Tibet,” released by the Dharamshala-based Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), details the critical situation of freedom of expression in Tibet.
The report reveals that under Xi Jinping’s rule over the past decade, internet regulations and national security laws have been used to consolidate power and suppress dissenting voices in Tibet. Through mandatory real-name registration systems and extensive collection of personal information, surveillance and monitoring have led to excessive restrictions on freedom of expression. This has put Tibetans at risk of severe punishment for expressing views that differ from the government, effectively not only suppressing free speech but also contributing to policies aimed at destroying cultural activities and forced sinicization.
The report further stated that the suppression of Tibetan language platforms reflects China’s broader policy of prioritizing Mandarin and restricting Tibetan language. Tibetan users on apps like Douyin and Kuaishou report frequent censorship, with accounts blocked and Tibetan cultural content removed. In June 2023, activists Rinchen and Sonam protested these discriminatory practices, but their campaign was silenced. Similar censorship continued in 2024, with Tibetan netizens criticizing bans on Tibetan-language content. Platforms like Talkmate and Bilibili also impose restrictions, aligning with China’s “Administrative Measures for Internet Religious Information Services,” which require state approval for online religious content, further limiting freedom of expression for ethnic minorities.
Similarly, Tibetan-made software like Gangyangs developed by three young Tibetans enabled the use of the Tibetan language in videos was forcibly shut down by the Chinese authorities under the pretext of financial issues.
The crackdown extends beyond online spaces, targeting individuals engaged in literature and intellectual discourse. The report cites the case of Gangkye Drubpa Kyab, a teacher and author from Serthar County in Kardze. Kyab was first arrested on February 15, 2012, for his writings, including Tears of the Past and Blood Letter of 2008, which document the suffering of Tibetans during the 2008 protests. He was held incommunicado for 18 months before receiving a 5.5-year prison sentence for alleged “political activities.” Following his release in 2016, he was arrested again in 2022 and sentenced to 14 years for “inciting separatism” and “endangering state security.”
Additionally, Go Sherab Gyatso, a respected Tibetan writer from Ngaba (Ch: Aba) Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, has been repeatedly detained. He was arrested on October 26, 2020, and sentenced to ten years in November 2021 on charges of “inciting separatism.” This marked his fourth arrest, underscoring the repeated persecution of Tibetan intellectuals.
The report further highlights numerous cases where Tibetan artists, singers, and influential public figures have faced harsh sentences on fabricated charges of threatening state stability and maintaining foreign connections. Under Xi Jinping’s administration, intellectuals and cultural leaders are forced to self-censor, stifling creativity and erasing Tibetan identity from public discourse.
The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy issued ten recommendations urging China to align its domestic laws with international human rights standards, safeguard fundamental rights such as freedom of expression and privacy, and repeal regulations mandating real-name internet registration, content censorship, and other measures that suppress freedom of expression both online and offline.
