Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, June 9: As the 90th birthday of the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama approaches on July 6, the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT), a Washington-based advocacy organization, has issued an urgent call to the international community to pressure the Chinese government to end its repression of Tibetans who peacefully mark the spiritual leader’s birthday inside Tibet.
While Tibetans and supporters around the world prepare to celebrate the life and legacy of the exiled Nobel Laureate, Tibetans living under Chinese rule continue to face harsh punishments for similar expressions of devotion. According to ICT, simply honoring the Dalai Lama’s birthday in Tibet can result in arbitrary arrests, torture, lengthy prison sentences, and even death, all within a broader climate of state surveillance and fear.
A newly released ICT report, “Celebrating in Fear: China’s Crackdown on Dalai Lama Birthday Tributes in Tibet,” documents the extreme risks Tibetans face for publicly or privately expressing reverence toward the Dalai Lama. The report highlights how these repressive measures are part of the Chinese government’s ongoing campaign to erase the Dalai Lama’s influence and criminalize Tibetan religious identity.
In response, ICT has called on international institutions, including the United Nations, national governments, parliaments, and civil society organizations to take concrete steps to hold China accountable for violating Tibetans’ fundamental rights. The group urged the global community to demand that China cease its persecution of Tibetans who celebrate the Dalai Lama’s birthday; unconditionally release prisoners Drugdra, Lobsang Khedrup, and Lobsang Gephel; guarantee detainees access to legal counsel, family visits, and medical care; respect the right to freedom of religion or belief under international law; end its vilification of the Dalai Lama and persecution of those expressing devotion to him; and reinitiate meaningful dialogue with the Dalai Lama’s representatives to seek a peaceful resolution to the Tibet issue.
“The upcoming milestone birthday of the Dalai Lama is a moment of global significance,” ICT said in its statement. “It is imperative that all people, including those in Tibet, be allowed to honor their spiritual leader without fear of persecution.”
The report also points to how restrictions extend beyond Tibet. In past years, Nepal, home to a large Tibetan refugee population, has repeatedly restricted the birthday celebrations of the Dalai Lama under pressure from China, banning public gatherings and cultural programs organized by the community.
