June 8, 11, and 12—International "Laogai in Tibet" Conference

posted by itlaogai on Tue, 08/07/2012 - 14:28

Sat, 06/02/2012 to Tue, 06/12/2012

"Shedding Light on Tibet"

A Conference to discuss China's past and continuing human rights violations in Tibet.

More than 30 Tibetans have set themselves afire to protest the Chinese government's oppressive policies and violations of human rights. While all China's people face human rights abuse, marginalized minorities like the Tibetans suffer the most, as their cries for help are muffled by the Communist Party. Tibetans who try to escape persecution often flee to Nepal, but are turned away because of China's close ties with the Napalese government. They are often sentenced to a term in the Laogai—China's forced labor prison system.

Participant Statements

1. Tsewang Dhondup	(PDF)
2. Tubten Khetsun	(PDF)
3. Dolkar Kyab	(PDF)
4. Ghang Lhamo	(PDF)
5. Jampel Monlam	(PDF)
6. Ngawang Sangdrol	(PDF)
7. Lukar Sham	(PDF)

Conference 'Joint Statement on the Current Situation in Tibet' (DOC) (PDF)

“Laogai in Tibet” International Conference Sponsors and Participants

Joint Declaration on the Current Situation in Tibet

Whereas the Chinese Communist government has carried out decades of repressive policies in Tibet, including the Laogai, causing a series of irreconcilable problems, including but not limited to ethnic conflicts, human rights disasters and cultural crises;

Whereas the Chinese Communist government, adhering to outdated ideology that has essentially deprived it of any political wisdom, continues its hostility against His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration in exile;

Whereas the Chinese Communist governt's lack of sincerity in dialogues with the special envoy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government in exile has prevented positive progress ini bilateral talks, and its arrogance and severity have consequently blocked peaceful options to resolve the Tibetan problem;

Whereas the Tibetan people can no longer bear the Chinese Communist authoritarian rule, recently causing more than 30 Tibetans to self-immolate in protest and desperation—

We urge the Chinese Communist government to immediately desist its oppressive policies in Tibet, to abandon its scare tactics of violence and threats centering on the Laogai system, and to release political prisoners incarcerated on any charge;
We urge the Chinese Communist government to respect the Tibetan people’s cultural traditions and religious beliefs, to immediately cease instilling Communist Party ideology in Tibet, and to restore the rights of freedom of religion, freedom of expression, and cultural development to the Tibetan people;
We urge the Chinese Communist government to critically review its governmental policies in Tibet and to immediately remove all predatory and discriminatory elements from its colonialist administration, so that the Tibetans can become the true masters of their homeland and enjoy their inalienable political rights and their equal share of economic success;
We urge the Chinese Communist government to immediately withdraw its military forces, armed police, special forces, and other military and paramilitary personnel from Tibetan territory, and thus cease its violent oppression of the Tibetan people;
We urge the Chinese Communist Party to abandon its outdated antagonism towards His Holiness the Dalai Lama, to resume dialogue with Him and the government in exile, and to seriously explore means to resolve the Tibet issue, in order to bring about a speedy end to the Tibetans’ fifty years of helpless suffering in their own land and homeless misery in exile;
We remind the Chinese Communist government that the Tibetan people have the same right of self-determination as every other ethnicity in the world, a right that is protected under international law. If their demands are repeatedly ignored, they have the right to shake off foreign interference and oppression and to freely decide their destiny.