Dharamshala, India — Chinese communist-totalitarian authorities in Tibet have detained at least six Tibetans after refusing to participate in the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party's totalitarian regime establishment, proclaimed by former dictator Mao Tse-tung, the greatest mass-murderer in human history.
The authoritarian regime maintains tight control over the internet, media, and academia. Authorities stepped up their persecution of religious communities, including prohibitions on Buddhism in Tibet, suppression, and increasing scrutiny of Tibetan Buddhists and continues to severely restrict religious freedom.
The six Tibetans, identified as Manpa Tsegyal, Yangphel, Dudul Lhagyay, Norsang, Shewang Namgyal and Sithar Wangyal and they were arrested in Tarchen Township in Nagchu, Tibet, on September 20, 2019.
The authorities have stepped-up efforts to prevent protests by Tibetans and further tightening control over Tibet in preparation for the 70th anniversary of Chinese communist rule in China. Six Tibetans have been arrested in central Tibet after refusing to take part in government events to mark the 70th anniversary of the PRC, TPI's source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
They reportedly refused to obey official instructions to wave Chinese red flags, sing patriotic songs and praise the Chinese Communist Party ahead of celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC).
The source further added that families and relatives of the detainees have requested Chinese authorities to allow them to hand over food and blankets. Authorities instead issued threats saying they will extend their detention period if they continue to insist.
Numerous events have been held across Tibet in preparation for the anniversary. Every Tibetan restaurant, shops, homes, monasteries, and schools have been forced to display large Chinese flags and banners praising the CCP and Xi Jinping, the source continued.
A wider public including students and monks have been instructed to participate while dance and singing competitions in praising of the CCP have been held in Ngaba and Dzoge Counties. Events such as poetry competitions and photo exhibitions have also been held to portray the CCP as democratic liberators of Tibet.
A few weeks ahead of the official event, footage of Tibetan Buddhist monks carrying out a choreographed song and dance routine at Gaden Jampaling Monastery in Chamdo County of eastern Tibet. The monastery was decorated with Chinese flags and images of top Chinese authorities.
Armed police and military personnel have been heavily deployed across Tibet with so-called Tibet Autonomous Region Party Secretary instructing them to intercept any protests, normally considered to pose a danger to the authoritarian state. Aand police checks, surveillance and search operations have been heavily stepped up to ensure that the celebrations proceed smoothly.
As the Chinese Communist Party celebrated the 70th anniversary of its totalitarian rule on October 1, 2019, over a million Uighurs are imprisoned in labor camps, millions are severely repressed in Tibet, and millions are on the streets of Hong Kong marching for basic freedom and human rights. Arbitrary arrests, long-term detention of prisoners of conscience, detention without trial of political prisoners, unfair trials, widespread torture and ill-treatment of adult and juvenile detainees are among major concerns in Tibet, Hong Kong, and eastern Turkistan.
Authorities dramatically stepped up repression and systematic abuses against Tibetans inside Tibet and have carried out mass arbitrary detention, torture, and mistreatment of some of them in various detention facilities, and increasingly imposed pervasive controls on daily life. Year after year, new regulations particularly targeting Tibetans in Tibet criminalize the even traditional forms of social event and action, including preserving, and promotion of Tibetan religious and cultural heritages which undermines people’s rights to free speech and political participation.
The communist-totalitarian state of China began its invasion of Tibet in 1949, reaching complete occupation of the country in 1959. Since that time, more than 1.2 million people, 20% of the nation's population of six million, have died as a direct result of China's invasion and occupation. In addition, over 99% of Tibet's six thousand religious monasteries, temples, and shrines, have been looted or decimated resulting in the destruction of hundreds of thousands of sacred Buddhist scriptures.
Until 1949, Tibet was an independent Buddhist nation in the Himalayas which had little contact with the rest of the world. It existed as a rich cultural storehouse of the Mahayana and Vajrayana teachings of Buddhism. Religion was a unifying theme among the Tibetans -- as was their own language, literature, art, and world view developed by living at high altitudes, under harsh conditions, in a balance with their environment.