Dharamshala — From Mao to Xi, leaders of PRC are good in using catchphrase heralds to impose its hard lines ideologues on dissident Tibetans and others alike. PRC initially marched in Tibet under the guise of wishing to aid in development and improve the living standards in the secluded country. Soon Tibetans witnessed the true color of PRC, when Tibetans were given an ultimatum to sign the 17 points Agreement in 1951.
Since then in order to “Senocize” of Tibet , PRC has imposed “Great Leap Forward” under socialist Democracy; capitalism in the color of Socialist Market Economy, consequently, it proved to be disastrously counterproductive, contributing to the first ever famine in Tibet’s history, destruction of the Tibetan identity, widespread self-immolations, and growing instability across the Tibetan Plateau.
Now Xi, like his predecessor, rhetorically endorsed “Socialist Rule of Law” with Chinese characteristic without being scope for Rule of Law.
The Rule of Law was coined by Sir Edward Coke and later developed by Prof. Dicey. Rule of Law means “…no one is above the law and every man including King, is subject to the ordinary law…” In India, the concept of Rule of Law can be traced back to the Upanishad (Ancient Philosophy before 6th century BC). It provides that Law is the King of Kings.
As per the Chinese ‘Rule of Law’, party is the law and what they say is law! And it is deliberately misleading and overturning the very spirit of the Rule of Law. In fact, it is not the rule of law as we understand, rather law is being used for tools to suppress the society in order to impose and sustain their authoritarian regime.
Party has pledged to the legal reform. “The judicial system is the last defense for social justice,” Xi was quoted as saying. “If it fails, the people will widely question (the ability to realize) social justice and stability will hardly be maintained.”
But in practice, the question of judicial independence remains untouched. The judges are hired, paid, promoted and fired by local officials. Most of the judges are under qualified who are either formerly military or police. The sensitive or political cases are decide in bening door by an adjudicating committee composed of bureaucrats.
Lawyers are literally handicapped and the mercy of officials who undertake political sensitive and human rights matter were either license to practice are seized or illegally incarcerated or both.
PRC’s Constitution guarantees; Rights and Interest of Minority nationalities, develop inhibited by minority as per their need and Regional Autonomy; Constitution supremacy/Rule of Law; Rights.
to criticize and make suggestion; Freedom Speech, Press, Demonstration; Religion Rights, Human Rights and other rights.
In substance, on national ‘Constitution Day’, the most censored word was ‘Constitution’ according Weibo. Citizens who challenged the inaction of the constitutional law and Rule of Law by the party, are arbitrarily, extra judicial arrested, prosecuted on baseless charges and executed.
Amnesty International reports “China again carried out more executions than the rest of the world put together…….believes thousands are executed and sentenced to death there every year, but with numbers kept a state secret the true figure is impossible to determine.”
The struggle of Tibetan is squarely within the ambit of the Chinese constitution. But Chinese Communist continues to deny and called struggle of Tibetan as disguise Independent. So Tibetans are victim of denial and Communist Party of China is hostage of denial. As a result, the Communist party continues to impose hard lines.
The veracity of crime was witnessed by foreigner journalist who visited in 1979, described Tibet as ‘the graveyard of a murdered civilization.” So, Tibetans left no other way to redress the atrocity policy but burn themselves to death, since Feb 27, 2009, 141* Tibetans have self immolated in Tibet and China.
Sources claim that President Xi Jinping is the most authoritarian leader since Mao, hence he must realize that the stability of country and genuine respect of his foreign counterpart concerning could be ascertained, respecting the rule of law and walking within the provision of a written Constitution. This includes acknowledging and respecting the unity and diversity of ethnics minority.
As Jerome Cohen expert in Chinese law, writes “ Beijing wants the world to admire a ‘rising China’..for the quality of its civilization.. but the PRC will not win international respect for its political and social progress until it ceases locking up political dissidents and treats those currently detained in more human level.”
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and does not necessarily reflects the editorial policy of The Tibet Post International.
Mr Tenzin Namgyal is a Dharamshala based Lawyer/Legal Adviser. You can contact him by email at
