Dharamshala — The Chinese authorities in Tibet imposed restrictions on the construction of residential buildings by the Tibetan populace, requiring the submission of extensive documentation. Conversely, they have granted permission to Chinese individuals and entities to construct hotels without imposing such restrictions.
The government of the People's Republic of China (PRC) has formally denied the Tibetan people the right to construct residential buildings on their own land. However, Chinese citizens are permitted to build hotels. This discrepancy in policy has led to discontent among the Tibetan populace, as evidenced by a Tibetan source who expressed their sentiments by stating, "Tibetans are compelled to rent rooms on their own land, a situation that is profoundly disheartening."
A Tibetan from Tibet told TPI, "The current situation is deeply concerning. Many of us who are native to the region are compelled to seek accommodations in rented buildings. We are indigenous to this land and have inhabited it for generations. We aspire to construct a residence on our ancestral land. However, officials at both the local and regional levels have effectively impeded us from doing so. They have imposed a substantial documentation requirement for the construction of a dwelling on our land, which has left us very helpless."
“But,the Chinese who come from far away, whether they are civil servants or others, are allowed to build large hotels after buying small plots of land from local residents. They don't need any documents to build the hotels. They used to rent rooms to people, whereas here, these large buildings and hotels belong to outsiders, not Tibetans. Therefore, Tibetans will never be able to get rich,” said the source, while pointing to large buildings in their areas and others under construction.
Another source from Tibet said, " I have been trying for two years to obtain the necessary documents to build a residential building in our area. However, I have encountered significant obstacles, as local authorities have restricted our ability to build residential buildings. In contrast, Chinese companies are able to easily obtain permission to build hotels for tourists." The source expresses frustration at their inability to defend their rights against the authorities, who they fear could bring political or criminal charges against them, even though they are not involved in any criminal activity.
The Chinese government intentionally brings millions of Chinese to Tibet annually, helping them to work and build, and encouraging them to stay. In so doing, it turns Tibetans into a minority in their own country, and discriminates against them in terms of employment, wages and treatment. The Chinese Communist Party's policy of assimilation has been imposed on Tibetans for years, and has recently been intensified by forcing Tibetan children into Chinese colonial-style boarding schools.
Today, Tibetans have to travel to Chinese cities to work, as work in their own country is often given to Chinese workers from far away places. In the worst cases, Tibetans who have gone to work in Chinese cities have disappeared and their families can no longer trace them. In addition, young Tibetans who have graduated from higher education cannot find stable employment, and work for lower wages and in unsanitary conditions.