Dharamshala — A Tibetan netizen in his fifties from Central Tibet has recently come forward to describe the harsh methods used by the Chinese government to silence dissent and maintain conformity to their rule amongst the local Tibetan servants and publics. Becoming a voice against an oppressive regime, the whistleblower describes how, when the Central and provincial leaders or foreign delegations’ tours, the villagers and officials are put to silence regarding what can or cannot be said is kept hidden.
The authorities do not only censor dissident voices but make citizens write their own fables about governmental support, even when there is none. This grim narrative reveals the degree to which Beijing has successfully institutionalised censorship and deceit at all tiers of management so as to keep hidden from the international community the famines that continue to enshroud the people of Tibet.
The local Tibetan dissent, in a speech to fellow Tibetans, has exposed tactics of authoritarian Chinese suppressing voice in the region. In the context of a particular village locals are silenced by Chinese officials, while at the county level the same threat is used against officials themselves to suppress anything that might portray the government in a bad light. Even during routine diplomatic interactions such as visits by or to Chinese leaders or foreign diplomats, the authorities are only free to suggest the list of issues that can be discussed and perhaps more importantly, the list of issues that one must under no circumstance allow to be discussed. Worse still, they require both the villagers and the officials to lie- declare that the central government has supplemented them with funds when in actual sense the villagers haven’t received any aid. As demonstrated through the coordinated repression and manipulation of information, it reveals just how tightly Beijing has been able to contain the region so that voices of Tibetan defiance form no part of the narrative that is presented to the outside world. The place, along with the day and hour of these revelations is not stated, which also contributes to the secrecy of the ideas of this kind of oppression.
In his testimony, he said that not only do the authorities determine what can be said, but also it is also clear what must be avoided during a conversation with senior officials or foreign guests. In such manipulative demonstration, these authorities go further to force the people to develop what as lies by making them to report that they have been subsidized by the central government, an aspect which may be in complete negation to the actual real situation on the ground. Such a forced act of deception is a grim deterrent of the coercive surveillance and manipulation that the Chinese authorities impose over all aspects of the Tibetan Community.
With understandable annoyance he carried on, "Our words and concerns should be conveyed to the highest leaders of the ‘Tibetan Autonomous Region,’ but the Chinese authorities at the local and county levels systematically obstruct our access to them. Village officials stifle our ability to voice our problems, township officials silence the very officials from the villages, and at the county level, higher authorities suppress the township officials' capacity to speak out." This horrific narrative actually paints a picture of a highly bureaucratic nexus of oppression whose raison d’état is to make sure that every attempt and effort at voicing out the grievances of the Tibetan people and seeking justice for their cause, is met with non-response and stony silence.
He added, "When senior leaders visit villages and towns, the local officials—who are supposed to represent us—slam the door shut on our freedom of expression: They prevent us from speaking openly, from expressing our true concerns, and instead, they impose strict directives on what we are allowed to say. We are ordered to speak in a prescribed manner, warned not to voice any opposition, and told to conceal the truth. Worse still, they force us to lie, to falsely claim that we have received financial or other support, even when, in reality, such support has never reached us. This, they insist, is the 'truth' we must present." This harrowing account brings out the plight of the people of Tibet and how they are forced to be mute not only for themselves but also for the opposites of their oppressors, by living a lie the Tibetans submit to falsehood, they deny their own truth, their own realties.
The man further stated, "As internet celebrities, we bear two fundamental responsibilities: one is to engage in business online, and the other is to amplify the concerns of the people, to expose the unjust treatment they suffer at the hands of officials, and to give voice to the true, unvarnished words that come from the hearts of the people. It is for this reason that I have chosen to address these pressing issues through the online platform." This declaration brings into focus this dual function of present-day social justice activists who inhabit cyber spaces as influencers – as beneficiaries of the unjust systems that they fight against, but also as people who are willing to fight for a cause in a world where traditional protest formations cannot be mounted and where power rests in the hands of oppressive systems.
His speech, captured in a viral video clip, garnered widespread attention both within Tibet and internationally, where it was met with resounding praise from Tibetans across the region, who lauded his courage in speaking out against the pervasive, all-encompassing control imposed by China. His bold articulation of the ongoing repression struck a chord with many, as he eloquently highlighted the relentless tightening of China's grip over every aspect of Tibetan life—politically, culturally, and socially—while simultaneously exposing the grave injustices inflicted upon the Tibetan people by an authoritarian regime that seeks to obliterate their identity and autonomy.
He further exposed the deep-rooted corruption and deceit inherent in President Xi’s economic strategies for China, quarrelling that, for China to claim any genuine economic progress, a truly inclusive approach must be implemented—one that addresses the requirements of all 50 ethnic groups, including people of Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR). Such a strategy, he asserted, would necessitate a comprehensive development plan that spans all levels of local government—township, county, and beyond—ensuring equitable growth that directly benefits the people. Only through this fair and inclusive approach could China ever hope to fulfil its aspirations of becoming a powerful, competitive nation on the global stage. Yet, the reality under Xi’s rule is starkly different: Rather than fostering real reform, the regime’s actions mirror the cynical proverb of 'dust covering filth,' as there is no justice in the TAR. Beijing’s manipulative tactics ensure that the truth is consistently obscured, with corruption rampant at every level. Further exposing the depth of Xi’s strategy, he revealed how, during visits by senior delegations to the TAR, local officials and the public are coerced into falsifying reports, claiming to have received the full amount of funds—whether for relief or infrastructure—despite the fact that these funds are either severely delayed or entirely withheld. This orchestrated deception, he argued, is a clear demonstration of the regime’s systematic exploitation and disregard for the Tibetan people, exposing Xi’s corrupt administration for what it truly is: a regime more interested in self-preservation and political manipulation than in the well-being of its citizens.
China-Tibet: The one-thing you need to know:
Over the past seven decades, Tibet has endured relentless political repression, pervasive social discrimination, economic marginalisation, environmental degradation, and the systematic eradication and assimilation of its unique cultural and linguistic heritage. This state-sanctioned subjugation has been exacerbated by the overwhelming influx of Chinese migrants into Tibet, a demographic shift that has not only accelerated the erosion of Tibetan identity but also ignited intense resentment among the people of occupied Tibet, who see their way of life under direct threat. The confluence of these oppressive forces underscores the grave injustice Tibetans continue to face under Chinese rule, as the region is subjected to a sustained campaign of cultural and political annihilation.
The communist-totalitarian state of China initiated its invasion of Tibet in 1949, ultimately achieving full occupation by 1959. Since then, more than 1.2 million Tibetans—approximately 20% of the nation’s population of six million—have perished as a direct consequence of China’s military aggression and ongoing occupation. Furthermore, over 99% of Tibet's 6,000 religious monasteries, temples, and shrines have either been looted or destroyed, leading to the obliteration of hundreds of thousands of sacred Buddhist scriptures. This relentless campaign of cultural annihilation, driven by an unyielding desire for control, has left a profound and indelible mark on Tibet's spiritual and cultural landscape.
Until 1949, Tibet existed as an independent Buddhist nation in the Himalayas, largely cut off from the outside world. It stood as a rich cultural repository of Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhist teachings, with religion serving as a central, unifying force among the Tibetan people—just as their language, literature, art, and worldview, all shaped by life at high altitudes and in harsh conditions, forged a unique and harmonious relationship with their environment. This intricate balance between spirituality, culture, and nature was an essential part of Tibetan identity, yet it was violently disrupted with the onset of Chinese occupation, leading to the erosion of both their cultural fabric and spiritual heritage.
