Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a report on Tuesday accusing China of forcibly relocating more than 700,000 Tibetans since 2016, herding rural residents into big cities in an effort to “re-educate” the population while erasing Tibetan history and culture.
“The Chinese government claims that the relocation of Tibetan villages is voluntary, but official media reports contradict this claim.” sassistance Maya Wang, HRW’s deputy China director, said: “These reports make clear that when entire villages are targeted for relocation, it is virtually impossible for residents to refuse to move without suffering severe repercussions.”
HRW has previously called on China to end its forced relocation policy, saying it violates both international law and China’s own nominal legal standards, but its appeals have gone unheeded.
by reportThe paper, titled “Educating the Masses to Change Their Minds,” notes that China has pushed back against bitter opposition and forcibly relocated dozens and even hundreds of Tibetans at a time in what it calls “relocation of entire villages.”
Chinese authorities claim these relocations were “voluntary” and that the villagers ultimately agreed, but HRW says this “consent” was based on “extreme persuasion” including “repeated home visits”. He pointed out that it had been extracted from them by the government. It denigrates the intellectual capacity of villagers to make their own decisions. implicit threat of punishment. No criticism. There are also threats of disciplinary action against local government officials who fail to meet their targets. ”
A photo taken on February 16, 2016 shows the life of Tibetans in Zagana, Gansu Province, China. (CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images)
These “home visits” consisted of increasingly senior Chinese officials visiting the homes of Tibetan villagers to pressure them to accept the move, threatening to cut off vital services if they refused.
Villagers who criticized the relocation plan were accused of “spreading rumors,” a crime punishable by long prison terms in China.
Local officials were similarly threatened with punishment if they failed to relocate 100 percent of their population. Some Tibetans agreed to emigrate under false promises of better jobs and a more comfortable life. After these villagers arrived in their new homes, satisfaction was reported to be “low.”
As HRW pointed out, the Chinese government’s policy is to demolish old homes after Tibetans leave, so the grievances for Tibetans who have migrated are merely verbal.
Coupled with current Chinese government plans to assimilate Tibetan schooling, culture, and religion into those of the “Chinese nation,” the migration of these rural communities is likely to erode or significantly damage Tibetan culture and way of life. ing. Most resettlement programs in Tibet involve moving former farmers and pastoralists to areas where they are no longer able to earn their previous livelihoods and have no choice but to work as wage laborers in non-agricultural industries.
Radio Free Asia (RFA) Tuesday interviewed After being forcibly relocated to urban areas, Tibetan farmers faced “unemployment, economic hardship and social exclusion.”
“All our farmland in Damshung has been confiscated by the government in the name of development plans. For us who grew up in the village without an education, it is extremely difficult to find work in the city and make a living,” said one of the relocated farmers.
“The relocation order came suddenly, so I couldn’t resist. [so] We had to sell the herd quickly and there was nothing left. We have never been happy since we moved to Lhasa,” said another.
A photo taken on February 16, 2016 shows the life of Tibetans living in Jaganna, Gansu Province, China. (CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images)
Farmers told RFA they were forced to live in cramped accommodation with just a few small rooms for large families, and were summarily barred from applying for many jobs because of “inadequate hygiene.”
One farmer lamented, “Self-employment is out of my reach, and I can’t even get a job cleaning a restaurant.”
Tencho Gyatso, director of the International Campaign for Tibet, said Tibetans have evolved physically and culturally over thousands of years to live in their mountainous homes and cannot easily adapt to the cities where China is forcing them to relocate.
“China is pursuing a policy of forced mass expulsion of Tibetans under the misleading name of ‘poverty alleviation’ and ‘ecological protection,’ destroying Tibetan lifestyle and culture,” Gyatso said.
Another problem is that Tibetan cities Overflowing Han Chinese immigrants sent by the government moved in to manage the semi-autonomous state’s resources and infrastructure. Tibetans who do not speak Chinese Serious disadvantage In these colonized cities.
