International Tibet Network Joint Statement
9 October 2013, for Immediate Release

Shooting of unarmed Tibetans in Central Tibet further damages China’s reputation as Universal Periodic Review approaches

International Tibet Network condemns China’s violent suppression of Tibetan peaceful resistance against provocative patriotic education and propaganda campaigns

Contacts:
Tenzin Jigme, International Tibet Network +1 703 424 0015 [English/Tibetan],
Mandie McKeown, International Tibet Network, + 44 7748 158618 [English] OR YOUR SPOKESPERSON.
Alison Reynolds, International Tibet Network, + 44 7711 843884 [English] OR YOUR SPOKESPERSON.

The International Tibet Network [1], a global coalition of 185 Tibet Groups, condemns the shooting and injuring of at least 60 Tibetans, some seriously, by Chinese security forces in Driru, Nagchu, Central Tibet (Ch: Biru, Naqu Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region) on 6 October [2]. Chinese troops opened fire on Tibetans who had gathered to call for the release of a villager, named as Dorje Dragtsel. Dragtsel had been detained on 3 October after objecting to orders from a visiting ‘patriotic education’ work team, which was attempting to force Tibetans to raise the Chinese flag and show loyalty to the Communist Party. The previous week, dozens of Tibetans in Driru were beaten and injured, and more than 40 detained by security forces, after the authorities failed to compel locals to raise the Chinese flag for China’s National Day [3].

These outright state-perpetrated human rights violations come just two weeks before China’s human rights performance is to be reviewed by the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva (22 October).

“These incidents, including the July shootings of unarmed Tibetans who gathered to celebrate the Dalai Lama’s birthday in Tawu, eastern Tibet [4], expose China’s true colours ahead of the United Nations Universal Periodic Review of China’s human rights record” [5], said Tenzin Jigme, International Coordinator of the International Tibet Network. “China’s patriotic education and propaganda campaigns are further exacerbating tensions in Tibet. Tibetans are continuing to resist China’s failed Tibet policies, despite the terrible risks attached to their non-violent protests.”

“The International Tibet Network calls on Governments to publicly condemn China’s use of force against unarmed Tibetan protesters, and press China’s government to urgently change its policies in Tibet.” said Mandie McKeown, the Network’s Campaigns Coordinator/YOUR SPOKESPERSON. “And our Governments must use the United Nations Universal Periodic Review to impress upon China the severity of their concerns about the situation in Tibet,” she added.

“China’s actions in Tibet need to be fully scrutinized in this multilateral mechanism, and Beijing held accountable for its continued failure to meet international obligations or adhere to assurances that it will do so [6]” said Alison Reynolds, International Tibet Network Executive Director/YOUR SPOKESPERSON. “We urge Governments not to allow China to continue to erode the integrity of the Universal Periodic Review process.”

Notes:
1. The International Tibet Network is a global coalition of more than 185 Tibet organisations dedicated to campaigning to end human rights violations in Tibet and restoring rights to the Tibetan people. www.tibetnetwork.org
2. For detailed reports of this and related incidents, see International Campaign for Tibet http://www.savetibet.org/troops-open-fire-on-tibetans-in-escalating-crisis-in-nagchu/, Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy http://www.tchrd.org/2013/10/diru-under-lockdown-one-tibetan-sentenced-more-injured-by-gunshots-and-disappeared/, and Free Tibet http://www.freetibet.org/news-media/na/tibetans-shot-and-beaten-protest
3. Ibid. China’s National Day is 1 October
4. See https://tibetnetwork.org/media-news/ or http://bit.ly/1a9KG5Z
5. The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a mechanism of the Human Rights Council under which it reviews the performance of UN Member States against their human rights obligations and commitments. Member Groups of the International Tibet Network issued a joint submission and recommendations to China, a summary of which can be viewed at http://bit.ly/1gxOQYK
6. In its first cycle UPR in 2009, China rejected, without a single exception, every recommendation specifically representing Tibet or pertaining to freedom of expression, freedom of association, and independence of the judiciary See http://bit.ly/1gCs4z3.

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Signed by Member Groups of the International Tibet Network:

Western Europe
Aide aux Refugies Tibetains
Association Dorje
Association Drôme Ardèche-Tibet
Association Rencontres Tibetaines – C.S.P.T. Midi-Pyrenees
Associazione Italia -Tibet
Austrian Committee for Tibet
Autodétermination-Tibet 09/31
Briancon05 Urgence Tibet
Caisse d’Aide aux Prisonniers Tibetains
Casa del Tibet – Spain
Comite de Apoyo al Tibet (CAT)
Comite de Soutien au Peuple Tibetain (Les Lilas)
Corse – Tibet
Eco-Tibet France
EcoTibet Ireland
France Tibet
Free Tibet
Groupe Non-Violent Louis Lecoin, France
Grupo de Apoio ao Tibete, Portugal
International Campaign for Tibet Deutschland
International Campaign for Tibet Europe
International Society of Human Rights, Munich Chapter (IGFM)
Jamtse Thundel Association
La Porte du Tibet, Geneva
Les Amis du Tibet – Belgium
Les Amis du Tibet Luxembourg
Lions Des Neiges Mont Blanc, France
Lungta Association Belgium
Maison des Himalayas
Maison du Tibet – Tibet Info
Nice Tibet
Nos Amis de l’Himalaya
Objectif Tibet
Passeport Tibetain
Phagma Drolma-Arya Tara
Reseau International des Femmes pour le Tibet
Save Tibet, Austria
Society for Threatened Peoples International
Solidarite Tibet
Students for a Free Tibet – France
Students for a Free Tibet – UK
Swiss Tibetan Friendship Association (GSTF)
Tibet 59 / 62
Tibet Democratie
Tibet Initiative Deutschland
Tibets Kinder im Exile V.
Tibet Liberte Solidarite
Tibet Libertes, France
Tibet Society, U.K.
Tibet Support Group – Ireland
Tibet Support Group – Netherlands
Tibet Unterstutzung Liechtenstein
Tibetan Association of Germany
Tibetan Community Austria
Tibetan Community in Britain
Tibetan Community in Ireland
Tibetan Youth Association in Europe
Tibetan Youth UK
TSG Free Tibet And You
Tsowa-Maintenir la Vie, France
Vrienden Van Tibet
Tibetan Community of Italy
Tibetaanse-Vlaamse Vriendenkring vzw

Northern Europe
Association of Free Tibet
Friends of Tibet in Finland
Swedish Tibet Committee
SFT Denmark
The Norwegian Tibet Committee
Tibet Support Committee Denmark
Tibetan Community in Denmark
Tibetan Community Sweden

Central & Eastern Europe
Fair Society o.s.
Friends of Tibet Slovakia
Friends of Tibet Society St. Petersburg, Russia
International Youth Human Rights Group – Human Rights in Tibet
Lithuanian Tibet Culture Foundation
Polish Movement for a Free Tibet
Save Tibet Foundation
Society for Croatia-Tibet Friendship
Students for a Free Tibet, Poland
The Foundation for Civil Society, Russia
Tibet cesky (Tibet in Czech)
Tibet Support Association – Hungary
Tibet Support Group – Krasnodar Region, Russia
Tibet Support Group – Romania
Tibet Support Group – Sochi Region, Russia
Tibetan Community in Poland
Tibetan Programme of The Other Space Foundation
TSG – Slovenia
Union Latvija Tibetai (Latvia for Tibet )
Zida Cels, Latvia
Tibetan Association of Slovakia

North America
Association Cognizance Tibet, North Carolina
Bay Area Friends of Tibet
Boston Tibet Network
Canada Tibet Committee
Colorado Friends of Tibet
Committee of 100 for Tibet
CTC – Calgary
Dhokam Chushi Gangdruk
International Campaign for Tibet
International Tibet Independence Movement
Los Angeles Friends of Tibet
Northwest Tibetan Cultural Association
San Diego Friends of Tibet
Santa Barbara Friends of Tibet
Sierra Friends of Tibet
Snow Lion Foundation
Students for a Free Tibet
Students for a Free Tibet – Canada
The Tibetan Alliance of Chicago
The World Tibet Day Foundation
Tibet Committee of Fairbanks
Tibet Justice Center
Tibetan Association of Ithaca
Tibetan Association of Northern California
Tibetan Association of Philadelphia
Tibetan Association of Santa Fe
Tibetan Association of Southern California
Tibetan Cultural Association – Quebec
TIBETmichigan
Tibet Oral History Project
Toronto Tibet Youth Congress
United Nations for a Free Tibet (UNFFT)
U.S. Tibet Committee
Western Colorado Friends of Tibet
Wisconsin Tibetan Association

Central and South America
Amigos del Tibet, El Salvador
Asociación Cultural Peruano Tibetana
Asociación Cultural Tibetano – Costarricense
Casa Tibet Mexico
Centro De Cultura Tibetana – Brazil
Grupo De Apoyo a Tibet Chile
Grupo Pro-Cultura Tibetana, Chile
Le Club Francais – Paraguay
Pensando En Tibet – Mexico
Tibet Group-Panama
Tíbet Patria Libre, Uruguay
Fundación Pro Tibet – Argentina
Friends of Tibet in Costa Rica
World League for Freedom and Democracy

Asia
Bharrat Tibbat Sahyog Manch, India
Core Group for Tibetan Cause, India
Foundation for Universal Responsibility of H. H. the Dalai Lama
Gannasamannay
Gu-Chu-Sum Movement of Tibet
Himalayan Committee for Action on Tibet
India Tibet Friendship Society
Japan Association of Monks for Tibet (Super Sangha)
Lung-Ta Project
Mahatma Gandhi Tibet Freedom Movement
National Campaign for Tibetan Support, India
National Democratic Party of Tibet
Raise Tibetan Flag Campaign
Roof of the World Foundation, Indonesia
SFT Japan
SFT India
Students for a Free Tibet – Bangladesh
Taiwan Friends of Tibet
Taiwan Tibet Exchange Foundation
The Youth Liberation Front of Tibet, Mongolia and Turkestan
Tibet Lives, India
Tibet Philippines Support Network
Tibet Solidarity Forum, Bangladesh
Tibet Support Group Kiku, Japan
Tibet Support Network Japan
Tibetan Student Association, Madras (TSAM)
Tibetan Parliamentary and Policy Research Centre
Tibetan Rights and Freedom Committee (TRFRC)
Tibetan Women’s Association (Central)
Tibetan Youth Congress
Japan Committee of 100 for TIbet
Ns3 Rigpa Community Builder’s Foundation
Anterrashtriya Bharat – Tibbet Sahyog Samiti

Australasia
A.C.T. Tibet Support Group
Australia Tibet Council
Friends of Tibet New Zealand
Students for a Free Tibet New Zealand