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UniversalPeriodicReviewofthePeople’sRepublicofChinaUnitedNationsHumanRightsCouncil

November2018

Jointsubmissionby

InternationalFederationforHumanRights17,passagedelaMaind'Or

75011ParisFrance

www.fidh.orgasia@fidh.org

and

InternationalCampaignforTibet 1825JeffersonPlaceNW WashingtonD.C.,20036 UnitedStatesofAmerica

www.savetibet.org info@savetibet.org

FIDH(InternationalFederationforHumanRights)isaninternationalhumanrightsNGOfederating184organizations from112countries.Since1922,FIDHhasbeendefendingallcivil,political,economic,socialandculturalrightsassetoutintheUniversalDeclarationofHumanRights.

TheInternationalCampaignforTibet(ICT),foundedin1988withofficesinWashingtonDC,Amsterdam,BerlinandBrussels,workstopromotehumanrightsanddemocraticfreedomsforthepeopleofTibet.

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Summary:Thehuman rights situation in Tibet has deteriorated dramatically since China’s previous Universal Periodic Review

1. This civil society submission assesses thehuman rights situation in Tibetan areas ofChina since 2013 and offers recommendations for the third cycle of the UniversalPeriodicReview(UPR).

2. SincethesecondcycleoftheUniversalPeriodicReviewUPRofChinain2013,thehumanrightssituationintheTibetanareasofChinahassignificantlyworsened.Thisistrueforbothcivilandpoliticalrightsaswellasforeconomic,social,andculturalrightsoftheTibetanpeople.Violationshavebeenwidespreadandsystematic,andrhetoric,policies,and actions by the Chinese authorities have further undermined a rights-basedapproachtodeep-rootedgrievancesinTibetanareas.

3. A number of security-related legislative measures adopted by China are in directcontravention of international legal standards and provide the legal framework forfurtherrepressivemeasuresbyChineseauthorities.Becausetheselegislativemeasuresexplicitlyreferto“separatism”and“splittism”andpoliticizereligious,culturalorsocialexpression or dissent by labelling it “terrorist” or “extremist”, they have directrepercussionsforTibetansandtheirenjoymentofpolitical,civil,economic,social,andculturalrights.

4. China’s large-scale infrastructure and investment projects in Tibet, such as majorhydropower dams, mining sites, or settlement programs for Tibetan nomads andpastoralists,haveoftenresultedinviolationsofTibetan’seconomicsocialandculturalrights,suchastheirrightstolivelihoodandtoadequatehousing.

5. ChinesedevelopmentpoliciesinTibethavedisregardedtheprinciplesofinclusivenessandparticipationincludedintheUnitedNations(UN)SustainableDevelopmentGoals(SDGs).AuthoritieshavefailedtoconsultTibetansondevelopmentpoliciesthatimpactthem and to adapt development projects to the local knowledge, experiences, andneedsofTibetans.

Government’ssecurityapproachtoTibetnegativelyimpactshumanrightsofTibetans

6. ThepresenceofChinesesecuritypersonnelandrulingChineseCommunistParty(CPC)officials in villages, towns, andmonasteries has increased throughout the reportingperiod. This has been accompanied by drasticmeasures of surveillance and controlthroughelectronicmeansandphysicalpresence,aswellasdetentionsandotherformsofpunishmentforactivitiesthatareprotectedbyinternationalhumanrightslaw,suchas the exercise of the rights to freedomof opinion and expression and freedomofreligionorbelief.

7. TheChinesestatehasenactedanewsetoflawsthatstrengthenthesecurityapparatusthat,withregardtoTibet,datesbacktothetimebeforePresidentXiJinpingtookofficeinMarch2013.Duringhispresidency,XiJinpinghaspromotedtheadoptionofanumberofnewlawsthatwerequicklydraftedandpassed.Amongthosearethe2015NationalSecurityLaw,the2016NGOLaw,the2016Counter-TerrorismLaw,andthe2016Cyber

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SecurityLaw.TheselawsrepresenttheCPC’sattempttogainmaximumcontroloverallaspectsofsocietythatareperceivedasathreattoitslegitimacy.

8. The 2016 Counter-Terrorism Law considers “distorted religious teachings” as the

“ideologicalbasis”ofterrorismandothermeanstoincitehatredordiscrimination.Ineffect, the lawcorrelates religiousactivities to terrorismor “extremism”but fails todefine what constitutes “distorted religious teachings” and “extremism.” 1 Theinterpretationoftheexpression“extremism”,dependingonthepoliticalclimate,opensthe door to arbitrariness and abuse by the authorities in their drive to target andprosecute specific individuals. For instance, asChineseauthoritiesopenlyblame theDalai Lama in exile for a wave of self-immolations across Tibet, keeping a smallphotographoftheDalaiLamainone’sprivatepossessioncouldconceivablybetermedas“extremism.”

9. Consistent with the official language used to emphasize the Chinese government’s

counter-terrordrive,state-runmediasaidthatamajorreligiousteachingbytheDalaiLamainexile,theKalachakrainLadakh(India)in2014,incitedterror.Theauthoritiescalledtheevent‘illegal’andwarnedTibetanswhodidnotreturntoTibetbeforetheKalachakrabeganofseriousconsequences,suchaslosingtheirpensionorjoborhavingtoleavetheirmonasteriesinthecaseofmonks.TheauthoritieslinkedtheirattemptstopreventTibetansfromattendingtheDalaiLama’steachingsinexilewith‘counter-terrorism’effortsintheborderareasofTibet,includingNgari(Chinese:Ali)intheTibetAutonomousRegion(TAR),whichbordersIndia.2

10. The Counter-Terrorism Law outlines a counter-terrorism structure that has vast

discretionary powers. The law’s conflation of undefined religious extremism withterrorism, which is a threat to national security, provides the legal basis for thecriminalizationof virtually anypeaceful expressionsof Tibetan identity, actsofnon-violentdissent,orcriticismofstatepolicieswithregardtoethnicorreligiousminorities.Thelawalsorequiresthestrengtheningof“counter-terrorismeducation”inschools,aprovisionsthatrunscountertointernationalhumanrightsstandards,andrepresentsaseriousthreattorightstofreedomofexpression,freedomofpeacefulassembly,andfreedomofreligionorbelief.3

11. TheNational Security Lawprovides the framework for the adoptionofmeasures toprotect“national security.” Italsoaimsatpromoting“the leadershipof theChineseCommunistParty,”maintaining“asocialistsystemwithChinesecharacteristics,”andcallsfor“guardingagainstandlawfullypunishingtheexploitationofreligiontoconductillegalandcriminalactivities”andmaintaining“normalorderofreligiousactivities.”

1DangersofChina’scounter-terrorismlawforTibetansandUyghurs,JointreportbyInternationalFederationforHumanRightsandInternationalCampaignforTibet,November15,2016.2KalachakrawithChineseCharacteristics:ChineseappointedPanchenLamagivesteachingasauthoritiessuppressreligiousfreedom,InternationalCampaignforTibet,July29,2016.3Forexample:UNHumanRightsCommittee’sGeneralComment22,para.8;ICCPR,Article18,para3;CRC,Article14, para. 3; UN Commission on Human Rights Resolution 2005/40, para. 12; and UN Human Rights CouncilResolution6/37,para.14.

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12. TheReligiousAffairsRegulationsthatcameintoeffectonFebruary1,2018,4reflectthegovernment’s emphasis on notions of “state security,” “religious extremism,” and“terrorism,”andattempttolinkreligiousactivitiestopoliticallychargedcrimes.Asinthe Counter-Terrorism Law, neither “extremism” nor “terrorism” are defined in theregulations,offeringtheauthoritiesvastdiscretionarypowerstointerprettheletterofthelawwithregardtounwantedreligiousactivity.

Increasedrepressionunderthepretextofmaintainingstability

13. Over the years, Chinese authorities have gradually created an extremely oppressiveenvironmentinTibetinthenameofmaintainingstability.Therearenolimitstostateauthority,theclimateoffearispervasive,andeveryaspectofpublicandprivatelifeistightlycontrolledandregulated.

14. In 2016, a Tibetan source told the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) thatsurveillanceandcontrols inTibethadbecome increasinglysophisticated.ThesourceexplainedthatsecurityinTibethadbecomepervasiveandmoredifficulttodetect,asarmed police patrolling the streets had been replaced by police and governmentofficialswhoinfiltratedeverysegmentofsocietytoreportonallaspectsofpeople’slives.5

15. RepressivemeasuresaimedatstrengtheningthereachoftheCPCintopeople’sliveshavebeenexpandedbeyondthepoliticalboundariesoftheTAR.Thisdevelopmenthasbeen accompanied by a consolidation of repressive state apparatuses, such asparamilitaryforcesandthePeople’sLiberationArmyandthecontinuedexpansionofthepowersoftheUnitedFrontWorkDepartment(UFWD),theCPCbureauresponsiblefor nationalities and religion.6 The UFWD’s activities in domestic and internationalinfluenceareregardedbytheCPCasa“magicweapon.”7

16. Newand intrusive security systemshavebeen implemented in Tibetanareasof theprovincesofQinghai,Sichuan,andGansu.ThesemeasuresweredesignedtoeliminatedissentandenforcecompliancewithCPCpoliciesandhavebeenincreasinglywitnessedintheeasternTibetanareasofKhamandAmdo.8Followingthe2011implementationofamajorvillagesurveillanceschemeintheTAR,9theintrusivepresenceofCPCofficials

4SuffocatingreligiousfreedominTibet:China’sdraftregulationsonreligiousaffairs,InternationalCampaignforTibet,October25,2016.5Tighteningofaninvisiblenet:newsecuritymeasuresineasternTibetheightensurveillance,control,InternationalCampaignforTibet,February16,2016. 6Forexample,inMarch2018,ChinesestatemediareportedthatUFWDistakingoverNationalEthnicAffairswork(Xinhua,March21,2018,http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2018-03/21/c_1122570517.htm).7Xi Jinpingcited inMarcelAnglivielde laBeaumelle“TheUnitedFrontWorkDepartment: ‘MagicWeapon’atHomeandAbroad”, in JamestownFoundation,ChinaBriefVolume:17 Issue:9 (July6,2017); Seealso: InsideChina'ssecret'magicweapon'forworldwideinfluence,FinancialTimes,October6,2017. 8Tighteningofaninvisiblenet:newsecuritymeasuresineasternTibetheightensurveillance,control,InternationalCampaignforTibet,February16,2016.9Tighteningofaninvisiblenet:newsecuritymeasuresineasternTibetheightensurveillance,control,InternationalCampaignforTibet,February16,2016;China:NoEndtoTibetSurveillanceProgram,HumanRightsWatch,January18,2016.

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invillagesandmonasterieshasbeenexpandedtoareasofeasternTibet,whereurbanareashavebeensubdividedinto‘gridmanagementunits’(roughlycorrespondingtoablockorastreet) inordertomonitorTibetans’ lives,social issues,andloyaltytotheDalaiLama.Thisgridmanagementunitsystem,whichwasfirstimplementedinurbanareasoftheTARin2012,hasallowedChineseauthoritiestowithdrawsecurityforcesfromsomelocations,suchasmonasteries,knowingthatsecurityforcescanbedeployedwithinminutesifaprotestoranyotheractsofdissentoccur.

17. AsaresultoftheChinesegovernment’srepressivepoliciesandtheabsenceofspaceforTibetanstofreelyexpressthemselves,atleast153Tibetansfromeverysegmentofsocietyhave self-immolated sinceFebruary2009 -oneof thebiggestwavesof self-immolationsinthepast60years.ThemostrecentcasetookplaceonMarch7,2018,whenaTibetanmaninhis40s,TsekhoTugchak,sethimselfonfireanddiedinNgaba(Chinese:Aba)County,SichuanProvince,easternTibet.10

18. Instead of addressing the root causes that led to these desperate acts of peacefulpoliticalprotest, theChinesegovernmenthas respondedby intensifying thesecuritybuild-upinTibet,andbypunishingtheself-immolators’friends,families,and,insomecase, even entire communities.Whenmembers of self-immolator Pema Gyaltsen’sfamilywenttotheKardzeCountypolicestation,SichuanProvince,toenquireabouthisstateinMarch2017,theywereseverelybeatenandforcedtoremainstandinginthepolicestationallnight.11

19. In December 2015, black balaclava-clad special forces raided and made arrests ininternetcafesandTibetanteashopsinDzoege,NgabaCounty,SichuanProvince.12InFebruary 2016, Tibetan shopkeepers in Draggo County, Kardze Prefecture, wereorderedbyacounty-level‘ComprehensiveCultureEnforcementSquad’tohandinallthepicturesoftheDalaiLama.13

20. In2017,ChineseauthoritiesintheTARlaunchedanewideologicalcampaignaimedat“dilutingthenegativeimpactofreligion”andpromotingloyaltytoPresidentXiJinping.Thecampaignfocusesonthe“fourloves”:1)loveforthe“coreinterests”oftheCPC;2)loveforthemotherland;3)loveforone’shometown;and4)loveforone’slivelihood.ThecampaignalsoaimstogenerateadmirationandloyaltyfortheCPCandunityofthemotherland.Chineseofficialshavepromotedthecampaign innumerousvillagesandmonasteries across the TAR and in schools and the Tibet University in Lhasa. The

10 Tibetan man dies after self-immolation; oppressive measures intensified in March 10 anniversary week,InternationalCampaignforTibet,March7,2018. 11YoungFarmerStagesFirstTibetanSelf-Immolationof2017,RadioFreeAsia,March19,2017. 12 Dalai Lama compared to Iraqi dictator by Chinese state media as order issued for seizure of pictures,InternationalCampaignforTibet,February11,2016.13Ibid.

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implementationofthecampaigninmonasteriesreflectstheauthorities’pushtoensureTibetanmonksandnunscomplywithCPCpolicies.14

Tibetanssystematicallysubjectedtoarbitrarydetention,torture,andill-treatment

21. TibetansinTibethavebeensystematicallysubjectedtoarbitrarydetentionandactsoftortureand ill-treatment.AlthoughChinaofficiallyprohibits torture,an investigationconductedbyICTinto29casesofformerTibetanprisonersfoundthatthepracticehasbecomeendemic inTibet.This is theresultof theauthorities’emphasisonensuring“stability”andthecultureofimpunityamongofficials,paramilitarytroops,andsecuritypersonnel.15

22. SincetheunrestandensuingcrackdowninTibetin2008,theChineseauthoritieshaveadoptedaharsherapproach to suppressingdissentand therehasbeena significantspikeinthenumberofTibetanpoliticalprisonersdetainedinTibetanareasofChina.Thereisalsoevidencethatsince2008torturehasbecomewidespreadanddirectedatbroadersectorsofTibetansociety.

23. GoshulLobsang,43,diedathomeonMarch19,2014,followingseveretortureduringhisimprisonment.Hehadbeenbeatensoseverelythathecouldnotevenswallowhisfood. Images of Goshul Lobsang in the days before his death showed him lookingemaciatedandclosetodeathathisfamilyhomeinMachu(Chinese:Maqu)CountyintheKanlho(Chinese:Gannan)PrefectureinAmdoregion,todayapartofChina’sGansuProvince.16

24. AninfluentialTibetanlamaandoneofthemosthigh-profileTibetanpoliticalprisoners,Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, 64, died on July 12, 2015, in Chuangdong Prison in DazhuCounty in Sichuan Province, where he was serving a life sentence. Tenzin DelekRinpoche’sfamilyhadonlybeenallowedtovisithiminprisonsixtimesduringhis13-yeardetention,mostrecentlyin2013.ChineseauthoritiesignoredrequestsmadebyanumberofWestern governments for his releaseonmedical parole. In 2013, TenzinDelekRinpoche’srelativessaidthattheybecameawarethathewassufferingfromaheartcondition,frequentunconsciousness,anduncontrollableshakingofpartsofhisbody.ItisnotknownwhetherTenzinDelekRinpochereceivedanymedicaltreatmentinprison.Amidallegationsoftorture,theauthoritiesdidnotconductanautopsyonhisbody,whichwascrematedfourdaysafterhisdeath.17

25. TashiWangchuk,aTibetanshopkeeperinhis30s,hasbeendetainedsinceJanuary2016followingthereleaseofaNewYorkTimesvideoreportthatdetailedhisattemptstopetitionfortherightsofTibetanstospeakandlearntheirownlanguageatschool.In

14InsideTibet:Thefourlovesandtheenemywithin:newideologicalcampaigninTibetreflectsheightenedagendaofcontrolin19thPartyCongressyear,InternationalCampaignforTibet,April20,2017.15TortureandImpunity–29CasesofTibetanPoliticalPrisoners,InternationalCampaignforTibet,February26,2015.16Ibid.17 Body of revered Tibetan lama Tenzin Delek Rinpoche cremated in remote high-security prison facility,InternationalCampaignforTibet,July16,2015.

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January2018,hewastriedbyan IntermediateCourt inYushu,TibetanAutonomousPrefecture,QinghaiProvince,onchargesof'incitingseparatism.'Iffoundguilty,TashiWangchukcouldbesentencedtoupto15yearsinprison,duetotheprominenceofhiscase.18

26. OnDecember6,2016,inNgaba(Chinese:Aba)County,SichuanProvince,nineTibetanswerehandedprisonsentencesrangingfromfiveto14yearsfortheir involvementincelebrations for the Dalai Lama’s 80th birthday in 2015. Several of them had beenimprisoned and tortured before, following the protests and self-immolations thatoccurred in the area since 2008. Some were also held incommunicado for monthswithoutfamilyorfriendsknowingtheirwhereabouts.19ThreeseniormonksfromKirtimonastery, including a scholar and the manager of the medical college at themonastery,receivedthelongestsentences,rangingfrom12to14years.

DestructionofTibetancultureandrepressionofBuddhistreligion:TheLarungGarcase

27. The CPC leadership has pursued broader and deeper control measures of certain

activities,suchasthoserelatedtothereligioussphere.ThishasbeenclearlyvisibleintheChineseauthorities’managementoftheBuddhistInstituteofLarungGarinSertharCounty,SichuanProvince,easternTibet.20

28. LarungGarisoneoftheworld’s largestmonastic institutions,withapopulationthatreached at least 10,000, consisting of monks, nuns, and laypeople who attendteachings.Inrecentyears,LarungGarhasbecomeincreasinglyprominentinbothTibetandChinaasavitalcenterforthestudy,practice,andpromotionofBuddhistteachings,whichareotherwisedifficulttoaccessornon-existentinotherTibetanmonasteriesandnunneriesduetorestrictionsputinplacebytheChinesegovernment.

29. In July 2016, demolitions ofmonks’ andnuns’ dwellings began at LarungGar. LocalauthoritiesdeniedtheLarungGardestructionwasmotivatedbyreligiousanimusanddescribedthedemolitionasa“constructiondevelopment”thatispartofaprocessof“acceleratedurbanization” towards “amoreorderly, beautiful, secure, andpeacefulland.” The demolitions were ordered by the county government without any priorconsultationwithLarungGar’sreligiousleaders.Theorderstatedthat,asaresultofthedemolition, the Larung Gar population would be reduced to 5,000 persons by

18TrialofTibetanlanguageadvocatetodayendswithoutknownverdict,InternationalCampaignforTibet,January4,2018.19TibetanssentencedtolongprisontermsforinvolvementinDalaiLama’s80thbirthdaycelebration,InternationalCampaignforTibet,December15,2016.20 Revised religious regulations threaten survival of Tibetan Buddhism, International Campaign for Tibet,September18,2017.

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September30,2017.21AttheendofJune2017,aseniorabbotatLarungGarsaidthatmorethan4,825monksandnunshadbeenexpelledsince2016.22

30. Many of the monks and nuns expelled from Larung Gar and the nearby religiouscommunity at YachenGarwere forced to return to the TAR andwere subjected todegrading treatment and severe restrictions on their rights, including their rights tofreedom ofmovement and freedom of religion. In November 2016, the authoritiesforced at least one group to undergo political re-education and apparent publichumiliationinNyingtri(Chinese:Linzhi)Prefecture,insoutheasternTAR.23

31. InAugust 2017, Chinese authorities imposednewadministrative controls on LarungGar, which infringed upon the right to freedom of religion. According to an officialdocument,some200CPCcadresand layofficials tookcontroloverallmanagement,finances,security,admissionprocedures,andeventhechoiceoftextbooksatLarungGar.24

32. InNovember2017,Sichuanprovincialauthoritiescancelledamajorreligiousfestival,theprayergatheringDechenShedrubatLarungGar,despiteearlierassurancesthattheeventwouldgoahead.25CheckpointsweresetupontheroadsleadingtoLarungGarandsecuritywastightenedinthearea.

33. MajorconstructionworkinthevalleyatthefootofLarungGartobuildanewtouristvillagesuggeststhatChineseauthoritiesareusingthedevelopmentoftourismasatooltocounterculturalresilienceandmonasticinfluence.26

Violationsofeconomic,social,andculturalrightsinconsistentwithinternationalobligationsandSDGs

34. China became a state party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social andCulturalRights(ICESCR)in2001.Article1oftheICESCRprohibitsdeprivingpeopleoftheirownmeansof subsistence.Article11provides thateveryonehasa right toanadequatestandardoflivingforhimselfandhisfamily,includingadequatehousing,andto the continuous improvement of living conditions. Article 2 prohibits all forms ofdiscriminationbasedonseveralgrounds,includingnationalorsocialorigin,property,or other status. The ICESCR also spells out states’ obligations to protect people’slivelihood,includingtherighttoworkandtoanadequatestandardofliving.

21Demolitions begin at Larung Gar, ‘monastery for the world’, as religious teachers urge calm, InternationalCampaignforTibet,July25,2016.22ChinaBansMajorPrayerFestivalatLarungGar,RadioFreeAsia,November1,2017. 23China:MajorTibetanBuddhistInstitutionFacesFurtherdemolition,HumanRightsWatch,March29,2017.24China:NewControlsonTibetanMonastery,HumanRightsWatch,January24,2018.25MajorreligiousfestivalcancelledandnewpolicecheckpointsatLarungGar,InternationalCampaignforTibet,November3,2017.26 Shadow of dust across the sun: how tourism is used to counter Tibetan cultural resilience, InternationalCampaignforTibet,March13,2017.

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35. With regard to Tibet, China has regularly failed to uphold its obligations under theICESCRandtoimplementrecommendationsitacceptedduringits2013UPRconcerningeconomic,social,andculturalrights.

36. Asaresultoftheimplementationofthe’WesternDevelopmentStrategy’in1999–2000,

theChinesegovernmentbeganprogramsofresettlement,landconfiscation,andfencingof pastoral areas inhabited primarily by Tibetans,which dramatically curtailed theirlivelihood. ThousandsofTibetannomadshavebeenforcedtoslaughtertheirlivestock,moveintonewly-builthousingcoloniesinorneartowns,andabandontheirtraditionalwayoflife.

37. Resettlementprogramshavebeengenerallyimplementedwithoutconsultationorthe

consentofaffectedpeople,whohavehadnorighttochallengethemortorefusetoparticipate.ThishasoccurreddespitethefactthatChineselawrequiresthatthosewhoare to be relocated or have their property confiscated must be consulted andcompensatedfortheirlosses.

38. InJune2011,China’scentralgovernmentinstructedallprovincialauthorities,including

in the TAR, Sichuan, Qinghai, Gansu, InnerMongolia, and Xinjiang, to complete allongoingrelocationprogramsthataffectedhundredsofthousandsofnomadicherdersbytheendof2014.27Basedontheavailabledata,atleast1.8millionnomadsinTibethavebeenresettledintosedentarycommunitiesundervariousgovernmentprograms.

39. TheChinesegovernmentasserted thatall relocationand rehousingoperationswere

entirely voluntary and respected “the will of the Tibetan farmers and herders.” 28However, interviews conducted in 2012 suggested that nomads had not movedvoluntarilyandwereneverconsultedorofferedalternatives.29

40. TheChineseleadershipisincreasinglyframingmanyofitseconomicpoliciesinTibetin

the context of President Xi Jinping’s “ecological civilization.” This has been pursuedunder President Xi to give the appearance of a state committed to environmentalprotectionand toprovidea justification for the creationofnature reservesand thesettlementofnomads.

41. The announcement that vast areas of Tibet would be turned into national parks is

consistentwithChina’spolicythatinvolvesthemassivedrivetoremoveandrelocateTibetannomadsfromtheirpastures,asaresultofthegrazingrestrictionsimposedinareasaccordednationalpark status. It alsoallows the furtherdevelopmentofmasstourismfordomesticChinese,particularlysafarioradventuretourism.

27Ibid.,page4.28“Theysayweshouldbegrateful”:MassrehousingandrelocationprogramsinTibetanareasofChina,HumanRightsWatch,2013.29Ibid.,page6.

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42. ChinarecentlygainedUNESCOWorldHeritagestatusforavastlandscapeofwetlands,wildlife,andlakesontheTibetanplateauknownasHohXil(Tibetan:AchenGangyab,Chinese:Kekexili),traditionallytraversedbyTibetannomads,whichisnowlikelytobedevelopedfurtherforadventuretourism.OnNovember27,2017,Chineseauthoritiesissued a notice prohibiting access to the Hoh Xil nature reserve except for securitypersonnelorotherauthorizedofficials.TheDirectoroftheHohXilnaturereservewascitedbyChinesestatemediaassayingthatthenotice“aimedtocrackdownonillegalcrossingandmining”andthatanyonewhodidnotcomplywiththenoticewouldbepunished.

43. Chinahasundertakenlarge-scaleanduncheckedinfrastructureandinvestmentprojects

inTibet,suchasmajorhydropowerdamsandminesthatpolluterivers.Togetherwithnewrailwaysandnomadresettlement,theseprojectsareacceleratingclimatechangeand damaging the fragile ecosystem that supports unique and biodiverse flora andfauna,drivesthemonsoonseasons,andfeedsriversthatprovidesthelivelihoodfor1.4billionpeople.

44. Mines throughoutTibethavebeenmetwith strong localopposition,mainly for two

reasons:1)residentsareforcefullyrelocatedtomakewayformines’operations;and2)thedischargeofdangerous,oftenpoisonous,chemicalsintorivers,hascausedresidentstofearfortheharmfulimpactsontheirhealth,livestock,andtheenvironment.

45. Over recent years, several environmental protests in various regions of Tibet

demonstrated the importance that Tibetans attach to their land and naturalsurroundings.TheChineseauthorities’responsetotheprotestshasbeenheavyhandedandthesecurityforces’disproportionateuseofforceonpeacefulprotestershasbeeninconsistentwithrelevantinternationalstandards.

46. InAugust2013,ChinesearmedpolicebeatandteargassedhundredsofTibetanswho

protestedillegalminingactivitiesinGedrongareainDzatoe(Chinese:Zaduo)CountyinYushuTibetanAutonomousPrefecture,QinghaiProvince.AtleasteightTibetansweredetainedandmanyotherswerehospitalizedaftersustaininginjuriesduringaprotestagainstillegaldiamondminingonAugust13,2013,inAtoe,Zachen,andShizaVillagesinDzatoeCounty.30

47. InJune2014,authoritiesinQinghaiProvincedetained27Tibetansforprotestingagainst

Chineseminingoperationsthathadrunbeyondtheexpirationoftheconcessionandhadbeguntoencroachonsacredsites.31Suchminingoperationsconstituteaviolationof Article 15(1)(a) of the ICESCR,which imposes an obligation on states to respect,promote,andfulfilltherightofeveryonetotakepartinculturallife.

30YushumineprotestcrackdownexposesChina’s ‘naturereserve’sham,TibetanCentre forHumanRightsandDemocracy,August24,2013.31TibetansHeldForOpposingChineseMarbleMiningOperations,RadioFreeAsia,June18,2014.

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48. In July 2014, more than 100 Tibetans protested against coal mining in Nangchen(Chinese: Nangqian) County, Qinghai Province, citing environmental and healthconcerns.32

49. InMarch2018,aTibetanmanwasdetainedinthenorthernpartofDriru(Chinese:Biru)

CountyinNagchu(Chinese:Naqu)Prefecture,TAR,afteropposingtoaminingprojectonthesacredmountaincalledSertraDzagen.33

50. InTibet,Tibetansareexcludedfrommeaningfulconsultationsconcerningdevelopment

policiesandprogramsthatareimposedfromthetopbytheCPCleadership.Asaresult,Tibetansarelargelyunabletocontributeto,orbenefitfrom,development.TheChinesegovernment’sresourcepoliciesinTibetruncountertoSDG16andallotherSDGsthatrefertoconceptsofinclusionandjustice.34

51. InApril2017,nearly200TibetanfamilieswereorderedtoleavetheirhomesinDzogang

(Chinese:Zuogang)andPashoe(Chinese:Basu)CountiesinChamdoPrefecture,easternTibet,tomakewayforanunspecifiedgovernmentconstructionproject,withthemovetonewlocationstobemadeattheirownexpense.35

52. The resource policies of the Chinese state are threatening the Tibetan people’s

sustainablemodesofsubsistenceandtheiraccesstoculturalheritage.Environmentalprotection,sustainabledevelopment,andcombatting impactsofclimatechangecanonly be successful if the rights of those affected are safeguarded and respected.Tibetans must be meaningfully and actively involved in any decisions concerningmeasuresthatareundertakentoachievethesegoals.Inaddition,therightsofTibetansmustbeprotectedsothattheyarenotdeprivedfromtheirmeansofsubsistenceortheiraccesstoculturalorspiritualheritage.

Recommendationsforthe2018UniversalPeriodicReview

53. The following recommendations shouldbe raisedduring the thirdUPRofChinaand

enjoythesupportoftheChinesegovernment:

54. Repealorsignificantlyamendlaws,regulations,andotherprovisionsthatviolatetherightstofreedomofexpression,freedomofassociation,freedomofpeacefulassembly,andfreedomofreligionorbeliefinordertobringtheminlinewithinternationalhumanrightsstandards.

55. Undertakefullinvestigationsintoongoingreportsofenforceddisappearances,torture,andill-treatmentandensurethatthosefoundresponsibleareprosecutedintrialsthatconformwithinternationalstandards.

32TibetansProtestAgainstCoalMininginNangchenCounty,RadioFreeAsia,August7,2014.33TibetanManDetainedAfterVillagersProtestChineseMinePlans,RadioFreeAsia,March20,2018.34SDG16states:“Promotepeacefulandinclusivesocietiesforsustainabledevelopment,provideaccesstojusticeforallandbuildeffective,accountableandinclusiveinstitutionsatalllevels.”35TibetanFamiliesOrderedFromTheirHomesinChamdoPrefecture,RadioFreeAsia,April4,2017.

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56. Allowindependentobservers,includingtheUnitedNations(UN)HighCommissionerforHuman rights and all UN Special Procedures that have requested a country visit,unfetteredaccesstoTibet.

57. Immediately ratify and implement the International Covenant on Civil and PoliticalRightsandensurethatitsprotectionsareextendedtoTibetans.

58. ComplywiththelegalobligationsundertheInternationalCovenantonEconomic,Socialand Cultural Rights, which offer legal grounds for the protection of local Tibetanpopulationsandtheirlivelihood,andprohibitdeprivinganypeoplefromtheirmeansofsubsistence.

59. Bringgovernmentpoliciesandprograms inTibet in linewith theDeclarationon theRights of Indigenous People and the 1992 Convention on Biodiversity, whichacknowledgetheimportanceofindigenouscommunitiesasguarantorsandprotectorsofbiodiversity.

60. HaltcurrentnomadicresettlementprogramsinTibet,pendingacomprehensivereviewofthepolicyoutcomesandtheirimpacts,andrevisetheresettlementpolicy,withactiveparticipationandcontributionfromnomads.

61. PursuedevelopmentpoliciesandprogramsthatareinclusiveofTibetans,includingtheright of Tibetans to be consulted on the formulation and implementation of suchpoliciesandprogramsandadaptdevelopmentplanstolocalknowledge,experiences,andneedsashighlightedintheSustainableDevelopmentGoals.

62. Refrainfrominterferingintheconductofreligiousaffairs,suchastheappointmentorapprovalofreligiouspersonnel.

63. Repeal or significantly amend laws, regulations, and other legal provisions that usebroad and vague language such as “state security”, “religious extremism”, and“terrorism” in order to interfere with religious activities, groups, practitioners orreligiousprofessionals.

64. SetstandardsofpracticefordevelopmentthatareconsistentwiththeenvironmentalandsocialfocusoftheSustainableDevelopmentGoals.

65. Conductindependentandrigorousstudiesonthestateoftheenvironment,assesstheenvironmentalandsocialimpactsofinvestmentandinfrastructureprojects,andpursuestrategiestomitigateorminimizetheirnegativeimpactsontheenvironmentandlocalpopulations.

66. SystematicallyreportonthestateofTibet’senvironmentinallinternationalfora,suchasconferencesrelatedtotheUNFrameworkConventiononClimateChange.

67. Grant access to Tibet for independent researchers in order to monitor theenvironmentalchangestakingplaceontheTibetanplateau.

68. Submitadetailed reportaspartof theVoluntaryNationalReviewat theHighLevelPolitical Forum on Sustainable Development, which explicitly lists achievements orchallengesinalltheSustainableDevelopmentGoals.