by Hibberd Kline
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BEIJING, China– According to Human Rights Watch, hundreds of Tibetans returning from India have been arbitrarily detained and now face “political re-education.”

The detainees were part of a group of 7,000 Tibetans who were granted permission by the Chinese government to attend teaching sessions held by the Dali Lama in Bihar, India. The travelers reportedly possessed all the necessary documentation for the journey including Chinese-issued passports.

At first, human rights groups hailed the initial travel grant as a relaxation of Chinese government policy in Tibet. However, applause for the perceived policy shift has been abruptly cut short in recent weeks as China continues to expand its crackdown on ethnic minorities.

According to Human Rights Watch, some 700 ethnic Chinese accompanied the Tibetans on their journey to attend the Dali Lama’s teaching sessions. However, the group stressed that there have been no reports of ethnic Chinese travelers being detained upon re-entry into China. Accordingly, Human Rights Watch believes that the travelers are being detained solely based upon their ethnicity.

In addition to extensive indoctrination sessions, the “reeducation” faced by many of the detainees reportedly will include forced denunciation of the Dali Lama as a spiritual leader. Though there has been no official word regarding the duration of the detainees’ reeducation, previous programs have typically lasted for several months. Sources cited by Human Rights Watch suggest that detainees’ families have not been notified of the detentions.

The detainment follows recent escalating unrest in the regions of Sichuan and Gansu, which both possess sizable ethnic Tibetan populations. In recent weeks, at least 15 monks are thought to have died in the two regions from self-immolation in protest against Chinese rule. An additional seven Tibetans were shot dead and dozens wounded in clashes with police in Sichuan in January.

However, the recent detainees reportedly hail from areas as of yet untouched by the recent unrest. This has led some analysts to view the detainment as a preemptive move by the Chinese authorities to tighten control over the Tibetan plateau in order to prevent violent unrest from spreading to the regional capital, Lhasa.

A February 10 article in the Beijing-based newspaper, Global Times, reported that Chinese officials in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) had been ordered to “prepare for a war against secessionist sabotage.” The government-owned tabloid quoted Xiong Kunxin, a professor at the Minsu University of China, who explained the recent string of self-immolations as having to do with “geographic and historical factors, which made the Tibetan people [in Sichuan] more aggressive.” The professor was further quoted as he decried “less strict management” for having contributed to the “problem” as well.

Conversely, the exiled Dali Lama has blamed the self-immolations on a “cultural genocide” committed by the Chinese authorities against his people. However, he rejects government claims that he is behind the violence.

Growing unrest in the region has led China to significantly bolster its police, military and secret service presence in an effort to clamp down on dissent and tighten communist party control. For instance, the Gami Temple, which lies at the edge of the TAR, houses not only Buddhist monks, but also a local police headquarters. Such close proximity between police and local religious leaders allows for easy surveillance and control and is increasingly commonplace.

Additionally, in many parts of the region police roadblocks make travel difficult. In some towns, the authorities have even gone so far as to block all internet and telecommunications access by the local population.

In a statement released on its website, Human Rights Watch alleged that the recent crackdown has seen the largest number of Tibetan laypeople detained by the Chinese Government since the 1970s.

As a result of the authorities’ heavy-handed tactics, traditional Tibetan New Year celebrations, which the Tibetan Government in exile had called upon Tibetans to boycott, appear to have largely gone off without incident. However, some activists suggest that China’s approach may be serving to unite ethnic Tibetans against Chinese rule. Some analysts suggest that the March 10 anniversary of a 1959 uprising against Chinese rule may pose more of a challenge to security forces than the innocuous new year celebrations.

China has ruled Tibet since its troops occupied the region in 1950. Many Tibetans fear that Chinese migrants and government policies are eroding Tibetan culture.

For more information, please see:

AP News — As China Clamps Down, Tibet Struggle Grows Radical — 22 February 2012

Reuters — Tibetans Mark New Year under Shadow of Immolations — 22 February 2012

Reuters — China Detaining Tibetans Returning from India – Human Rights Watch — 18 February 2012

Jurist — China Must Release Tibetan Prisoners: HRW — 17 February 2012

The Guardian — China Detains Hundreds of Tibetans for ‘Re-education’, Says Human Rights Group — 17 February 2012

The Telegraph — Hundreds of Tibetans ‘Detained and Forced to Undergo Political Re-education’ — 17 February 2012

Human Rights Watch — China: End Crackdown on Tibetans Who Visited India — 16 February 2012

The Global Times — Tibet Officials ‘Prepare for War’ — 10 February 2012

By: Jessica Ties
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BEIJING, China –China’s state security police have warned pro-democracy dissident, Qin Yongmin, that he is not to continue his work on plans for a website aimed at promoting peaceful change in the nation.

 

Qin was release from prison in November 2010 after serving a twelve year prison term following a conviction for subversion which resulted from his role as co-founder of the China Democracy Party and attempt to have the new party registered.

Since his release, he has been on twenty-four hour surveillance by officials and has been subjected to routine searches of his home and confiscation of his belongings.

In April, Qin was subjected to two home searches in a two week period during which he was threatened and verbally abused by authorities who also confiscated articles written by Qin and notebooks.

This week, Qin reported that he was surrounded by police while leaving a computer store and taken to a police station.

While at the police station, a police officer informed Qin that they had information that he had “…been posting articles overseas and giving interviews to journalists, and that this was against Article 82 of the national security law, and that they were going to punish me for that.”

Qin had intentions to launch a website called “Peaceful Transition Advice” which would be hosted overseas but was told by authorities but he was absolutely forbidden to create the website.

According to Qin, “[t]hey said that if I launched it in the morning, they would arrest me in the afternoon, and that they would pursue the harshest kind of punishment for me.”

The police officer also informed Qin that they were alarmed by a meeting he had held at a restaurant with several political activists.

According to Qin, the meeting was held on the second floor of the restaurant and the police “…took over the entire third floor.” He also reports that he was warned by police that no matter where he went or who he was with, they would know about it.

China’s dissidents have been under increased pressure from authorities since the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to imprisoned democracy activist Liu Xiaobo.

Prior to the twelve year sentenced leading to his November release, Qin had been jailed twice before for his political activism. He served an eight year sentence for “anti-revolutionary propaganda and subversion” in 1981 for his involvement in the pro-democracy movement.

Four years later he was sentenced to two years of hard labor in a re-education through labor camp for a writing a document entitled “Peace Charter”.

 

For more information, please see:

Radio Free Asia –  Activist Warned Over Website – 20 February 2012

Asia News – Qin Yongmin, Cofounder of the China Democracy Party Freed Today – 29 November 2010

Human Rights in China – Police Search  Qin Yongmin’s Home – 28 April 2011

By Greg Donaldson
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BEIJING, China – After a week of negotiations, the United States and China came to an agreement Friday that will open the Chinese market to more American movies. In a statement United States Vice President Joe Biden said “this agreement with China will make it easier than ever before for U.S. studios and independent filmmakers to reach the fast-growing Chinese audience, supporting thousands of American jobs in and around the film industry.”

This is just one of the many agreements the United States and China have come to during the visit of future Chinese President Xi Jinping to the United States this week. The agreement does not require China to change its annual quota of twenty foreign films per year but exempts several types of movies from the quota.

For example China will now allow fourteen “premium format films” each year that do not count against the quota. “Premium format films” has been defined as IMAX or 3-D films. Many expect 3D movies that are about to be released such as “Dr. Seuss’ the Lorax,” and “The Amazing Spider-Man,” or 3-D remakes such as “Titanic” will seek to take advantage of the new agreement.

The United States has frequently complained about China’s oppressive restrictions on foreign films. In 2009 the United States won a case against China in the World Organization Trade Court. The case challenged China’s restrictions on importation and distribution of copyrighted materials. The United States claimed that China’s restrictions on foreign films created a massive market for pirated U.S. movies that are widely available throughout China. It is expected that Friday’s agreement will help lower the demand for pirated movies throughout China.

Chris Dodd, president of the Motion Picture Association of America, called the agreement “a major step forward in spurring the growth of U.S. exports to China and tremendous news for the millions of American workers and businesses whose jobs depend on the entertainment industry.”

The agreement will also increase a foreign studio’s permitted share of box office revenue from films released in China to twenty-five percent. Previously, a foreign studio’s percentage of box office revenue ranged from thirteen to seventeen percent.

Chinese director Gao Qunshu said “the agreement would bring more challenges for China’s filmmakers, but in the long term he believed in the power of competition in an open market. With fourteen more foreign films, the market space for local productions will further shrink… More “lame” works will be drive out of the market.”

For more information, please see:

China.org – Chinese Theaters to Screen More US Films – 20 February 2012

China Daily – More U.S. Films Set For China – 20 February 2012

New York Times – In China Movie Pact, More 3-D, Less Reality – 19 February 2012

Chicago Tribune – China Opens Box Office to More U.S. Movies – 18 February 2012

By: Jessica Ties
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – Cambodian factory workers have been forced to work overtime beyond the limits allowed by law in poorly ventilated buildings contributing to recent incidents of mass fainting.

The recent faintings have occurred in the country’s textile industry where a union activist claims harmful chemicals are present and at least partially at fault for the fainting of workers.

Approximately 200 factory workers at the Nanguo Garment Co. Ltd. in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh fainted on Monday while working.

Although the Ministry of Labor medical department director has reported that tests reported no signs of toxic chemicals, workers who were taken to the hospital after fainting reported to Free Trade Union of the Kingdom of Cambodia president Chea Mony that the factory had recently sprayed pesticide around the premises.

A female worker explained her experience by stating that “…I saw a few workers faint, and then others. We were shocked, and we all began to cry.” She then added that had felt exhausted and could not move before fainting.

The International Labour Organization’s Better Factories Program has reported that within a six month time span in 2011 at least 1,500 workers from eleven different factories have reported fainting.

In addition, in August almost 300 people fainted in one week while working in a  factory supplying popular clothing store H&M. In addition, another 100 people were reportedly taken to the hospital after fainting at M&V International Manufacturing factory.

Last April, approximately 100 workers fainted at a factory supplying Puma and another forty-nine fainted at the same factory two months later.

Just one week before the mass faintings, workers in Cambodia held a people’s tribunal to investigate the pay and conditions of factories for brands such as H&M and Gap.

Given the history of faintings at a factory supplying H&M products, many were unhappy at the company’s decision not to attend the people’s tribunal.

The minimum wage in Cambodia is $66 per month which is half of what is required to meet the basic needs. As a result, workers are often forced to work ten to thirteen hours a day to get the money that they need to support their families.

 

For more information, please see:

Radio Free Asia – Faintings Blamed on Overwork, Ventilation – 14 February 2012

The Guardian – Cambodian Workers Hold ‘People’s Tribunal’ to Look at Factory Conditions – 2 February 2012

By: Jessica Ties
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BEIJING, China – A Chinese dissident was sentenced to seven years in prison for subversion after he wrote a poem calling for the Chinese citizens to vote with their feet.

After being formally arrested last April, Zhu Yufu was sentenced on Friday based on an indictment citing a poem shared online and calling for a ‘Jasmine’ rallies inspired by the 2011 protests in the Middle East.

The poem features the lines, “It’s time, Chinese people! The square belongs to everyone. The feet are yours it’s time to use your feet and take to the square to make a choice.”

During his trial, Zhu argued that he was exercising the freedoms granted to him by the Chinese Constitution.

Following the announcement of the sentence Zhu’s wife expressed her surprise at it’s severity by stating, “that is so cruel. I don’t know what else to say.”

Zhu’s son, who was also at the sentencing,  claimed that his father appeared weak and described him as walking very slowly and stated that he “…looked quite weak, and had to lean on two prison guards.”

The sentencing comes just days before China’s likely presidential successor, Xi Jinping, is scheduled to visit the United States.

This timing has caused international director Renee Xia to state that it “…seems a strange time for the U.S. to engage in diplomatic niceties or good will overtures to China’s likely future president.”

Xia further stated that there have been “…a whole batch of heavy sentences for crimes that would in the past 10 years get three, four, five years.”

China has recently attracted criticism for it’s decision to veto a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for the resignation of the Syrian president amid increasing violence.

Besides writing poems Zhu has also been known for writing articles that drew attention to corruption and political prisoners.

Zhu has been twice before for his activism. In 1999 he served seven years in prison for founding a controversial political magazine and in 2007 he served another two years for confronting a police officer who was questioning his son.

Human Rights Watch official statistics estimate that there are between 250 and 500 protests in China each day.

 

For more information, please see:

AFP – China Jails Prominent Activist Ahead of Xi’s US Visit – 10 February 2012

BBC – China Dissident Zhu Yufu gets Seven Years for Poem – 10 February 2012

Los Angeles Times – The Chinese Poem that Helped Spur Seven-Year Prison Term – 10 February 2012

Radio Free Asia – Seven Years in Jail for a Poem – 10 February 2012