40 Tibetan Victims of Enforced Disappearances Remembered

By Tenzin Samten / September 7, 2021;

Photo: TCHRD

The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD),based in Dharamshala, reports nearly 40 known cases of enforced disappearances inside Tibet in the last three years despite severe restrictions on information sharing. On August 30, the International Day of Victims of Enforced Disappearances, TCHR called on “China to immediately ratify the Convention for the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearances”.

TCHRD’s report says that over the years, they have reported and documented cases of enforced disappearances of lamas, monks, nuns, intellectuals, writers, artists, farmers, community leaders and students – the majority of whom were labeled as “national security” suspects, allegedly for “disclosing state secrets” or endangering state security.”

Lhadar
Photo: TCHRD

As per their record, among the most recent Tibetan victims detained are Norsang, 36, detained in September 2019 and Lhadar, 37, detained in October 2019. Both are from Nagchu (Ch: Naqu) City, Tibet Autonomous Region. “They were detained for resisting forced patriotic education in 2019 in the run-up to the 70th founding anniversary of the People’s Republic of China”. The news of their detention surfaced only in May 2020. TCHRD have submitted an urgent appeal to the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID) to address their cases.

Norsang
Photo: TCHRD

In May 2021, TCHRD learned that Norsang died in custody a week after his detention due to severe beating and torture. The prevailing restriction on communications within the Tibet regions makes it hard to get news and information outside Tibet.

Tibetans continue to disappear every year leaving the families and relatives without any information.

Many Tibetans have become victims of arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance under the new campaign by Chinese authorities to crack down on “fake” news and “illegal” online activities before and after the recent centenary celebration of the Chinese Communist and the 70th anniversary of the so-called “peaceful liberation” of Tibet.

The International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances is marked every year on August 30 and draws attention to those who have been imprisoned without their friends or families knowing where or why.