Notice of cash awards for information on self-immolations
A recently issued law by China’s Supreme Court states that any case of “inciting” self-immolations will be charged as intentional homicide. According to the Chinese Gannan Daily, “The legal opinion clearly points out that those criminals behind the scenes who plan, incite, aide, abet…and help those perpetrating self immolations will be investigated for criminal liability in the crime of intentional murder.” Inciting includes: displaying portraits of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, especially during the funerals of self-immolators; offering condolences to their family members; spreading any “rumors and provocative talks” about self-immolations, including any information, pictures and videos concerning self-immolation acts.
China views the escalation of self-immolation protests as an attack on the social fabric and unity of their nation by outside forces. Authorities have responded to this threat with increasingly strict measures of restrictions, punishments, and threats. According to the global rights group Human Rights Watch, “Since late October, officials have responded to immolations by punishing the families and communities of protestors, characterising immolations as criminal offenses, arresting those associated with immolators, and by deploying paramilitary forces and restricting communications and travel in areas where immolations have occurred.”
Dozens of Tibetans have recently been sentenced to lengthy jails terms, including life imprisonment, in connection with the ongoing wave of fiery protests. Many more have been arbitrarily arrested, some of whom have “disappeared,” their location and well being unknown.
One such recent arrest occurred in Rongwo town of Malho where Chinese authorities arrested a Tibetan for attempting self-immolation and another for instigating the protest. Authorities claim that the “instigator” had escaped to India in 2005 and been affiliated with the Tibetan Youth Congress before returning in 2011, proving that exile Tibetans are at the cause of the protests.
Earlier in the month on 12 December, in Dokarmo region (where there have been four self-immolations), local Chinese officials arrested five Tibetans following the self-immolation death of Bhenchen Kyi. Those arrested included: Tsundue, a monk at Dorjee Dzong Monastery; Chagthar, a tantric practitioner; Shawo, head of a local religious center; Choedron, a nun in charge of discipline at a local nunnery; and nun Rigshe, sister of self-immolator Sangay Dolma. It is assumed the reason for these arrests was their connection with the self-immolators. Their whereabouts and well being are unknown.
Two other arrests were made in the same region. Gobhey was arrested for having “acquaintance” with the self-immolator Sangdag Tsering. Kelsang Dorjee was arrested for having been seen with the self-immolator Tamding Dorjee the day before his protest.
On 3 December after the self-immolation of Sungdue Kyab, five monks were detained from the Bora Monastery in Sangchu region of Kanlho. Identified as Gedun Gyatso, Lobsang Phagpa, Jamyang Soepa, Jamyang Lodoe, and Jamyang Gyatso, they have since disappeared and their whereabouts and well being are unknown. A day later, Chinese security officers again raided the monastery arresting 40 monks who were later released following a protest.
In the region of Rebgong (which saw 10 self-immolations in the month of November), arbitrary arrests, increased surveillance, and restrictions continue to be inflicted by local Chinese authorities. At the beginning of the month four Tibetans were detained for storing images of His Holiness in their mobile phones. Tamding Gyal, Dhundup, Chakdha Gyal, and Yarkho were arrested during a routine search following the series of self-immolations in the region. Chinese authorities were inspecting electronic devices attempting to contain the spread of information.
In November, two Tibetan monks, Tsundue Choeden and Kunchok Sonam, of Rongwo Monastery, were arrested for reportedly being friends with Tibetan self-immolator Kalsang Jinpa. The current condition and whereabouts of the arrested monks remain unknown.
Beyond detainments and arrests, authorities have also offered large cash rewards to those who “expose crimes” relating to self-immolations in the region of Malho which includes the areas of Rebkong, Tsekhog, and Chentsa. This region has witnessed an astounding 44 self-immolations since October. The cash awards, ranging from 1,000 Yuan (US $160) to 200,000 Yuan (US $32,000), are offered for information exposing self-immolators, those inciting self-immolations, those who have visited families of self-immolators to offer condolences, or those who avert self-immolations from occurring.
In another notice, posted in Malho region in the month of November, stern orders were given to local officials “to punish self-immolators and their families; even those who had offered condolences and prayers to the bereaved family members and relatives.” Further the notice announced the cancellation of government aid to families of self-immolators as well as development projects in villages where similar protests had taken place. Monasteries that are found to have organized prayer ceremonies for self-immolators would be purged and closed down.
These examples of arrests, restrictions, and threats, illustrate the increasing crackdown on communities that have witnessed self-immolations. While the exile Tibetan administration has maintained that the reasons for the self-immolations are self-evident: political repression, economic marginalisation, environmental destruction, and cultural assimilation, the response by China has been to repeatedly hardened its stance against self-immolators, announcing ever more stricter measures which now include the charge of murder for anyone caught “inciting” self-immolations.
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