New Chinese Surveillance Tactics Turn Neighbours into Informers

By Mary Trewartha / February 20, 2018;

New Chinese edicts have been issued which require Tibetans living in Tibet to inform on their neighbours, colleagues and relatives.

The Chinese state media Global Times has reported on the new circular issued by the authorities. Under the heading Police asks Tibetans for Dalai Lama tips the article, which was published on February 11 said, “The public security bureau in Southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region has released details on how the public can provide tips on activities of ‘criminal gangs connected to the separatist forces of the Dalai Lama’.”

The article continues, quoting the circular, “It warns local people to be on the lookout for the ‘evil forces’ of the Dalai Lama that might use local temples and religious control ‘to confuse and incite’ people against the Party and government.

“The bureau is asking people to report on the activities of ‘foreign hostile forces’ that may seek financial support for the Dalai Lama.

“Criminal gangs are cancers on the healthy economic and social development, and gangsters are a chronic disease that severely disgusts the public.”

The Global Times said the “primary task of Tibet” is to “maintain national and ethnic unity”, and continues, “Collusion with criminal gangs is a tactic the Dalai group uses to spreading its message of separatism. These kinds of gangsters were involved in the Lhasa rebellion in the 1950s and the violent incident in 2008 in Tibet,” and says that the “spread of separatist gangs in Tibet is rampant”. The circular says that public security departments will protect tipsters’ identity and safety.

Tibet.net, the website of the Central Tibetan Administration – the exile Tibetan Government – says that it is the lack of proper employment opportunities in Tibet which has forced many Tibetans to work in the surveillance industry, and this will require them to spy on fellow Tibetans for a livelihood.

Phayul.net, the English medium exile Tibetan news website, says that this directive comes after the announcement in January by the Communist Party’s Central Committee and the State Council that they will tackle “organised crimes” and officials who shelter criminal organisations and says the authorities are targeting those who in their view are threatening China’s political stability or driving people against the government under the disguise of religion.