The Chinese government has seized on the spread of Novel Coronavirus 2019 nCOV (Covid19) in Tibetan areas to further restrict freedoms and impose Chinese Communist Party (CCP) policies in the Tibetan Autonomous Region.
According to the World Health Organisation, as of February 17, 590 cases of Covid19 and five deaths had been reported in Tibetan areas.
The International Campaign for Tibet (ITC)* reports that since the outbreak began, two users of WeChat, a Chinese social media platform, were found guilty of “spreading rumours” about a case of Covid19 in Chentsa County. One of the users was sentenced to five days imprisonment. Authorities detained seven men in Chamdo for stating on WeChat that reciting a prayer would protect individuals from the Covid19 infection. Another man from Chamdo was sentenced to 10 days imprisonment and a 500 Yuan fine for “causing panic” after he posted online that people from infected areas of mainland China were secretly travelling to his county.
Human Rights Watch** has accused the Chinese government of violating the rights of millions of people in their response to the Covid19 outbreak by censoring speech, restricting movement, sanctioning discrimination and harassment, and withholding information about the outbreak from the public. The organisation says the regime’s repressive response has been counterproductive and has called on China to be more transparent.
Tibetan Religious Festivals Cancelled
ITC says the outbreak of Covid19 comes at a sensitive time for Tibetans. The Chinese government has cancelled public religious festivals and prayer ceremonies related to the Tibetan New Year, Losar, which occurs on February 24, ostensibly to prevent the spread of the virus.
Despite cancelling religious festivals over concerns of spreading Covid19, the Chinese government is moving ahead with a new campaign, A Million Police Entering 10 Million Homes. According to Tibet Daily the initiative will focus on integrating the police and military into rural communities at the grassroots level bringing security forces into “close contact with the masses”.
According to ITC, Chinese propaganda is highlighting the role of the military, police, and CCP in the effort to control Covid19 rather than that of the medical personnel on the frontlines of the epidemic. The government has mobilised a network of CCP cadres in Tibet to enforce quarantine measures while ensuring praise for the Communist Party.
Travellers Continue to Arrive in Tibet Despite Warnings
Officials in China are advising people not to travel to Tibet until the Covid19 outbreak is under control, stating that people suffering from the infection in Tibet could be at greater risk due to the country’s high altitude and limited medical resources. The Tibetan Review reported that state media warned travellers that symptoms of Covid19 would be more severe and the mortality rate would be higher in Tibet.
The report quoted a spokesman for the Tibet Autonomous Region People’s Hospital as saying: “Even regular cases of flu here take more time to recover because of the high altitude, cold and low oxygen. I advise people to stay at home and visit Tibet after the epidemic is totally under control.”
Though authorities have put travel bans in place across the country, people from mainland China continue to travel to Tibet. According to Radio Free Asia flights from Chinese cities continue to land in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa, raising concerns that the virus will continue to spread throughout Tibet.
Tibetan Response to Covid19
Tibetans are responding to the epidemic with compassion. Radio Free Asia reports that the Drepung, Sera and Kumbum monasteries have donated several million Yuan to the city of Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama responded to a group of devotees in mainland China who sent him a message on Facebook asking for his advice concerning the Covid19 outbreak. The Tibetan Journal reports that His Holiness suggested chanting the Tara Mantra to maintain peace of mind and sent the group an audio clip of himself chanting the mantra. Additionally, His Holiness has instructed his followers to recite prayers and mantras in support of those suffering from the virus.
According to the Tibetan Journal, His Holiness has suspended holding audiences with the general public as a precaution against the further spread of Covid19.
The government of Himachal Pradesh announced that tourists visiting the state must report their recent travel history and disclose any travel to China or other Asian countries. Tibet Express reports that the state requires any tourists experiencing fever, cough or respiratory problems to report their symptoms to a health authority. The state government has set up a special health outpost at McLeod Ganj.
* The International Campaign for Tibet is a non-profit advocacy group working to promote democratic freedoms for Tibetans, ensure their human rights and protect Tibetan culture and the environment.
** Human Rights Watch is an international non-government organisation, headquartered in New York City, that conducts research and advocacy on human rights.
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