(TibetanReview.net, Sep27’24) – The European Union (EU), a body of 27 countries, on Sep 24 reiterated its concerns about the continuous dire human rights situation in Tibet, highlighting the obligatory boarding schooling, mass DNA sampling and closure of Tibetan schools, said the Central Tibetan Administration on its Tibet.net website Sep 26. China, on the other hand, claimed the support of over 100 countries for its position on issues related to Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong regions, namely that any criticism of human rights there amounts to interfering in China’s internal affairs, according to its official globaltimes.cn Sep 25.
The Tibet.net report also said the EU highlighted the harassment, intimidation and surveillance faced by human rights defenders, lawyers, journalists, media workers, writers and intellectuals, including at transnational level. They also continue to face exit bans, house arrest, torture and ill-treatment, unlawful detention, sentencing and enforced disappearance including though Residential Surveillance in a Designated Location (RSDL) that could amount to torture and ill-treatment.
The EU was also stated to have urged China to uphold its obligations under national and international law, including its own Constitution to respect, protect and fulfil human rights for all, including Tibetans.
The EU has reaffirmed its commitment to closely monitoring the preservation of fundamental freedoms, cultural heritage and identity of Tibetans and called on China to ensure full bilingual education both in Tibetan and Chinese at all levels of the schooling system.
The EU also wanted China to allow more visits from the International Community, UN Special Procedures Mandate Holders and civil society organisations to Tibet. It has also called for the immediate and unconditional release of Anya Sengdra, Chadrel Rinpoche, Go Sherab Gyatso, Golog Palden, Semkyi Dolma and Tashi Dorje, among others.
The Chinese claim of opposing the politicization of issues on human rights followed statements made “by the US and a handful of countries which smear China’s human rights situation during the ongoing 57th session of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council,” said the official globaltimes.cn report.
The report cited a joint statement made by Cuba “on behalf of nearly 80 countries” as saying “issues related to Xinjiang, Xizang, and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region are internal affairs of China”.
“They oppose the politicization of human rights issues and the application of double standards, as well as using human rights as an excuse to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries,” the report quoted those more than 100 countries as saying.