Tibetan Delegation draw UNHRC's Focus on Rights Issues in Tibet

Wednesday, 11 June 2008 , 10:50 a.m.

Geneva: Tibet's former political prisoners, including longest serving detainee Takna Jigme Sangpo and Phuntsog Nyidron have urged the special rapporteur of the UN Human Rights Council to ensure an independent assessment of the human rights crisis confronted by the Tibetan people today.

(From right) Tenzin Samphel Kayta, human rights and information officer, The Tibet Bureau, Geneva, reading out the statement on behalf of Takna Jigme Sangpo, (C) the longest serving former political prisoner of Tibet, at the eighth regular session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, 4 June 2008 (Photos: Tenzin Samphel Kayta)

They were addressing the ongoing eighth regular session of the UN Human Rights Council from 2 to 18 June in Geneva.

At the beginning of the session, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour who completes her four-year mandate on 30 June made a final speech updating works of her office to the Council. The President of Slovenia, Danilo Turk, has also address the Council at the opening of the session.

Walter Kalin, Representative of the Secretary General on the human rights of internally displaced persons, presenting his reports, cited many causes that resulted in people being forced from their homes and countries, such as conflicts, post-conflict situations, the lack of durable solutions for resettling displaced people and those displaced by natural disasters. In past months, he had chosen to focus on people displaced by natural disasters. The disasters in Myanmar and China reminded everyone of the vulnerabilities of populations with regards to natural disasters.

Philip Alston, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, said that his report focused on the role of national commissions of inquiry as a response to allegations of extrajudicial executions. Such inquiries were far too often a facade designed to protect impunity. On his visits to various prisons around the world, he said that the experience had been often shocking. Detainees, sometimes not even charged, were kept in conditions dogs would not be kept in. The Council should act urgently and appoint a Special Rapporteur on the human rights of detainees.

Leandro Despouy, Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, presenting his report, said that a state of emergency remained the main source of the violation of the right to a fair trial. Access to justice provided the respect of other rights. States had an obligation to guarantee access to justice.

In the afternoon on 2 June, Society for threatened peoples and Movement Contre le racisme et pour l'amitié entre les peoples jointly held a parallel event to highlight the urgent human rights situation in Tibet.

The invited speakers were Takna Jigme Sangpo and Phuntsok Nyidron, former Tibetan political prisoners and Geshe Jampel Senge, assistant abbot of Tibet Institute, Rikon.

from right) Geshe Senge reading out the statement of Phuntsog Nyidron, (second from right) former political prisoner of Tibet

The political prisoners addressed the audience by sharing their personal inhuman treatments endured during incarceration for 32 and 17 years in Chinese administered prison respectively. The crime they have committed was to express and defend legitimate rights of Tibetan people.

Over 40 participants including some diplomats took part in this event. In response to question by one participant relating to Chinese law on selection of Trulku, he said that traditionally Trulku has to be selected through dreams and divinations by the enlightened Lama. This is very complex issue and cannot perform by common people or putting in place a legal system. He accused Chinese government's move in attempt to degenerate Buddhist tradition by putting in place a legal system so called "order number 5" meant nothing but to control high Tibetan spiritual masters especially targeting His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He cited Panchen Lama's case who has been disappeared since May 1995 and his whereabouts is still unknown to the world. He further emphasised the sacrilege of forcing people to denounce His Holiness the Dalai Lama whom we regard as a refuge. Thus, it is similar to condemning or disowning your own parents. At the same time, a video footage of the ongoing protests in Tibet was screened.

On 3 June, Tenzin Samphel KAYTA on behalf of Society for Threatened Peoples took the floor during interactive dialogue with Special Rapporteur on 'Independence Judges and Lawyers'. He said "In early April, the President of the Beijing Bar Association claimed that they would use their wisdom to smash the "rice bowl" for those lawyers who signed their names on the statement-offer to Tibetans. Wen Haibo, a lawyer with the Yitong law firm in Beijing, was one of 21 lawyers who signed the statement. In an interview with Epoch Times on 4 April, Wen said: "We believe Tibetans may encounter greater cultural and legal difficulties. With these considerations in my mind, I feel, as a lawyer, I have the obligation to provide some free legal assistance to them. Today thousands of Tibetans detained since 10 March are languishing in overcrowded prisons all over the Tibetan Plateau without any legal protection or representations. Therefore, we wish to know how the Special Rapporteur is monitoring this grave situation?"

On 4 June afternoon, Takna Jigme Sangpo and Phuntsog Nyidron's statements were read in their presence in the ongoing session on behalf of Society for Threatened Peoples and France Libertes respectively during general debate in the Council. However, the statement wasn't allowed to read in Tibetan language despite past practice of the then UN commission on Human Rights.

(from left) Ngawang, Phuntsog Nyidron, Takna Jigme Sangpo, Tenzin Samphel and Geshe Senge during the 8th Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on 4 June.

Mr. Takna while referring to his personal sufferings during imprisonment, he urged the Council "to live up to your responsibilities by ensuring an independent assessment of the human rights crisis confronted by the Tibetan people today. He concluded his speech by praying for the end of the suffering of all the detainees in this world.

In her statement, Phuntsog Nyidron said "security agents beat us like punching bags, tortured our naked bodies with electric cattle-prods and killed our colleagues through such inhuman methods. In some cases, trained dogs were set free to attack our naked bodies! Tibetan women, especially nuns have taken a prominent role in the Tibetan Uprising today again face State-violence."

According to Tibetan Community in Switzerland and Liechtenstein's press release, Tibetans and its supporters have been staging peaceful protest in front of the UN building since 2 June when the UN Human Rights Council began its 8th regular session in Geneva. The protest aims to draw attention of members of the UN in particular and also international community on the current tragic human rights situation in Tibet.