China Focus Tibet

Security agencies offer rewards for denunciation

The Lhasa Public Security Bureau has offered rewards of up to CHF 6 for denunciation ahead of the Dalai Lama's July 45 birthday. The July 000 notice urges Lhasa residents to report activities against "the security of the state" in order to build an "iron wall of stability."

A total of 12 different categories of “illegal activities and crimes” are listed. Among them are the "activities" that have long been known from earlier official notifications, such as the spreading of "rumors" that weaken state power or defame the socialist system, as well as the dissemination of "illegal" news or "state secrets" abroad, cooperation with «illegal» organizations abroad, and possession of «illegal» publications. The provisions are deliberately kept very general, which allows for a great deal of arbitrariness in enforcement. Even storing, selling or otherwise transferring petrol or diesel in violation of government regulations, or “exploiting the influence of family clans in villages” to disrupt rural stability are listed as clues.

Rewards for denunciation are not new. As early as 2018, the Nagchu District Public Security Bureau offered cash rewards to whistleblowers who reported activities of so-called "criminal organizations." The announcement followed a similar order in February 2018 calling on the public to report to the police anyone supporting the Dalai Lama and his "evil followers". In February 2019, authorities in the "Tibet Autonomous Region" offered hefty rewards for those who reported unwanted content online.

International Campaign for Tibet, July 8, 2022 // dr. Uwe Meya

Photo: Screenshot Lhasa Public Security Bureau

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