Focus Switzerland Tibet

Tibet TV: Whispers from the Land of Snows: Culture-based Violence in Tibet

Tibet TV interview with Fanny Morel, author of Whispers from the Land of Snows: Culture-based Violence in Tibet (whose creation was significantly funded by the GSTF).

The book is in GSTF webshop .

United Nations: Disinformation and manipulation of the past by the Chinese Communist Party

Fanny Iona Morel:

"It is crucial to remember that China must guarantee freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association, which are protected by international human rights law. In no way are the severe systemic human rights abuses in Tibet, East Turkestan, Hong Kong and to an increasing degree, Taiwan, an 'internal Chinese affair', contrary to the CCP's claim.

Despite this, China has engaged in a campaign of repression and transnational disinformation. This pressure is very strong, even within the United Nations. In my experience, it is most visible at the Human Rights Council. China tries, sometimes successfully, to impose its discourse, including through documentation of its achievements in East Turkestan. The discussions and interventions of the various civil actors should be peace-oriented. Unfortunately, representatives of the Chinese authorities do not hesitate to interrupt the oral interventions of Tibetan human rights defenders in a coercive manner, even going so far as to ask the UNHRC President to take away the floor, accusing them of disinformation and attacking the CCP. Such actions show that the CCP's strict and exclusive monopoly on "truth" is only in its own political interest, while repressive measures, failures and violence are carefully concealed.

This is a major threat to Tibetans but also to the people of East Turkestan (or Xinjiang), Hong Kong and to an increasing degree, Taiwan. It is also a direct attack on our democratic rights.

By tolerating the forced amnesia of past atrocities committed in the name of the CCP, we participate in the reinforcement of the Party's impunity and allow the perpetuation of its severe systemic human rights violations. Misinformation is a powerful tool of oppression and prevents the accountability mechanisms that victims, survivors of abuse and their families deserve and are entitled to.

We must stay united."

book content

This study by Fanny Iona Morel looks at the struggle of Tibetans for the recognition of their basic rights and freedoms. She also examines the relationship between the violation of cultural rights and the violence exercised by state actors against a community deeply rooted in a deeply Buddhist society.

Cooperation with the Tibetans was at the center of the participatory approach of this interdisciplinary study. It is based on the experience reports of Tibetan exiles who have sought asylum in Switzerland. It exposes the experiences, perceptions and opinions of Tibetans, most of whom have suffered various forms of abuse in Tibet.

The approach chosen in this book is based on the 2007 Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the 2007 Freiburg Declaration, which express the essential role of cultural rights. Another focus is the concept of genocide developed by Raphael Lemkin (1900-1959). On this basis it is shown that several examples of genocide techniques have been and are used in Tibet (LEMKIN 1944: 82-90). The PRC has forcibly disrupted the natural process of cultural change in Tibet by forcing cultural assimilation that continues to provoke violence.

Tibetans' resilience, non-violence and commitment to peace are strong coping mechanisms. However, extreme self-immolation continues: 1998 self-immolations have been reported since 157.

Efforts must continue to be made to advocate human rights in Tibet, particularly with regard to freedom of expression, religion, assembly and movement, in order to ensure a lasting peace that would benefit both Tibet and the People's Republic of China.

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