China to intensify “struggles against Dalai clique and evil forces” in Tibet Autonomous Region
It was one of the six points of rectifications put forward by Zhu to resolve the outstanding problems of negligence and incompetence that the inspection team came across during their almost monthlong investigation in TAR.
Implemented nationwide since January 2018, the three-year long campaign against ‘black and evil’ forces has resulted in human rights violations due to the fact that China considers ‘separatism’ as one of the ‘three evils’ that must be eliminated at all costs. With little evidence, Chinese authorities continue to detain or torture Tibetans for engaging in so-called separatist activities. The well-known example is the five-year sentence given to Tibetan language rights activist Tashi Wangchuk on the charge of ‘inciting separatism’.
At the meeting, Zhu pointed out that Chinese authorities consider the anti-crime campaign as “a direct loyalty test for the party” and as “a powerful grasp of the important teachings of Xi Jinping on the importance of stability in Tibet as an important condition for the consolidation of border areas.” He added that to achieve long term stability and harmony in the region, it was important to “focus on correct political position, strengthen overall governance by prioritising grassroots foundation, demonstrate the distinctive features of the anti-separatist struggle based on the special regional conditions, and make progress in the special struggle [against black and evil forces] by striking hard in accordance with law”.
Zhu, former head of the ethnic and religious affairs committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference also underlined that one of the major problems with the implementation of the special struggle was the “gap between the learning and implementation of Xi Jinping’s important instructions; inadequate understanding of the significance and profound connotations of the special struggle; inefficient analysis and prognosis of the situation of the special struggle; lack of coordination among various departments in various places in carrying out the special struggle; and the problem of not being strong enough in ‘punishing strictly according to the law’, ‘destroying protective umbrellas’ and ‘severing networks’.”
He further complained, “The inseparable link between the special struggle against evil and the anti-separatist struggle is not close enough.”
Among the six points of rectification presented by Zhu, the first was the necessity to continuously raise political positions in order to set off a new upsurge in TAR’s special struggle against black and evil forces. Party committees and governments at all levels must further deepen their understanding of the important instructions of Xi Jinping and the arrangements made accordingly by the Party Central Committee, as well as to fully understand the significance and meaning of the special struggle in TAR from a comprehensive and strategic perspective, and fully mobilise relevant members. The initiative and enthusiasm of the relevant units and the people will leave no hiding places for the evil forces. Secondly, it is to thoroughly eliminate the evil forces and social disorder by reinforcing organisation. Party committees and governments at all levels must clearly support the relevant departments in performing their duties in accordance with the law. The relevant offices at all levels must strengthen coordination, and the members of the leading group on the special struggle should clarify their responsibilities, promote the responsibility for eliminating evils and achieve practical results. Thirdly, it is to strengthen the construction of the village party organisation and firmly build the foundation of the grassroots political power by carefully selecting the “two committees”[the village committee and village party committee], and building the grassroots party organisations into a strong fighting fortress to crack down on the separatist forces, so that the masses can become wealthy and long-term social stability can be maintained. Fourth, it is necessary to combine the special situation of TAR with the special struggle and the struggle against Dalai clique. The sixth is to attach great importance to the inspection work and conscientiously implement the rectification proposed. The TAR party committee and government must steadily achieve the “two maintenance” level by consciously coordinating with the standards set by the party’s central committee in setting the benchmark of making real reforms to ensure that every corrective measure is in place.
Expressing his full support to Zhu, the TAR party secretary Wu Yingjie, who was present at the meeting along with Qi Zhala (Che Dalha), deputy party secretary and TAR governor, said the TAR authorities would thoroughly implement the rectification proposal. Wu Yingjie emphasised that “carrying out the special struggle to eliminate evils is related to the overall long-term social stability, to the consolidation of people’s loyalty and the political power, and to the political security of the country and the unity of the motherland. Therefore, all departments at all levels in the region should strengthen the ‘four comprehensives’, reinforce ‘four self-confidences”, and achieve “two maintenance” to thoroughly realise the new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics and implement Xi Jinping’s instructions on maintaining stability along the border.
The inspection team headed by Zhu and deployed by the party central committee was stationed in TAR this year from 10 June to 2 July. The team undertook investigation in seven cities and prefectures including various departments in 107 municipalities and counties, 57 townships and towns, and 61 villages.
For more Tibet-related translation and analyses of selected stories from official Chinese media, click below to access to full copy of the August 2019 digest.
