Dissenting Voices (2010): Targeting the Intellectuals Writers and Cultural Figures

The year 2008 marked the largest series of protests against Chinese rule in Tibet since 1959. A vibrant literary and cultural resurgence has emerged in Tibet in the wake of the 2008 Uprising, and feelings of Tibetan nationalism have perhaps never been so strong. Courageous Tibetans are gradually
rising to share their views of life under Chinese rule.

Communist Party authorities in the People’s Republic of China are spreading fear and intimidation in Tibet by systematically exploiting legal tools to punish dissident activity. Since 2008, over 60 Tibetan intellectuals, writers, artists, students and cultural figures have been harassed, detained, beaten,
interrogated, and/or imprisoned over the content of their work. Virtually any expression of Tibetan identity is branded as a threat to the Motherland, hence subject to severe punishment under China’s vague, labyrinthine “endangering state security” (ESS) laws. The alleged “criminal” activity often consists of merely writing or publishing essays that are inconsistent with Party doctrine, or sharing information about human rights transgressions occurring in Tibet.

This report highlights the escalating attack on freedom of expression and information in Tibet since the 2008 Uprising. The report includes:
· A description of the literary and cultural resurgence occurring in Tibet
· A discussion of State authorities’ use of ESS crimes to carry out abusive political prosecutions of dissident figures inside Tibet.
· Detailed case studies of several well-known Tibetans imprisoned since 2008, including Kunga Tsayang (essayist and photographer), Kunchok Tsephel (writer and webmaster), Shogdung (editor, writer and official intellectual), Tashi Rabten (university student and writer/editor),Tashi Dhondup (popular musician), and Karma Samdrup (prominent businessman and environmental philanthropist).
· An explanation of why the repression of dissident voices in Tibet clearly violates international norms regarding freedom of expression and access to information.
· Profiles of over 60 Tibetan intellectuals and cultural figures targeted since 2008.

Click here to read the full report