The Worst of the Worst 2011 - Tibet
| Publisher | Freedom House |
| Publication Date | 1 June 2011 |
| Cite as | Freedom House, The Worst of the Worst 2011 - Tibet, 1 June 2011, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4e049a4323.html [accessed 7 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Population: 5,300,000
Political Rights: 7
Civil Liberties: 7
Status: Not Free
| Ten-Year Ratings Timeline for Year under Review (Political Rights, Civil Liberties, Status) | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year Under Review | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
| Rating | 7,7,NF | 7,7,NF | 7,7,NF | 7,7,NF | 7,7,NF | 7,7,NF | 7,7,NF | 7,7,NF | 7,7,NF | 7,7,NF |
2010 Key Developments: The atmosphere of tight security established after an uprising in 2008 was generally maintained through 2010. Repression intensified in March ahead of the sensitive anniversary of the Dalai Lama's flight from Tibet, with uniformed and plainclothes police rigorously checking residential permits in Lhasa, searching hotels and private homes, and detaining approximately 400 Tibetans. Security at schools tightened in October, following protests by hundreds of students against policies to make Mandarin the primary language of instruction. At least 800 political and religious prisoners reportedly remained in custody as of October. During the year, the targets of detention and imprisonment expanded beyond the monastic and activist community to intellectuals and cultural figures, including individuals previously favored by the Chinese government. Talks between the government and the Dalai Lama's representatives resumed in 2010, but neither side reported any substantive progress. At a high-level meeting in January, President Hu Jintao indicated that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) would continue its current policies in Tibet, despite popular resentment.
Political Rights: Under Chinese rule, Tibetans lack the right to determine their political future or freely elect their own leaders. The CCP governs the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) and Tibetan areas in nearby Qinghai, Sichuan, Gansu, and Yunnan provinces through appointed officials, including some Tibetans. The few ethnic Tibetans who occupy senior positions serve mostly as figureheads, often echoing official statements that condemn the Dalai Lama and emphasize Beijing's role in developing Tibet's economy. Tibetans suffer the same lack of political freedom as China's ethnic Han majority, but those seen to be advocating greater autonomy or political independence for the Tibetan region risk harsher punishment and imprisonment. Corruption is believed to be an extensive problem in Tibet, as in China.
Civil Liberties: Chinese authorities control the flow of information in Tibet, tightly restricting all media and severely limiting access to foreign journalists. Increased internet penetration in urban areas has provided more access to information, but the online restrictions and cybercafé surveillance in place across China are enforced even more stringently in the TAR. The authorities regularly suppress religious activities, particularly those seen as forms of political dissent or advocacy of Tibetan independence. Possession of Dalai Lama-related materials can lead to official harassment and punishment. Since March 2008, the authorities have intensified ideological education campaigns, forcing monks, nuns, students, and merchants to recognize the CCP claim that China "liberated" Tibet and to denounce the Dalai Lama. University professors cannot lecture on certain topics, and many must attend political indoctrination sessions. According to overseas Tibetan groups, over 60 Tibetan writers, intellectuals, and cultural figures have been arrested since 2008, with some sentenced to long prison terms. Human rights and civic groups and independent trade unions are illegal, and even nonviolent protests are harshly punished. In August 2010, police in Baiyu County opened fire on people protesting against extensive gold-mining operations, killing at least one person and reportedly wounding 30. The judicial system in Tibet remains abysmal; most judges lack legal education, defendants have minimal access to legal representation, and trials involving "state security" are held in secret. Torture remains common in practice.
