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>>Human Rights
China's record of human rights abuses since 1949 (the year of the Communist takeover) is appalling, debatably rivalling, even exceeding that of the Nazis and the former Soviet regime. that said, it is acknowledged that these abuses are now fewer in number than years gone by. That said, there is little to defend China's human rights record. An Amnesty International sources suggest over 10,000 people were executed. It is difficult to pinpoint exact figures of people executed, due to the China's huge population, and it's large prison population. The government are cagey about releasing execution figures, and figures released are criticised as unrealistic and false. Even if genuine, true statistics were released, it is unlikely that these figures would include deaths caused by local-government hired militia, as has frequently occurred in recent years.
Whilst it is fair to say that all of China has suffered from human rights abuses, Tibetans have in many instances suffered more than most. Since 1949, the Chinese government has made certain 'allowances' for the minority populations, including the Uyghurs, Mongolians and chinese muslims. Tibet (TAR), East Turkestan Inner Mongolia are all designated autonomous areas, but in truth, these areas have little autonomy, and what autonomy there is is wielded largely by Han Chinese settlers. the ethnic minorities particularly suffered during the Cultural Revolution, often suffering ritual humiliation, and in Tibet, the attempted destruction of their religion and way of life. Today, human rights abuses are frequently unreported due to the nature of government censure of the press, and the general population's fear of repercussions. that said, some of the most infamous cases of human rights abuses worldwide are of Tibetans in prison, as in the case of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, or missing, as with Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the Panchen Lama.
Frequently, governments do not do enough to challenge China on its human rights record. However, many independent observers have been very outspoken in their criticism of China's record. With the Beijing Olympics in 2008, now is seen by many as the opportune time to voice their anger at China, and force both state governments and interntaional organisations such as the UN and EU to take action to force China to improve their record. George W. Bush has spoken out against China's recent records, empathising with his fellow Christians persecuted in China. Meanwhile, Tony Blai has come in for much criticism following the state visit of Hu Jintao in Neovember 2005, which was met be large protests of Tibetan, Taiwanese and Falun Gong protesters. Many accuse Blair of putting the states economy ahead of human rights and welfare, and failing to effectively challenge Hu Jintao on this issue.
Internal Links:
Information about Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, Lobsang Dhondup and their alleged crimes
Interviews conducted with new refugees in Nepal
External Links:
General Human Rights websites:
>Human Rights
Amnesty International
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch: China & Tibet pages
Human Rights in China
United States Government Report on Human Rights in China
Tibetan Case Studies:
The Website of the Drapchi 14
'Save Tenzin Delek Rinpoche' website
A ebsite devoted to the Panchen Lama
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Jigme Gyaltso, a former political prisoner in Drapchi prison
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