Berlin, 14.08.2024. Die International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) begrüßt eine an den UN-Hochkommissar für Menschenrechte Volker Türk gerichtete Petition für eine Beendigung der zwangsweisen Assimilationspolitik in Tibet. Darin bekunden 100 tibetische Professoren, Wissenschaftler und Doktoranden im Exil ihre tiefe Besorgnis über die von der chinesischen Regierung immer weiter forcierte systematische Schließung tibetischer Kloster- und Privatschulen. Der Aufruf wurde von der im indischen Dharamsala erscheinenden Tibet Times initiiert und auch von weiteren Experten aus dem tibetischen Kulturkreis gezeichnet.
„Der Aufruf der tibetischen Expertinnen und Experten unterstreicht den Ernst der Lage in Tibet. Die Verdrängung der tibetischen Sprache und Kultur im Alltag durch gezielte Schulschließungen, Indoktrination und Einflussnahme im Bildungsbereich sind ein Kernelement der Sinisierungs- und Assimilationspolitik der chinesischen Regierung. Wir unterstützen die in der Petition formulierten Forderungen ausdrücklich. Tibetische Schulen dürfen nicht geschlossen, das System der Zwangsinternate muss abgeschafft werden.”, erklärte ICT-Geschäftsführer Kai Müller.
Ein aktuelles Beispiel für die kulturelle Assimilationspolitik in Tibet ist die Schließung der Gangjong Sherig Norbu Lobling School in Ragya am 14. Juli. Die Norbu Lobling School war die erste tibetische Privatschule in der Region Golog Machen (chinesisch: Provinz Qinghai) und besonders für die Förderung der tibetischen Sprache und Kultur bekannt. Als Berufsschule machte sie sich nach ihrer Gründung 1994 vor allem durch ihre Tibetisch-Sprachkurse einen Namen.
Menschenrechtsorganisationen beobachten mit wachsender Sorge, wie die Kommunistische Partei Chinas in Tibet die Sinisierung von Schulbüchern für Grund- und Mittelschulen vorantreibt. Inhalte in tibetischer Sprache werden dabei systematisch durch Chinesisch als Literatur- und Unterrichtssprache ersetzt. Gleichzeitig wurden in den vergangenen Jahren immer mehr von tibetischen Klöstern und Einzelpersonen unterhaltene Privatschulen zwangsweise von den chinesischen Behörden geschlossen.
In der am 29. Juli verschickten Petition richten die 100 Professoren, Doktoranden und Wissenschaftler aus der tibetischen Exilgemeinschaft folgende Forderungen an den UN-Hochkommissar:
- Eintreten für den Fortbestand von Privat- und Klosterschulen in ganz Tibet und Eintreten für die sofortige Wiedereröffnung aller zwangsweise geschlossenen Schulen.
- Eintreten für ein sofortiges Ende des Internatssystems in Tibet.
- Öffentliches Eintreten für den Schutz der tibetischen Sprache, Kultur und Religion und Ansprechen der Menschenrechtssituation in Tibet.
- Einfordern von Accountability und Achtung internationaler Standards für das Recht auf Bildung, insbesondere da China den Internationalen Pakt über wirtschaftliche, soziale und kulturelle Rechte und die Konvention über die Rechte des Kindes ratifiziert hat. Für Verstöße Verantwortliche müssen zur Verantwortung gezogen werden.
Die Unterzeichner der Petition haben darum gebeten, dass ihre Namen nicht öffentlich gemacht werden. Der UN-Hochkommissar hat eine Version der Petition erhalten, in der die Namen der Unterzeichner angegeben sind. ICT dokumentiert den Petitionstext nachfolgend.
Your Excellency,
The human rights situation in Tibet has been severely deteriorating. The PRC’s assault on Tibetan cultural identity is evident in its accelerated implementation of what it calls ‘bilingual education‘. This policy undermines the Tibetan education system and uses the national curriculum to promote indoctrination and assimilation. In this context, we, the undersigned, express our deep concern over the Chinese government’s systematic closure of privately-operated Tibetan schools.
Since 2010, the Chinese government’s cultural assimilation policy has forced all schools in Tibet to use Chinese as the primary language, beginning from kindergarten. From primary school onward, all Tibetan students must take examinations in spoken Mandarin. In addition, colonial style boarding schools in Tibet separate Tibetan children from their families and communities, thus depriving them of their language, culture, and traditions from the grassroot level.
The recent closure of the reputed Ragya Gangjong Sherig Norbuling School in Golog Machen County, Qinghai Province, Tibet, on July 14, 2024, is particularly disheartening and alarming for Tibetans both within and outside of Tibet. This school has faced relentless pressure from the Chinese government through various means, including false allegations that elements of their logo were symbols of the Tibetan national flag, and false allegations charges against its founder, Ven. Jigme Gyaltsen (charges that were later dismissed), among other political accusations.
The Chinese government’s cultural assimilation policy is ostensibly meant to provide better and equal job opportunities for Tibetans. However, in reality, privately-owned Tibetan schools have offered greater benefits and opportunities for the Tibetan people in general. One such example is Ragya School.
Ragya Gangjong Sherig Norbuling School was formally established in August 1994 with permission from the so-called Golog Local People’s Government. It was the first privately-operated school in Qinghai Province. Over time, it became a specialized vocational school offering classes in Tibetan language, English, computer science, engineering, medicine, videography, and physical education. Since its inception, over 2,300 students have graduated, including at least 800 university students, 50 researchers, 90 doctors, 110 government employees, 250 university teachers, 13 headmasters, 110 monastic workers, and 260 entrepreneurs.
This is not the first instance of such closures. The Chinese government is targeting privately-operated schools, especially those engaged in promoting and preserving Tibetan culture and language. As per record of theTibet Times, a Tibetan media outlet monitoring developments in Tibet from Dharamsala, India,, out of 16 known private owned schools in Golog regions, since 2021, eight schools have already been shut down and most of the remaining schools under threat of closure through constant allegation and administrative pressure. For detailed reports on the Ragya School shutdown, please refer to this ‘Tibet Times’ news link:
Buddhist philosophy based on Tibetan language offers numerous benefits to today’s modern world, addressing both individual well-being and societal harmony. Concepts and practices from the Tibetan tradition are increasingly embraced and applied by a global audience. It is in every individual’s interest to fight to preserve these invaluable ways of learning and living.
The United Nations promotes diversity and inclusion as fundamental principles across its agenda and it is also evident across its various programs and initiatives, aiming to build a more equitable and just world. This richness of Tibetan language, culture, and tradition offers much towards this diversity. The increasingly marginalized Tibetan language and culture should be protected and secured according to the principles and aims promoted by the United Nations.
As members of the global community, we urge the United Nations to take immediate and decisive action to address these critical issues and to preserve basic human rights and freedoms of the Tibetan people inside Tibet.
Given the severity and wide-reaching consequences of these educational restrictions, we respectfully request Your Excellency to:
- Urge for an end to forced school closures and ensure restoration; protect private and monastic schools for their continued existence throughout Tibet and enable the immediate reopening of all forcibly closed schools.
- Call for an immediate end of the boarding school system in Tibet.
- Raise your voice to protect the Tibetan language, culture and religion and speak out publicly on the human rights situation in Tibet.
- Press for accountability and urge the Chinese government to comply with international education rights standards, as China has ratified the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Urge those responsible for violations to be held accountable.
We believe these measures will significantly improve the right to education and cultural rights of the Tibetan people, their identity and cultural traditions, which in turn will help promote peace, security, and justice for the Tibetan people.
We have gathered signatures from Tibetans and those from other Himalayan regions – professors, lecturers, PhDs and Scholars from outside of Tibet – who have tremendous concern over the education crisis in Tibet. Their signatures below demonstrate widespread support for this letter and a collective desire for meaningful action and protection of fundamental human rights in Tibet.
We appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to your prompt response. Together, we can work towards a more just and humane world for all.
Sincerely,
Pressekontakt:
Telis Koukoullis
Pressereferent
Tel.: +49 (0) 30 27 87 90 86
E-Mail: telis.koukoullis(at)savetibet.de
Twitter: @savetibet
International Campaign for Tibet Deutschland e.V.
Schönhauser Allee 163
10435 Berlin
www.savetibet.de
Die International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) setzt sich als weltweit größte Tibet-Organisation seit 30 Jahren für die Wahrung der Menschenrechte und das Selbstbestimmungsrecht des tibetischen Volkes ein. ICT unterhält Büros in Washington, D.C., Amsterdam, Brüssel und Berlin sowie ein Rechercheteam in Dharamsala, Indien.
