No reason for celebrating: Tibet and Xinjiang are like time-bombs – new nationality policy needed

The Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) has drawn a critical balance on the 60th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China. "Tibet and Xinjiang / East Turkistan are like time-bombs, so badly are human rights being violated there”, said the STP Asia consultant, Ulrich Delius, on Tuesday. "In these provinces new conflict between the local people and the immigrating Han Chinese can break out at any time.” China urgently needs a new nationality policy to prevent violence. "But unfortunately Peking has not to date been prepared to conduct a serious dialogue with the Tibetans and the Uyghurs.”

China’s leaders are still using a policy of colonialism and violence against Tibetans, Uyghurs and Mongols, thus threatening in the long run the stability of the country. "Instead of seeking a peaceful settlement with the three large nationalities Peking is trying to make Tibetans, Uyghurs and Mongols a minority in their own region”, said Delius. Yet the homelands of these three nationalities make up almost half the area of the state and are important providers of raw materials for China’s economy.

"The religious minorities have no cause for celebrating either, for Peking holds fast to the concept of total control”, said Delius. "Religious communities which are not prepared to bow to the power of the Communist Party are crushed.” Supporters of the Protestant house-churches, of the not officially recognized Catholic Church, Moslem imams, Buddhist monks and supporters of the meditation movement Falun Gong are denied the freedom of worship guaranteed in the constitution.

The glittering façades of new high-rise buildings and the economic boom cannot hide the fact that China is still far from being a constitutional state and a democracy. This is shown by the brutal way in which the Chinese leaders have acted against the democracy movement and in suppressing internet freedom.

"Anyone celebrating China’s anniversary should also think of the 40 million people who have since the founding of the People’s Republic fallen victim to crimes against humanity.” They have found to the present day no justice. "However not only within the country, but abroad too Peking totally disregards human rights”, criticised Delius. In its ruthless concern to secure raw materials China stirs up violations of human rights and civil wars in Burma, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Congo and Angola. China regards itself as a world power, but it practises irresponsible power-politics with total disregard for international law. The reaction of the Chinese leaders to the financial crisis and their behaviour in the climate debate have changed nothing, for Peking always looks to its own interests.

Ulrich Delius can also be reached at u.delius@gfbv.de