Protest in Lhasa for Repressive COVID policy

Fleur Harmsen

Tibet and Human Rights Researcher,

Global Human Rights Defense.

Protests broke out in the Tibetan regional capital of Lhasa regarding the harsh COVID-19 restrictions that they have been living under for more than two months. They were the first protests in the city since the 2008 uprisings. 

The handling of the covid crisis by the Chinese authorities over the past few months is seen to go directly against international human rights law. Rinchen Dhondup, as well as six other Tibetans, have been detained for sharing covid related photos and videos online amid the Chinese government's “zero-covid” policy. The individuals allegedly shared visuals of the mismanaged quarantine centers, where those that tested positive for covid were housed together with those that tested negative, risking further infections and creating a serious health hazard. Videos on social media showed the poor conditions in isolation facilities, where people were sleeping on cement floors. The recording showed the negligence of the authorities in the management of the isolation facility. 

Another report showed that Chinese authorities have been forcibly removing Tibetans from their homes as the covid outbreak persisted, placing many of them in isolation centers despite testing negative for covid-19. Since China’s “zero covid” policy, many Tibetans have suffered from these harsh policies, beatings, family separation and a lack of access to food and other essential items in the isolation centers. The food given in these centers appeared to be rotten and ill patients have not been given access to appropriate medication. Testimonies of beating by the Chinese officials were also posted online, showing injured knees, ears and eyes as a result of the beatings. Two Tibetans were reportedly severely beaten by Chinese officials while delivering food to their family in Shigatse. 

Article 1 of the Convention Against Torture explains the meaning of the term torture, explaining that the term encompasses all acts that intentionally inflict severe pain or suffering wether physical or mental for obtaining information, punishing or intimidating and coering an individual for any reason based on discrimination of any kind. 

The Convention Against International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination writes that the term “racial discrimination” includes all acts of exclusion, distinction, restriction or preference based on ethnic orgin, colour, race, descent, with the intention of impairing the enjoyment or exercise of the human rights of that individual on equal footing in comparison to others peoples under that States’s jurisdiction. 

Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural rights states that all individuals have the right to health and that the State must ensure the creation of conditions which would assure access to all medical services and medical attention in the event of sickness.

In this regard, with the treatment of Tibetans for the handling of the “zero covid” policy, China is seen to violate all articles listed here-above as it subjected Tibetans to inhuman treatment through the use of torture, beatings and other degrading methods inflicting suffering on Tibetans. The lack of access to food, medicine, water and other essential supplies also goes against the articles listed here-above. The arbitrary detention and the forced displacement of Tibetans to the isolation centers also violated international human rights law.

Sources and further reading:

Central Tibetan Administration. (2022, October 27). Protests break out in Tibetan capital against China’s strict Covid restrictions. Retrieved October 27, 2022, from https://tibet.net/protests-break-out-in-tibetan-capital-against-chinas-strict-covid-restrictions/ 

Radio Free Tibetan  (2022, October 26). Protests break out in Tibetan capital against China’s strict Covid restrictions. Radio Free Asia. Retrieved October 27, 2022, from https://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/tibet-protest-10262022165550.html