Tsering Dhundup
DHARAMSHALA, Sept. 17: Top Chinese officials have ordered a crackdown on potential dissent in Tibet and surrounding regions as China prepares to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the People’s Republic on October 1.
Chen Wenqing, head of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, recently visited Lhasa, Kardze, and Chamdo, meeting with local officials to emphasize the need for heightened surveillance and control. His tour, which took place from September 10th to 13th, focused on maintaining stability and combating what the Chinese government terms “separatists”.
“In Kandze, Chen Wenqing presided over a meeting on anti-secession and stability maintenance in Tibet,” Chinese state media reported, mentioning that the discussions covered not just the officially designated so-called Tibet Autonomous Region, but also the Tibetan areas in Sichuan, Yunnan, Gansu, and Qinghai.
The official emphasized the need for legal suppression against those deemed threats to China’s stability and called for stricter management of religious activities stating, “We must resolutely crack down on separatist and sabotage activities in accordance with the law, resolutely manage religious affairs in accordance with the law, resolutely protect normal religious activities in accordance with the law.”
The former security chief also called for increased propaganda efforts, urging officials to “do a good job in anti-secession work, and effectively safeguard national security.”
Concurrent with Chen’s visit, other high-ranking officials have made similar trips to the region. Zhang Jun, president of the Supreme People’s Court, advocated for “tough punishments to maintain pressure on violent terrorism, ethnic separatism and other serious criminal crimes” during his visit to courts in Tibet.
These heightened security measures have raised concerns among human rights advocates, who note that China’s broad definition of separatism often includes individuals merely critical of its policies toward Tibetans.
