Indian Government Gags Tibetan Activist In Lead Up To Hu Visit
It’s hard for me to capture the absurdity of what follows. Tenzin Tsundue, famed Tibetan activist in India, has been restricted to within the city limits of Dharamsala and is being guarded by eleven police officers around the clock. He has committed no crime and is under no suspicion of any dangerous activities. Yet the Indian government has declared that he will be deported to Tibet – a country that he has never lived in – if he leaves Dharamsala during the period of Chairman Hu Jintao’s visit to India.
For Immediate Release
November 12, 2006INDIAN GOVERNMENT GAGS TIBETAN ACTIVIST IN LEAD UP TO HU VISIT
TENZIN TSUNDUE THREATENED WITH DEPORTATION IF HE PROTESTSDharamsala – In anticipation of the first-ever visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao to India, the Indian Government today served Tibetan activist and writer, Tenzin Tsundue, with an order forbidding him to leave the “territorial jurisdiction of Dharamshala Town� until November 25. The letter, issued by the Office of the Superintendent of Police, threatens Tsundue with prosecution under the Foreigners Act of 1946 if he fails to obey the order. When asked what prosecution would mean, the Additional Superintendent of Police, Santosh Patial, replied: “Deportation to Tibet.� The pressure on Tsundue is the result of his high profile protests during the visits of Chinese Prime Ministers Zhu Rongji and Wen Jiabao in 2002 and 2005. Hu Jintao will visit India from November 20-23.
“This is an attack on the freedom of all Tibetans and people living in democratic India. It is a shame on the Government of India and disrespect to the memory of Mahatma Gandhi and all those who struggled for independence in this country. Clearly this is pressure from the Chinese government,� said Tenzin Tsundue, General Secretary of Friend of Tibet India. “I was born in India and I am working only nonviolently for the human rights and freedom of my people. This issue is not about me but it is about the six million Tibetans who are suffering every day under Chinese rule and who are deprived of their voice to speak out against the occupation.� As of now, eleven policemen are following Tsundue around the clock and police have also taken up residence in the room next to his.
In a letter sent today to Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India, through the Dharamsala Superintendent of Police, Tsundue requested a meeting with Hu Jintao while he is in India. In it Tsundue stated: “It is because of the lack of this access that I have been demonstrating on your streets, drawing world attention to the atrocities that Tibet is subjected to. If such an opportunity to speak to Hu Jinato face-to-face does not arise this time too, we will again be compelled to come out on the streets in large numbers to voice our anger and frustration.� Tsundue also cited the recent shootings of defenseless Tibetan refugees by Chinese forces at Nangpala Pass as fresh evidence of China’s brutality in Tibet.
“The visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao to India is a rare and important opportunity for Tibetans to raise our voice for the restoration of Tibetan independence,� said Tenzin Choeying. National Director of Students for a Free Tibet India. “It’s our duty to use the freedom we find in India to bring attention to the Tibetan issue and push for an end to China’s ongoing occupation of our country. Rather than focusing on the actions of Tibetan youth born and raised in India, the Indian government should be concerned about what the Chinese are doing on their borders that threatens the national security of India.�
Hu Jintao will visit New Delhi, Agra and Mumbai (Bombay) from November 20-23 before leaving for Pakistan. While in New Delhi, he is expected to attend official functions at Vigyan Bhawan and the Hyderabad House. In the lead up to Hu’s India visit, government officials from both countries have been meeting to discuss trade and border issues.
#30#
The text of the order from the superintendent of police is below.
OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE,
DISTRICT KANGRA AT DHARAMSHALA (HIMACHAL PRADESH)ORDER
You Mr. Tenzin Tsundue, a Tibetan national holder R/C No. 167/90/Tib/D’shala at present General Secretary, Friends of Tibet India (FOTI) were found indulging in agitational activities during the visit of Chinese delegations in the past and there is a credible information that you are likely to indulge in similar activities during the visit of the Chinese President w.e.f. 20/11/2006 to 23/11/2006.
Therefore, I, Ajay Kumar Yadav, IPS, Superintendent of Police-cum-Foreigners Registration Officer, District Kangra at Dharamsala (HP) in exercise of power vested in me under section 3 (2) (e) (ii) of the Foreigners Act-1946 hereby order that you will not leave the territorial jurisdiction of Dharamsala Town till 25/11/2006 from the date of issuance of this order, falling which you shall be liable for prosecution under the relevant provisions of law.
(Ajay Kumar Yadav) IPS,
Superintendent of Police-cum-Foreigners Registration Officer, Kangra at Dharamsala (HP).Endst. No. 31945-90 /CB
Dated 12-11-06Copy to: -
1. The Chief Secretary to the Govt of Himachal Pradesh, Shimla for information please.
2. The Principal Secretary (Home) to the Govt of H.P., Shimla for information please.
3. The Director General of Police, Himachal Pradesh, Shimla for information please.
4. The Commissioner of Police, Delhi for information please.
5. The Commissioner of Police, Mumbai for information please.
6. The Addl. Director General of Police, State CID H.P., , Shimla for information please.
7. The Dy. Inspr. General of Police, Northern Range, Dharamshala for information please.
8. The Sr. Superintendent of Police, Agra (UP) for information please.
9. All Superintendents of Police in Himachal Pradesh for information and necessary action
10. All SHO’S/o and I/C’s PP in Kangra District for information and necessary action.
11. Mr. Tenzin Tsundue, a Tibetan national, General Secretary, Friends of Tibet India (FOTI) for necessary action(signature of Ajay Kumar)
Superintendent of Police-Cum-Foreigners Registration Officer, Kangra at Dharamshala (HP)
9 Responses to “Indian Government Gags Tibetan Activist In Lead Up To Hu Visit”
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Absolutely ridiculous and stupid.
[...] [Mehr hierzu und den Wortlaut der Anweisung sind im Blog von Students for a Free Tibet zu finden.] [...]
This in against the spirit of democracy and I have also put a protest on my blog!
hey matt,
is there someone who we could write a letter to about this? let me know,
CS
[...] It is necessary for the Indian government to ensure the safety and security of foreign dignitaries it hosts. It is also sensible, to an extent, to ensure that they are not unduly heckled and embarrassed during their trip. Neither of these, though, justifies the restrictions the Indian government has placed on Tenzin Tsundue, a Tibetan activist, ahead of the Chinese president’s visit. [via Tibet will be free] [...]
apart from denying him his fundamental right of freedom of speech…the govt of india is also denying Tsundue his Indian identity by calling him a “a Tibetan National” living in India.
[...] Tibetan writer Tenzin Tsundue who has written “I am more of an Indian.
 Except for my chinky Tibetan face” has been put under house arrest in India. [...]
Let this be the Rallying cry of the Protests
Let this rant be heard over and over by Hu and the
visiting chinese officials.
AMAR NAAM, TOMAR NAAM, SHOBAI NAAM -> TENZIN !!!!
(MY NAME, YOUR NAME, EVERYBODY’s NAME is TENZIN.)
For all the days that criminal Hu is touring India
Every protester’s name is Tenzin.
[...] Hu Jintao, Tenzin Tsundue & India By Vicky சீன தலைவர�களின� கடந�த இரண�ட� பயணங�களின� போத� ஒர� திபெத�திய இளைஞர� கட�ம� பரபரப�பை �ற�பட�த�தியிர�ந�தார�. 2002ம� ஆண�ட� சீனத�தலைவரான Zhu Rongji ம�ம�பை வந�த போத� ம�ம�பையின� மிகப�பெரிய கட�டடங�கள�ள� ஒன�றான ஒபராய� டவரின� மேலிர�ந�த� திபெத�திய தேசியக�கொடியை பறக�க விட�ட� சீனாவின� திபெத� ஆக�கிரமிப�பை எதிர�க�க�ம� தங�களின� எதிர�ப�பை தெரிவித�திர�ந�தார�. கடந�த வர�டம� மற�றொர� சீனத�தலைவர�கள�ள� ஒர�வரான Wen Jiabao பெங�களூர� வந�த போத�ம� "Free Tibet" என�ற� எழ�தப�பட�டிர�ந�த பேனரை தனியாளாய� கையிலேந�தி கட�மையான பாத�காப�பைய�ம� மீறி தனத� எதிர�ப�பை காண�பித�த� உலக நாட�களின� கவனத�தை ஈர�த�தார�. ஆனால� இந�த ம�றை அவ�வாறான காரியங�களில� அவர� ஈட�படவில�லை. ஈட�படவ�ம� ம�டியாத�. அந�த இளைஞர� Tenzin Tsundue. இமாச�சல பிரதேசத�தில� அவர� வசித�த�வர�ம� தர�மசாலாவை விட�ட� சீனா அதிபரின� ச�ற�ற�ப�பயணம� ம�டிய�ம� வரை வெளியேறக�கூடாத� என�ற� காவல�த�றை எச�சரித�தத� கடிதம� அன�ப�பியிர�க�கிறத�. ஒர�வேளை அவர� தடையை மீறினால� இந�தியாவை விட�ட� வெளியேற�ற வேண�டியத� வர�ம� என�ற ரீதியில� எச�சரிக�கப�பட�ட�ள�ளார�. [...]