China Demands Tibetans Inform On Tibetans

Renowned Tibetan writter Woeser informs us of truly frightening developments about the Chinese government’s efforts to control the Tibetan populace and create a culture of snitching and fear within Tibet. Here’s the English translation China Digital Times (original post here):

These two SMS messages are almost identical, they both came from the Tibet Public Security Border Defense Unit (西�公安边防总队), sent to all mobile phone users in Tibet through Tibet Telecom.

I have heard not only that all Tibetan mobile phone users have received this kind of SMS message, but also more than once.

When I was in Lhasa, I saw them on the cell phones of two of my friends. I copied them down here:

Message 1: “Oppose splittism, strike illegal border crossing, promote harmony, reward those who report on illegal border crossing. Reporting phone number: 0891ï¼?6989393ã€?6989494ã€?6989595。Propaganda Division of Public Security Police Border Defense Unit of Tibetâ€?

Message 2: “Oppose splittism, strike illegal border crossing, protect stability, promote harmony, reward those who report on illegal border crossing. Reporting phone number: 6598110ï¼›Propaganda Division of Lhasa Station of Public Security Police Border Defense Unit of Tibet.â€?

How does the Public Security Police Border Defense Unit of Tibet “strike illegal border crossing”? — like the Nangpa La incident, open fire on Tibetan refugees? Shoot Tibetans like “shooting mice, shooting rabbits and shooting dogs?”

And how does Public Security Police Border Defense Unit of Tibet “reward those who report illegal border crossing” - How much do they they get paid for reporting each person? — 50 Yuan? - 100 Yuan? - More? or Less? [links in the original]

China is calling on Tibetans to snitch on each other and is willing to pay for it with blood money. China’s invasion and occupation of Tibet was paved by collaborationists — this text message is sent in the same vein as past Chinese efforts to pit Tibetans against Tibetans. “Splittism” is China’s spin for Tibetans who seek independence, as they had for centuries before China invaded Tibet. The request for Tibetans to “oppose splittism” is tantamount to calling for Tibetans to oppose patriotism or oppose the Tibetan identity.

Woeser’s question — “How does the Public Security Police Border Defense Unit of Tibet “strike illegal border crossing”?” — is apt. The implication is that refugees should be stopped violently. The outcome is that Tibet is to remain the world’s largest prison, where six million Tibetans are held with no ability to determine how they are governed or what government holds sovereignty over their land. They are denied the ability to leave Tibet for freedom and are threatened with violence as China propagates a culture of informants and collaborationists.

China has orchestrated the Tibetan economy to benefit Han Chinese settlers first and foremost while turning Tibetans into second class citizens in their own land. That China is now putting forth a massive, public bribe for Tibetans to try to stop Tibetans from seeking freedom is not surprising. It is part of an intentional effort to spread distrust and disunity within Tibetans inside of Tibet. This is one of the most shameful examples of how China’s ongoing military occupation of Tibet seek to diminish Tibetans’ dignity.

Technorati Tags: China, Tibet, Woeser