Statement by Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights/ENG

2012. szeptember 14./Human Rights Council/ITN/TibetPress

Statement by Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (HFHR), delivered by Mr. Ngawang CHOEPHEL
 
Madame President, the Secretary-General's report document A/HRC/21/18 to this session provided an account of situations in which persons have been reportedly intimidated or suffered reprisals for having cooperated with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights.

In the case of the People's Republic of China (PRC), the report describes how four persons were reportedly prevented from attending an annual training in May this year conducted by the NGO Chinese Human Rights Defenders in Geneva: one person’s family was threatened, another’s supervisor blocked participation and two persons were stopped at different airports on departure on the grounds that their departure would entail “national security risks”. The passport of one was confiscated. Upon their return to China, various participants who attended the training sessions were questioned by security officers and the local bureau of justice.
 
Madame President, we fully agree with the High Commissioner’ statement to the panel yesterday that: “Reprisals are not only unacceptable: they are also ineffective in the long term. Preventing people from expressing their will or their dissent freely, does not succeed. Ultimately, freedom will always prevail. And information will always find its way to the outside word.”
 
As to the situation of Tibetans who faced reprisals after meeting with UN human rights experts during their missions between 1994 and 2005 which have we documented it in our written statement NGO/31 to this session of the Council. One of the cases is that of Mr. Jigme Gyatso who met with the Special Rapporteur on Torture in November 2005. We inform the Council that Jigme Gyatso continues to be isolated from other prisoners, is denied adequate medical treatment and is not allowed to meet family members during normal visiting times. Unconfirmed information indicated that Jigme Gyatso protested at the prison in 2010 for which he was severely tortured as witnesses saw him being dragged to his isolation cell.
 
The Special Rapporteur recommended that: "Since he has been convicted of a political crime, possibly on the basis of information extracted by torture, the Special Rapporteur appeals to the Government that he be released."
 
I thank you, Madame President.
 
14 September, 2012