09 November 2005
US report says China continues to restrict religious rights in Tibet
A report by the US State Department has found that China maintains tight control on Tibetan religious practice and suppresses "activities they viewed as vehicles for political dissent or advocacy of Tibetan independence, including such religious activities as venerating the Dalai Lama". The State Department's Seventh Annual International Religious Freedom Report, released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, said, "Dozens of monks and nuns continued to serve prison terms for their resistance to “patriotic education”. The Government refused free access to Tibetan areas for most international observers, tightly controlled observers who were granted access, and closely controlled publication of information about conditions in Tibet. These limitations made it impossible to determine accurately the scope of restrictions on religious freedom". Releasing the report, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said, “this year, we have re-designated eight "Countries of Particular Concern" - Burma, China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Eritrea, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Vietnam.”