09. Mar 2009
Amnesty International calls on Chinese authorities to open Tibet
Amnesty International (AI) called on the Chinese government to immediately open Tibet to human rights monitors and the media and to end its "Strike Hard" campaign, launched in anticipation of protests to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan uprising. The organisation warned that the increased security measures put in place by the Chinese government in the run up to the anniversary are likely to exacerbate an already tense situation. Foreign journalists have only been allowed in on government organized group tours and all access has been denied to UN monitors. In spite of the strict control on the flow of information from the region, AI claim it is receiving reports of a number of human rights violations being carried out against the population. These include arbitrary detentions, arbitrary arrests, prolonged detention and imprisonment of peaceful protestors and other prisoners of conscience, torture and other ill-treatment, violations of freedom of expression, association and assembly, and of Tibetan people's right to maintain their culture, language and religion.