Photo: RFA
A document issued by the Chinese authorities on March 13 in Tibet’s Nagchu county promises cash rewards of 100,000 yuan (US $16,000 / £11,500) for people reporting on “criminal” activities – which include promoting Tibet’s national culture or language; supporting HH the Dalai Lama; supporting the “Middle Way Approach”; demands for greater cultural or religious rights and environmental activism, among others.
The official notice targeted the activities of “criminal gangs” – a term loosely referring to a person or organisation that promotes “separatism” which in China includes all activities banned for political reasons. The rewards are targeted at Tibetans and ogranisations working on issues relating to human rights, religion, culture, language and the environment in Tibetan regions.
The same document gives details of a second award of 50,000 Yuan [$ 8,000/£ 5,600],offered for information on gambling, drug trafficking, and “the abuse of religion, power, and family connections to illegally encroach on property”.
The notice promises confidentiality for informers, saying their identity will not be disclosed.
A copy of the notice, which is written in Tibetan, has been published by Radio Free Asia (RFA).
Other offenses included in the list are fundraising activities, environmental activism, money lending at high interestratesand the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
The 22-point notice says that it is a criminal offense to promote the Tibetan culture and language, terming such activities as“reactionary and narrowly nationalistic,” and warns against contact with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and “foreign hostile forces” which support His Holiness.
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