Tenzin Norgay on the State of Surveillance and Propaganda in Tibet Today

China Digital Occasions: In the course of the 2008 rebellion in Tibet, you have been working for the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Dharamsala. Are you able to discuss somewhat bit about what your work was like at the moment, whenever you have been receiving and confirming reviews of protests and different actions from inside Tibet?  

Tenzin Norgay: The 2008 spring rebellion was 15 years in the past, but it surely nonetheless seems like yesterday. So much was happening that spring. We have been overwhelmed by the knowledge we have been receiving then. It was arduous to maintain observe of all the things, though we labored late into the evening. We might return dwelling from the workplace effectively previous midnight for a number of weeks. Lots of media have been within the Tibet story, and a number of journalists arrived in Dharamsala to cowl the Tibet story on the bottom because it was very troublesome to report inside Tibet. We acquired reviews of protests in Tibet instantly from Tibet in addition to from Tibetans within the diaspora who had realized from their members of the family or family members in Tibet. I bear in mind receiving various cellphone calls from Tibet instantly on our workplace phone, which was fairly uncommon. After we requested the callers in the event that they have been in danger calling us instantly, the callers would inform us to not fear because the cellphone quantity belonged to a protester who had died in the course of the protests. Everybody is aware of that phone calls are monitored, particularly calls to a human rights group like us. However then individuals have been inventive to find a workaround for the surveillance. Even when the authorities discovered that cellphone calls have been made to us, their investigation would have led to a protester who their forces had shot useless throughout a protest.    

CDT: How has the work of gathering data from Tibet modified since 2008? With out revealing any sources or placing anybody at risk, are you able to clarify how you’ll be able to verify info and accounts about what is going on inside Tibet?   

TN: So much has modified since 2008. Gathering data from Tibet has turn out to be a lot tougher. It’s turn out to be an enormous problem to verify the info of what’s occurring inside Tibet. It’s a well-known incontrovertible fact that the Chinese language authorities has a really subtle surveillance community in Tibet. However then there are methods round that surveillance. I cannot describe how we’re in a position to have communications with the Tibetans in Tibet, as that will give away our work methods. All I can say is that communication may be very difficult, however it’s nonetheless potential via inventive means on a small scale.  

CDT: How do you establish and counter disinformation and propaganda that’s popping out about Tibet?  

TN: Propaganda, or the sugarcoated time period “publicity,” is a trademark exercise of the Communist Get together of China. I’d not trivialize CCP propaganda. It’s evil and really highly effective. Chinese language propaganda is not uncooked or crude. It’s subtle. Prior to now, it was very simple for all to see propaganda as it’s. However within the final decade or so, Chinese language propaganda has turn out to be subtle. Inside Tibet, propaganda continues to be fairly crude, however they know that rinse-and-repeating it situations individuals to imagine it as the reality over the long run, particularly in a black field the place different sources of data are blocked off. In spite of everything, Mao himself mentioned that telling a lie a thousand occasions makes it the reality.  

The problem for the CCP is doing its propaganda work within the exterior surroundings. They nonetheless depend on outdated methods from the playbook. I noticed how methodically they tried to push their propaganda level that COVID-19 originated in the USA to counter the worldwide finger-pointing blaming Wuhan because the origin of COVID-19. On Tibet, the CCP have scaled up their propaganda via Chinese language world media like CGTN and world social media like Twitter (now X). They might not have gotten their propaganda level throughout, but it surely actually is stifling the controversy on all points. If we have a look at the latest disinformation incident on His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the way an harmless interplay with an Indian boy is manipulated, it was first cooked up and unfold far and extensive on the worldwide social media. Apart from a number of, most wouldn’t care to analysis and attempt to discover out the reality in a fast-paced world.  It was an enormous propaganda win for the CCP.  

Some preach countering propaganda with propaganda. However that’s the flawed strategy in my view. The very best technique to counter propaganda is to current your individual views in opposition to Chinese language propaganda and educate others on Tibet and let others make their very own judgment. We can not counter Chinese language propaganda scale to scale. We merely do not need the assets to do this. However we’ve the reality and that may maintain the Tibetan motion.  

CDT: You have got reported that in late 2022, when anti-COVID lockdown protests broke out in China following the hearth in an condominium constructing in Xinjiang, Tibetans within the Tibet Autonomous Area (TAR) didn’t learn about what was occurring in China however that they observed a sudden improve in surveillance. Are you able to describe what was occurring inside Tibet throughout that point? 

TN: The white paper motion had began in China. Abnormal Chinese language have been fed up with the nonsense that the Chinese language authorities was placing them via within the title of containing COVID-19. One after the opposite Chinese language cities rose up and confirmed their anger in opposition to the endless restrictions of their lives resulting from COVID lockdowns. The CCP took be aware of that anger and ended the so-called zero-COVID coverage lest the Chinese language individuals wage a full-scale revolution in opposition to the CCP. The highly effective CCP had no selection however to take heed to the voices of the peculiar Chinese language individuals. 

However the anger, frustrations and grievances proven by Tibetans are handled otherwise by the CCP. They don’t care in regards to the Tibetan voices and instantly sweep it underneath the carpet as “separatist” sentiment and launch multifaceted campaigns to regulate their lives even tighter. That’s precisely what occurred after the 2008 spring rebellion in Tibet. With the round the clock surveillance and creation of Tibet as a black field, Tibetans don’t have entry to details about what is going on in China, not to mention globally. The one data that reaches their ears is thru Chinese language state media and public notices issued by the authorities. State media and the authorities actually wouldn’t inform the Tibetans that Chinese language cities are fed up with zero-COVID lockdown and are revolting in opposition to the coverage. Since there aren’t any impartial information suppliers, Tibetans have no idea the most recent developments in China. Even when they arrive to study it, it will be after weeks, months and even years. Only a few Tibetans know use a VPN to leap the Nice Firewall. When the Chinese language individuals have been rising up within the Chinese language cities, the authorities have been stepping up their measures in Tibet with further safety to thwart any solidarity protest regardless of all of the controls in opposition to free circulate of data. Apart from a number of Tibetans, most have been unaware of the developments in China, however they have been seeing further safety they usually might really feel that one thing was going flawed for the Get together.  

CDT: Just lately there was a transfer by a number of members of Congress asking the U.S. authorities to impose export controls on applied sciences utilized in DNA and different biometric knowledge assortment in Tibet, particularly by Thermo Fisher Scientific. Mass DNA assortment has been reported even of youngsters in kindergartens, and with out the suitable to refusal. What are your fundamental considerations about how the Chinese language authorities could use this knowledge and the way it could influence Tibetan individuals? 

TN: As of now, the proof exhibits that mass DNA assortment work is being carried out by the police in each the formally designated Tibet Autonomous Area and the Tibetan areas exterior the area. Simply because it’s being carried out by the police is regarding. Why ought to the police be gathering DNA of tens of millions of Tibetans within the first place? It exhibits that the complete Tibetan inhabitants is being handled as criminals. The larger concern is how this mass DNA assortment will likely be used sooner or later.  What are the CCP tasks that the DNA datasets will likely be linked to and for what cause? I think the larger aim could be to show Tibetans as Chinese language via “scientific proof.” This concern could sound outlandish however solely time will inform us what the aim is. Within the quick time period, I can think about the DNA knowledge is being utilized in all types of public safety bureau work. Abnormal Chinese language and definitely the worldwide inhabitants would possibly suppose this doesn’t influence them instantly. That is true to some extent within the quick time period. However norms are being modified slowly and they’re going to really feel the influence of their lives within the type of new norms the place it’s OK for authorities to gather DNA on a big scale. That is how authoritarian ailments unfold slowly like most cancers.  

CDT: In a report CDT issued this spring primarily based on authorities procurement paperwork, the TAR was the supply of comparatively few massive knowledge cloud computing surveillance contracts that our researchers have been in a position to entry. There have been indicators of heavy spending in Tibetan areas exterior the TAR. The idea we made was that data for that area was not as accessible because it was for different provinces, however that the federal government is utilizing massive knowledge strategies for surveillance and management in Tibet. What’s the present standing of huge knowledge analytics in Tibet for presidency surveillance? What are the primary considerations about how this knowledge may very well be used? Does it differ from how it’s utilized in different areas of China? 

TN: The primary query that happens to me is why are the Chinese language authorities gathering a lot knowledge of Tibetans? There is no such thing as a want for it as safety is already very tight and other people’s lives are managed very tightly. I feel the venture is for perfecting the state of surveillance. Chinese language surveillance isn’t excellent and the authorities know that. Data expertise and large knowledge analytics and now synthetic intelligence are highly effective instruments and altering the world for good or unhealthy. The Chinese language authorities need to leverage these highly effective instruments sadly for management and repression of Tibetans. I’m not a specialist in massive knowledge analytics however I do see the aim of it in Tibet will likely be for repression. 

CDT: The United Entrance Work Division is now accountable for spiritual affairs in China, elevating a CCP workplace over state bureaus in that area, which is a part of a broader Sinicization marketing campaign for religions and ethnic minorities in China. Prior to now 5 years, the UFWD finances has tripled within the TAR. What are the first areas the place that finances has been used? 

TN: In my analysis I discovered that the United Entrance Work Division finances has tripled within the TAR, from finances paperwork that have been publicly accessible. However I doubt the authenticity of these budgets by way of the numbers. First the numbers appear very small and second there are a number of revision finances paperwork that have been launched for a specific 12 months even after a few years have already handed. I actually doubt the credibility of these paperwork, but it surely does shed some mild on tendencies. The finances pattern exhibits that some huge cash is getting used for ideological indoctrination work within the type of rising capability of the United Entrance Work Division and the supplies they want for the ideological indoctrination of Tibetan society. The marketing campaign that has been happening full scale in Tibet is the CCP venture of “fostering consciousness of the Chinese language nation group.” The United Entrance Work Division implements this venture, they usually have large funds to achieve their targets. There’s not a lot bodily violence or bloodshed within the United Entrance work, however they intention to hole out the thoughts and soul of the Tibetans via fixed political and ideological indoctrination over the long run. The metaphorical “loss of life by a thousand cuts” technique could also be acceptable to explain the United Entrance Work Division’s actions in Tibet. They’re aiming to eradicate the Tibetan thoughts and soul slowly and steadily.  

CDT: A report by ICT mentioned the aim of the UFWD’s work in Tibet is to “push the monastic group away from its conventional spiritual system and towards the one designed by the celebration.” Is there a long-term future for Tibetan Buddhism inside Tibet and if that’s the case, what does it seem like? 

TN: The CCP has given up on its utopian dream of eradicating Buddhism in Tibet. They gave that up a long time in the past after attempting so arduous solely to seek out their endeavors fall flat. What the CCP has been hoping for is the withering of Buddhism via the method of time. That too doesn’t appear to work for them. The CCP by no means understood Buddhism and there’s little hope that they may ever perceive it.  

Within the present CCP governance technique, they appear to have excessive hopes for his or her legal guidelines to regulate Buddhism. There are an entire bunch of legal guidelines designed to suppress Tibetan Buddhism and to regulate the lives and actions of the Buddhist academics. It doesn’t appear to be working to their liking.  As an illustration, the State Administration for Spiritual Affairs’ (recognized externally as Nationwide Spiritual Affairs Administration) Order No. 19 “Administrative Measures for Spiritual Exercise Venues” got here into power on September 1, 2023, to curb Buddhism and different religions. But a number of hundred thousand Tibetans and non-Tibetans confirmed up at a distant web site in jap Tibet from September 15-17 to obtain teachings from a younger Buddhist instructor whose earlier incarnation was deeply revered by the devoted.  This exhibits that the CCP doesn’t see the impact they need behind promulgating such legal guidelines. Order No. 5. issued in 2007, which seeks to legitimize the CCP’s selection of the subsequent Dalai Lama, will equally fall flat. Unjust legal guidelines and insurance policies don’t win the hearts and minds of the Tibetan devoted. It’s solely the Buddhist academics’ knowledge and follow that appeal to followers. As long as the CCP exists and continues their nonsense, the Tibetans and different practitioners will proceed to throw themselves on the ft of their academics. Hearts and minds trump legal guidelines and insurance policies in Tibetan society. 

In sum, I’d say there’s a long-term future for Tibetan Buddhism inside Tibet, not due to an absence of CCP’s sinister designs, however due to Tibetans’ deep love and connection to their academics. Additionally, there’s a large variety of Chinese language believers of Tibetan Buddhism in Chinese language cities. The believers place extra belief and perception of their religion in Tibetan Buddhism and the Tibetan academics than the CCP. This makes the CCP jealous of the Buddhist academics and their affect in a giant part of Chinese language society. To them it’s irrational for the peculiar Chinese language to comply with Tibetan Buddhist academics as they don’t ship tangible and materials issues just like the CCP does. But, Chinese language in tens of millions follow Tibetan Buddhism and throw themselves on the ft of Tibetan Buddhist academics. That’s why we see, infrequently, CCP issuing circulars to tens of millions of its floor employees to cease the visits of Tibetan academics of their respective localities. CCP circulars phrase that as “containing the eastward unfold of Tibetan mysticism” which suggests stopping the unfold of Tibetan Buddhism from Tibet within the west to Chinese language cities within the east. Materialism has its limits and Tibetan Buddhism fills the non secular void in Chinese language society.  

CDT: How might the worldwide group higher help Tibet at this second? 

TN: The worldwide group can help Tibet in a number of methods. Step one is to be a essential shopper of Chinese language authorities propaganda on Tibet. The Get together’s world propaganda outreach paints a rosy image of Tibet and Tibetans turning into fashionable underneath the rule of the CCP. Modernity isn’t flawed however destroying cultures and traditions within the title of modernity is. That’s what the CCP is aiming to do in Tibet. It is very important take heed to the Tibetan expertise of CCP’s governance. CCP has a monopoly of energy and power in Tibet and it’s essential to take heed to the Tibetans who’re the article of CCP’s rule. The reality is roofed up within the CCP’s rosy discourse on Tibet and it’s the job of the worldwide group to uncover the reality or a minimum of not fall for Chinese language propaganda. The Chinese language authorities blocks all impartial researchers and journalists to journey to Tibet to see the reality. That is doubled down with paid Chinese language and international propagandists who again the Chinese language authorities both resulting from their ideological alignment or for cash.  It could be foolish to counter these propagandists, however it will be sensible to know that they’re propagandists and it’s their job to reward the Chinese language authorities and current atrocities as modernity and improvement to the general public.  

Residents of the world can urge their governments to lift abuse of Tibetan human rights with the Chinese language authorities. It could appear that no matter is going on in Tibet doesn’t influence their lives instantly, however the atrocities in Tibet will influence their lives regularly within the type of modified world norms if atrocities and human rights violations in Tibet should not checked. As an illustration, mass DNA assortment isn’t potential wherever on this planet, but it surely would possibly turn out to be regular in all places on this planet sooner or later if the follow isn’t checked in Tibet.   

For over two years now, China has been attempting to change the worldwide nation title of Tibet to the Chinese language time period Xizang. The Chinese language authorities marketing campaign to vary the time period Tibet is being unrolled incrementally and strategically on the worldwide stage. As of now I didn’t see any proof of the Chinese language authorities instantly threatening different international locations to undertake the Chinese language time period in referring to Tibet. However the CCP could challenge threats sooner or later after they don’t see progress of their effort to vary Tibet to Xizang. All propaganda and potential threats should be pushed again arduous. The world has recognized Tibet as Tibet, and there’s a story of an impartial Tibet behind that time period. The CCP doesn’t like that. The Uyghurs have been objecting to their nation title Sinicized as Xinjiang. It’s East Turkestan however everybody is aware of the nation as Xinjiang. Don’t let Tibet turn out to be one other Xinjiang. Tibet should stay Tibet. 

Tibet is a rustic underneath international occupation. Tibetans are undoubtedly a individuals residing underneath international occupation. As a individuals, Tibetans have the collective proper to self-determination, each within the exterior and inner dimensions of the suitable. Hundreds of thousands of colonized individuals worldwide have been freed prior to now, however a number of nonetheless stay unfree. The reality is Tibetans live underneath China’s colonization. To help the Tibetan individuals’s proper to self-determination isn’t radical, however the suitable factor to do in a sea of 1,000,000 wrongs on this planet, and in China particularly.