39th Meeting 58th Session of Human Rights Council UN Web TV
– General debate under agenda item 4 (Cont’d)
Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, Ms. Tenzin Sangmo
发言内容：
The President,
The people of Tibet are facing a dual crisis, devastation from a deadly earthquake and repression from the Chinese authorities.
On January 7, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Dengri County in Tibet. Official Chinese reports confirm at least 126 deaths and thousands injured, with over 120,000 people displaced. In the face of tragedy, Tibetans showed extraordinary solidarity, mobilizing across countries and provinces to provide life-saving aid. Online, we saw rare images of life inside Tibet, normally scarce due to the fear of persecution.
Yet, instead of facilitating relief, Chinese authorities have cracked down on Tibetans offering help. Tibetans traveling to Dengri were expelled and banned from re-entering, including monks and nuns who came to offer prayers for the dead. Individuals who shared videos about the earthquake damage or responses were detained, their phones confiscated and all online footage erased.
Even after a major natural disaster, China has sealed off Tibet. No international journalists have reported from the site and no humanitarian organizations have been able to visit and provide assistance. We don’t know the true scale of the damage, whether aid is reaching those in need or whether reconstruction will respect and integrate Tibetan communities’ needs.
We urge the international community to demand immediate and unhindered access to Tibet. States have a responsibility to raise individual cases of persecution, as well as policies that are erasing the Tibetan civilization. Thank you.
Source: UN WEB TV， 39th Meeting – 58th Session of Human Rights Council，https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1r/k1rij7kamk.
