Beijing [China], December 20 (ANI): China has set up villages inside Bhutanese territory and experts said it is an indication that the country wants to do something similar in other neighbouring countries in the future, a media report said.

Bhutan and China share more than 400km long border. The two countries have signed an MoU with regard to expediting boundary negotiations. A three-step roadmap was finalised in April 2021 when the 10th Expert Group meeting was held in Kunming.

The roadmap is China‘s way of getting Bhutan to accept the changed ground situation by the construction of its settlements within Bhutanese territory, which, in areas like Doklam, present a warning sign to New Delhi, according to the Policy Research Group.

A satellite image was recently in the news which many experts claimed has shown China‘s establishment of at least four villages nearly three to four kilometres deep inside the disputed territory along the border with Bhutan, said POREG.

Villages that are occupied by China are located at a short distance from Doklam and are in an area of about 100 sq km. Several rows of houses and new roads are visible in the satellite picture in all four villages, which all are located in mountainous terrain. Two of these villages are fairly large, said POREG.

The communist regime was developing a village near Doklam in Pangda, which is located on the West Bank of the Torsa River. The village is nearly 2.5 km inside the Bhutanese border. Beijing makes claims that Pangda is located in its Tibet Autonomous Region’s Yadong county. Pangda as seen in recent satellite pictures and from China‘s own official statements is one of the 628 moderately well-off villages, or what the Chinese term as Xiaokang. China is in plans to do the same with other neighbours in the region as it is doing with Bhutan, according to POREG.

China‘s move to create disputes in its neighbourhood aims to ease insecurities arising out of increasing public dissent at home. Beijing in its domestic affairs is battling falling incomes, rising unemployment, and other socio-economic challenges, said POREG. (ANI)

World Uyghur Congress asks OIC to stand against China’s ‘genocide’ of minorities

Beijing [China], December 20 (ANI): The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) has asked the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to take a strong public stand against the People’s Republic of China (PRC)’s “genocide and crimes” against humanity against Uyghurs, Kazakhs and other Muslims in East Turkistan. “We call on you to take a firm stand against the PRC’s human rights abuses and to support efforts by Uyghur and international organizations and governments worldwide to bring these to an end,” WUC said in an open letter to OIC on Saturday.

Since 2016, millions of Uyghurs, Kazakhs and other Muslims have been arbitrarily detained in internment camps in East Turkistan, where they are exposed to systematic torture, rape, and forced labour, amongst other abuses, the letter said, adding, the internment camp system forms part of the PRC’s targeted attack on every expression of a distinct Uyghur ethnic identity, which includes a severe crackdown on Islam and Uyghur religious identity.

WUC also said that ordinary religious behaviour, such as possessing a Quran, praying, having a beard, or wearing a veil are all reasons for Uyghurs and others to be detained in one of the internment camps, where detainees are forced to eat pork and drink alcohol.

Furthermore, thousands of mosques, shrines, graveyards and other sites of religious significance in East Turkistan have been destroyed or damaged, WUC added.

The PRC’s systematic human rights violations against the Uyghurs, Kazakhs and other Muslims have already been recognized by the United States government and seven national parliaments to constitute crimes against humanity and genocide. Most recently, these crimes have been confirmed by the independent Uyghur Tribunal in London, which found “beyond reasonable doubt that the PRC … has committed genocide” under the Genocide Convention, the WUC letter read.

Stressing the OIC to follow its charter, the letter said that in Article 1 of the OIC‘s Charter, you vow “to safeguard the rights, dignity and religious and cultural identity of Muslim communities and minorities in non-Member States”. “We simply ask you to remain true to that commitment.”

The evidence is clear and can no longer be ignored. As Members of the OIC, who proclaim to be the “collective voice of the Muslim world”, it would be unconscionable and in clear disregard of your own moral values and principles to close your eyes to the terrible fate of millions of your Muslim brothers and sisters, the letter added.

Hitting OIC over its silence on the PRC’s egregious crimes against Uyghurs, Kazakhs and other Muslims, the letter said that Chinese activities do great harm to the OIC‘s credibility and international standing. “Not only Uyghurs and Kazakhs, but Muslims worldwide are looking at you to do the right thing. We call on you to take a firm stand against the PRC’s human rights abuses and to support efforts by Uyghur and international organizations and governments worldwide to bring these to an end,” it added. (ANI)

Blinken designates Under-Secretary Uzra Zeya as US Special Coordinator for Tibetan issues

Beijing [China], December 20 (ANI): US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has designated Under-Secretary Uzra Zeya as the country’s Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues on Monday (local time). “I have designated Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya to serve concurrently as the United States Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, an important role she will take on effective immediately. She will also continue to serve as Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, a position for which she was sworn in on July 14,” said Blinken in a statement.

Zeya will coordinate US government policies, programs, and projects concerning Tibetan issues, consistent with the Tibetan Policy Act of 2002, as amended by the Tibetan Policy and Support Act of 2020, the statement added. She will promote substantive dialogue, without preconditions, between the Government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Dalai Lama, his representatives, or democratically elected Tibetan leaders in support of a negotiated agreement on Tibet.

Emphasising that Zeya will promote respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Tibetans, including their freedom of religion or belief, said Blinken, adding, she will support efforts to preserve their distinct historical, linguistic, cultural, and religious heritage.

Special Coordinator Zeya will further support US efforts to address the humanitarian needs of Tibetan refugees and diaspora communities, including those in the United States who have faced threats and intimidation instigated by the PRC. She also will promote activities to protect the environment and sustainably manage the water and other natural resources of the Tibetan plateau. Consistent with the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act of 2018, she also will seek to increase access to Tibet for US officials, journalists, and other citizens, read the statement.

Zeya will work closely with Tibetan cultural, religious, and political leaders, the US Congress, international allies and partners, and civil society representatives on these matters.

This designation demonstrates the Administration’s commitment to advance the human rights of Tibetans, help preserve their distinct heritage, address their humanitarian needs, and meet environmental and water resource challenges of the Tibetan plateau, Blinken stated. (ANI)