Eight out of the 12 points listed in the notice as the \u201cscope of clue reporting\u201d are directly related to Tibetan activism, which the Chinese government defines as \u201cillegal and criminal activities.\u201d This can include reading or speaking about, for instance, foreign newspaper articles or broadcasts about Tibet\u2019s spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the 12 points detailing the scope of reporting to the bureau, eight points are directly related to what can be considered as protected expression of thought and opinion. While point 7 explicitly states that online activities connected to \u201cTibet independence\u201d should be considered a crime, other forms of Tibetan expression of opinion and thought in the form of speech, writing, audio or video materials, wearing flags and other souvenirs are also listed as crimes relevant for reporting to the authorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe International Campaign for Tibet is deeply concerned about the measures,\u201d <\/em>ICT said today. \u201cThe Chinese authorities in Tibet are using tactics to turn Tibetans against each other by creating further fear and distrust among families, friends and neighbors. These rewards represent measures of a totalitarian system, deeply affecting the lives of Tibetans and criminalizing peaceful dissent and activities that are protected by international law.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Public Security Bureau explicitly cites the Criminal Law of the People\u2019s Republic of China, the Anti-Terrorism Law of the PRC, the Public Security Administration Punishment Law of the PRC, as well as other laws and regulations of the PRC and the Tibet Autonomous Region as bases for issuing the public notice. Depending on the \u201csignificance\u201d of a report to the authorities, the PSB offers financial rewards to informants with an incremental range from 3,000 ($448) to 300,000 ($44,840) Chinese yuan with protection to the informant (J\u01d4b\u00e0o r\u00e9n).<\/p>\n\n\n\n The notice is consistent with similar measures by the Chinese authorities, for example in 2018[1]<\/sup> and 2019.[2]<\/sup> In 2018, in a nationwide campaign against so-called \u201cillegal content,\u201d Chinese authorities were offering rewards to those who inform on others suspected of crimes against \u201cstate security.\u201d At that time, coinciding with the campaign, a series of graphic cartoons were distributed in Lhasa, including one of a closed fist smashing into two people marked with the Chinese characters for \u201cblack (illegal)\u201d and \u201cevil.\u201d<\/a> The Dalai Lama is characterized as a leader of such \u201cevil forces\u201d by the Chinese authorities. A circular on social media issued by the Chinese Public Security Bureau on Nov. 14, 2018 and obtained by the International Campaign for Tibet stated that 30 boxes across Lhasa had been set up for citizens to report on such \u201ccriminal issues.\u201d[3]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n Already in 2012, Chinese security authorities posted notices in the Labrang (Chinese: Xiahe) area in Kanlho (Gannan) offering substantial rewards for information about the \u201cblack hand\u201d behind four recent Tibetan self-immolations in Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.[4]<\/sup> <\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2019, a similar notice<\/a> was released that criminalized online activities to \u201ccollect, produce, download, store, publish, disseminate, and publicise malicious attacks against the Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese government, the socialist system, the regional ethnic autonomy system, and the party and the government\u2019s policy of managing TAR.\u201d The 2019 notice offered rewards of up to 300,000 yuan (US $45,858.93), up from 100,000 yuan (US $15,286.31), the same authorities announced in a directive issued by the TAR Public Security Bureau in 2018.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The fact that the public notice was issued just two days ahead of the Dalai Lama\u2019s 87th birthday<\/a> is also noteworthy. In the eyes of the authorities, organizing or participating in the celebration of the Dalai Lama\u2019s birthday is a crime in Tibet. Not only celebrating in person, but celebrating virtually in the form of art, poetry, literature or simple comments draws intense scrutiny from the authorities in the name of social and political stability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In recent years, the Chinese government has been both explicitly and implicitly framing the issue of Tibet and rights activism as a matter of national security for China<\/a>, hence the justification for the securitization of Tibet and the draconian security measures against Tibetans.<\/p>\n\n\n\nPartial translation of the notice detailing the scope of reporting on \u201cillegal activities and crimes\u201d<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Similar measures<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"Screenshot\"](\"https:\/\/savetibet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/20220708-Screenshot-of-Lhasa-PSB-offering-financial-rewards-for-reporting-on-Tibetan-activism-1200-1-700x368.jpg\")
Screenshot of Lhasa Public Security Bureau offering financial rewards for reporting on each other.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nDalai Lama birthday<\/h3>\n\n\n\n