China: Tibet Propaganda Masks Repression Illustrated Glossary Decodes Surveillance Systems and Abuses
By Human
Rights Watch, 19 June 2017. The Chinese term shehui zhili is
normally translated into English as “social governance.” The term
highlights the government’s role in providing services and welfare to citizens
as well as controlling them, and its cooperation with other stakeholders in society
such as nongovernmental organizations and social organizations.
(New York) –
Chinese authorities are increasingly using opaque policy terms in official
media to tighten repression in Tibet, Human Rights Watch said in an illustrated
glossary released today.
Chinese authorities are increasingly using opaque policy terms in official
media to tighten repression in Tibet, Human Rights Watch said in an illustrated
glossary released today.
Tibet: A
Glossary of Repression explains and illustrates a dozen
terms that appear benign or even positive but are in fact used to ensure total
compliance and surveillance by officials of ordinary Tibetan people. The
glossary includes terms that relate to political and social control, such as
“comprehensive rectification,” “no cracks, no shadows, no gaps left,” and
“every village a fortress, everyone a watchman.”
Glossary of Repression explains and illustrates a dozen
terms that appear benign or even positive but are in fact used to ensure total
compliance and surveillance by officials of ordinary Tibetan people. The
glossary includes terms that relate to political and social control, such as
“comprehensive rectification,” “no cracks, no shadows, no gaps left,” and
“every village a fortress, everyone a watchman.”
“Orwell himself
would be hard pressed to invent a better vocabulary of totalitarian
management,” said Sophie
Richardson, China director at Human Rights Watch. “But ultimately
the message of the Chinese authorities’ terms for Tibetans is clear: political
nonconformity will be punished, severely.”
would be hard pressed to invent a better vocabulary of totalitarian
management,” said Sophie
Richardson, China director at Human Rights Watch. “But ultimately
the message of the Chinese authorities’ terms for Tibetans is clear: political
nonconformity will be punished, severely.”
These terms are
used – and frequently repeated – not only to persuade populations inside and
outside Tibet of the correctness of the Chinese Communist Party’s rule and its
policies, but also to deter criticisms of the Party and any challenge to its
rule. These terms – few of which are explained in a manner comprehensible to
the general public – reflect a profoundly repressive approach to governance in
Tibet.
used – and frequently repeated – not only to persuade populations inside and
outside Tibet of the correctness of the Chinese Communist Party’s rule and its
policies, but also to deter criticisms of the Party and any challenge to its
rule. These terms – few of which are explained in a manner comprehensible to
the general public – reflect a profoundly repressive approach to governance in
Tibet.
Orwell himself would be hard
pressed to invent a better vocabulary of totalitarian management. But
ultimately the message of the Chinese authorities’ terms for Tibetans is clear:
political nonconformity will be punished, severely.
pressed to invent a better vocabulary of totalitarian management. But
ultimately the message of the Chinese authorities’ terms for Tibetans is clear:
political nonconformity will be punished, severely.
Sophie Richardson
China Director
In Tibetan
areas within China, and particularly in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR),
officials have long adhered to the “stability maintenance” policy: a range of
policing and administrative systems aimed at preventing, controlling, or
punishing social dissent and social disorder used across China – as one way to
eradicate support for the Dalai Lama. But when a new wave of
protests in support of the Dalai Lama broke out across the
Tibetan plateau in spring 2008, Party leaders commissioned researchers to
develop new methods to prevent future unrest.
areas within China, and particularly in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR),
officials have long adhered to the “stability maintenance” policy: a range of
policing and administrative systems aimed at preventing, controlling, or
punishing social dissent and social disorder used across China – as one way to
eradicate support for the Dalai Lama. But when a new wave of
protests in support of the Dalai Lama broke out across the
Tibetan plateau in spring 2008, Party leaders commissioned researchers to
develop new methods to prevent future unrest.
This led to the
introduction, from 2011 onward, of new administrative and security mechanisms
in the TAR, including permanent
teams of cadresinstalled as managers in every monastery and
religious institution,teams of
cadres deployed for three years in every village to organize
security operations and political education, and “grid system”
offices set up to monitor and manage each block or group of
homes in every town and many villages.
introduction, from 2011 onward, of new administrative and security mechanisms
in the TAR, including permanent
teams of cadresinstalled as managers in every monastery and
religious institution,teams of
cadres deployed for three years in every village to organize
security operations and political education, and “grid system”
offices set up to monitor and manage each block or group of
homes in every town and many villages.
“Understanding
terms like ‘social rectification’ makes clear Chinese authorities’ intentions
in Tibet: that all life and daily behavior will be under surveillance, and any
problematic conduct will be identified and swiftly punished,” Richardson said.
terms like ‘social rectification’ makes clear Chinese authorities’ intentions
in Tibet: that all life and daily behavior will be under surveillance, and any
problematic conduct will be identified and swiftly punished,” Richardson said.
