This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/27/china-tibet-fresh-push-against-separatist-elements-religion

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Chinese leader urges fresh push against 'separatist elements' in Tibet Chinese leader urges fresh push against 'separatist elements' in Tibet
(about 4 hours later)
A top Chinese leader has called for “advancing anti-separatism efforts” in Tibet, in a sign of continued high-pressure tactics in the Himalayan region.A top Chinese leader has called for “advancing anti-separatism efforts” in Tibet, in a sign of continued high-pressure tactics in the Himalayan region.
Wang Yang, the Communist party’s No. 4 ranking official, was quoted on Monday in state media as stressing the importance of tight control over Tibet’s Buddhist institutions, urging “preparedness and precautions for danger in times of safety”.Wang Yang, the Communist party’s No. 4 ranking official, was quoted on Monday in state media as stressing the importance of tight control over Tibet’s Buddhist institutions, urging “preparedness and precautions for danger in times of safety”.
Religious figures must “be courageous to battle all separatist elements” in the name of preserving national unity and social stability, Wang was quoted as saying in Tibet’s regional capital of Lhasa during a visit there on Sunday.Religious figures must “be courageous to battle all separatist elements” in the name of preserving national unity and social stability, Wang was quoted as saying in Tibet’s regional capital of Lhasa during a visit there on Sunday.
Wang’s comments came as the Communist party issued a revised set of regulations governing members' behaviour, threatening punishment for spreading political rumours and recommending that those who cling to religious beliefs be asked to leave the party. 
President Xi Jinping's ongoing crackdown against deep-rooted corruption, begun six years ago when he took office, has shaken up the party, with Xi warning, like other leaders before him, that the party's very survival is at stake. 
Party members are not allowed to speak out against central party policies or decisions, and they cannot spread "political rumours or damage the party's unity", the new rules say. "Party members and officials must correctly exercise the power granted them by the people, be clean and upright, and oppose any abuse of power or behaviour that seeks personal benefit," one new clause said. 
Another new clause targets party members who are religious. While the country's constitution guarantees freedom of religion the party is officially atheist and party members are supposed to be too. "Party members who have religious belief should have strengthened thought education. If they still don't change after help and education from the party organisation, they should be encouraged to leave the party," the new rules said. 
Beijing’s forces occupied Tibet shortly after the 1949 communist revolution and security there has been ratcheted up significantly in the decade since anti-government protests spread through Tibetan areas in 2008.Beijing’s forces occupied Tibet shortly after the 1949 communist revolution and security there has been ratcheted up significantly in the decade since anti-government protests spread through Tibetan areas in 2008.
The tactics in Tibet are largely aimed at reducing the influence of the region’s spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, who lives in exile in India. China claims Tibet has been part of its territory for more than seven centuries and regards the Dalai Lama as a dangerous separatist.The tactics in Tibet are largely aimed at reducing the influence of the region’s spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, who lives in exile in India. China claims Tibet has been part of its territory for more than seven centuries and regards the Dalai Lama as a dangerous separatist.
Many Tibetans insist they were essentially independent for much of that time. Wang’s statement came as China’s ruling communist party released new internal disciplinary rules, including regulations on members’ religious beliefs. China’s constitution guarantees freedom of religion, but the communist party is officially atheist.
Wang has broad responsibility for religious policy as head of the government’s top political advisory body. In his comments on Sunday, he also echoed Beijing’s calls for the sinicization of religion, shorthand for adherence to the dictates of the officially atheist party. “Party members how have religious beliefs should undergo thought education. If they still do not change their beliefs after education, they should be encouraged to leave the party,” read the revised rules, released on Sunday. Party members who “incite activities” in the name of religion should also be expelled.
As part of recent tightening of security measures in Tibet, students were required to sign agreements to “not take part in any form of religious activity” during the school summer holidays. Over the past few months, China has faced increased criticism for what critics claim is the wholesale repression of religion and local culture in places like Tibet and Xinjiang, a north western territory home to about 12 million Muslims.
Young Tibetan monks have also reportedly been forced to leave one of the biggest monasteries in a Tibetan region of western China as part of a drive to replace monastic life with secular education. An independent expert on a UN panel on discrimination said earlier this month it had received “credible reports” that as many as 1 million ethnic Uighurs, a Muslim minority in Xinjiang, were being kept in extra judicial internment camps.
Recent months have also seen sweeping crackdowns on traditional Muslim culture among the Uighur ethnic minority group in the north-western region of Xinjiang and among Christians in eastern China. According to a report in Voice of America, a paster in China’s central province in Henan last week posted photos of forms residents were being asked to sign renouncing their religion. A group of 58 underground churches, those not sanctioned by the government, published an open letter in July calling on authorities to stop repressing religious freedom.
The party’s revised disciplinary rules, announced late Sunday, also come at a time when Xi reportedly faces internal dissent and criticism for the US-China trade war, among other issues. Last week, Xi called for complete loyalty from the Chinese military and installed a new propaganda czar, claiming his government’s propaganda and ideological work has been “completely correct.”
The regulations, most of which had already been in practice, target any form of dissent. Party members are not allowed to speak out against central party policies or decisions, and they cannot spread “political rumours or damage the party’s unity”. “People who are not loyal to the party should be dismissed,” the announcement added.
Several additional lines in the revised rules were dedicated to the role of Xi’s personal brand of political theory. The party should be “guided by Xi Jinping Thought... and should safeguard Xi Jinping’s core position... in the party,” the new rules said.
Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this articleAssociated Press and Reuters contributed to this article
ChinaChina
TibetTibet
Asia PacificAsia Pacific
Dalai LamaDalai Lama
newsnews
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
Share via EmailShare via Email
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn
Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
Share on Google+Share on Google+
Share on WhatsAppShare on WhatsApp
Share on MessengerShare on Messenger
Reuse this contentReuse this content