Tibetans in western China ordered to vacate land for construction of hydroelectric dam

Chinese authorities have ordered Tibetans living in western China’s Rebgong County to abandon their land for the construction of a hydroelectric dam, forcing them to give up farmland they need to earn a living, two said. Tibetans with knowledge of the situation.

Authorities in the village of Lingya, about an hour’s drive from Rebgong, issued the order on May 23, requiring seven villages in the region to move so the Chinese government can begin the first phase of construction 10 days after the notice’s issue date, said a Rebgong Tibetan now living in exile.

“The land that is being confiscated by the Chinese government is farmland, which is the livelihood of the Tibetans,” said the source who declined to be named to speak freely about the situation. “The authorities have warned Tibetans not to show any kind of condemnation.”

Rebgong, called Tongren in Chinese, is located in Malho, or Huangnan, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, a Tibetan-populated area of ​​China’s Qinghai Province.

The Chinese authorities strictly control the residents of the restive Tibet Autonomous Region and the Tibetan-populated regions of western China, restricting their political activities and the peaceful expression of their cultural and religious identity.

Chinese infrastructure and development projects in these areas have led to frequent clashes with the Tibetans, who accuse Chinese companies and local officials of misappropriating land and disrupting the lives of local people. Many result in a violent crackdown, the arrest of protest organizers, and intense pressure on the local population to comply with the government’s wishes.

Local authorities will complete all the basic requirements, from checking land authorization documents, taking measurements and ensuring residents have left the area within 10 days of the notice date, it said.

Another Tibetan living in exile said the authorities have begun confiscating land, but have not discussed compensation for residents forced to move.

“In a notice sent by the Chinese authorities regarding land grabbing, it is mentioned that those in areas that need to be vacated for dam construction should be prepared to (leave) and that they should not start any other construction in that area. ”. said the Tibetan, who declined to be identified for the same reason. “If people don’t comply, then they won’t be compensated.”

Translated by Tenzin Dickyi. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster.