(Editors Note: This press statement was in response to a misleading and fact-free article by UK journalist, Mr John Gittings (the Guardian February 25th 2002) which seems to have been based upon the dubious conclusions of 'anthro-apologist' and Sinophile Prof. Melvyn Goldstein. Having conducted a geographically minute and superficial 'survey' (under the keen guidance of the communist Chinese authorities) the Professor concludes coercion, within birth-control, was non-existent in Tibet. His 'findings' are a shameful attempt to conceal the brutal reality of communist China's coercive population control program.
"Recently, I have seen a online report in a UK newspaper about a US research team visiting some areas of so-called Tibet Autonomous Region for doing research, without escorts of Chinese Govt. The report concluded that the Chinese policy of birth-control and implementation on Tibetan women is not a forced! I am very much surprised to see it. I am a Tibetan refugee woman from Amdo, North-Eastern Tibet having reached Dharamsala (northern India) recently. In my country, I completed a course from Medical School of Tsholho in 1993 and from then, up to July 2001, I have been working in family planning at a health centre for women and child. My job known as 'white dress' or doctor provided me with direct experience of birth-control and mother and child care. We have to propagate the Chinese policy of birth-control "birth-rear-educate" among the farmers and nomads in villages and remote areas. It claims 'less family member will face no economic problems', however the farmers and nomads are not opting for birth-control willingly or because of economic pressure. If it is so, why it is made mandatory target of birth control. The common practice and methods of birth control includes sterilization, ligature, 'birth-control surgery', inter-uterine-device of the woman have a miscarriage, induce labour etc. There is no proper system of transportation in the remote rural regions of my country, besides high hills and long routes for women and have to come several times to hospital which is either in Shang or Zong level. These arduous journeys are made because of the reality of coercion (fines and force), so nobody comes willingly! In addition all medical and surgery charges are paid for by the women herself. This became a burden not economic development for a family. For example, in the district where I worked, carried out planned birth-control operations. After taking women age group of 18 to 35 in villages and district level, forced birth-control operations were carried out. The number of birth-control surgery to be done in a place per year is fixed and we have to carry out these 'surgeries' to fulfil the given duties. In many places a forced 'lottery system' is applied to complete the number of women to be operated upon against the will of respective women. People called it 'human murdering tax' rather than willingly. For example, in year 1989 to 1995, six hundred women were given birth-control surgery.This is a case of a small district where the population is about fifty thousand. Most operations are done in the hospital of village (Shang) level where the medical equipment, living places and other facilities are backward, besides there is no health guarantee for our Tibetan sisters in these cold climates of Tibet. Birth-control operation is implemented as per fixed number in a place, applying various methods for birth-control. In 1997 two hundred and forty women were subject to 'birth-control surgery' which resulted in the women having a 'miscarriage', a further four hundred and six women suffered induced labour surgery in 1999. A woman from Chhusang, Sengdeng village, Tsholho Tsigor District of Tshongon (Amdo) died due to this type of birth-control surgery in July 2000. Every sentient being have their value of birth and death, and is a deep and important call of people. In this new era Chinese never care about the life of a private person. In my view the findings of a place by the researchers team cannot represent six million Tibetans living in Tibet which is divided by Chinese into one autonomous region, ten autonomous prefectures and two autonomous districts etc. Any researchers (team or a person) who visits Tibet under the knowledge of Chinese Government are allowed only after well prepared, educated to answer and terrified them in advance, Hence to say that they visited villages without official escorts and had complete freedom of movement can't portray freedom (in Tibet). For example, the places, the villages and the houses where to visit are fixed in advance, besides the village head and regional secretary of communist party used to monitor them. If any person answers against their instructions will face penalty or punishment as per severity of talk. Therefore, Tibetans in Tibet can be asked question under the protection of UNO, otherwise they (Tibetan) can't express their feelings. I am praying for such day to come. Being a doctor of women and child I had experienced, saw, heard and am proud to prove it to the world, hence made this fact appeal to correct the untruth, also sure people will understand a genuine matter.". Mother & Child Doctor came from Tibet.
Losar Kyi 6th March,2002
(English translation of Chinese and Tibetan version)