The Chinese government is implementing harsh punishments for alleged charges of disrupting authority’s initiatives and causing social unrest in Derge County, Tibet. This can be jail sentences and detention ranging from five to ten years.
Peaceful Tibetans protesting the forced relocation plan in Wonpoto township, Derge County, Tibet were recently arrested on alleged charges of disobeying the Chinese government’s order and causing social unrest. On 7 March 2022, the People’s Court, Investigation Bureau, Police and Judicial office of Derge County jointly announced a punishment order with a document of nine sections based on a code of public security measures, mass demonstration code, and writing complaint letters. This is about punishment according to laws if organized mass acts offensively disrupt social norms. In case of an organized mass protest of the government’s initiatives that caused social unrest, the organizer would be punished with sentences from five to ten years and participants up to five years. This includes detentions, seizing properties, and taking away political rights. This order has been reportedly implemented since the announcement.
In the first section of the punishment order, it states the following will face serious consequences:
– Illegal mass gatherings happen inside or surrounding government offices, campuses, and gates.
– Damages to public and private properties.
– Attack of vehicles on the road.
– Distribution of pamphlets, displaying complaint letters, or hanging banners.
– Shouting slogans or wearing illegal attire in public.
– Organizing people to beat government officials, or protest against the government’s initiatives.
The second section describes the prohibitions on distributing pamphlets, hanging banners, wearing illegal attire, playing grief music, displaying complaint letters, and jumping into water or from buildings. After criticism and reeducation, punishment should be given accordingly.
Related to this matter, it is mentioned in the first and second sections that for minor offenses, such as disrupting social norms, there will be a fine of 200 yuan. In case of more serious offenses, the person is to be kept in custody for eight to 10 days and fined 800 yuan or less. The main criminal should be kept in custody from 10 to 18 and fined less than 1000 yuan. For serious crimes, the leading criminal would be punished with a sentence of eight years or less, including detentions, seizing properties, and taking away political rights.
The third section of the punishment order discusses whether the masses surround the government offices and block roads or are accused of destroying the roads. They should be warned once or fined 200 yuan or less for such minor offenses. For more severe offenses, the criminal would be detained for eight to 10 days and fined 500 yuan or less, and the main criminal should be detained for 10 to 18 days and fined 1000 yuan or less. In case of serious crimes, the criminal would be punished with a sentence of three years or less, including detentions, seizing properties, and taking away political rights.
The fourth section is about inciting others, organizing illegal gatherings, and staging protests while ignoring the government guidelines and would face a punishment of 10-15 days in detention. In case masses have obtained permission to conduct gatherings and demonstrations from the concerned authorities but crossed the lines or without getting permission and do not consider the social norms or public security, the mass gatherings would be dismissed or immediately arrested. The organizer would be warned or detained for 18 days or less. If it is a severe case of disrupting social norms, the punishment would be five years or less. Additionally, if someone participated in the mass protest carrying weapons like knives or bombs, then the criminal should be punished with a sentence of two years or less, including detentions, seizing properties, and taking away political rights.
The fifth section underscores that if someone disturbs the duties of government officials or causes disturbances to public workers, such as in fire trucks, ambulances, and police vans, those people should be given a final warning or fine of 200 yuan or less. In case of more significant offenses, the criminal would be detained for four to ten days. Those who disturb the duties of the police get severe punishment. If someone disturbs government officials by threatening or using violence, she/he will face a three-year sentence or less. Attacking police gets punished with detentions and sentences of three years or less. In case someone threatens the security of others by using a knife or gun, those people would be punished with a sentence of three to seven years.
The sixth section of the punishment order declares that the masses should not cause unrest in government offices and where authorities receive complaint letters. If it occurs, the participants will be given a final warning or fined 300 yuan. In case of more significant offenses, the criminal will be detained for two to ten days and fined 300 yuan. The leading criminal would be kept in custody for 10 to 15 days and fined 1000 for minor offenses. If the masses disrupt the government initiatives with physical damages, the leading criminal gets punished with a sentence from three to ten years, and the participants would be punished with three years of sentences, including detentions, seizing properties, and taking away political rights.
The seventh section states that if the masses come out to public places with coffins, condolence flowers, images of the dead, butter lamps, playing grief music, and ignoring government orders, they should be warned or fined 200 yuan or less. If the case becomes more serious, they should be detained for five to ten days and fined 800 yuan, and the main criminal should be detained for 10-18 days and fined 1000 yuan. In big crimes, the leading criminal should be punished with a sentence of three to seven years and the participants with a sentence of three years. Likewise, in the case of organizing a mass gathering act against the government, the chief organizer would face a sentence of five to ten years and the participants with a sentence of five years or less, including detentions, seizing properties, and taking away political rights.
In the next section of the punishment order, if someone illegally complains to the authorities, does not abide by office rules, or breaks the public gathering area’s regulations, they should be warned or fined 200 yuan or less for minor offenses. In case of more severe crimes, they should be detained for five to ten days and fined 500 yuan. The main criminal will be detained for 10-18 days and fined 1000 yuan. If someone causes unrest in significant places like Beijing, that person must be detained for five to ten days and fined 800 yuan. If the case is more serious, the punishment should be detention of 10-15 days and a fine of 1000 yuan. If someone commits a terrible crime, then she/he should be punished with a sentence of five years, and for repeatedly causing social unrest and disrupting social norms should be given a sentence of 5-10 years and fined a considerable amount of money.
The last section states that after issuing this announcement of punishment order, if masses take illegal actions (not included in this document) against the government, cause social unrest, and break the rules of law in manner for complaints, then the mass organizer will face a harsh punishment.
