Dharamshala — Tibetan Women’s Association held a Silent Protest to protest against the UNO’s silence on the Tibetan martyr Lobga Rangzen’s self-immolation in front of UN headquarters in New York and demanded justice for Lobga Rangzen. They call on UN, governments, Tibet supporters, and democracy advocates to hold China accountable for the repression that drove Lobga Rangzen to self-immolation and call on China to repeal the so-called "Ethnic Unity Law".
The Central and Regional Tibetan Women Association organised a silent protest at a bus stop in McLeod Ganj, on August 6, 2016, to condemn China’s so-called “Ethnic Unity Law,” which aims to eradicate the Tibetan language, culture, identity, and heritage. They further protested against the UNO’s silence on the Tibetan martyr Lobga Rangzen’s self-immolation in front of UN headquarters in New York, who demand justice for Tibet, protest against the Chinese government’s repression policies in Tibet and demand independence for Tibet.
Tsering Dolma, the President of The Tibetan Women's Association (TWA) said, "We strongly condemns China's so-called "Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress," adopted by the National People's Congress in March 2026 and brought into force on July 1, 2026.
"Far from promoting unity, the law provides a legal framework for intensifying the assimilation of Tibetans and other minority nationalities, using the language of "unity" to legalize and mask decades of cultural, religious, and linguistic destruction, they have already endured. Unity cannot be built by erasing the very identities it claims to unite. A government that dissolves a people's language, faith, and history and calls it harmony is not achieving unity - it is eliminating a nationality and calling the elimination progress," she said.
"TWA is particularly alarmed by Article 63, which asserts extraterritorial jurisdiction, holding organisations and individuals outside China, legally accountable for actions Chinese authorities determine "undermine ethnic unity" or "create ethnic division." UN human rights experts raised alarm over this provision. warning it could be used to enable transnational repression far beyond China's borders. TWA shares this concern: the clause threatens Tibetan organisations, human rights defenders, democracy activists, and international supporters wherever they live," She added.
Kunsang Dolma, Vice President of TWA said, "On July 2, 2026, one day after the law took effect - Tibetan activist Lobga Rangzen (Lobsang Palden) died after self-immolating in front of United Nations Headquarters in New York, in protest against China's repressive policies toward Tibet. His death has prompted weeks of peaceful vigils, memorials, and advocacy by Tibetans and supporters around the world, from New York to Dharamsala."
"While the United Nations has publicly acknowledged the tragedy and expressed condolences, it has not taken substantive action addressing the underlying human rights concerns that drove Lobga Rangzen to this act, nor responded formally to the specific demands of the Tibetan community. Five weeks have now passed since his death, and still no formal answer or action has come from the United Nations," she added.
The Tibetan Women's Association therefore calls upon the United Nations, governments, Tibet supporters, and democracy advocates to:
1. Call for the immediate repeal of the law and the cessation of its implementation in Tibet.
2. Hold China accountable for the repression that drove Lobga Rangzen to self-immolation.
3. Urge the UN to respond formally to the crisis and to his sacrifice.
4. Monitor the law's implementation and hold Beijing to international human rights standards.
5. Formally recognise Tibet's right to self-determination and support mechanisms protecting Tibetan identity.
"TWA urges the international community to act with urgency before further irreversible harm is inflicted on the identity, dignity, and fundamental rights of the Tibetan people and other affected nationalities," they urged.
The silent protest began at 1:30 p.m. at the McLeod Ganj bus stop and continued until 4:00 p.m., with the aim of drawing the attention of McLeod Ganj residents, as well as local and foreign tourists.
