China calls UN experts’ words on “forced labor” in Tibet “unfounded”

28 Apr. (EUROPE PRESS) –

The Chinese authorities have branded this Friday as “unfounded” the words of several United Nations rapporteurs about the so-called “vocational training” programs in Tibet, which according to experts could incur “forced labor” for the population.

The spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Asian giant, Mao Ning, has indicated in a press conference that Tibet “enjoys social stability, economic development, ethnic unity and religious harmony, for which its people live and work in peace”.

“These fears of the so-called expert mechanism are completely unfounded,” he asserted before asking them to “respect the facts” and not become “accomplices of certain anti-China forces.”

These experts, he said, “are appointed by the Human Rights Council but do not speak on behalf of the UN.” “They say that these programs endanger the Tibetan identity and lead to situations of forced labor,” she lamented before denying it.

“We ask the experts to respect the information of the Chinese government and adhere to the existing codes of conduct, in addition to fulfilling their mandate objectively,” it has settled.

UN experts had warned that thousands of Tibetans have been removed from their traditional lives in rural areas to do “low-paid” jobs since 2015 in an alleged voluntary employment program.

However, rapporteurs have warned that these programs could lead to forced participation.”