10 February 2025
In yet another brazen display of disregard for human rights and international scrutiny, China has ignored a damning letter from 13 United Nations Special Rapporteurs condemning the construction of the Kamtok Dam in Dege County, Tibet. The letter, dated 8 July 2024, was made public on 6 September after Beijing predictably failed to respond within the given 60-day deadline. The dam project, which threatens to forcibly displace thousands of Tibetans, destroy centuries-old monasteries, and wreak environmental havoc, has faced vehement local opposition since its proposal in 2012.
Despite the mounting international outcry, both the Chinese government and China Huadian—the state-owned company responsible for the project—have chosen to remain silent. Their lack of response underscores Beijing’s persistent pattern of dismissing international human rights concerns while continuing its colonialist exploitation of Tibet under the guise of ‘development.’
Crackdown on Protesters: Brutal Repression of Tibetan Voices
The UN letter, signed by Special Rapporteurs across multiple mandates—including cultural rights, environmental protection, and indigenous peoples’ rights—explicitly condemns China’s heavy-handed crackdown on peaceful protesters. In February 2024, hundreds of Tibetans took to the streets of Dege County to oppose the dam, only to be met with brutal police violence, mass arrests, and internet blackouts. By 25 March, most detainees had been released, yet at least five Tibetans remained in custody, with their whereabouts unknown.
“Tibetan individuals peacefully expressing their opposition to the Kamtok hydroelectric power plant have faced violent repression, arbitrary arrests, and forced displacement,” the letter states, adding that these actions constitute a blatant violation of Tibetans’ rights to cultural identity, peaceful assembly, and self-determination.
Erasing Tibet’s Cultural Heritage
If completed, the Kamtok Dam would submerge two Tibetan villages and six historic monasteries: Yena, Wontoe, Khado, Rabten, Gonsar, and Tashi. These centuries-old institutions house irreplaceable murals, relics, and sacred texts that survived the Cultural Revolution. Their destruction would be an irreversible loss to Tibetan Buddhist heritage.
“The monasteries date back to the 13th century and house numerous ancient relics and murals of the Buddha of historical and religious significance,” the UN letter highlights, adding that China’s failure to conduct an environmental and cultural impact assessment violates international norms.
Environmental Catastrophe in the Making
Beyond cultural destruction, the dam’s construction poses a severe environmental threat. The Drichu River (Jinsha River), one of Tibet’s most vital waterways, will suffer irreversible damage, disrupting ecosystems and increasing the risks of earthquakes, landslides, and floods. According to the UN experts, China’s aggressive hydropower expansion in Tibet—where at least eight cascading dams are planned—prioritizes power exports to eastern China while offering no tangible benefits to Tibetans.
“Hydropower dams increase negative climate impacts, including methane emissions, the risk of earthquakes, and the disruption of biodiversity,” the letter warns, calling for a comprehensive, independent environmental impact assessment before any further construction proceeds.
China’s Pattern of Dismissal: A Recurring Global Concern
This is not the first time China has ignored UN communications regarding human rights abuses in Tibet. Previous appeals—JAL CHN 14/2023, JAL CHN 8/2023, JAL CHN 14/2022, and others—have met similar radio silence. The refusal to engage with international bodies exposes China’s ongoing strategy: continue suppression unchecked while dismissing global accountability.
Despite China’s defiance, the UN’s findings will be presented to the Human Rights Council, ensuring continued international scrutiny. Whether Beijing chooses to respond or not, its reputation as a human rights violator only grows stronger with each act of repression.
China’s silence on the Kamtok Dam controversy is not just a refusal to answer a letter—it is an admission of guilt.
