Cutting Off The Serpent's Head

Plot

Political repression in Tibet has increased sharply since 1994, and there are now more political prisoners in custody there than at any time in the last six years. The increased repression is the result of a new tibet policy announced in 1994 by the Chinese government that has led to tighter internal security in Tibet, longer sentences for political offenses, increased control over monasteries and nunneries, a demand for declarations of loyalty from thousands of Tibetans, intensified political education in schools, and more detentions. Over 230 Tibetans were detained for political offenses in 1995, a 50 percent increase over the year before, bringing the total now believed in custody to over 600.