The images are shocking.

Armed police march through the streets of Dege County, in a crackdown against the voices of the Tibetan people.

The final vestiges of self-determination stripped away from Tibetan communities, as peaceful protesters are beaten and detained for trying to make their voices heard and have a say in how their lands are used.

As an information blackout is put in place, the images and videos from February 2024 remain an unprecedented look into the realities of life inside Tibet.

We are left, now, with lingering questions… How did we get here?

The Kamtok Dam

Located along the Drichu (Ch: Yangtse) river in the historical Tibetan province of Kham, Dege County has become the target of Chinese government plans to construct one in a series of thirteen hydroelectric dams.

The dam in question is known as the Kamtok Dam, and is due to be situated downriver from the several villages including Randen Village and Shiba Village which, as well as housing thousands of TIbetans, are also the home to ancient Buddhist monasteries.

When the Kamtok Dam is constructed, these communities will be flooded. China will resettle the locals elsewhere, but the Tibetan locals do not consent. These people have remained on their lands for centuries, building settlements, founding monasteries, and fostering communities; they do not want to leave.

They are not given a say in the Kamtok Dam project, nor how their communities or local ecology will be affected.

It is for these reasons that, in February 2024, Tibetans in Dege County took to the streets in peaceful protest. They pleaded with officials that their voices be heard, that they not be forced out of their homes, and that their religious cultural heritage be preserved.

The response from the government was nothing short of brutality. Monks and protesters were met with violence by an oppressive police force, with hundreds being detained for days. Those who protested knew that this was a possibility, they understood the risks, but the concerns for their communities were so strong and so deep in their hearts that they proceeded nonetheless.

With a subsequent information blackout in the area preventing a reliable flow of news, we cannot be sure of the current situation. We know that many of those detained were released, however the community figureheads and religious leaders remained in custody.

What Stands to be Lost?

Over 4000 people could be displaced, across multiple communities and townships. Families which have lived in the area for generations would be forced to leave their homes and resettle in unfamiliar urban areas.

At least six ancient monasteries would be destroyed, each one containing centuries of Tibetan Buddhist history. Invaluable frescoes, dating back to the 15th century, would be lost to the flood.

This is not just the devastation of thousands of lives, but the destruction of the common inheritance of humankind, of history.

Who is to Blame?

The company in charge of building the Kamtok Dam, China Huadian, is one of the five largest state-owned power generation enterprises in China. The company’s international subsidiary, Huadian Power International, is listed on the Shanghai and Hong Kong stock exchanges.

Global corporations deal directly with China Huadian and global investors hold shares in the company.

Siemens Energy, a German energy corporation, entered into a new ‘strategic partnership’ with China Huadian in March 2024 to ‘deepen their cooperation.’

Crédit Agricole, a major French bank, is among the top ten shareholders in the Huadian Power International subsidiary.

Schroders, one of the first foreign asset management companies to enter China, is also among the top ten shareholders in Huadian Power International, through a joint venture with the Bank of Communications.

What can we do?

The best hope for creating change for Dege County and across Tibet is by lobbying these international corporations.

By mobilising our collective voice, we can hope to pressure Siemens Energy, Crédit Agricole, and Schroders into investigating their ties with China Huadian, and push them into utilising their influence for good.