RSF: China’s media blackout in Tibet obscures true toll of flood disaster

Paris: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned China’s tight media restrictions in Tibet following devastating flash floods, warning that the curbs make it virtually impossible to ascertain the true scale of the tragedy.

The press freedom group said no independent Tibetan outlet or international news organisation has been allowed into the disaster-hit areas. Instead, only state-run media have been permitted to report from the region, with coverage focused on Beijing’s relief efforts rather than the full extent of damage and casualties.

Aleksandra Bielakowska, RSF’s Head of Advocacy for Asia-Pacific, described Tibet under President Xi Jinping as a “de facto information black hole”. She said reporting is confined to state-controlled outlets operating under guidelines from the Chinese Communist Party’s Propaganda Department, leaving little room for independent verification. “Under these circumstances, it is virtually impossible to gauge the true scale of the tragedy, as the regime seeks to whitewash its international image and stifle any information that might cast it in an unfavourable light,” Bielakowska said.

RSF cited Chinese state media reporting that at least ten internet users had been punished for “spreading rumours” about the floods. The group also highlighted extensive censorship on Chinese social media, particularly on WeChat, where posts referencing the disaster have been deleted or blocked.

Kalsang Jigme, editor-in-chief of the independent Tibet Radio, told RSF that information control this time appeared far tighter than during past disasters, making it extremely difficult for journalists to assess the impact. He added that many Tibetans in exile were reluctant to share details about affected relatives for fear of reprisals against family members still inside Tibet.

Based on information gathered by Tibet Radio, RSF said at least 29 Tibetans are believed to have died, a figure higher than China’s official toll of 16. The group noted that Tibetan media outlets suspect the number of victims on the Tibetan side is significantly underestimated, but verification remains hampered by limited access to reliable sources.

The floods originated in the Tibetan region of China on August 26 and surged into Nepal’s Rasuwa district via the transboundary Bhote Koshi River, killing more than a thousand people and causing widespread destruction in the Himalayan nation.

(Inputs from IANS)