Leh, Sep 26: The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) has objected to climate activist Sonam Wangchuk’s comparison of the situation in Ladakh with conditions in Tibet, calling the comparison “misplaced and inaccurate”.
CTA spokesperson Tenzin Lekshay said the circumstances in Ladakh and Tibet were fundamentally different, asserting that Tibetans continue to face restrictions on fundamental rights, religious freedom and cultural expression under Chinese rule.
“The situation in Tibet cannot be equated with that of Ladakh. Tibet continues to remain under China’s authoritarian rule, where Tibetans face systematic repression of their fundamental rights and religious freedom, along with intensified measures aimed at erasing its distinct cultural identity,” Lekshay said in a statement.
The CTA was responding to remarks made by Wangchuk at a public gathering in Leh, where he compared restrictions faced by people in Ladakh with the situation in Tibet.
Wangchuk said the level of oppression faced by Ladakh was, in his assessment, greater than what China was imposing on Tibet.
The remarks were made during a gathering in Leh marking the first anniversary of the violence that erupted during protests in Ladakh on September 24, 2025.
Four people were killed in police firing during the protests, which were largely linked to demands for statehood for Ladakh and constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule.
Wangchuk has been a prominent figure in the movement seeking greater political and constitutional safeguards for Ladakh, with the agitation also focusing on greater representation and protection of the region’s land, environment and cultural interests.
The CTA, however, said the political and social circumstances in Ladakh and Tibet could not be directly compared.
It maintained that Tibet has remained under Chinese control for decades and alleged that policies imposed by Beijing have restricted religious practices and weakened Tibet’s distinct cultural and linguistic identity.
The exchange comes amid continuing discussions over Ladakh’s demands for greater constitutional and administrative safeguards, while the CTA continues to raise concerns over the situation of Tibetans under Chinese rule.
