The Congressional Executive Commission on China (CECC) said that China has heightened security and imposed punitive punishment on Tibetans following the incidents of self immolation protests in the Tibetan areas during their 2014 annual report on Thursday, October 9, 2014.
133 Tibetans in the Tibetan areas have set themselves on fire since 2009 to protest China's repressive policies towards Tibetans. The rate has dropped after China imposed harsh punishments to intimidate Tibetan communities by prosecuting and imprisoning Tibetans with alleged links to a self-immolator.
In their 2014 annual report, the CECC called on Chinese authorities to honor their constitution's reference to freedom of speech, association, and religion by allowing Tibetans promote their culture and exercise religious rights.
The CECC was first established in October 2000 by the United States Congress to monitor human rights and the development of the rule of law inside China. The commission is required to submit an annual report to the President and the Congress.