My name is Dorjee Rinchen. I am 18 years old, born in Tsera Village, to a father Dhondup Palden and mother Jamyang Lhamo, in Tongkor Township, Kardze County, Kardze “TAP”, Sichuan Province.

Last year on 2nd April 2008, a protest flared up in Tongkor Monastery (Ch: Donggu) in Zithang Township, Kardze County, Kardze “Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture” (“TAP”), Sichuan Province, with the arrival of official work team to conduct “patriotic education” campaign in the monastery.

On 3rd April 2008, the “work team” along with a huge contingent of People’s Armed Police (“PAP”) and Public Security Buearu (“PSB”) officials arrived in Tongkor Monastery and raided our residences, stamping on and vandalizing the photos of the Dalai Lama, Tongkor Shabdrung Rinpoche and Panchen Lama in our Tongkor Monastery. The actions by Chinese patriotic education “work team” triggered a protest by our monks who refused to undergo “patriotic education” campaign session. Under the “patriotic education” campaign, it required us to denounce the Dalai Lama, to oppose “hostile separatist forces”, signing documents by displaying our allegiance to the Communist Party and its policies inside Tibet. In ensuing moments, the protest broke out when two Tibetans, one a senior monk and another a lay man were detained for their refusal to adhere and undergo “patriotic education” campaign.

Subsequently in the same evening, hundreds of our monks from our community, also joined by local Tibetans marched towards County government headquarters to and demanded the immediate release of Geshe Tsultrim Tenzin and layman Tsultrim Phuntsok. Thereafter we left the scene after being assured by Chinese officials that the two detained Tibetans would soon be released by 8 PM of 3 April 2008. However, when Chinese authorities failed to honour our promise, we returned but on the way we were confronted by a heavy presence of PAP and PSB officials, which later broke into a scuffle.

We were calling for the release of two monks who were earlier arrested by Chinese security forces for objecting the Chinese government’s enforced “patriotic education” campaign in Tongkor Monastery which brought much misery and discomfort for us. We chanted slogans such as “Long Live the Dalai Lama”, “Independence for Tibet”, “Tibet belongs to Tibetans”, “Swift Return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet”, and the “Release of all the Tibetan Political Prisoners”.

Shortly after in the heat of protest, the PAP forces fired live ammunition rounds on the protesting Tibetans, resulted in the death of about 14 known Tibetans, and at least 83 Tibetan peaceful protesters sustained severe gun injuries. Later, the Chinese security forces arrested around 12 Tibetans branded as ring leaders of the Tongkor protest. We were arbitrarily arrested, detained, tortured for almost a year.

Since 10 March 2008, Tibetans across the Tibetan plateau participated in a series of popular demonstrations against the Chinese government, and one such protest demonstration such took place in Tongkor Monastery. In response, the Chinese authorities dispatched a large contingent of armed security forces to quell the popular demonstration in Tongkor Township. The Chinese security forces were stationed at a ground close to Tongkor Monastery, and displayed anti-demonstration military drill to intimidate the local Tibetans.

Every household was ordered to provide 100 Gyama, (1 Gyama = 500 grams) of fire wood, however only few households complied the order. Later on 1 and 2nd April 2008, Chinese Democratic Management Committee (DMC) “work team” arrived at Tongkor Monastery to enforce “patriotic education” campaign, which involved the monks to denounce the Dalai Lama, to conform to Chinese government political indoctrination, signing documents containing the denunciation of the Dalai Lama as a splittist leader, and hostile separatist force. However, we refused to sign and comply with the indoctrination session enforced by DMC work teams. Lobsang Jamyang, the chief monk of Tongkor Monastery defied the authorities’ writ to undergo “patriotic education” session. The DMC work team members demanded assurance from Tongkor DMC members that no such kinds of demonstrations would ever take place in future and with that DMC returned to their offices. Moreover on that very evening, the Chinese authorities cut down telephone and mobile lines and all other communication channels in order to ensure that no information leak to the outside world regarding the implementation of “patriotic education” campaign in Tongkor Monastery.

On 3 April 2008, around dawn 4 am in morning, a large contingent of PAP, and PSB of around 4000 Chinese soldiers in around 98 armor vehicles surrounded Tongkor Monastery from all directions. The order to shoot at sight was also announced in and around Tongkor Monastery. At around 8 o clock in the morning of 3 April 2008, separate groups, consisting of five to six Public Security Bureau “PSB” ransacked and raided residences of the monks searching for the photos of the Dalai Lama, Tongkor Shabdrung Rinpoche, the chief patron of Tobgkor Monastery, and other incriminating materials. The security forces stamped on the photos of the Dalai Lama and Shabdrung Rinpoche and some monks were even beaten by Chinese security forces for complaining. An elderly monk, a 75-year-old Geshe Tsultrim Tenzin and lay person Tsultrim Phuntsok were arrested in the raid. Later they ransacked the Prayer Hall of Tongkor Monastery, and seized all the scroll paintings of the lineages of successive Shabdrung Rinpoches, the Dalai Lamas and Panchen Lamas of the past.

During the raid the Chinese authorities burnt confiscated 22 sacks of the copies of scroll paintings of successive lineages of Tongkor Shabdrung Rinpoches, the Dalai Lamas and Panchen Lamas seized from all the residences of Tongkor monks. Some school teachers who lived near by Tongkor Monastery were made to carry the 22 sacks of confiscated scroll paintings to Buthok Ground, located near Tongkor Monastery, where they were burnt. Making mockery of the sacred scroll paintings, Chinese soldiers gathered around burning sacred scroll paintings to draw comfort from the cold weather.

Scenes of the stamping of the photos of Tongkor Shabdrung Rinpoche, the Dalai Lama and Panchen Lamas were captured on video camera and still images by Chinese security forces. Helpless local Tibetans were reduced to mere spectators and then around 4 o clock in the evening, the monastery’s gongs were sounded to call monks for a meeting.

During the meeting, the head of the monastery spoke at length about incidents surrounding 1st and 2nd April 2008. He suggested monks to contemplate over the next course of actions. During the meeting, few monks rose up and shouted, “if we were not allowed to remain in our own place, we will not have any regrets if we lose our lives, then suddenly in fits of emotions, the monks forego their daily prayers, and marched towards the Chinese government office at Buthok Ground, where they chanted numerous slogans such as “Long Live the Dalai Lama”, “Release all political prisoners including Geshe Tsultrim Tenzin”.

The Chinese authorities appealed to the monks to stop the protest march by promising them that they will release Geshe Tsultrim Tenzin and layman Tsultrim Phuntsok after having a brief conversation with them.

The monks halted their protest demonstration at a bridge making slew of slogans and chants which continued till 8 ‘o’ clock in the night. Still then Geshe Tsultrim Tenzin had not been released by the Chinese authorities. Once again the monks pitched up their protest slogans at which numerous PAP and PSB surrounded the protesting monks and fired machine guns at the peaceful protesters.

In horrifying moments, few monks standing in rear fell down after sustaining bullets injuries. I was not able to recognize and identify those fallen monks in the darkness, the peaceful protesters fled in all directions, Chinese security forces continued to pound bullets on fleeing protesters. At that point of time, I was shot by a bullet on the back of my right arm, which slashed a big chunk of flesh from my rear shoulder arm. I gathered my energy and then hid myself behind a tree trunk and remained there for a while. I even saw a woman being hit by bullets and her sister wailing on a ground out of helplessness. Although I wished to help the wounded lady but I couldn’t do so because of my severe injuries. A horrifying scene still haunted me when a monk name Lobsang Rinchen out of anger burst and charged into Chinese security forces firing hails of bullets at protesters and shouted, “hit me! Hit me! And then a single shot found it mark on his temple and fell down on the ground with thud.” Also in another incident, Tsering Kyi was shot down and his brother tried to carry her on his back and after taking several steps she died on the spot. The situation was fast becoming too terrible to bear and witness. Hence I immediately made my moves to leave the killing field.

Later I learnt that at least 14 Tibetan protesters were shot dead by Chinese security forces. The dead Tibetan protesters were:

1. Tsewang Rinzin from Juruda Village, (Tongkor Monastery)

2. Kunchok Sherab (monk Tongkor), 30, from Khasung Village

3. Lhungo, 35 (earlier spelled as Lhego from Walanda Village)

4. Tsering Kalden from Walanda Village

5. Thupten Sangden, 27, from Tsera Village

6. Lobsang Rinchen, 25, from Nyatri Village

7. Choezin (monk) from Sothok Da Village

8. Bhu Bhu Delek, 30 (lay man) from Sothok Da Village

9. Tsering Dhondup, (monk) from Khasung Village

10. Tsering Dhondup (lay man) Dru-yak Village

11. Druklo Tso, 34 (female) Kugra Village

12. Tseyang Kyi, 23, (female) from Tsang Ngoe Village

13. Sonam Tsultrim, 22, (lay man) from Nyatri Village

14. Kunsang Choedon, 35, from Mokrin Village

Kunsang Choedon’s father Tsang-gon later became mentally insane after the death of her dotted daughter. Little afterwards he died in misery and sorrow. I heard from many people that around 83 protesters sustained serious gun injuries. Out of which I was able to identify 14 protesters. I was denied of access to medical care in the government run hospital, due to which I underwent intolerable suffering and hardships for the past more than a year.

LIST OF ARRESTEES:

Later I also learnt about the arrest of 12 Tibetan protesters by Chinese security forces. The arrestees were identified as:

1. Thugche Tso from Druk-yak Village, (male)

2. Tsering Dolkar (female)

3. Tenam from Kugra Village, (female)

4. Dorjee Gyaltsen from Druk-yak Village (Male, lay person)

5. Yonten Norbu from Druk-yak Village (Male, lay person)

6. Lobsang Jungney from Druk-yak Village (Male, lay person)

7. Yonten Lhundup from Nyatri Village (male)

8. Pema Namgyal from Nyatri Village (male)

9. Thupten Sherab from Mokren Village (male)

10. Lama Dhondup from Tsera Village (male)

11. Geshe Tsultrim Tenzin Tongkor Monastery

12. Tsultrim Phuntsok (lay) from So-thok-dha Village

Geshe Tsultrim Tenzin who was earlier detained inside the Tongkor Monastery by Chinese authorities, while being arbitrarily taken out of Tongkor Monastery had to be taken via his native village Bala-da. However the residents of Bala-da village blocked the road by lying down on the road, due to which Chinese authorities were forced to take him back to Zithang Township, where he was detained for around 15 days, after which he was released.

Moreover, Tsultrim Phuntsok who was earlier detained along with Geshe Tsultrim Tenzin was later detained at Kardze prison for few months, after which he was released.

TIBETAN NEW YEAR BOYCOTT

Following the last year demonstrations in Kardze region, the Tibetan people initiated a farming boycott movement to mourn the deaths of Tibetan protesters across the three traditional provinces of Tibet and to show solidarity with those Tibetans still languishing in the Chinese administered prisons, who have been undergoing unspeakable suffering and torture. For instance, a leaflet calling for the boycott of Losar (Tibetan New Year) was distributed, circulated and pasted on walls in the various places of Kardze region. Superficially the Chinese authorities staged managed the celebration of Tibetan New Year celebration, such as bursting huge quantity of fire crackers at Buthok Ground, near Tongkor Monastery displaying normalcy of festive mood in the area. However, it was other way round.

FARMING BOYCOTT MOVEMENT

Regarding the farming boycott movement, the Tibetan people across entire Kardze region forego cultivating farms to mourn the deaths of Tibetan protesters. In response, Chinese authorities called the meeting of Tibetan farmers from different villages and issued them with a warning stating that, “if anyone of you does not till crops in your farmland by March 11, then all of your farms will be confiscated by the government”. However, we still refused to conform to the orders of the Chinese government.

Ironically, the local Tibetans immediately started cultivating our farms once we learnt about the earnest appeal made by the exiled Tibetan Prime Minister Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, exhorting us to go back to fields and start tilling them. As a sign of adherence and respect to the exiled Tibetan Prime Minister Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, we go on tilling our lands although it had been late by one month of entire cultivation season. Due to the late start, some cash crops like potatoes and other vegetables failed to yield properly propelling a considerable loss to us.

The Chinese government in an attempt to win the hearts of Tibetan people went forward to reward those Tibetan families who did not participate in the demonstration with huge monetary gifts.

REASONS FOR MY COMING INTO EXILE

Since massive protests that swept Tibetan plateau, mostly led by monastic community, the Chinese government reinforced the implementation of “patriotic education” campaign, leading to large scale arrests, demonstrations and detentions of Tibetan people. For instance, in Tongkor Monastery Chinese authorities announced numerous rules and regulations, thereby enforcing expulsions of monks who engaged in anti-Chinese government activities. For those who wanted to remain in monastery must fulfill Chinese government demand to oppose “hostile separatist forces” outside Tibet as a prerequisite. The ceiling on the strength of the monks was imposed on monasteries. Such harsh measures forced us to speak our minds. Unlike my friends who were arrested during the protest, it was pure luck that I was not arrested. I felt that I was on a borrowed time waiting for an eventual arrest by Chinese authorities, and hence I immediately made my mind to escape Tibet. On the one hand I have had a strong wish to have an audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and on the other hand I wish to pursue my monastic studies on Buddhist canonical texts. With clear conviction, I departed my homeland with heavy heart towards Lhasa where I found a guide who helped me to escape into Nepal. I paid 15,000 Yuan for the guide to take me to Nepal. On 7 November 2009, I reached the Tibetan Reception in Dharamsala.