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Human Rights Update and Archives
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| Namkar |
China detains 32 monks of Ratoe Monastery in Chushul Public Security Bureau (PSB) Detention Centre, according to reliable information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD).
According to multiple sources, the monks of Ratoe Monastery staged a major peaceful protest on 14 March 2008 in Nyethang Township, Chushul County, Lhasa Municipality, "Tibet Autonomous Region" ("TAR").
The peaceful protest was initially led by a group of monks of Ratoe Monastery but later joined by ordinary Tibetans The protesters marched for about two and half kilometers heading to the Township government head office demanding "Freedom in Tibet", "Independence for Tibet" and "Long Live Dalai Lama".
When the protesters neared the Township government head office, they were halted and blocked by the Chinese security forces. The peaceful protesters were defused and sent back to their respective places. No arrests of protesters were made by the Chinese security forces at that time.
However, later the Chinese authorities came to Ratoe Monastery and stepped up intense political and "patriotic re-education" campaigns against what the Chinese authorities describe as inroads made by the "Dalai Clique and separatist forces" in the monastery. At the same time the monks were repeatedly pressed by the Chinese authorities to surrender before them. Apparently not a single monk surrendered and relented to the dictat issued by the authorities.
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| Thupchok |
On 16 April 2008, the incident took a surprise turn when hundreds of Chinese security forces consisting of Public Security Bureau (PSB) and People’s Armed Police (PAP) surrounded the Ratoe Monastery around 4.30 AM in the morning (Beijing Standard Time). Shortly afterward, the security forces raided the monks’ residences to search for weapons and other incriminating materials.
However, during the raid, no guns, weapons and other incriminating materials were found in the monks’ residences. The photos of the Dalai Lama and mobile phones were confiscated by the Chinese security forces during the raid.
In the ensuing moments, the Chinese security forces arrested 50 monks of Ratoe Monastery for taking part in a peaceful protest on 14 March 2008. They were detained in Chushul PSB Detention Centre. However since then arrest, 18 detainee monks had been released. Currently 32 monks of Ratoe Monastery are detained in Chushul PSB detention centre.
Most of the detainee monks are in early twenties. A former political prisoner Namkar, 45, was among the detainees. He had earlier served two years imprisonment term in Drapchi Prison for taking part in Pro-independence Uprising of 1989 in Lhasa. Ironically, one of the arrestees was also identified as a 38 year-old Thupchok, a prominent Democratic Management Committee (DMC) "work team member" of Ratoe Monastery. As a DMC "work team members" he had been directly responsible for implementing the controversial and much resented "patriotic education" campaign in his own Ratoe Monastery.
The situation in Ratoe Monastery is currently said to be calm and restricted. It is said that there are around 90 monks in Ratoe Monastery. The Chinese authorities have denied total visitation rights to the 32 detainee monks. There has been no further information about their present condition and well being.
[ top]China arrests 16 monks for defying "patriotic re-education"
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| Woeser Monastery in Markham (Ch: Mangkang) County |
China arrests 16 monks and 2 lay Tibetans in Markham County according to confirmed information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD).
For over a month the Chinese authorities have been conducting "Patriotic re education" campaign in Woeser Monastery and Khenpa Lungpa Monastery in Garthog Township, Markham ( Ch: Mangkang) County, Chamdo Prefecture, (Ch: Qamdo) "Tibet Autonomous Region" ("TAR").
Khenpa Lungpa Monasteries since the beginning of April 2008. Sources told TCHRD that on 10 May 2008, the Chinese "work team" entered the monasteries to conduct intense and rigorous "Patriotic re-education" campaign which resulted in a bitter and heated arguments between the annoyed monks and the Chinese authorities. However, none of the monks signed off the official documents and nor did they write essays denouncing the Dalai Lama.
In response to the monks’ adamant refusal, the Chinese authorities arrested them. On 12 May 2008, 10 monks of Khenpa Lungpa Monastery were arrested. Similarly on 13 May 2008, 6 monks of Woeser Monastery were also arrested. Two lay Tibetans were later arrested on 14 May 2008.
The "Patriotic re-education" campaign was introduced in 1996 in Tibet to undermine Tibetan people’s loyalty to the Dalai Lama. It was also intended to win over the "hearts and minds of Tibetan people on the side of the Chinese government. But on contrary it has earned notoriety for its brazen attacks on the religious and cultural sentiments of the Tibetan people.
The Woeser and Khenpa Monasteries each housed fewer than a hundred monks on regular basis. In backdrop of the arrests of monks of Woeser Monastery, the remaining monks left the monastery which brought much sadness to the local Tibetan devotees who were unable to come to terms with a sudden closure of sacred monasteries.
On the other hand, the Chinese authorities and "work team" were conducting major "Patriotic re-education" campaign in Khenpa Lungpa Monastery. Sources told TCHRD that few remaining monks left the monasteries and returned to their respective homes in a solemn act of protest. On usual days hundreds of devotees flock to the monasteries to offer their prayers and carry out religious rituals. Unfortunately, these days the devotees have none to turn to and a visible pall of silence looms over the monasteries and its surrounding premises, in a desolate and forlorn state.
The identities of the 18 Tibetan arrestees are:
- Ngawang Tenzin, age 40, Woeser Monastery (Administrator)
- Tenphel, age 19, Woeser Monastery
- Rigyang , age 21, Woeser Monastery
- Choegyal , age 23, Woeser Monastery
- Lobsang Gyatso, age 19, Woeser Monastery
- Tsangpa , age 17, Woeser Monastery
- Lodoe , age 15, Khenpa Lungpa Monastery
- Namgyal , age 18, Khenpa Lungpa Monastery
- Butuk , age 13, Khenpa Lungpa Monastery
- Jamyang Lodoe , age 15, Khenpa Lungpa Monastery
- Tsepak Namgyal, age 15, Khenpa Lungpa Monastery
- Kalsang Tashi, age 17, Khenpa Lungpa Monastery
- Jangdrup , age 21, Khenpa Lungpa Monastery
- Wangchuk , age 22, Khenpa Lungpa Monastery
- Tenpa Gyaltsen, age 26, Khenpa Lungpa Monastery
- Passang Tashi , age 3o, Khenpa Lungpa Monastery
- Dhargye Garwatsang, age 19 (lay)
- Kunchok Tenzin, age 21 (lay)
Elderly woman brutally beaten during Township meeting
Following the protests by monks in Drango (Ch: Luhuo) County on 24 March, leading to the death of an 18-year-old monk and the subsequent solidarity protest on 25 March 2008, the local authority has expelled a large number of monks from Chogri Monastery and arrested some nuns of Nanggong (Tib translit: nganga sgong) Nunnery, according to confirmed information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD). Sources also reported disappearances of many lay people from the area.
On 26 March 2008, under the pretext of a call for a meeting with the authorities, two former abbots of Chogri Monastery, Geshe Namgyal Tsering and Geshe Sonam Gyurmey, were detained in the County Public Security Bureau (PSB) Detention Centre.
In an apparent measure to bring Tibetans in the area under control, the authorities called for a Getse Township meeting during which the residents were ordered to denounce and criticize the Dalai Lama and the "separatist" forces. An elderly woman, Ama Tsanglo, steadfastedly refused to abide by the order and on the contrary called for the fast "return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet". Upon this, the Township Party Secretary beat her brutally, amidst which she shouted, "I will never denounce the Dalai Lama. Even if you kill me today I won’t have any regrets." Unable to see his old mother getting beaten mercilessly, her son sprang from the crowd and gave some strong physical blows to the Party Secretary. At the time of releasing this update, both the Party Secretary and Tsanglo are hospitalized, the whereabouts of the son is unknown.
[ top]Over hundred of monks arrested after a raid in Ngaba Kirti Monastery
After days of unrest and protests in Ngaba County since 15 March, which saw the death of at least 23 Tibetans, arrest and injury of over hundreds, the Chinese People’s Armed Police (PAP) and Public Security Bureau (PSB) forces arrested over a hundred monks from Ngaba Kirti Monastery during a raid of the monastery this afternoon, according to confirmed information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD).
In th early morning of 15 March, hundreds of PAP and PSB came to Ngaba Kirti Monastery, dispersed people, mostly devotees, visitors gathered around the monastery compound and ordered surrounding shops to shut down.
Later around 12 noon (Beijing Standard time), PAP and PSB forces stormed into Ngaba Kirti Monastery, in Ngaba County (Ch: Aba Xian), Ngaba "TAP" Sichuan Province. At first the PAP and PSB forces barred the monks of Ngaba Kirti Monastery from venturing out of their rooms, followed by a sudden raid carried out in each and every monk’s room, ransacking any portraits of the Dalai Lama and looking for any incriminating documents. At around 5:00 PM (Beijing Standard Time) at least a hundred monks were known to have been forcibly taken away by the armed forces to Ngaba County PSB Detention Centre after the raid. The current atmosphere inside the Kirti Monastery is known to be very tense and volatile. According to the latest information from Tibet, sandbag barricades were erected by People’s Armed Police (PAP) around the Kirti Monastery and surroundings area to curb the fresh outbreak of protest by the local residents of Ngaba County.
[ top]China arrest over 572 monks from Kirti Monastery in two-day raid
From credible information received from multiple sources in Tibet by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), a total of 572 monks from Ngaba Kirti Monastery were arrested by the Chinese People’s Armed Police (PAP) and Public Security Bureau (PSB) following a two day raid in monks’ residence on 28 and 29 March 2008.
As reported earlier by the Centre, more information on the number of monks arrested following two days of raids in Ngaba Kirti Monastery in Ngaba County (Ch:Aba Xian), Ngaba " Tibet Autonomous Prefecture" (‘TAP’), Sichuan Province, is surfacing from the area. According to several credible sources, a total of 572 monks including novice as young as ten years old from Kirti Monastery were known to have been arrested in two days’ raid at the monastery by PAP and PSB officials. Before the launch of raids in the monastery on 28 March, hundreds of PAP and PSB reached the monastery, dispersed people, mostly devotees and visitors gathered around the monastery compound, and ordered surrounding shops to be shut down.
During the sudden and thorough raid, monks with modern communication gadgets such as mobile phones, cameras, computers or MP3 players in their residences were known to have been arrested under suspicion of having communicated with the exile Tibetan communities. The PAP and PSB ransacked every room of the monastery, baring every box and cupboard with rifle butts. There were even reports of security forces taking advantage by taking away valuable items from monks’ residences. The sources also confirmed that in an attempt to hurt the religious sentiment of the Buddhist monks, the PAP and PSB officials forced monks to step over the portraits of the Dalai Lama found in monks’ residences. The security forces even took photographs of monks who were coerced to hold the banned Tibetan national flag and portrait of the Dalai Lama to use as evidence of their crimes. The sources confirmed that symbolic ceremonial weapons hung on the statues of protecting deities inside the monastery altar were also reported to have been confiscated, and were accused of being weapons used by the protesters.
On the day of the raid in Kirti Monastery on 28 March, around 30 Tibetans who were arrested a few days earlier were known to have been paraded around the street of Ngaba County in a military truck to intimidate common people from undertaking further protests. Two monks identified as Ven. Lobsang Tenzin and Ven. Lobsang Chodhar of Kirti Monastery were among the group in that truck, according to the source.
On 29 March, PAP and PSB raided each and every residence of Ngatoe Adue Monastery in Ngaba County. There is no report of arrests from these raids at the moment.
In another incident, on 29 March a similar raid was carried out by the PAP and PSB officials at around dusk in the Taktsang Lhamo Kirti Monastery (a branch of Amdo Ngaba Kirti Monastery) in Dzoge County (Ch:Ruanggui/Zoige Xian) Ngaba "TAP" Sichuan Province. Scores of monks were arrested from their residences after the raid, of which identities of only 19 monks are known at the moment. Next morning around 80 Chinese government officials and a large number of PAP forces carried out sudden raids again in Taktsang Lhamo Kirti Monastery. There is neither clear information on the exact number of monks arrested nor about officials finding any incriminating documents after the raid in the monastery. However, the officials confiscated weapons displayed on the altar for protecting deities in the monastery, which officials alleged to have been used by the protesters. One source confirmed that there are shortages of food, water and medical attention in the monastery after successive protests broke out in Ngaba County.
On 30 March, a similar raid was carried out by PAP and PSB in every residence of Gomang Monastery in Ngaba County, Ngaba "TAP" Sichuan Province. At least twenty monks from the monastery were known to have been arrested after the raid, however, the identities of those arrested have not yet been ascertained. The Centre will continue to monitor the situation and will update as and when more information on these arrests surfaces. In an earlier protest in Ngaba County, at least 15 to 20 monks of the same monastery are known to have been arrested.
On 30 March, at least 20 monks of Ngamey Dongri Monastery (a branch of Ngaba Kirti Monastery) in Ngaba County are known to have been arrested by PAP and PSB officers. The reasons for their arrest are unknown at the moment. There are even reports of a few people surrendering to the authorities but their identities are not yet established. Sources confirmed that several elderly people in the area were reportedly beaten with rifle butts by PAP and PSB officials.
At least 23 Tibetans including a 16 year old school girl Lhundup Tso, have been reportedly killed, hundreds critically injured, and many more arrested, as Chinese authorities resorted to violent crackdowns to quell the peaceful Tibetan demonstrators demanding independence for Tibet in Ngaba protest on 16 March 2008.
[ top]In solidarity, Tibetans march with prayers in Tsolho
Upon witnessing a massive protests across the Tibetan plateau since 10 March, Tibetan people from all walks of life in Holkha Township, Tsigorthang County (Xinghai Xian) Tsolho "TAP" Qinghai Province staged a peaceful solidarity march and later held a prayer session for those who lost their lives in the recent series of protests in Tibet on 25 March. Following the peace march and prayer session at the township government headquarters, three Tibetans were arbitrarily arrested in an early morning raid in their home by the People’s Armed Police (PAP) and Public Security Bureau (PSB) officials, according to confirmed information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD).
With severe restrictions placed on communication lines by the Chinese authorities, further information on the peaceful political dissents are hard to come by, however, a few brave and courageous Tibetans despite being aware of the grave risk have send first hand information substantiated with pictures. The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) received exclusive fresh pictures depicting peaceful Tibetan solidarity march in Holkha Township on 25 March.
According to confirmed information received by the TCHRD, on 25 March, hundreds of Tibetans from all walks of life including monks in Holkha Township staged a peaceful solidarity march at the main market square of the Township. The marchers were calling for an immediate end to the brutal crackdown on the Tibetan protesters in Lhasa and series of Tibetan protests in other parts of Tibet. In an unique display of their support for those who have lost their lives and were injured in recent protests, many marchers were seen carrying traditional prayer wheels in their hands while reciting prayers (Mani Mantra) and others holding a huge banner bearing text written in Tibetan and Chinese, that reads: Peace, Democracy. We mourn and pray (mani mantra) for our people who lost their lives. The marchers finally ended their procession at the Holkha Township government headquarters where they held a sit-in protest and recited prayer throughout the day. Although PAP and PSB officials were seen in their combat gear during the entire peaceful solidarity march, there was no report of arrest or detention of Tibetan marchers that day.
However, in a sudden change of tactic, the authorities launched an early morning raid in the homes of Tibetan suspected to be the leaders in the previous day protest. The PAP and PSB officials arbitrarily arrested at least three Tibetans including a female from their homes and took them to an unknown location. Arrestees are: Rinbum Gyal and Tsewang both in their late 20’s and a female whose identity could not be ascertained at the moment. A Public Notice imprint with the official stamp of PSB was issued demanding protesters of the ‘illegal’ 25th March protest to surrender voluntarily for leniency. At the same time, it warned protesters of severe punishment who fails to surrender to the authorities within three days deadline. There is no current information on the number of people arrested and on the exact location of where the three are detained.
According to sources, following their arrest in the early morning raid on 26 March, more than 600 Tibetans from nine villages under Holkha Township staged a peaceful sit-in protest in front of Township government headquarters demanding immediate release of those arrested. The protesters sat for the entire day demanding the authorities to heed their demand. After a daylong protest, the protesting crowd finally dispersed after township authorities agreed to secure their releases. The sources confirmed that protesters pledge to undertake a similar protest at the government headquarters if authorities fail to deliver their promise.
Although there was no report of protest by Tibetans on 27 March in Holkha Township, yet at around 3 PM (Beijing Standard Time) hundreds of additional PAP and PSB officials in military trucks were flooded into the market place to check a further outburst of protest by Tibetans. Military troops in several rows were seen patrolling the streets of Holkha Township. Later that day, four people, Malle and Tsekyab Gyal both male in their late 20’s from Holkha Township and two Tibetan businesswomen from other parts of Tibet were arrested by the security forces for unknown reason. There is no information on the location of their detention. The present atmosphere in Holkha Township is known to be very tense with heavy presence of military forces.
[ top]A new phase of defiance: Nuns of Tawu County hold prayer session for those killed in recent crackdown
In the aftermath of severe crackdown on the Tibetan protesters by Chinese military forces across various parts of Tibet since 10 March which led to the deaths of scores of Tibetans, a subtle form of protests are surfacing from Tibet in the form of staging peaceful solidarity prayer procession despite authorities’ placing severe restriction.
The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) received confirm information from reliable sources that on 2 April 2008 at 8 AM (Beijing Standard Time), around 200 nuns of Ratroe Nunnery in Tawu County (Ch: Daifu Xian), Kardze "Tibet Autonomous Prefecture" ("TAP"), Sichuan Province set off a peaceful procession to showcase their solidarity with and pray for those who lost their lives in the recent spat of protests across the Tibetan plateau by chanting Buddhist prayers. The nuns of Ratroe Nunnery marched towards the county headquarters chanting Buddhist prayers such as, prayer for the Dalai Lama’s longevity and Dolma (Tara prayer).
According to sources, the People’s Armed Police (PAP) and the Public Security Bureau (PSB) officers ordered the chanting nuns to return to their nunnery or be forcibly returned. The nuns dispersed and return to their nunnery after offering prayers in front of Tawu County government headquarters. There is no immediate report of arrest of nuns although eyewitnesses report a heavy presence of the PAP and PSB during the peaceful procession.
In a similar peaceful protest in Holkha Township in Tsigorthang County on 25 March, where hundreds of Tibetans staged a peaceful solidarity march and later held a prayer session for those who lost their lives in the recent series of protests in Tibet. Following the peace march and prayer session at the township government headquarters, three Tibetans were arbitrarily arrested in an early morning raid in their home by the PAP and PSB officials. In the following days four more Tibetans were also arrested and their whereabouts are still unknown to their families.
[ top]Two monks commit suicide in Amdo Ngaba
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| Lobsang Jinpa (32 year old), Ngaba Kirti Monastery |
According to confirm information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), two monks committed suicide in Amdo Ngaba (Ch: Aba) as a direct result of relentless oppression by the Chinese security forces after the series of peaceful protests.
On 27 March 2008, a monk Lobsang Jinpa of Ngaba Kirti Monastery committed suicide. He hailed from Ngasib Village in Amdo Ngaba. In his signed suicide note, Lobsang stated, "the Chinese government has leveled false allegations against the monks of Kirti Monastery for leaking State Secrets to the outside world, leading and organizing the protests and for keeping the dead bodies of Tibetan protesters shot dead by the Chinese security forces. However, all the charges leveled by the Chinese government were not committed by anyone in Kirti Monastery, but carried out solely by me". The note further stated "I led the peaceful protest, and I am solely responsible for the protest". The suicide note carried a poignant end line, it reads, "I do not want to live under the Chinese oppression even for a minute, leave aside living for a day."
In another similar incident, a monk named Legtsok of Ngaba Gomang Monastery committed suicide on 30 March 2008. The deceased was 75 years old and hailed from a small hamlet in the upper flank of Ngaba prefecture.
Sources say that days before committing suicide, on 30 March 2008, Legtsok accompanied by two other monks while on their way to perform prayer rituals at a house of a Tibetan family encountered a large contingent of Chinese security forces heading towards Ngaba Gomang Monastery to quell the protesting peaceful monks at the monastery. The forces brutally beat Legtsok and detained him for a few days. Later he was released and sent back to the monastery.
Just moments before his suicide, he sent two of his disciples to return the money owned by his other disciples and relatives that was kept with him for safe keeping. Minutes after his disciples’ departure, he committed suicide. When his disciples returned, they found him dead.
He repeatedly told his two disciples that "he can’t bear the oppression anymore". Those words served as premonition to his imminent death.
Meanwhile on 3 April 2008, a monk of Ngaba Namtso Monastery was reportedly beaten to death by the Chinese security forces. Further information about the death could not be ascertained at the moment. TCHRD will issue update when further information surfaces regarding the death.
According to Tibetan Buddhist doctrine, suicide is one of the gravest forms of sins violating the cardinal precepts of the doctrine. Buddhist monks of Tibet were known for their patience and resilience in the face of adversity. The cases of suicides point to an indication of Tibetan monks being pushed to the extreme limits of endurance and helplessness in the face of oppression and repression by the Chinese authorities in Tibet.
[ top]At least eight shot dead in Tongkor Monastery in Kardze
In the latest case of Chinese shooting Tibetan protesters in Tibet, at least eight Tibetans were known to have been shot dead after People’s Armed Police (PAP) and Public Security Bureau (PSB) fired live ammunition onto the protesting crowd consisting of monks and laypeople on 3 April 2008. The protest broke out when monks of Tongkor Monastery (Ch: Donggu) in Zithang Township, Kardze County, Kardze "Tibet Autonomous Prefecture" ("TAP"), Sichuan Province, called for the release of two monks arrested for objecting Chinese ‘Patriotic Education’ campaign the previous day, according to confirmed information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD). There are reports of scores of Tibetans injured and arrested after the protest and police firing.
The official mouthpiece, Xinhua, admitted the incident took place but described it as ‘riot’ mentioning only the injury of one government official and did not mention about deaths, arrests and injuries among the Tibetan protesters.
According to reliable sources, the protest flared up at Tongkor Monastery in Zithang Township, Kardze County on 2 April with the arrival of official ‘work team’ to enforce a "Patriotic Education" campaign - a political indoctrination session that requires monks to denounce the Dalai Lama and to oppose the ongoing protests. The chief monk of Tongkor Monastery, Lobsang Jamyang did not cooperate with the work team during the campaign. Yeshi Nyima, a monk protested against the campaign which was later joined by other monks of the monastery who refused to cooperate with the official work team by telling, "we cannot criticize the Dalai Lama even at the cost of our lives." But the next day the work team returned to the monastery with hundreds of PAP and PSB officials ransacked monks’ residences looking for photos of the Dalai Lama, confiscated photos of Tongkor head lama, Tongkor Shabdrung, mobile phones and other belongings. Eyewitness said, PAP and PSB arrested an elderly monk Geshe Tsultrim Tenzin, in 70’s and a lay person Tsultrim Phuntsok, 26.
Subsequently, more than three hundreds strong monastic community marched towards local county government headquarters to demand their release that was later joined by hundreds of laypeople. The group left after being told that the two monks would be released at 8:00 p.m. but returned after officials fail to deliver their promise. On their way, they were confronted by heavy presence of PAP and PSB officials which later turned into scuffle between the police forces and the protesters, with police forces firing shots into the protesters, killing at least eight Tibetans and injuring dozens of people.
According to sources, those killed in the shooting include: Zangden, monk, 27 years old from Tsangyoe Village, Phurbu Delek, 30 years old, Tseyang Kyi, 23 years old female, Druklo Tso, 34 years old, female from Gugra Village, Tenlo, 32 years old male from Gugra Village and identities of three could not be ascertained at the moment. Three monks, Nyima, Kalpo a.k.a Kabhuk and Thupten Gelek originally from Sheru Village and monks of Tongkor Monastery sustained bullet injuries and are known to be in critical condition. Other reports cited the death of at least eight Tibetans after the shooting. There is no information on the whereabouts of Tsewang Rinzin, a disciplinary master of Tongkor Monastery.
The Chinese authorities in recent weeks have stepped up a constant vilification campaign against the Dalai Lama with virulent rhetoric in an attempt to undermine Tibetans loyalty to the Dalai Lama. The reinvigoration of "patriotic education" in the monastic institutions is the point in case.
In a similar incident in August 2007, when Ronggye A’drak a 52-year-old Tibetan nomad staged a peaceful solo protest in Lithang County during the annual horse race festival, the "Patriotic Education" campaign, which attempts to undermine Tibetan loyalty to the Dalai Lama, was stepped up even more across Lithang area in Kandze "Tibet Autonomous Prefecture" ("TAP") and cases of arbitrary arrests surfaced from the area after Tibetans openly opposed the campaign.
[ top]China arrests over 2300 Tibetans in Tibet
The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) learns that the Chinese authorities are stepping up the offensive arrest drive inside Tibet with renewed vigour and fervour. The latest information emanating from Tibet indicates over 2,300 Tibetans from various parts of Tibet have so far been arrested by the Chinese authorities currently detained in detention centres located in Townships, Counties and Prefectures in various administrative regions of Tibet.
According to TCHRD documentation since 10 March 2008, the Centre has documented a list of 519 Tibetans whose identities were confirmed as of today. The official web portal www.chinatibetnews.com stated that on 3 April 2008 prominent officials of the three levels of courts of "Tibet Autonomous Region" ("TAR") convened meetings to begin the trial of Tibetan arrestees. In the meetings, it was pointed out the procuratoracy courts will have to take immediate steps to solve the cases and to hand down necessary sentences to those who will be found guilty of violating the law and order.
The China Tibet News released a figure, stated that 1000 Tibetans were arrested for their involvement on 14 March "riots" in Lhasa City. The news of arrests came in the wake of statement issued by the Lhasa City, Vice Party Secretary Wang Xiang Min where he said that the law enforcement and vigilance has been stepped up in the Lhasa and over 1000 Tibetans arrested in various detention centres across Tibet.
Meanwhile in an explicit sign of renewed vigour to quell the protests, "TAR" Public Security Bureau (PSB) Headquarters issued a wanted list of 79 Tibetans involved in recent protest on 13 different occasions since 15 March to 3 April 2008.
The Chinese authorities also stated that by 1 May 2008, the Lhasa law enforcement bodies will hand over the cases of 1000 Tibetan arrestees to all the three levels of courts in "TAR" for formal trials and convictions. In the backdrop of China’s past records.
[ top]Tortured monk released in unstable mental condition
On 9 April 2008, around fifteen Tibetan monks defiantly briefed a group of foreign media personnel on a government managed tour currently in Sangchu County (Ch: Xiahe) in Gansu Province.
The monks revealed the grave situation in the area and also delivered a clear cut message to the media group, concerning human rights abuses by the authorities in the area. According to a report by Reuters today (Protesting monks storm media tour in western China, By Lucy Hornby), "They said eight monks were still being held by authorities, but did not specify if they were from Labrang or elsewhere…" TCHRD had earlier received confirmed names of seven monks arrested from Labrang Monastery in Sangchu County, Kanlho "TAP", Gansu, on 1 April 2008. The arrestees are: 1) Gendun Gyatso, 30 yrs, 2) Gyurmey, 40 yrs, 3) Gelek Gyurmey, 30 yrs, 4) Sangay, 30 yrs, 5) Samten, 32 yrs, 6) Yonten, 34yrs, and 7) Thabkhey, 30 yrs.
It is learned that Thabkhey who was released after several days’ detention is currently mentally unstable with bruise marks from severe beatings all over his body. It clearly indicates that the monks were brutally tortured in police custody. It is highly probable that the other monks are still in detention and the authorities have released Thabkhey in order to shun responsibility for his current condition. It is regular practice by prison authorities in Chinese administered prisons in Tibet to release Tibetan detainees and prisoners in near death or unstable conditions.
[ top]Around 70 monks of Ramoche Temple detain in midnight raid, whereabouts still unknown
In contrary to what the Chinese authorities are proclaiming about the calm and normalcy restored in Lhasa city, the reality in the area underlines that severe restriction and mass detention are continuing especially in monasteries which were proactive in the recent series of demonstration in Lhasa and other parts of Eastern Tibet. In the latest series of major clampdowns on monastic institutions, around 70 Tibetan monks from Ramoche Temple were known to have been detained on the night of 7 April 2008, according to confirmed information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD).
On 7 April 2008, around 70 monks from Ramoche Temple were detained by the People’s Armed Police (PAP) and Public Security Bureau (PSB) officials during the midnight raid carried out in the monks’ residences. The detained monks were taken away to an unknown location, according to reliable sources. At present only a few monks are left in the Ramoche Temple, which previously housed around a hundred monks, with scores detained and taken away in the midnight raid. There is no immediate information on the condition and whereabouts of those detained. The Chairman of the "Tibet Autonomous Region" government, Qiangba Puncog, said at a press briefing of the State Council information office this morning, that police have detained 953 suspects involved in the ’14 March violence’ in Lhasa.
Severe restrictions have been imposed on the movement of the monks of Ramoche Temple since 14 March protest in Lhasa. Credible sources confirmed a case of one monk, Thokmey, committing suicide in Ramoche temple following massive crackdowns by the PAP and PSB on 22 March 2008.
A similar restriction was imposed on all the major monasteries of Tibet including Drepung, Gaden and Sera, with all access to these monasteries severely restricted with 24X7 monitoring by a heavy presence of PAP and PSB officials since the demonstration broke out on 10 March in Lhasa and other parts of Tibet.
As reported in China’s official mouthpiece, Xinhua, on 1 April 2008, to the question raised by one visiting foreign journalist on a state-sponsored media tour on 27 March, Lhasa City Mayor, Duoji Cizhu, defended the deployment of the PAP and PSB into three major monasteries around Lhasa, by stating that the authorities had undertaken this measure in order to investigate the suspects involved in the recent ‘unrest’ and to avoid further protest by the agitated monks.
On similar showing of official support, on 8 April 2008, Zhu Wei Qun, Vice Minister of the United Work Front Department (UWFD) of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee accompanied by Lobsang Gyaltsen, the head of the "TAR" United Work Front Department paid a visit to PAP and PSB personnel stationed at Gaden Monastery to boost their morale and appreciate their good work. According to reliable sources, all three major monasteries around Lhasa were virtually sealed off with a heavy presence of PAP and PSB personnel.
[ top]Over hundred Tibetans arrested in Rebkong County
Over one hundred Tibetans, including monks and lay people, have been arrested today for protesting by the Chinese security forces in Rebkong County (Ch: Tongren Xian), Malho (Ch: Huangnan) "Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture", Qinghai Province, according to confirmed information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD).
At around 11 A.M. (Beijing Standard Time) on 17 April 2008, 22 monks from Rong Gonchen Monastery staged a peaceful demonstration in Rebkong County market calling for the release of three monks (Lobsang Dhondup, 20 years old; Drakpa, 28 years old; and Lobsang Dhondup, 30 years old), who had been arrested on 13 April 2008 for participating in a peace march on 16 March 2008.
A few minutes into the demonstration, Chinese armed security forces arrested the demonstrating monks. When news of the monks’ arrest reached Rong Gonchen Monastery, 80 monks marched to the County market and called for the release of the 22 monks arrested. As the ordinary people in the market also joined the monks in their demonstration, the group became large and very loud.
Consequently additional contingents of security forces arrived at the County market to quell the demonstrators. When the situation became extremely tense, former chief of Rong Gonchen Monastery, 80-year-old Alak Khasutsang, arrived at the market to intervene and try to diffuse the tension between the demonstrators and the security forces. However, the Chinese security forces started to severely beat every one at the scene irrespective of age or status. Over 80 Tibetans, including monks and lay people, were arrested and taken away to the County Public Security Bureau Detention Centre.
At the time TCHRD received this information, a large number of Chinese security forces have been deployed at Rong Gonchen Monastery, shutting down the monastery for outside visitors as well as restricting monks of the monastery from leaving.
[ top]A Tibetan died of torture in Phenpo County
A day after protest broke out in Lhasa city on 14 March 2008, it spread to the adjacent Phenpo County, in the east of Lhasa city. On 15 March 2008, thousands from Tibetans of all walks of life protested in Phenpo Lhundup County.
The Chinese government responded the protesters with harsh crackdown and during which many Tibetans were killed, arrested, tortured and awarded harsh sentences ranging from three-year prison term to life imprisonment. The Chinese government has been consistent with their in-disproportionate crackdown on peaceful Tibetan protesters, followed by indiscriminate arrests, unlawful detentions and awarding harsh sentences.
[ top]Another Tibetan died of torture
According to reliable information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), on 1 April 2008, a Tibetan farmer died after being subject to brutal torture by the Chinese prison guards. The deceased farmer was identified as Dawa, a 31 year-old farmer from Dedrong Village, Jangkha Township, Phenpo Lhundup County, Lhasa City, "TAR". He was arrested while participating in a peaceful protest in Phenpo County on 15 March 2008.
Multiple sources say that during two weeks of detention in prison, he was subjected to torture by the Chinese prison guards. When it became evident that his health was failing, the Chinese prison authorities quickly released him on 27 March 2008 for medical treatment. At the time of the release, his health was already in a very critical condition. After spending four days in hospital, he died on 1April 2008.
Adding insult to the injury, the Chinese authorities charged the deseased’s family with a fine of 1000 yuan (US $ 125) for causing destruction to public property and bringing damages to economy.
[ top]Many Tibetans shot dead during the Phenpo crackdown
Sources also told TCHRD that many Tibetans were killed during the harsh crackdown in Phenpo County on 15 March 2008. One of such confirmed information was Jinpa, a 23 years old Tibetan farmer shot dead by the Chinese security forces. He hailed from Jangkha Township, Phenpo Lhundup County, Lhasa City, "TAR". He died of bullet wounds on 15 March 2008 in Phenpo County during the protest.
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