uprising in tibet - · pdf fileuprising in tibet chronology of ... distributing pamphlets and...

CONTENT CONTENT CONTENT CONTENT CONTENT

-Drepung Monastery- 10 March 2008 (pg 1)-Sera Monastery - 10 & 11 March (pg 1)-Lutsang Monastery, Mangra County, Tsolho“TAP”- 10 March (pg 1)-Jyekundo, “TAP” Qinghai - 9 & 10 March (pg 2)-Ditsa Monastery, - 10 March (pg 2)-Labrang Tashikyil Monastery, Sangchu County,“TAP” - 10 March (pg 2)-Kandze - 10 March (pg 2)-Raid in former political prisoners’ homes - 10March (pg 2)-Recall of government employees, Arrest andrestriction in Tibet University (pg 2)-Chutsang Nunnery- 12 & 13 March (pg 2)-Gaden Monastery- 12 March (pg 2)-Ramoche Temple - 14 March (pg 2)-Amdo Labrang - 14 March (pg 2)-Amdo Labrang – 15 March (pg 2)-Chinese Authorities issue “surrender” order –15 March (pg 3)-Taktsang Lhamo Kirti Monastery – 15 March(pg 3)-Bumying and Onpo Monastery sealed - 16March (pg 3)-Amdo Ngaba Kirti Monastery – 16 March (pg3)-At least seven shot dead in demonstration inNgaba County - 16 March (pg 3)-Eight dead bodies have been brought intoNgaba Kirti Monastery: 16 March (pg 3)-Fresh protest broke out in Rong GonchenMonastery, Rebkong County- 16 March (pg 3)-Students staged a protest in eastern Tibet: 16March 2008 (pg 4)-Nyulru Protest: 16 March (pg 4)-Mass abductions in midnight raids by Chinesesecurity forces in Lhasa: 15 & 16 March (pg 4)-Around 40 middle school students arrested inMarthang (pg 4)-Sporadic protests reported from Meldrogungkarand Phenpo Lhundup : 17 March 2008 (pg 5)-Fresh Pictures: University students join theprotest demonstration in Lanzhuo, GansuProvince, eastern Tibet: 17 March 2008 (pg 5)-Tibetan students demonstrate in Tsoe City:17 March 2008 (pg 5)-Fresh Pictures of Tibetan protesters’ deadbodies and crackdown by the Chinese securityforces: 17 March 2008 (pg 6)-Hundreds of Tibetan devotees protest in AmdoGolog: 17 March 2008 (pg 6)-Thirty Tibetan protestors arrested in ToelungDechen County: 18 March 2008-500 Hundred monks protest in Kanlho, GansuProvince: 18 March 2008 (pg 6)-New cases of arrests and detentions reportedfrom Lithang: 18 March 2008 (pg 6)-Thousands of Tibetans Protested in SerthaCounty, Kardze: 18 March 2008 (pg 7)- Hundreds protest in Amdo Bora : 18 March2008 (pg 7)

VOLUME I ISSUE 7

HUMAN RIGHTS updateis a monthly newsletter of the

Tibetan Centre forHuman Rights and Democracy.

www.tchrd.org

TIBETAN CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACYMARCH 2008

Reg. no: HP/DMA/105/2008-2010

UPRISING IN TIBETCHRONOLOGY OF PEACEFUL PROTESTS IN TIBET

SINCE 10 MARCH 2008

Since 10 March 2008, spate after spate ofpeaceful protests broke out in Chineseoccupied Tibet. The Chinese security forceshave rolled in tanks and deployed troops inlarge numbers in various parts of Tibet inorder to forcibly quell the peacefuldemonstrations. The protests mark decadesof deep resentment by the Tibetan peopleagainst the Chinese rule in Tibet. Following is a list of protests inchronological order. The Tibetan Centre forHuman Rights and Democracy (TCHRD)acknowledges that despite being fully alertsome of the peaceful protest might not havebeen reported to the Centre.

Drepung Monastery- 10 March 2008 On the evening of 10 March 2008, aboutthree hundred monks from DrepungMonastery, located on the outskirts of thecapital, attempted to start a planned peacefulprotest march towards Barkhor Street, Lhasa.However, they were obstructed fromproceeding with their peaceful march by alarge number of Chinese armed policebefore reaching Lhasa. Monks suspected ofbeing the ringleaders of the planned protestwere arrested by the Public Security Bureau(PSB) officials. Drepung Monastery has beensealed since then.

Sera Monastery - 10 & 11 March On 10 March 2008, a group of fifteenmonks, later joined by two laypersons led apeaceful pro-Tibet march from TsuklakhangTemple, proclaiming pro-independenceslogans, distributing pamphlets and raisingthe banned Tibetan national flags at BarkhorStreet in Lhasa. They were arrestedimmediately by the stationed Public SecurityBureau (PSB) officials following a briefprotest march. The arrested Tibetans werereportedly beaten severely and manhandled

by the PSB officials. Moreover, the shops andvendors around Barkhor Street were orderedto close and pack up. The detained monkswere confirmed to be visiting student monksof Sera Monastery, mainly from the Khamand Amdo regions of Tibet. Additionalcontingents of armed forces were deployedto the area to issue an explicit warning topeople against undertaking further protestsas well as to control and monitor the activitiesof the people. On 11 March, about 2000 strong Chinesetroop fired tear gas in order to dispersehundreds of monks from Sera Monastery whowere calling for the release of their fellowmonks and shouting pro-Tibet slogans. ThePeople’s Armed Police forces sealed off themonasteries thereby completely curbing thepeople’s movement in and out of the area,including protesting laypeople from visitingthese monasteries.

Lutsang Monastery, Mangra County,Tsolho “TAP”- 10 March In yet another incident, a protest has alsobeen reported from the traditional Tibetanarea of Amdo in Mangra County, Tsolho (Ch:Hainan) ‘Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture’(“TAP”) Qinghai Province on 10 March.About 150 monks from Lutsang Monasteryin Mangra County, Tsolho “TAP” and around200 laypersons from the area were barred bythe Mangra County People’s Armed Police(PAP) forces when they converged outsidethe County Assembly Hall where agovernment sponsored show was going on.Sensing a protest by the Tibetans, the showwas forced to discontinue. Later monks andlaypeople started shouting slogans “Long liveDalai Lama” and “The Dalai Lama shouldreturn to Tibet”.

TIBETAN CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY

2 HUMAN RIGHTS update • March 2008

Jyekundo, “TAP” Qinghai - 9 & 10March On 9 March, hundreds of bannedportraits of the Dalai Lama were confiscatedfrom a number of homes in Jyekundo, (Ch:Yushu/Jiegu) “TAP”, Qinghai Provinceduring a midnight raid conducted by localPublic Security Bureau (PSB) officials. Twofamilies were reportedly fined 500 Yuaneach for possessing the banned portraits.The next day, pamphlets calling for Tibet’sindependence were known to have beenpasted on the walls around the area.

Ditsa Monastery, - 10 March In one incident, around 20 local Chineseofficials convened a meeting of monks atDitsa Monastery, Bayan County, Tsoshar“TAP” (Ch: Haidong), Qinghai Province.However, around 70 monks walked out ofthe meeting carrying the portrait of theDalai Lama and shouted pro-independenceslogans. Later the monks proceeded towardsa small hill behind the monastery to offerSangsol Prayer, and were later joined byonlookers. Open calls for solidarity with “thepeace marcher from Dharamsala to Lhasa,”initiated by leading exiled Tibetan NGOs,were even reportedly raised by the monks.A total of around four hundred peoplegathered for the prayer that day.

Labrang Tashikyil Monastery, SangchuCounty, “TAP” - 10 March Incidents of police removing pamphletscalling for Tibet’s independence werereported from Labrang Tashikyil Monasteryin Sangchu County (Ch: Xiahe xian),Kanlho “TAP” Gansu Province.

Kandze - 10 March There are also reports of people havingpasted pamphlets calling for Tibet’sindependence from Kandze County,Kandze “TAP” Sichuan Province on 10March. So far there is no information oncase of arrest or detention from the area.

Raid in former political prisoners’homes - 10 March According to sources, on the evening of10 March, sudden raids were beingconducted in the homes of former politicalprisoners by the authorities lookingparticularly for any incriminating CDs suchas the US Congressional Gold Medal tothe Dalai Lama ceremony which havecovertly been in circulation recently, or

electronic goods particularly computers,phones and Internet connections.

Recall of government employees, Arrest andrestriction in Tibet University On 11 March, the authorities of Lhasa Cityhave recalled all the employees of variousgovernment departments who were on leaveto return to work immediately and issued arestraint order banning taking leave. Aroundfive students of Tibet University were alsoconfirmed to be arrested by the PSB officialson 13 March. Restrictions were also imposedon the movement of students, including TibetUniversity students in Lhasa, with authoritiesincreasing the vigilance personnel and keepinga record of student movements at the mainentrance gate of the University.

Chutsang Nunnery- 12 & 13 March On the morning of 12 March, coincidingwith the Tibetan Women’s Uprising Day,around a hundred Tibetan nuns fromChutsang Nunnery in the west side of Lhasamarched towards Barkhor Street for a peacefuldemonstration. However, they were blockedby Chinese People’s Armed Police from movingforward and sent back to their monastery.There are no reports of arrest or detention afterthe march. However, on the morning of 13March, the same group of nuns carried outtheir protest march towards Lhasa and havenot yet returned to their monastery. Oncontacting the monastery, only a few seniornuns remain there.

Gaden Monastery- 12 March Similarly, Gaden Monastery (about 50 Kmseast of Lhasa City) in Takse County, remainssealed off and surrounded by People’s ArmedPolice since yesterday afternoon, following theprotest by monks on 12 March. Contact withthe outside world is known to have beenterminated at the moment.

Ramoche Temple - 14 March Information coming out of Lhasa hasconfirmed that Ramoche Temple in the northside of Lhasa has been surrounded by People’sArmed Police (PAP) following a peacefulprotest led by monks of the temple in Lhasathis morning. Ramoche Temple and all roadsleading toward the temple were cordoned offby a large number of PAP forces, restrictingmonks from moving outside. A scuffle brokeout between PAP forces and the protestingmonks and common people. The report ofagitating protestors setting fire on a vehicle

and shops also surfaced from Tibet butincident of death, injury and arrest couldnot be ascertained. Following protests by Tibetans in Lhasa,a meeting was convened among theconcerned Department heads ofsurrounding districts adjoining Lhasa City,to restrict and control people’s entry intothe city. It is highly possible that securityand movement of people may be tightenedin an attempt to block the flow ofinformation about protests to the outsideworld, and to prevent others from joiningsimilar protests in the capital.

Amdo Labrang - 14 March Thousands of Tibetan monks andlaypeople converged and stageddemonstration in the streets of SangchuCounty (Ch: Xiahe xian), Kanlho “TibetanAutonomous Prefecture” (“TAP”), GansuProvince. The demonstration which tookplace around 2pm (Beijing Time) today iscurrently ongoing. Mobile phone picturesdepicting the intensity of the demonstrationare obtained by the TCHRD. Around 50 monks from the LabrangTashikyil Monastery staged a demonstrationcarrying the banned Tibetan national flagand called for “Tibetan Independence”around 2 p.m. (Beijing Time) on 14 March.Around 500 monks from the samemonastery later joined the demonstration.The demonstration eventually grew intothousands when laypeople also joined in.The police started to fire live ammunitionsin the air and started to beat when thedemonstrators neared the Sangchu CountyPublic Security Bureau headquarters.

Amdo Labrang – 15 March On 15 March a fresh demonstrationerupted in the morning around 10 AM(Beijing Time) in Labrang, SangchuCounty(Ch: Xiahe xian), Kanlho “TAP”Gansu Province in the eastern part of theTibetan area as a follow-up to the previousday’s demonstration staged by monks ofLabrang Tashikyil Monastery which was laterjoined by thousands of Tibetans in the area. Thousands of people including monksfrom Labrang Tashikyil Monastery staged apeaceful demonstration at the countygovernment’s headquarters. Thedemonstration was started by monks ofLabrang Tashikyil Monastery and was laterjoined by common citizens at a place knownas Choeten Karpo (White Stupa) where

HUMAN RIGHTS update • March 2008 3


people offered Sangsol Prayer (incenseburning ritual). After the prayer session,people raised “pro-independence” and“Long live the Dalai Lama’” slogans whileheading towards the Sangchu CountyGovernment headquarters. The People’sArmed Police (PAP) fired tear gas and liveammunition into the air to disperse thedemonstrators. The demonstrators werearrested and beaten by PAP forces and PSBofficials from the area, although the numbercould not be ascertained at the moment.

Chinese Authorities issue “surrender”order – 15 March In the morning of 15 March 2008, thePeople’s Higher Court, Regional People’sProcuratorate and the regional PublicSecurity Bureau of the so-called “TibetAutonomous Region” (“TAR”) issued anotice demanding protestors to givethemselves in for leniency by Mondaymidnight. The notice further stated thatthose who surrender and inform “will beexempt from punishment”, it also stated,“those who cover up or shelter thelawbreakers would be punished inaccordance with the law.”

Taktsang Lhamo Kirti Monastery – 15March Monks of Taktsang Lhamo KirtiMonastery (a branch of Amdo Ngaba KirtiMonastery in Dzoge County (Ch: Zoige)Ngaba (Ch: Aba) “TAP”, Sichuan Provincestaged a peaceful demonstration in theafternoon of 15 March 2008. Truckloadsof troops were sent into the area to dispersethe protesting crowd to put the situationunder control. More than ten monks werereportedly arrested and around five othersinjured following a violent crackdown byPeople’s Armed Police (PAP) on the peacefulprotestors.

Bumying and Onpo Monastery sealed -16 March Hundreds of People’s Armed Police havesurrounded Bumying and OnpoMonasteries in Tibet, Shiqu County, GanzePrefecture, Sichuan Province), to avoidfurther spread of the protests in Lhasa andother areas. Bumying Monastery remainedsealed off following incident of Tibetanindependence pamphlets having scatteredin the area on the evening of 15 March.Further problems were provoked whenpolice demanded the removal of a

photograph of the Dalai Lama but a seniormonk from the monastery refused to do so.After a short while, troops of People’s ArmedPolice surrounded the monastery from allsides. Onpo monastery, also in Sershul town iscurrently surrounded by People’s ArmedPolice, seemingly without provocation.However, it appears to be a precautionarymeasure on the part of the Chinese authoritiesas this is the home monastery of several ofthe monks arrested in Lhasa from the SeraMonastery protest march earlier this weekon March 10.

Amdo Ngaba Kirti Monastery – 16 March At around 11.30 AM (Beijing Time) on16 March 2008, thousands of Tibetanmonks of Amdo Ngaba Kirti Monastery, inNgaba County (Ch: Aba), Ngaba “TibetanAutonomous Prefecture” (“TAP”), SichuanProvince, gathered for a prayer session in themorning. Shortly after the end of morningprayer session, thousands of monks eruptedinto spontaneous protest by raising sloganscalling for “Tibet independence”, “return ofthe Dalai Lama” and “freedom for Tibet”. Inmoment’s time, the Chinese security policeburst into the Monastery campus and lobbedtear gas on the Tibetan protestors.

At least seven shot dead in demonstrationin Ngaba County - 16 March At least seven people were known to havebeen shot dead including monks of NgabaKirti Monastery by the People’s Armed Police(PAP) during the peaceful demonstration bythousands of people in Ngaba County (Ch:Aba) this afternoon. Hundreds of people arealso known to have been injured in theincident following PAP crackdown on theprotestors. The demonstration is still goingon when the Centre received the informationfrom the venue of demonstration. The demonstration started around 11.30AM (Beijing Time), when thousands ofTibetan monks of Amdo Ngaba KirtiMonastery, in Ngaba County (Ch: Aba),Ngaba “Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture”(“TAP”) Sichuan Province, gathered for aprayer session this morning. Shortly after theend of morning prayer session, thousands ofmonks erupted into spontaneous protest byraising slogans calling for “Tibetindependence”, “return of the Dalai Lama”and “freedom for Tibet”. The demonstrationwas later joined by common citizens ofNgaba County total numbering thousands

of people who were heading towards NgabaCounty government headquarters andNgaba County PSB Office.

Eight dead bodies have been brought intoNgaba Kirti Monastery: 16 March Eight dead bodies have been brought intoNgaba Kirti Monastery according toconfirmed information received by theTibetan Centre for Human Rights andDemocracy. The bodies were brought in fromthe protest scene in Ngaba County, SichuanProvince. Sources say at least “30 Tibetansfelled” after armed troops shotindiscriminately into the peacefullyprotesting Tibetans. Out of the eight bodies,one has been identified as Lobsang Tashi, aformer monk in his mid 20s. The remainingbodies are unidentified at the moment. Themonks in Kirti Monastery are currentlyoffering prayers for the deceased.

Fresh protest broke out in Rong GonchenMonastery, Rebkong County- 16 March A fresh protest broke out in RongGonchen Monastery, Rebkong County (Ch:Tongren Xian), Malho Prefecture (Ch:Huangnan) “Tibet AutonomousPrefecture”, Qinghai Province. Around 300monks of Rong Gonchen Monasteryconducted Sangsol Prayer (Incense burningritual) on the hill just behind the monasteryduring the early hours of the day. It wasknown that the monks performed Long LifePrayer Ceremony for the Dalai Lama.Shortly after the end of the prayer ceremony,the monks started peace march towards thegovernment headquarters of RebkongCounty which is located in the downtownmarket area which was later joined by laypeople of the County. However, in minutes’ time they wereconfronted and blocked by the securitypersonnel from continuing thedemonstration. Source says that the monksare currently stranded at the monasterycourtyard surrounded by a heavy presenceof paramilitary troops. In a course of time,more and more ordinary people flock in tojoin the monks protesting inside themonastery courtyard. The situation is saidto be extremely tense. The source also saysthat the security personnel have alreadystarted firing tear gas on the crowds todisperse them. At the moment, the arrests,and deaths of the protestors could not beascertained.



Eight dead bodies brought into NgabaKirti Monastery: 16 March 2008 Eight dead bodies have been brought intoNgaba Kirti Monastery according toconfirmed information received by theTibetan Centre for Human Rights andDemocracy. The bodies were brought in fromthe protest scene in Ngaba County, SichuanProvince. Sources say at least “30 Tibetansfelled” after armed troops shotindiscriminately into the peacefullyprotesting Tibetans. Out of the eight bodies,one has been identified as Lobsang Tashi, aformer monk in his mid 20s. The remainingbodies are unidentified at the moment. Themonks in Kirti Monastery are currentlyoffering prayers for the deceased.

Students staged a protest in eastern Tibet:16 March 2008 Tibetan students in the eastern Gansuprovince staged a peaceful protest in theafternoon of 16 March. Around 500 Tibetanstudents of the Tibetan Studies Departmentof the North Western Nationality University,Lanzhou City, Gansu Provincial Capital,Lanzhou staged a peaceful demonstrationinside the University campus this afternoon(Beijing Time). Confirmed information says that studentshad circulated leaflets containing informationabout the recent Lhasa demonstrations insidethe University campus. The sourcesconfirmed that there are about one thousandTibetan students studying in the university.Information confirmed that there are 300Tibetan students holed up in the campus bythe security forces. The students were knownto be carrying a large banner with a slogan“DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN LIVESARE PRECIOUS”. The Tibetan students alsoraised slogans calling for the immediate endto the brutal crackdown on the Tibetan peoplereferring to the ongoing reports of arrests inthe Lhasa city. Following the circulation of leaflets, the cityPeople’s Armed Police (PAP) forces and PublicSecurity Bureau (PSB) personnel stormed theuniversity and cordon off the entire campusarea. According to sources, the movements ofstudents were known to have been strictlycurtailed under a heavy presence of PAP andPSB at the University campus gate.Protest in Amdo Machu: 16 March Meanwhile in another incident, at around6 PM (Beijing Time), about 1500 localTibetans from Machu County (Ch: Maquxian), Kanlho “Tibetan Autonomous

Prefecture”(“TAP”), Gansu Province stageda peaceful demonstration in the main cityof the County. Protestors raised sloganscalling for the “Independence for Tibet”,“Long Live the Dalai Lama” and otherdemands. The sources also confirmed thatthe agitated protestors had burnt down onepolice vehicle during the demonstration.Additional large-scale contingents of PAPand PSB were brought in to crackdownupon the protestors.

Nyulru Protest: 16 March Around 250 Tibetans of NyulraTownship, Machu County (Ch: Maquxian), Kanlho “Tibetan AutonomousPrefecture”(“TAP”), Gansu Provincedestroyed the doors of County governmentoffices during the protest. The protestorsalso took off the Chinese national flag andhoisted the banned Tibetan flag in place.The protestors later shouted pro-independence slogans. The situation isknown to be extremely tense at the momentwith the large-scale mobilization oftruckloads of paramilitary troops had alreadybegan in the area. No further informationon the situation could not be ascertained

Mass abductions in midnight raids byChinese security forces in Lhasa: 15 &16 March Hundreds of Tibetans are arbitrarilyarrested in the ongoing house-by-house raidby Chinese security forces in Lhasabeginning from 15 March 2008. All formerpolitical prisoners have already beenrounded off and thrown into prisons bythe security forces according to confirmedinformation received by the Tibetan Centrefor Human Rights and Democracy(TCHRD). With streets filled with patrollingChinese armed troops and tanks in Lhasacity, the security agencies comb each andevery house in Lhasa and pick up allsuspected Tibetans, especially youth, fromtheir houses accompanied by severe beatingsby the armed forces. In testimonies receivedby TCHRD, mothers and elderlies in thefamilies helplessly plea at security forcesupon seeing their sons and loved ones beingbeaten and dragged away. Law enforcement authorities in the so-called “Tibet Autonomous Region” had onSaturday (15 March) issued an ultimatumto the protesting Tibetans to voluntarilysurrender before Monday midnight (17

March). However, the actual arrest hasalready begun in house-by-house raid sinceyesterday while the world expects it to takeplace from tomorrow. Although Martial Lawis not officially imposed in Lhasa, it has allthe elements of the Martial Law imposed in1989 by the then “TAR” Party Secretary HuJintao, currently the President of People’sRepublic of China. TCHRD fears more arbitrary arrest andenforced disappearances to take place in thecoming few days. The Centre also expressesits deepest fear of torture on the Tibetanarrestees which is a regular feature in theChinese administered detention centres andprisons in Chinese occupied Tibet. TCHRDappeals to the international community tourgently show their solidarity and act for thearrested peaceful Tibetan protesters andinnocent arrestees.

Around 40 middle school studentsarrested in Marthang Around 40 Tibetan middle schoolstudents were known to have been severelybeaten before being arrested at around 8:30AM (Beijing Time) following students’ callfor the Dalai Lama’s return to Tibet, accordingto confirmed information received by theTibetan Centre for Human Rights andDemocracy (TCHRD) multiple sourceswithin Tibet. Around one hundred Tibetan students ofMarthang Nationality Middle School inMarthang County (Ch: Hongyuan Xian),Ngaba (Ch: Aba) Prefecture, “TibetanAutonomous Prefecture” (“TAP”), SichuanProvince, erupted into a spontaneousdemonstration inside the school compoundcalling for the return of the Dalai Lama toTibet during the morning school hours. Theage of the students are known to be between14-20.According to witnesses, the People’sArmed Police (PAP) and Marthang CountyPublic Security Bureau (PSB) officialsblocked and immediately crushed thestudents while they came out of the schoolpremises shouting slogan calling for the DalaiLama’s return to Tibet. Students wereseverely beaten and manhandled beforebeing dragged into the waiting policevehicles. According to the latest informationcoming out of Tibet, it indicates that around700 students of the Marthang NationalityMiddle School in a solemn gesture ofsolidarity with the arrested students arestaging protest outside Marthang County



PSB office. The conditions and identities ofthose middle school students could not beascertained at the moment; however, theCentre will continue to monitor the situationand will update as and when moreinformation surfaces from the area. The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights andDemocracy (TCHRD) condemns in strongestterms the Chinese security forces use of bruteforce upon the peaceful Tibetan protesters.TCHRD expresses its serious concern on thewell being of the protestors and urge theChinese authorities to exercise restraint inresponding to continuing protests in the lightof numbers of confirmed death surfacingfrom the area who are peacefully expressingtheir views and exercising their freedom ofexpression, association and assembly.TCHRD calls for the immediate andunconditional release of all Tibetans arrestedand detained in the past days.

Sporadic protests reported fromMeldrogungkar and Phenpo Lhundup : 17March 2008 More reports of sporadic protests in otherparts of Tibet are emerging, indicating protestshave trickled into the neighboring countiesas Lhasa city remains tightly under Chinesecontrol for the fourth consecutive day. Theibetan Centre for Human Rights andDemocracy (TCHRD) received confirmedinformation from multiple sources insideTibet that a fresh demonstration wasspearheaded by the monks of GadenChoekhor Monastery, Phenpo LhundupCounty (Ch: Linzhou Xian), LhasaMunicipality, “Tibet Autonomous Region”(“TAR”) which was later joined by commoncitizens at the County governmentheadquarters. Monks, nuns and common citizens ofPhenpo Lhundup County, east of Lhasa,staged a peaceful protest yesterday on 16March at the County governmentheadquarters in a continuation of a previousprotest on 15 March. Sources revealed that asimilar protest is currently going at PhenpoLhundup People’s Armed Police (PAP) andPublic Security Bureau (PSB) officials in thearea have severely restricted the movement ofcivilians. As of yet, there have been no reportsof arrests on detentions at this particularprotest. TCHRD is awaiting more updatesfrom the area. At the time of reception of thisinformation, there were no reports of arrestand detention at the place of demonstration.

A similar protest was also reported fromMeldrogungkar, Meldrogungkar County(Ch: Mozhu Gongka Xain), “TAR”. Thismorning monks and nuns from variousclusters of monasteries and nunneriessituated in Meldrogungkar County gatheredfor a peaceful demonstration in Countyheadquarter. Like any other peaceful protestin Tibet, they were barred from proceedingwith their demonstration by the county PAPand PSB officials. Reinforcements werecalled in to the area from nearby Lhasa cityto contain the demonstration and preventthem from gaining momentum into a scaleand intensity as has happened in other partsof Tibet in the past few days. We have noinformation of arrests or detentions.

Fresh demonstration broke out in AmdoMangra: 17 March 2008 As Lhasa city remains tightly underChinese control for the fourth consecutiveday, a series of new protests are occurring inthe eastern part of Tibet. At around 4:00pm (Beijing standard time), a peacefuldemonstration spearheaded by more thanseventy monks of Kagya Monastery turnedinto a major demonstration with commoncitizens joining in large numbers. According to confirmed informationreceived by the Tibetan Centre for HumanRights and Democracy (TCHRD), thisafternoon at around seventy monks ofKagya Monastery, Mangra County (Ch:Guinan Xian), Tsolho (Ch: Hainan) “TibetAutonomous Prefecture” (“TAP”) staged apeaceful demonstration carrying the bannedTibetan national flags and shouting“Independence for Tibet”. The monks werelater joined by common citizens of MangraCounty numbering around 500 andheaded towards the County governmentheadquarters. The situation in the area isknown to be very tense with a heavypresence of PAP and PSB officials. As of yet, there have been no reports ofarrests on detentions at this particular protest.TCHRD is awaiting more updates from thearea. At the time of reception of thisinformation, there were no reports of arrestand detention at the place of demonstration.

Fresh Pictures: University students jointhe protest demonstration in Lanzhuo,Gansu Province, eastern Tibet: 17 March2008 Fresh Pictures depict students protest inNorth Western Nationality University in

Lanzhou, the provincial capital of GansuProvince on 16 March 2008, 6 PM (BeijingTime). They also undertook twenty fourhour hunger strike as a protest againstChinese Government violent crackdown onpeaceful Tibetan demonstraters in all partsof Tibet.

Tibetan students demonstrate in TsoeCity: 17 March 20089 AM (Beijing Time) According to the confirmed informationreceived by the Tibetan Centre for HumanRights and Democracy (TCHRD), theTibetan students of the Tibetan MedicalCollege, Teacher Training Higher Instituteand other colleges in Tsoe City, Kanlho (Ch:Gannan) Prefecture, Gansu Province,“TAP” had carried out protestdemonstrations in their respective universitypremises in an apparent opposition to theChinese rule in Tibet. The protests in thecampuses took place around the same timein the morning of 17 March 2008,spontaneously. Just moments after the outbreak of theprotests, the People’s Armed Police (PAP)came to the scene and blocked them fromcontinuing the demonstration. The securityforces had cordoned off the campus premiseand holed up the protesting students.When the information last came in, the scenewas said to be very tense. Similar protestalso took place in the North WesternNationality University in Lanzhou, theprovincial capital of Gansu Province innortheastern Tibet. In a similar case, on 16 March 2008,around one hundred Tibetan students ofMarthang Nationality Middle School inMarthang County (Ch: Hongyuan xian),Ngaba (Ch: Aba) Prefecture, “TibetanAutonomous Prefecture” (“TAP”), SichuanProvince, erupted into a spontaneousdemonstration inside the school compoundcalling for the return of the Dalai Lama toTibet during the morning school hours. The protest movement inside Tibet isgradually changing its trend withintellectual community such as students ofuniversities and even the middle schools.The trend is significant as their being‘literate’ and ‘educated’ part of thecommunity. It shows the educated sectionof the Tibetan community too is raising theirvoices and resentment against the Chinesegovernment.



There has been no reports of arrests ordetention so far.

Fresh Pictures of Tibetan protesters’ deadbodies and crackdown by the Chinesesecurity forces: 17 March 2008 On 16 March 2008, around 11.30 AM(Beijing Time), thousands of Tibetan monksof Amdo Ngaba Kirti Monastery, in NgabaCounty (Ch: Aba), Ngaba “TibetanAutonomous Prefecture” (“TAP”) SichuanProvince, erupted into spontaneous protestby raising slogans calling for “Tibetindependence”, “return of the Dalai Lama”,“freedom for Tibet” with carrying the bannedTibetan national flag. They also shouted slogans calling for “BodGyalo” (Victory to Tibet), “Long Live theDalai Lama”. In moment’s time, the Chinesesecurity police burst into the Monasterycampus and lobbed tear gas on the Tibetanprotestors. The Chinese security police werecurrently blocking the protestors frommarching out of the Monastery premises. Following a similar protest by the monksof Taktsang Lhamo Kirti Monastery (abranch of Amdo Ngaba Kirti Monastery),Dzoge County (Ch: Zoige) Ngaba “TAP”Sichuan Province yesterday afternoon,truckloads of troops were sent into the areato disperse the protesting crowd to put thesituation under the control. In yesterday’sprotest at Ngaba, more than ten monks werereportedly arrested and around five othersinjured following a violent crackdown byPeople’s Armed Police (PAP) on the peacefulprotestors. Atleast fifteen dead bodies werebrought to the Kirti Monastery when thereport last came in.

Hundreds of Tibetan devotees protest inAmdo Golog: 17 March 2008 17 March 2008: (6 PM Beijing Time)Around hundreds of Tibetan devoteesgathered for a religious teaching by theirrevered religious teacher when suddenly thesecurity police forced the religious teachingto discontinue much against the wishes ofthe Tibetan devotees in Amdo Golog,according to the confirmed informationreceived by the Tibetan Centre for HumanRights and Democracy (TCHRD). Multiple sources within Tibet confirmedthat, around 200 Tibetan devotees consistof lay and clergy were receiving a religioussermon from a local religious teacher, TrulkuTenzin Pai Wangchuk in Chigdril County(Ch: Juizhi Xian), Golog “Tibetan

Autonomous Prefecture” (“TAP”), QinghaiProvince this afternoon were disruptedsuddenly with the Chinese securitypersonnel demanding immediate stoppageof the religious sermon leading local Tibetansto protest. In a short duration, the Chinesesecurity personnel surrounded and blockedthe Tibetan protestors. The situation on theground was tense when the information lastcame in. Meanwhile in a similar incident, aroundthe evening of 17 March 2008, the monksand lay people of Minthang Monastery werealso on a protest demonstration in ChigdrilCounty (Ch: Juizhi Xian), Golog, QinghaiProvince. According to the source, abouthundreds of Tibetan protestors proceededto a nearby local police station located twokilometers from Minthang Monastery. Theprotestors were shouting pro-independenceslogans when the information last came in. In a separate incident this evening,hundreds of monks and ordinary people ofLungkar Monastery Chigdril County, Golog“TAP” were observing candlelight vigil,expressing their solidarity with the Tibetanprotestors in various parts of the Tibet. TheChinese security personnel were keeping aclose eye on all of the demonstrations andsituation was tense at the moment.

Thirty Tibetan protestors arrested inToelung Dechen County: 18 March 2008 According to confirmed informationreceived by the Tibetan Centre for HumanRights and Democracy (TCHRD),yesterday evening, on 17 March 2008,protest demonstration broke out in DechenTownship, Toelung Dechen County, LhasaCity of the “Tibetan Autonomous Region(“TAR”). According to numerous sources andeyewitnesses, the protest demonstration wasinitially started by a dozen of monks of DinkaMonastery, in Dinka Township, which waslater joined by ordinary Tibetan people. Soonthe protest demonstration ran out of thecontrol of local security forces stationed inthe area. In minutes, a large contingent ofPeople’s Armed Police (PAP) and PublicSecurity Bureau (PSB) security officers weredispatched to the area to disperse the Tibetanprotestors. As a result of the deployment of (PAP)and (PSB), the Chinese security forcesarrested around 30 Tibetan protestorsconsisting of monks and ordinary people.The situation in Toelung Dechen Township

is said to be tense and the area was under aheavy deployment of paramilitary troopswhen information last came in. At themoment the identities of the arrestees couldnot be identified.

500 Hundred monks protest in Kanlho,Gansu Province: 18 March 2008 This morning, 18 March 2008 (11 AMBeijing Time) around 500 monks ofChoephel Shing Monastery erupted intoprotest according to confirmed informationreceived by the Tibetan Centre for HumanRights and Democracy (TCHRD). According to the multiple sources andeyewitnesses, around 500 monks of ChoephelShing Monastery, located in Dogo Township,Chone County (Ch:Zhouni Xian), Kanlho“TAP” were conducting a prayer ritual(burning Juniper Incense) at a hillock behindthe monastery. Shortly after the end of theprayer ritual, the monks erupted into a protestdemonstration. The monks marched out carrying thebanned Tibetan national flag, shoutingslogans calling for the “Independence forTibet” and “Long Live the Dalai Lama”. Theprotest has been gaining momentum andgrowing in size when this report is being filed. Reliable sources say that huge contingentof People’s Armed Police (PAP) and PublicSecurity Bureau (PSB) has been brought intothe area to quell the Tibetan demonstrators.The situation on the ground is extremelytense.

New cases of arrests and detentionsreported from Lithang: 18 March 2008 Following a solo protest that was laterjoined by bystanders in Lithang County on15 March 2008, the situation in Lithang isknown to be very tense with authorities’imposing severe restriction on the movementof the people in the area, according toconfirmed information received by theTibetan Centre for Human Rights andDemocracy (TCHRD). When the protest spread to other parts ofTibet in the recent few days, the Chineseauthorities in a precautionary measure, sentreinforcement into Lithang County as theplace witnessed mass protests last Augustspearheaded by Ronggye A’drak. On 15March 2008, Barchog Lopoe, a 37 years-oldteacher cum manager of Lithang NyingmaMonastery (one of the 113 branches ofLithang Gonchen Monastery) in LithangCounty, Kardze “TAP” stopped a convoy of



military trucks from marching forward bystanding in the middle of the road. BarchogLopoe shouted slogans calling for free Tibetand Dalai Lama’s long life, which was laterjoined by bystanders. Barchog Lopoe wasarrested soon after his act by the PublicSecurity Bureau (PSB)officials and took awayto the County PSB Detention Centre. Thebystanders and local public followed himtowards the detention centre and demandedhis release. Sensing more protest by thepublic, the PSB officials released BarchongLopoe the same evening. Currently he isunder constant vigilance and people ofLithang county fear that he might get re-arrested anytime. On 16 March, a 52-year-old monk, Akyi,originally from Youru Village, LithangCounty, and of Lithang GonchenMonastery, started a sit-in protest on the mainroad of Lithang which was later joined bylay people of the county. Akyi was known tohave been arrested while demonstrating andreleased soon after a brief detention in thecounty PSB detention centre followingintervention from village and county heads.The authorities of Lithang County areknown to have circulated a notice telling fromventuring out of their home in the comingdays as more military trucks were broughtinto the area. Schools, offices and shops inthe area remain closed in the area. In a similar incident on the morning of17 March, witnesses confirmed to theCentre that many military tanks andreinforcement of PAP were brought intoLithang County with street lookingcompletely deserted except for the militarytrucks, tanks and troops. Communicationlines in the area were known to have beencut off since the evening of 16 March withcomplete restriction imposed on the people’smovement outside their home. Dagay, 23-years old, a nomad from Youru Village inLithang County while taking her sickmother for a vaccination was barred by themilitary troop from going to a clinic yesterday.Dagay in fury protested against the securitypersonnel and was known to have beentaken away to the PSB Detention Centre.Following villagers call for his release Dagaywas released on the yesterday’s evening.

Thousands of Tibetans Protested inSertha County, Kardze: 18 March 2008 18 March 2008: (4 PM: Beijing Time),today evening, around thousands ofTibetans in Sertha County, Kardze, “Tibet

Autonomous Prefecture” (TAP) staged amajor protest demonstration in SerthaCounty, Kardze in a large number shoutingpro-independence slogans according toconfirmed information received by theTibetan Centre for Human Rights andDemocracy (TCHRD). Shortly after the outbreak of the protestdemonstration by the Tibetans, the People’sArmed Police (PAP) and Public SecurityBureau (PSB) came to the area to quell anddisperse the agitating crowds.The situation in Sertha County was said tobe tense with heavy presence of the Chinesesecurity forces.

Hundreds protest in Amdo Bora : 18March 2008 According to confirmed informationreceived by the Tibetan Centre for HumanRights and Democracy (TCHRD) revealsthat hundreds of Tibetans in Amdo Bora, inSangchu County (Ch: Xiahe Xian), Kanlho“Tibet Autonomous Prefecture” (“TAP”)Gansu Province, staged a peaceful protestagainst the Chinese rule in Tibet thismorning. At around 11:00 AM (Beijing StandardTime), as the day coincides with majorritualistic observation day, monks andcommon citizens of Amdo Bora observed aprayer ritual (incense burning) ceremony andthen suddenly erupted into a peaceful protestcalling for more freedom in Tibet by raisingthe banned Tibetan national flags. Thecrowd before heading towards the Countygovernment headquarter, went to the BoraPrimary and Middle School in the County.Later the protesting crowd barged into thetwo schools and brought down the Chineseflag hoisted in the school’s compound andreplaced it with the banned Tibetan nationalflags. Soon after the protestors headedtowards the county government headquartershouting pro-independence slogans.According to sources, three truckloads ofPeople’s Armed Police were brought into thearea to control the crowd as reinforcement.As protestors neared their destination, thesecurity forces fired numbers of tear gas shellsinto the protesting crowd from headingtowards the county governmentheadquarter. At the time of filing thisinformation, the crowd had alreadydispersed. As of now, there have been no reports ofarrests or detentions at this particular protest.TCHRD is awaiting more updates from the

area. At the time of reception of thisinformation, there were no reports of arrestand detention.

Atleast three Tibetans shot dead in Kardze

Protest : 18 March 2008 : 18 March 2008 : 18 March 2008 : 18 March 2008 : 18 March 2008

The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights andDemocracy (TCHRD) received confirmedinformation from multiple sources, that at leastthree Tibetan protestors were shot dead thisafternoon during a peaceful demonstration inKardze County, Sichuan Province in easternTibet after Chinese security forces started anindiscriminate firing on the peaceful Tibetanprotestors. The incident took place on 18 March 2008,today between 2:30 - 3:00 PM (BeijingStandard Time) when around 300 Tibetansfrom all walks of life staged a peaceful protestdemonstration in the main market square ofKardze County, Sichuan Province by raisingslogans calling for “independence for Tibet” and“Long Live the Dalai Lama”.

Soon after, more and more Tibetans in

the market joined the protest demonstrationshouting the pro-independence slogans.According to eyewitnesses account from thescene of demonstration, the Chineseparamilitary troops started firing liveammunition indiscriminately into thedemonstrators from a rooftop of one building.Protestors started dispersing in all directionsfor cover. After a short while, three dead bodieswere found lying on the road. According tosources, two of them were identified asGonpo Nadul, Nyiga and the name of thethird victim is still unidentified at the

moment.

Sources say that 15 Tibetan peaceful

protestors were also injured during theindiscriminate firing by the Chinese securityforces. Out of 15 injured Tibetans, identities ofthe five, two females and three males wereknown. They are Pema Dechen, Chemi Gonpo,Lobsang, Tseten Phuntsok and Shao Mimi. Thepresent conditions of those injured could notbe ascertained, as visitors were not allowedinside Kardze People’s Hospital, where the

injured were admitted.

No further information on the exact number

of dead, injured or arrest could be ascertained atthe moment. TCHRD will issue further updatesas the situation progresses. TCHRD condemnsin strongest terms the Chinese security forces’brutal use of force on the peaceful Tibetan

demonstrators.


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The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) is an independentcentre which aims to promote and protect human rights and a democratic polityfor Tibet. It attempts to educate Tibetans on human rights principles and to workwith other human rights and democracy groups as part of a worldwide movementtowards these ends. TCHRD is registered under the Indian Societies RegistrationAct 21 of 1860 in 1996.

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Partial list of TCHRD publications:

•The Next Generation:The State of Education in Tibet Today (1997)• BehindBars: Prison Conditions in Tibet (1998) • Closing the Doors:ReligiousRepression in Tibet (1998)•Convention on the Rights of the Child (TibetanTranslation) (1998)•Democracy:An Education Booklet (1998)• Fearless Voices:Accounts of Tibetan Former Political Prisoners (1998)•Human Rights:AnEducation Booklet (1998)•A Guide to Human Rights (1999)•A guide toDemocracy (1999)•Tales of Terror:Torture in Tibet (1999)•Briefing paper fortravellers to Tibet (1999) •Torture and Ill-Treatment in Tibet (2000)• RacialDiscrimination in TIbet (2000)• Impoverishing Tibetans:China’s flawed economicpolicy (2000)• Destruction of Serthar Insitute : A Special Report (2002)Dispossessed: Land and Housing Rights in Tibet (2002) • Strike hard Campaign:China’s crackdown on political dissidence (2004) • State of education inTibet: A human rights perspective (2004) • Kuxing: Torture in Tibet (2005) •Death Penalty in China (2005) • International Bill of Human Rights (2005) •TCHRD 1996-2006: A Decade of Human Rights Research • Railway and China’sDevelopment Strategy in Tibet: A Tale of Two Economies • Prisoners of Tibet •Annual Report : Human Rights Situation in Tibet (1996 - 2006)

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