EU High Representative Lady Ashton expresses concern on Kirti Monastery situation[Wednesday, 18 May 2011, 2:03 p.m.] 

BRUSSELS:
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs & Security Policy, Lady
Ashton, has expressed concern over the situation at Kirti Monastery in
Ngaba region of Tibet in her letter to MEP Provera who had called on
her last month urging to promptly condemn the crackdown in order to
prevent further human rights violations in Tibet.  “I am very
much concerned by the reports of deaths, beatings and mass detentions
of monks at the monastery. The European Union Delegation in Beijing has
attempted to gather facts concerning this incident, but has been unable
to do so as it appears that the Chinese authorities have sealed off the
monastery and all foreigners have been expelled from the area. The
delegation will nevertheless continue to attempt to obtain more
information about the situation on the ground,” she said.  “The
European Union has repeatedly urged the Chinese authorities to allow
Tibetans to exercise their religious, educational and cultural rights,”
EU High Representative further noted. “The European Union will
raise the situation at Kirti monastery in its future contacts with the
Chinese authorities, and will urge them to refrain from the use of
force in dealing with the situation at Kirti monastery and to allow
Tibetans to exercise their cultural and religious rights without
hindrance,” Lady Ashton said.Kirti Monastery in Ngaba region
has been under undeclared martial law situation since 16 March
following to the self-immolation of Phuntsog, a 21- year- old monk from
the monastery in protest against the Chinese Government’s repression.
Two elderly Tibetans have died as a direct result of severe beatings by
Chinese police as they, along with other senior citizens attempted to
stop Chinese police from taking around 300 monks to an undisclosed
location. A wave of arrest has taken place in the recent days.