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Monastery still besieged amid heightened security in Tibet

Thursday, 25 October 2007, 3:00 p.m.


Tibetans celebrate at the Barkhor in Lhasa on 17 October after His Holiness the Dalai Lama was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor by the U.S. Congress/ICT
Dharamshala: The Drepung monastery in Lhasa is still surrounded by armed troops, according to the International Campaign for Tibet, a Washington-based human rights group, citing local sources and several reports.

Hundreds of monks may still be inside the monastery while others may have been detained or injured, it said.

The International Campaign for Tibet said in a statement that security on roads in and out of Lhasa had been stepped up and residents had been ordered not to carry out religious activities or further celebrations.


Tibetans at the Barkhor in Lhasa celebrate His Holiness the Dalai Lama receiving the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor on 17 October
A Tibetan source quoted by the group said the increased security road checkpoints and restrictions on travel was similar to March 1989 when martial law was imposed following protests against the Chinese government.

Earlier on 17 October, the Public Security Bureau (PSB) Officers have beat up and arrested hundreds of Drepung monks for whitewashing and painting auspicious symbols inside a monastery building to exhibit their joy after US Congressional Gold Medal award to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.


Celebrations at the Barkor in Lhasa after His Holines the Dalai Lama was awarded the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal of Honor
In a similar incident, a monk and four laypersons were arrested while celebrating the US Congressional Award to His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Amdo Labrang Tashikyil Monastery in Sangchu County.

There were also reports of two Tibetans having been arrested from Othok Village, Lithang County on 17 October following hoisting prayer flags and for offering Sangsol prayer.


Celebrations with fireworks and prayers were held at Labrang Monastery in the Tibetan area of Amdo on 17 October
According to reports, in a move to restrict the celebration of His Holiness' gold medal, Chinese authorities in Lhasa are threatening local Tibetans of confiscating their shops and residential homes if they open shops, don new clothes and perform incense offering ceremony.

In Lhasa city, a large contingent of People's Armed Police (PAP) and PSB officers, both in uniform and in civil dress have been deployed, equipped with surveillance cameras on rooftops. Military personnel with weapons have also been posted in official buildings and guest houses.


Fireworks in celebration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama being awarded the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal of Honor were let off at Labrang, Amdo in the Tibetan area of Amdo on 17 October
In the early morning of 17 October, defying stringent restrictions, thousands of Tibetan people gathered in Bharkor square in Lhasa and performed incense-offering ceremony and prayed for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

A human rights watchdog based in Dharamshala, the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights for Democracy (TCHRD), expressed strongly condemns the violation of the Tibetan people's fundamental human rights guaranteed in the Chinese constitution and major international human rights covenants and treaties which she is party to.

The TCHRD expressed serious concern on the whereabouts and the condition of those arbitrarily arrested for offering prayers and celebration in honor of their spiritual leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

  (www.tibet.net is the official website of the Central Tibetan Administration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.)

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