Latest Update on Tibet Protests

Monday, 17 March 2008, 6:10 p.m.

March 17th 2008: Today,
thousands of protestors led by monks of Pangsa and other monasteries of
Medro Gongkar County (above 70 KMs from Lhasa) held a massive protest.
Seven Peopleïž’s Armed Police (PAP) trucks full of police personnel which
arrived at the scene was not able to suppress the protest and more PAPs
continue to be arrive at the scene. All schools, shops and offices in
the area were shut down.

March 17th 2008: Tsang Monastery, Yulgan County (Malho, Tibetan
Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province) a protest by over 500 monks
was held around 10AM this morning. Monks put up the Tibetan flag on the
monastery rooftop and also carried the portrait of His Holiness the
Dalai Lama while protesting peacefully. The Peopleïž’s Armed Police (PAP)
has arrived to suppress the protestors however the protest continues.

March 17th 2008: Machu County (Kanlho, Tibetan Autonomous
Prefecture, Gansu province) a protest was held by a massive number of
student protesters. All of the students present were arrested.

March 17th 2008: The protests at Gaden Chokor monastery, Phenpo Lhundrup County (near Lhasa) continue from yesterday.

March 17th 2008: In Serthar County (Karze TAP, Sichuan Province) protests continue.

March 17th 2008: In Driru County (Nagchu Prefecture, Tibet
Autonomous Region) at Harthang monastery, Pelo Trulku (reincarnated
lama) was suppose to give a spiritual teaching towards the end of
February 2008. However, local Chinese “work teams” did not allow the
teachings to take place, as a result, there was a scuffle between the
local Tibetans and the Chinese “work teams”. On 3rd March 2008,
additional Chinese “work teams” were brought in and all Tibetans
between the ages of 18-30 were forced to undergo “patriotic
re-education.” On March 14th the road connecting Nagchu to Lhasa was
completely blocked off. Non-residents of Nagchu were forced to leave.
From each household in Ngachu the names of each male individual was
collected.

March 16th 2008: The monks of Ragya Monastery, Machen County (Golog, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai province) held a protest.

March 16th 2008: Few schools in Kanlho TAP, Qinghai Province, held protests.

March 16th 2008: Protests were also held at Achok Monastery (Sangchu County, Kanlho TAP, Qinghai Province).

March 16th 2008: In Machu County (Kanlho TAP, Qinghai Province)
protests were held by students, former Tibetan officials and laypeople.
The student protestors were arrested at the scene. In Luchu County
(Kanlho, TAP) and Chabcha County (Tsolho, TAP) protests were also held.

March 16th 2008: In Rongpo Gonchen monastery in Rebkong
(Chinese: Tongrem, Qinghai Province), monks held a major protest in the
field in front of their monastery. Public Security Bureau (PSB)
officials arrived to suppress the protestors. There was an attempt by
the monastery head to placate the situation through dialogue with the
Chinese officials who arrived at the scene. After the discussions the
PSB personnel may have left the scene, however, this cannot be
confirmed. The monks of Rongpo monastery are determined to continue on
with the protest. No further details.

March 16th 2008: In Meldro Gungkar County, east of Lhasa (Lhasa
municipality) protests were held by the monks of Pangsa monastery. Some
of the monks were arrested; however, they were released later due to
pressure from the lay people. Some of the monks who protested were able
to run for safety towards a hill close by.

March 16th 2008: In China, around 500 Tibetan students of
Northwest-Nationalities University, Lanzhou City, Gansu Province,
started a hunger strike around 4pm local time at the campus ground.
13th March 2008: The local Foreign Bureau Office in Lhasa has issued a
warning to NGOïž’s (especially those with links to the outside world)
that any information given to foreigners regarding the protests in
Tibet could result in strict legal action against the individual or
even the shutting down of the NGO. The Foreign Bureau Office has also
said that they have blocked the entry of foreigners into Tibet. The
NGOïž’s have been specifically instructed by the Foreign Bureau office
that the only contact they can have with foreigners is to assure them
that the protests in Tibet will be stabilized very shortly. NGOïž’s were
also warned that if they were found sending information through
e-mails/using the internet for gathering information on the current
Tibet situation, then strict action would be taken against them. Also,
just a few days ago, complete background information of foreigners
involved with local NGOïž’s was collected by the local Foreign Bureau
office.