Plans to Shut Down Schools and Hospitals, Arbitrary Arrests begin in TibetFriday, 12 December 2008, 11:00 a.m.
Dharamshala: The
Chinese government has begun executing plans to shut down schools and
hospitals and arbitrary arrests of Tibetans in Lhasa and Karze (Ch:Ganzi) County, Karze “Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture,” Sichuan province, reliable sources in Tibet reported.The
violent crackdown on Tibetan protesters since 10 March this year in
Tibet has left 219 Tibetans dead and 1294 injured as on 31 October. Around 5,600 people are still under arrest or detention and more than 1000 are reportedly missing.Demonstrations in LhasaAccording
to reliable information received from Tibet, on the morning of 22
November, a group of Tibetans consisting of 4 nuns and an unknown
number of youth raised Tibet independence slogans around Bharkor Square
in Lhasa. As soon as the protest began, the protesters were severely
beaten up and taken into custody by the Chinese police. The identities
of the protesters could not be ascertained.Arbitrary arrests of Tibetans begin in LhasaSimilarly,
since the beginning of November, some Tibetans were arbitrarily picked
up from their homes in Lhasa by a joint team of Chinese secret agents
and officials of Public Security Bureau. The reason behind those
arrests still remains unclear and those arrested continue to remain in
protective custody.Plans to shut down private schools and hospitals in TibetMoreover,
according to reliable information, the concerned departments in Lhasa
has started monitoring private Tibetan schools and the authorities are
also planning to shut down many of the schools.Similarly, the
Chinese authorities are keeping close vigil on private schools and
small health centers in Karze, Tibet. The campaign aims to hinder those
dedicated Tibetans in carrying out welfare projects for the local
residents and suspect political motives behind such activities.On
1 December, reliable sources in Tibet reported about a decree to shut
down the most prestigious and recognized educational and health
institutions in Karze. These include the hospital and school owned by
Khangsar Kyabgyon Tulku and Lamdag Tulku hospital and Karze
Intermediary Tibetan language school. Expressing deep concern
and disappointment, parents and other Tibetan residents, both young and
old, have voluntary approach the authorities and submitted petitions
appealing them not to close schools and hospitals. Large number armed security forces have kept the whole region under constant surveillance. Moreover,
the authorities convene meetings in every monastic institution under
the pretext of preventing peaceful demonstrations by Tibetans. During
the meeting, pre-emptive measures are being issued, such as
government’s supervision on renovation of monastery complex. All the
monks and nuns are ordered not to cause riots, for which they are
required to register for a new book.
