A Tibetan tells accounts of 2008 repression and agony in Tibet [Wednesday, 5 May 2011, 4:22 p.m.]

Tsewang Dhondup (2nd right) and Lobsang Dhonden (2nd right) during their visit to Taipei, Taiwan

Taipei: Tsewang Dhondup, a Tibetan youth who was shot by Chinese security forces during March 2008 peaceful demonstration in Tibet and later made a dramatic escape to India, visited Taiwan for medical treatment and spoke about China’s atrocities in Tibet on 3 May.Tsewang Dhondup visited Deng Liberty Foundation in Taipei, which was named in memory of Late Mr. Deng Nan-jung who gave his life for freedom, democracy and human rights in Taiwan.Mr. Tsewang met with the brother of the late Mr. Deng Nan-jung and the members of the foundation. He gave a detail account of the March 2008 peaceful protests in Tibet and particularly about the Chinese government’s brutal crackdown in his native village, Karze.He was fatally wounded after security forces shot him in stomach and on his left hand. Assisted by his friend Lobsang Dhonden, Tsewang Dhondup evaded arrest by hiding in jungles for almost one year without proper food and medical treatment. They arrived at the Tibetan Reception Centre in Dharamsala, India, in May 2009.Sadly, doctors in Taiwan told him that his left hand has to be amputated. Tsewang is not willing to amputate his hand and wishes to keep his hand as it is.The Tibet support group and the Tibetans in Taiwan organised a series of public talks in schools and other institutions to share Mr. Tsewang Dhondup’s detailed account of the 2008 peaceful demonstrations in Tibet.On his visit to Taiwan, he conveyed sincere appreciation and gratitude to Mrs. Yeh Chu Lan, wife of late Mr. Deng Nan-jung, and a former deputy premier and member of legislative Yuan for supporting the Tibetan cause. During her tenure as a parliamentarian she was the first member in the house to raise and recommend forming a Tibet parliamentary support group. She has always shown genuine interest and support for Tibet’s cause.