Update for Friday, 4 April 2008

Friday, 4 April 2008, 5:58 p.m.

Update for Friday, 4 April 2008, last updated 2pm (IST)
Re: Tibet demonstrations

4 April, 2008

Tight restrictions for foreign students at Tibet University (Lhasa)

Following the aftermath of the March 14 demonstration in Lhasa till the
end of March, foreign students of Tibet University studying Tibetan
language were restricted from leaving their university campus.

For over a week their mobile phones, internet and other devices have been disconnected.

Since a few days ago, a new rule has been imposed where if the
foreign students of the University need to leave the campus for
purchasing personal items, then special permission needs to be
obtained. A maximum of 1-2 hour permission is given for them to leave
the campus.

2 and 3 April

In Tongkor Township, Karze County, Karze (Ch: Ganzi) “Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture,” Sichuan Province – “Patriotic re-education” campaign continues; those not complying being arrested

2 April 2008: Chinese “work-teams” arrived at various
monasteries including Tongor monastery, Tongkor Township, in their
attempt to give “patriotic re-education” classes.

Chinese “work-teams” also attempted a signature campaign to get
people to denounce His Holiness the Dalai Lama and refer to him as a
“splittist.” The monk in charge of the monastery, Lobsang Jamyang,
openly rejected the campaign.

Yeshi Nyima, also a monk from Tongor monastery, stood up during
a “patriotic re-education” session and shouted that the he would not
provide his signature, even at the cost of his life. The other monks of
the monastery also made the same statements.

3 April 2008: People’s Armed Police (PAP) and Public Security
Bureau (PSB) arrived at Tongkor monastery in response to yesterday’s
incident at the monastery.

The PAP and PSB conducted thorough searches of all the monk
quarters and confiscated portraits of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and
the spiritual head of the monastery. They also took away mobile
hand-sets and money belonging to the monks.

Geshe Tsultrim Gyatso, a 70-year old monk who demanded that His
Holiness the Dalai Lama’s portrait not be taken down, was arrested and
taken into custody.

Laypeople (living nearby Tongor monastery) held a protest in
support of the monks at Tongor monastery. Tsultrim Phuntsok, a 26 year
old man, was arrested during the protest.

Around 8 – 9 PM, loud gun shots were heard in the Tongor
village area. Later it was confirmed that Nyima and Kabook (both monks
from Tongor monastery) were severely injured from gunshots. Currently,
we have no additional details on number of people injured or killed.

There are around 300 monks at Tongor monastery. However, since
the incident at Tongor monastery only a few senior monks remain at the
monastery. Currently, we have no information on the whereabouts of the
other monks.

2 April 2008

Bathang (Ch: Batang) County, Karze (Ch: Ganzi) “Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture,” Sichuan province – China pressuring monks to denounce His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Chinese “work-teams” arrived at Ba-Chodae monastery, Bathang
County. There, they attempted to collect signatures from the monks
which would support Chinese allegations that His Holiness the Dalai
Lama was responsible for inciting the recent demonstrations in Tibet.

Each of the 200 monks at the monastery refused to give into
Chinese pressure by not providing their signatures. There were heated
arguments between the monks and the “work-teams” leading to the arrest
of five monks including the abbot of the monastery, Jigme Dorjee, and
the Disciplinary in charge, Yeshi.

Tawu (Ch: Daofu) County, Karze (Ch: Ganzi) “Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture,” Sichuan province – Nuns hold prayer-march

Around 10 AM, nuns from the nunnery (located on Ratroe hilltop)
walked towards the crematorium (near the Tawu County headquarters)
holding a prayer-march for those killed during the recent
demonstrations in Tibet.

On their way, the nuns were stopped by the police resulting in
a heated argument. However, the police were not able to stop the
determined nuns.

Near the Tawu County headquarters’ middle school, the nuns were
stopped again when County officials backed by three trucks full of
policemen arrived to stop the nuns from continuing their peaceful
march. Students of the middle school and local people shouted slogans
to support the nuns.

The nuns successfully completed their prayer march.

Nya-tso monastery monks who had initially planned to go on the
prayer-march with the nuns, were pressured by Chinese police to not
take part and instead were in restricted to stay in their monastery.