Update on Tibet, 23 June 2008

Monday, 23 June 2008, 4:58 p.m.

Dharamshala: Update on Tibet, 23 June 2008
Last updated 2 pm (IST) Re: Tibet Demonstrations

22 June 2008

Karze (Ch: Ganzi) County, Karze “TAP”, Kham (incorporated into Chinese province of Sichuan) – Three protests carried out in a day, all protestors arrested

Yesterday on 22 June at around 11:00 a.m. local time, Tsering Phuntsok
and Tashi Sherab, both monks from Khangmar monastery in Karze county,
were arrested by the Public Security Bureau (PSB) and People’s Armed
Police (PAP) for staging a peaceful protest at the county government
office.

Later at 1:00 p.m. of the same day, Sergha and Yeshi Dhargye,
both monks from the same monastery, carried out a peaceful protest.
They were severely beaten and arrested by the PAP and PSB.

Again at around 3:00 p.m., over 10 people, led by a layperson
from Gyensang village under Karze county, staged a peaceful protest at
the county government office. They were immediately arrested by the PAP
and PSB. Details are not available.

During the above protests, they mainly shouted slogans such as
“Tibet is an independent country”, “His Holiness the Dalai Lama must be
welcomed to Tibet”, and “long live His Holiness the Dalai Lama”.

15 June 2008

Karze (Ch: Ganzi) County, Karze “TAP”, Kham (incorporated into Chinese province of Sichuan) – Three people severely beaten and arrested for shouting slogans in front of the county PSB office

Sonam Wangyal, age 31, Dorjee Lorig, age 23, and Rinchen
Dhondup, age 24, all three from Rakha village in Dhado township, Karze
county, were severely beaten and arrested by the PSB and PAP for
staging a peaceful protest in front of the county PSB office on 15
June.

While holding, in reverence, the portrait of His Holiness the
Dalai Lama on the head of one of them during the protest, they shouted
slogans such as “His Holiness the Dalai Lama and His Serenity the
Panchen Lama are most precious to us”, “Chinese authorities have
compelled His Holiness the Dalai Lama to leave the country, and
imprisoned His Serenity the Panchen Lama”, “His Holiness the Dalai Lama
must be welcomed to Tibet”, “release all the political prisoners
including His Serenity the Panchen Lama”, “Independence for Tibet”, and
“China quit Tibet”.

It is unknown where they have been detained. Both of them are relatives.