Update on Tibet, 28 June
Sunday, 29 June 2008, 7:47 p.m.
Dharamshala: Update on Tibet, 28 June 2008
Last updated 2 pm (IST) Re: Tibet Demonstrations
24 June 2008
Karze (Ch: Ganzi) County, Karze “TAP”, Kham (incorporated into Chinese province of Sichuan) – Four monks of Bheri monastery arrested
Local Public Security Bureau (PSB) arrested four monks from Bheri
monastery on 24 June. After the arrest, their quarters were also
raided.
Kalsang Yeshi, age 27, and Tashi Ngodup, age 30, were accused
of not providing their signatures during the “patriotic re-education”
class on 13-14 June and later writing pro-independence slogans on the
monastery walls.
The remaining two are Gatruk Dorjee, 41-year, and Wangchuk
Dorjee, 39-year. On 23 June, a fire incidence occurred on the Bheri
Bridge constructed over the Mekong River near the monastery. They were
accused of setting the fire. After this incident, the Chinese
authorities intensified restrictions on the monastery.
22 June 2008
Palung/Bayen (Ch: Hualong) County, Tsoshar (Ch: Hainan) “TAP”, Amdo (incorporated into Chinese province of Qinghai) – Religious ceremonies not allowed to conduct
The Chinese authorities have heightened restrictions on the
monasteries. The monks of Gyalgyud monastery in Palung (or Bayen)
county were not allowed to conduct their annual Cham (ritual dance) on
22 June or 19th day of the 4th month of Tibetan lunar calender (This
month is considered the holiest month of the year).
The monks of Tak monastery in Tak-tsang township, Palung
county, were similarly not allowed to conduct their Chams. The Chinese
authorities concerned have already given them restriction orders from
conducting their annual Cham on 10 August. The monasteries are also
restricted from performing other religious activities.
Messages are being sent by the local Tibetan people saying: “As
our area is outnumbered by Hui and Han Chinese, it has been very
difficult even to carry out even a minor [political] activity. It’s not
because we don’t have courage and loyalty to our cause. We stand in
solidarity with all the Tibetans, in and outside Tibet. We hope that
all the Tibetans will come to know about our situation.”
20 June 2008
Rebgong (Ch: Tongren) County, Malho (Ch: Huangnan) “TAP”, Amdo (incorporated into Chinese province of Qinghai) – Group of monks arrested from Rongpo monastery
Jigme Dawa, a 40-year monk who presides over the assembly of
monks in Rongpo monastery in Rebgong county, and a group of monks were
arrested by the county PSB on 20 June.
Recently, he was arrested on 18 April, but got released later
on assurance from the Democratic Management Committee of the Rongpo
monastery. He was imprisoned earlier in 1999 also for a year when the
“patriotic re-education” was conducted in the monastery.
Due to the severe restrictions, the monks of Rongpo monastery
are not being able to conduct even their daily religious activities.
As reported earlier about the torture on Alak Khaso Rinpoche,
the former head of Rongpo monastery, and his subsequent
hospitilisation, these days he is being treated in Xiling (Ch: Xining)
and given Tibetan medicine.
19 June 2008
Serthar (Ch: Seda) County, Karze (Ch: Ganzi) “TAP” (incorporated
into Chinese province of Sichuan) – Protests staged in Serthar county
Youdroom, a monk from Koe-tsa village in Serthar county, staged a
peaceful protest at 2:00 p.m. on 19 June while waving the Tibetan flag
in front of the county government office. He shouted slogans such as
“Tibet is an independent country, long live His Holiness the Dalai
Lama, His Holiness the Dalai Lama must return to Tibet”. While he was
protesting, people started to gather in his support. At that point of
time, he was immediately arrested by the PSB.
No Specific Date
Serthar (Ch: Seda) County, Karze (Ch: Ganzi) “TAP” (incorporated into Chinese province of Sichuan) – A monk horribly beaten for taking photo of “patriotic re-education” class
In June, Wanglo, a monk from the lower division of Tachok-tsang
village in Serthar county, was horribly beaten and arrested by the
Chinese authorities concerned for taking photo of the ongoing
“patriotic re-education” class in his village. When requested by his
relatives for his release, the authorities demanded 20,000 Yuans as a
punishment. Detailed information is not available.
Serthar (Ch: Seda) County, Karze (Ch: Ganzi) “TAP” (incorporated into Chinese province of Sichuan) – Stones at hillside painted with slogans
Due to severe restrictions imposed by the Chinese authorities,
the people of Nyitoe Phughu township in Serthar county dug holes in the
hillside and filled them with white marble stones written with
pro-independence slogans in letters that are visible from a great
distance. No further details are available.