Updates on Tibet, 19 April 2008

Saturday, 19 April 2008, 6:50 p.m.

Update for Thursday, 19 April 2008, last updated 2 PM (IST)
Re: Tibet Demonstrations

Gepa Sumdo (Ch: Tongde), Tsolho (Ch: Hainan) “TAP”, Qinghai Province – Many monks of Tsang monastery arrested

On 13 April 2008, local Chinese government officials, Chinese police as
well as Chinese armed forces poured down over Tsang Monastery, Gepa
Sumdo county, in order to look for people involved in the protest on 17
March 2008. During this search, a monk called Khedup Gyatso was
arrested. Later on the evening of 14 April 2008, the Chinese police
also confiscated photos of His Holiness the Dalai Lama during the
search in the monastery, following which about 36 monks were arrested
on 15 April, and were moved to Tsolho “TAP”. About 20 more monks were
arrested later on 17 April and were taken to the county prison. Chinese
government has planned to re-conduct “Patriotic re-education campaign”
from 19 April.

Jomda (Ch: Jianga) County, Chamdo (Ch: Changdu) Prefecture – Tense situation in Wara monastery

Several
monks from Wara Monastery, Jomda County, refused to participate in the
“Patriotic re-education campaign” conducted by the Chinese government
in their monastery. Situation around the Wara Monastic area continue to
remain tense after the local people in the village also raised their
voice against further harassment to the monks by the Chinese
government. Furthermore, over 10 Tibetan government officials from
Thang Phug town arrived and discussed the matter with the regional
monastic democratic committee, and held a couple of meetings with the
monks.

However, monks continued to show their resentment and
non-allegiance towards “re-education campaign”, as a result of which
several monks left the monastery between 4-5 April. Starting from 8
April, there has been a tight vigilance within the monastery, and the
Chinese police have been keeping careful watch on the monks. Currently,
there are only 50 monks left within this monastery, and all of them are
being forcefully ordered to denounce His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
However, the head and other monks of the monastery responded that they
would not follow any anti-Dalai Lama campaign even at the cost of their
lives.

Lithang (Ch: Litang) County, Karze (Ch: Ganzi) “TAP”, Sichuan Province – Tibetan monasteries enforced to fly Chinese flag

Orders are being given by the concerned department of the
Chinese government to fly Chinese flags on the rooftop of all
monasteries. However, Tibetans did not obey such orders. Orders were
given by the concerned officials from the Lithang County on 16 April to
fly Chinese flag from 17 April. Some heads of the Lithang monastery
said if they did this, then they should not be held responsible for any
trouble that might follow. They also asked for a written letter from
the County officials for such kind of orders. As a result, the Chinese
flag could not be raised on that day. Such orders have been enforced on
several other monasteries in Sichuan, Gansu, and Qinghai Provinces as
well. Since 12 April, all monasteries within the “TAR” are also being
forced to do the same.

Nyagchu (Ch: Yajiang) County, Karze “TAP”, Sichuan Province – Forced Signature campaigns continues

Around 4-15 April, people of the various villages, including
Gulog Shipa, in Nyagchu County, were called for a meeting in their
respective villages by the concerned County officials in order to
conduct signature campaign that states “The Dalai Lama is responsible
for instigating the recent unrest in Tibet.” During the meeting, a man
named Gyaltsen walked out of the meeting showing his rejection of such
kind of allegations. Many people also followed suit and hence the
meeting failed to succeed as planned.

Concerned local officials immediately summoned Gyaltsen to seek explanations for his act.

Nyagchu (Ch: Yajiang) County, Karze “TAP”, Sichuan Province – Protest held by around 200 people

Over
200 people from Kyichu-Kha town, Nyagchu County, held a protest rally
against the Chinese repression in Tibet. No further details are
available.

Chentsa (Ch: Jianza) County, Malho (Ch: Huangnan) “TAP”, Qinghai Province – One arrested A
man named Ngak-chang Zipa (aged 35) from Chentsa County, was arrested
on the morning of 19 April, on account of his involvement in the
protest held in March 2008 in Chentsa County.

Machu (Ch: Maqu) County, Kanlho “TAP”, Gansu Province – Around 150 monks of Nyulra Nyenthog Monastery arrested

During
a raid by the Chinese police in Nyulra Nyenthog Monastery, Machu
County, on 14 April, many booklets containing speeches of His Holiness
the Dalai Lama were destroyed. Moreover, about 150 monks have been
arrested from the monastery.

Rebgong (Ch: Tongren) County, Malho “TAP”, Qinghai Province – 200 arrestees continue to be detained in the County

Alag
Khatso Tsang who was injured and arrested on 17 April from the Rebgong
Monastery is reported to have been admitted to a hospital in Siling
Municipality (Ch: Xining). No further details are available.

The Monastery continues to remain under tight vigilance. About
200 people, consisting of both monks and laypeople, who were arrested
on 17 April continue to remain detained in the county.

Large number of monks from the Sera Monastery, Lhasa, were arrested

At
3 P.M. local time, on 17 April, many monks from the Sera Monastery in
Lhasa were arrested and are currently detained in a brick factory in
the Toelung area, west of Lhasa. Although no specific details of the
site is available, but it is assumed that the place is quite close to
Chushul prison located near Toelung.