Updates on Tibet, 25 April 2008
Friday, 25 April 2008, 5:10 p.m.
Update for Friday, 25 April 2008, last updated 2 PM (IST)
Re: Tibet Demonstrations
24 April 2008
Dingri (Ch: Dingri) County, Shigatse Prefecture, “Tibet Autonomous Region,” –3,000 armed forces deployed in Shelkar town
Around 3,000 armed forces have been deployed in Shelkar town, Dingri County.
A few days back, sizeable group of armed forces were deployed in
Drakmar village, Shelkar town. They stayed at a nearby local hotel.
On 24 April, sizeable group armed forces were deployed on
Ghung-la mountain, SoluKhumbu. The yak herdsmen of Choe-loong
monastery, Dingri County, were forced to be porters carrying items for
the armed forces.
23 April 2008
Karze (Ch: Ganzi) County, Karze “Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture,” Sichuan province-Two nuns hold protest in Karze County market
On April 23, around 1 pm (local time), two nuns, Sonam Dekyi,
age 30, from Serchu village, Karze Town and Lagha, age 32 from Dzongpa
village, both nuns from Drakkar nunnery, held a peaceful protest at the
Karze County market.
All around the market the two nuns threw hundreds of small
pieces of paper which read among other things, “Tibet is an independent
country,” and “long live His Holiness the Dalai Lama.” The nuns
continued to do this for a considerable amount of time. They were
arrested by the armed forces.
Currently we have no information on where these two nuns are being detained.
22 April 2008
Dartsedo (Ch: Kangding) County, Karze “Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture,” Sichuan province-Pro-independence posters distributed among public
Many posters reading “Tibet is an independent country,” “His
Holiness must be welcomed back to Tibet,” and “Tibetans want freedom,”
were distributed in Mi-nyak Lha-ghang village, Dartsedo County.
Currently, the police are investigating the person(s) responsible for distributing the posters.
Tawu, (Ch: Daofu) County, “Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture,” Sichuan province-Tibetan farmers being harassed by County officials
Tibetans farmers from Mi-nyak Garthar have stopped their farming
practices since April 22. The County officials have demanded that the
farmers immediately start farming again. The farmers continue to be
harassed by the officials.
April Beginning
Dingri (Ch: Dingri) County, Shigatse Prefecture, “Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture,”- Seven Tibetans arrested for reasons unknown
From the seven businessmen who were returning from SoluKhumbu,
five were arrested by the armed forces in Drakmar village, Dingri
County. The other two were arrested by their local police authorities
after arriving at their homes.
The families of those arrested attempted to find out where they
were being detained. Those arrested are not being detained in their
local prisons and their whereabouts remain unknown. Families have not
been told why the seven men were arrested.
March end
Gyalthang (Ch: Zhongdian) County, Dechen “Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture,” Yunnan province-Four young Tibetans arrested for suspicion of contact with the outside world
Around four young Tibetan tourist guides were arrested in
Gyalthang County by local police. The four have been arrested allegedly
for their involvement in having passing on information to the outside
world through the internet.
The four boys are from Amdo province. Additional information cannot be confirmed at the moment.
No Specific Date
Drakgo (Ch: Luhuo) County, Karze “Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture,” Sichuan province-Man severely beaten during signature campaign to vilify His Holiness the Dalai Lama
The monks from Drakgo monastery, Drakgo County, and the lay
people of Drakgo County continue to face very tight restrictions by the
Chinese government.
A signature campaign to vilify His Holiness the Dalai Lama has
been launched amongst Tibetans nomads and farmers in Drakgo County.
Tashi Sangpo a young farmer from Gephen Li-khokma village, Drakgo
County, loudly refused to give his signature thus turning the campaign
into a failure.
Tashi Sangpo was severely beaten and had to be taken to the
hospital. He continues to be detained for his alleged participation
during the earlier protest in Dragko County.