These updates of recent events in Tibet and Tibetan areas of China have been posted on Woeser’s blog (Chinese). They have been provided by sources inside China and have not been independently verified.
April 2
The 11th Most Wanted list has been issued by the Public Security of Tibet Autonomous Region and broadcast by the Literature and Art Channel of Tibet Television Station and the Lhasa Television Station. All the five people on the list are youths who beat people with stones and smashed the shops. The pictures are clear. So far 69 Tibetans have appeared on the most wanted lists.
Chinese Central Television Station has repeatedly broadcast the speech given by the Public Security Bureau spokesperson at the press conference on April 1. It goes as follows: “Based on the information provided by monks and common people, a great number of offensive weapons were seized from some monasteries in Tibet. There is sufficient evidence to prove that March 14 Incident of Beating, Smashing, Looting and Burning is a part of the “Great Tibetan People’s Uprising” organized by the Dalai Clique.” At the same time, it also broadcast such documentaries as “Past Events of Tibet: Recalling History of Tibetan Serfs Full of Blood and Tears”, “Guns Held by Some Monasteries”, “Two British Invasions of Tibet”, “The Dalai Lama’s Proposal of ‘Great Tibet’ is Disguised Independence”, “Has the Dalai Lama Really Given Up Independence?” “The Inside Story of How the Dalai Lama Masterminded the ‘Uprising’,” and “Police Capture Key Members of the March 14 Incident”. They clearly contradict the most recent speech by Wen Jiabao, which expressed hope that the Dalai Lama would use his influence to stop violent activities in Tibet. As some people have pointed out, any political leader can exerting influence; however, Wen Jiabao’s request for the Dalai Lama to use his influence means that such violent activities are not organized by him.
Aril 3
Xinhua News Agency Published an article entitled “the Inside Story of the Dalai Lama’s Manipulating the ‘Great Tibetan People’s Uprising'” on April 1. It has been repeatedly published in many newspapers, including “People’s Daily” and “Beijing Evening Post”, and many websites such as Sina.com and the Tengxun network. In addition, it was read aloud on Chinese Central Television. The article has already had great impact on the common Chinese people. Xinhua’s claim in the article that “the Voice of America’s Tibetan Language Program serves as the liaison between the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Independence Movement” has been denied by the VOA. The VOA’s editor-in-chief for the Asia-Pacific region said: “Like any other programs in other languages, the Tibetan program is made strictly in accordance with the professional standards for news coverage. Therefore, the claim that that VOA is used as a secret tool for communication between international political forces is completely without any basis. It does not conform to reality, and it is rather absurd. ”
The 12th Most Wanted list was issued by the Public Security Bureau of Tibet Autonomous Region. It was broadcast on the Literature and Art Channel of Tibet Television Station and Lhasa Television Station. Five people were on the list: four females and one male. So far, 74 Tibetans have appeared on the most wanted lists.
It is reported that three Tibetans were killed in another incident in Lhasa on March 29, but so far that has not been verified. The Chinese armed police are said to have reacted extremely fast, handling the incident in a manner completely different than on March 14th. Half an hour later, while the road-side shops in the area near Beijing East Road (Beijing Donglu) and Beijing Middle Road (Beijing Zhonglu) were all closed, there are barely any signs of an incident. On the main street there was an increase in the number of policemen, but no military trucks or patrols by military police (we are not clear how many undercover agents may be scattered through the area). On April 1 and 2 it is apparent that the control over Lhasa was strengthened.
Reports say on April 2, Zhang Qingli, the party secretary of the Tibet Autonomous Region, gave a stern speech at a meeting attended by TAR cadres at or above the rank of county magistrates or department head. He told the cadres to strengthen efforts to arrest the “Separatists”. He said arrest orders should be approved rapidly, people should be arrested quickly, prosecuted fast and promptly put to death. Growing more serious, he declared that “a group of people will be executed.” All those present applauded his speech, but in private everybody shivered with fear, and all commented that the revenge for the incident had started. Zhang also said that by May 1st tourism would be restored, opening Tibet to foreigners and Chinese tourists. His speech was transmitted to the various working units in Tibet.
It is reported that recently about 40 young monks form two monasteries in Wonmo Township of Cone County, Kanlho (Gannan) Prefecture, Gansu Province were arrested.
Hong Kong-based Phoenix Television Station broadcast the State Council Information Office’s briefing on circumstances surrounding the March 16 Incident of “Beating, Smashing, Looting and Burning” in Ngawa County inside the Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province. Xiao Youcai, deputy head of the Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, acknowledged that “policemen on duty used weapons in accordance with law,” but denied that armed police killed Tibetans when they fired at them. He said that “at present we have not found anybody injured or killed,” and all the injured people had already “fled”. At the same time, he claimed that photos of Tibetans being killed were probably forged.
April 4
The most recent news: Yesterday in Ganzi County in Kham (Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province), the region’s storied Tongkor Monastery was searched by military police and the Working Team. Each room in the monks’ living quarters was searched and all cell phones were confiscated. Photos of the Dalai Lama and the abbot of the monastery, Shadru Rinpoche, were thrown on the ground. 74-year-old monk Tsultrim Tenzing was arrested because he tried to stop them from throwing away the photos, and 26-year-old Tibetan Trultrim Puntso was also arrested. The Working Team ordered all the monks to curse the Dalai Lama. One monk named Yeshe Nyima stood up and objected, then the rest of the monks followed in refusing the demand. At 6:30pm yesterday, all the monks staged a protest along the river outside of the monastery, demanding the release of those who were arrested.
Local lay people also participated in the protest, thus several hundred people shouted such slogans as “Long Live the Dalai Lama,” “Let the Dalai Lama return home” and “We want freedom.” Between 8:00pm and 9:00pm, the authorities dispatched around a thousand military police to suppress the protest by force. It is confirmed that 8 people were killed: 27-year-old monk Sangten, 30-year-old villager Pupu Delek, the son of villager Tsering Puntso, the daughter of villager Tsoge, a villager named Drulungtso (female), a villager named Lobtan (female) and two other people whose names we have not be able to confirm. Several people were injured, and a person called Tuten Gelek was seriously injured. In addition, there were two monks who were shot and injured (one’s ear was shot off, and the other was shot in the shoulder); about ten people, including a monk named Tsewang Rindzin, were missing. At present we do not know their whereabouts. There were no bodies at the scene where the incident occured this morning, but there was still a great amount of blood. At present, the monastery is being closely surrounded by the military police.
Aseng, a Tibetan who participated in the Tibetan Incident in Ngawa wrote an article entitled “Tibet Incident – the Causes of the March 16 Incident in Ngawa County in Amdo”. It describes the Tibetan protest in Ngawa County in Amdo and how protesters were killed by the Chinese military police. He wrote that the incident happened because the local officials forced the local monastery to hang the Chinese flag in the Great Prayer Hall, but since monasteries are not government institutions, the monks thought that it is inappropriate to hang the Chinese national flag in the Prayer Hall. Local officials had forcibly intervened repeatedly, but the monks resisted. This led to the deployment of a great number of military police. Eventually, this led to the mass protest by the Tibetans. When the military police fired at the protesters, many Tibetans were killed.
On March 27, Lobsang Jingpa, a 32-year old monk from Kirti monastery in Ngawa Monastery, wrote out a will then hung himself in his living quarters. In his will he claimed responsibility for the charges the authorities brought up against Kirti Monastery (leading and organizing the protest; keeping the corpses of people who were killed by the armed police; disclosing the news to the outside) and insisted the incident had nothing to do with other monks. He also proclaimed that it was he who led the peaceful protest, and he would take responsibility for this. At the end of his will, he wrote the following sentences: “I do not wish to live under the oppression of China. I am not willing to live under such conditions for one minute, let alone one day.” After these sentences his signature appeared. In addition, a 75-year-old monk from Gomang monastery in Ngawa County, together with his disciple, was arrested on his way to perform religious activities at the home of Tibetan lay people, and he was detained for several days. After he was released, he committed suicide.
The Deputy Party Secretary of the Lhasa Municipal Committee told media that at present over 1,000 people had been arrested or surrendered themselves to the authorities in connection with last month’s riots. He said trials for these people would be held before May 1st. Media believe the speech made by Wang Xiangming has so far provided the best indication of how authorities have acted to suppress the protests. These anti-government protests in are the largest to occur in the Tibetan areas of China for the past 20 years. In a televised speech on April 2, Zhang Qingli, the highest Chinese official in Tibet Autonomous Region, praised troops involved in suppression of the riots as a “people’s army who obey the orders of the Party, serve the people, are heroic and good at fighting.”
The Public Security Bureau of Tibet Autonomous Region sent the following text message to Lhasa cell phone owners through China Mobile’s Tibet Branch Office: The masses are welcome to actively provide clues leading to the capture of suspects on the most wanted list for involvement in the March 14 incident. As soon as the information has been verified, the informer will be awarded 20,000 yuan, and the information provided by the informer will be kept secret. The telephone number to report these suspects is as follows: 0891-6311189, 0891-6324422 or 110. (From the Tibet Autonomous Regional Public Security Bureau).
The 13th Most Wanted list was issued by the Tibet Autonomous Regional Public Security Bureau and broadcast on the Literature and Art Channel of Tibet Television Station and Lhasa Television. Five people are named, all male. So far, 79 Tibetans have been on the most wanted list.
April 5
The Incident that the protest staged by monks and lay people in Tongkor Township of Ganzi County in Kham (Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Region)was bloodily suppressed by the military police has been covered by many international newspapers and media, and this has attracted attention from the international society. The news report of China Xinhua News Agency admitted that the military police did fire, but it claimed that the military police had to fire because one Chinese official was injured. The Xinhua News Agency’s claim is a strained interpretation.
The No. 14 most wanted list was issued by the Tibet Autonomous Regional Public Security Bureau, and it was broadcasted in the Literature and Art Channel of Tibet Television Station and Lhasa Television. Five people are on the list, and they are all male. Up to now 84 Tibetans have appeared on the most wanted lists.
April 6
Yesterday, the annual Great Dharma Assembly was scheduled to open at Nyitso Monastery in Tawu County in Kham (Ganzi Tibetan Autonoous Prefecture, Sichuan Province) but was shut down by the military police dispatched by the authorities. As a result, roughly a thousand monks and lay people (including students and some cadres wearing antiseptic masks) staged a peaceful protest. Shouting such slogans as “Long Live the Dalai Lama,” “Free Tibet”, “We want freedom”, etc. Consequently, military police fired at them. Ten people were shot, and five of them were seriously injured. In addition, a few other people are missing. The protest lasted from 12 at noon to 5:00pm in the afternoon. At present we are unable to make phone calls to people in the area where the incident happened and are also unable to reach a few other areas in Ganzi and Drakgo regions.
The 15th and 16th Most Wanted lists were issued by the Public Security Bureau of Tibet Autonomous Region and broadcast by the Literature and Art Channel of Tibet Television Station and the Lhasa Television Station. The four people on the 15th list are all male, among them three monks. Similarly, all five people on the 16th list are also male, including monks. Among the monks, one of them appears to be old. All people on these two lists are said to have been involved in protest that took place near Ramoche Temple on the morning of March 14. All these photos appear to be taken with cell phones. So far, 93 Tibetans have appeared on the most wanted lists.
April 7
The 17th most wanted list was issued by the Public Security Bureau of Tibet Autonomous Region and broadcast by the Literature and Art Channel of Tibet Television Station and the Lhasa Television Station. Among the six people on the 17th, five are male and one is female. So far 99 Tibetans have appeared on the most wanted lists.
I need to add here that protests staged by monks and lay people in No.3 Township in Drakgo in Kham (Ganzi Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province) were suppressed by the authorities. Among 120 nuns in Nganggang Nunnery (Ch. E-ge si) arrested by the authorities, 17 have been released but were beaten black and blue. Lobsang Wangchen, the Khanpo (abbot) of Jori Monastery, was released, but his health has greatly deteriorated due to cruel beatings he received during his imprisonment.
On April 1 in Dzachukha County in Kham (Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province), the authorities carried out a “Patriotic Education” campaign inside Dza Wonpo Monastery (Ch. Za Wengpo si), ordering the monks to criticize and slander the Dalai Lama. Seven monks and one herdsman protested and were arrested by the authorities. Their names are as follows: Master Lobsang Dondrup, the disciplinarian Depa (Ch. Daipa), Sopal, Tubten Tsering, Paldor, Sonam Nyima, Wudor and the herdsman Yiga.
On April 2 over 200 nuns from Ratrul Nunnery in Tawu County, Kham (Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province) held a Buddhist ceremony in memory of the campatriots who died in the incident in Tawu town (Ch. Xianshui zheng) in Tawu County. Though they were stopped by the military police, due to the support they received from over 100 Tibetans and students, the military police were not able to suppress the protest with armed force.
On April 2, in Batang County in Kham (Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province), the authorities carried out the “Patriotism Education” campaign in Ba Chode Monastery,demanding the monks to criticize and slander the Dalai Lama. When all the monks refused to do so, this led to conflict. Five monks, including the Khanpo of Ba Chode Monastery Jigme Dorje and the Disciplinarian Yeshe, were arrested.
On April 4 in Tongkor Township in Ganzi County, Kham (Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture) the military police suppressed the protest held by Tibetan monks and lay people. It is confirmed that in addition to the eight people we mentioned earlier, there are several other people were killed. Besides the 27-year-old Sangten (he is the chant master of Tongkor Monastery, and his full name is Tubten Samten), 30-year-old village Pupu Delek, the villager Drulungtso (female) and the villager Lobtan (female) I have listed in my earlier entry, at present we learned that the son of the villager Tserign Puntso is called Tsering Dondrup, the daughter of the villager Tsoge is named Gesang Chodron. I also
learned the names of the two people we did not know earlier are Tse Yangji (female, 23-year-old) and the monk named Lobsang Rinchen. Furthermore, there were a few others who were also killed. The names I have found out so far are the abbot of Tongkor Monastery Tsewang Rigdzin (38 year old), the villager Sonam Tsering and the villager Tsering Lhamo (female). When the military police and the working team were searching the monastery, what they threw on the floor and stepped on were photos of the Dalai Lama and the Guru of the monastery Shadrung Rinpoche. On April 5, when the military police were searching the monastery, many valuable cultural relics, including the statues of Buddha and Thangkha paintings, were damaged. Tongkor Monastery is one of the monasteries which preserve the cultural relics the best in Ganzi Tibetan area. During the “Democratic Reform” and the “Cultural Revolution”, the local people risked their lives to save and preserve a great number of statues and image of Buddha and Thangkha paintings. At present, the Chinese Communist Party’s practice, which is just like the second “Cultural Revolution”, greatly endangered these cultural relics. It is learned that the authorities gathered together all people, including Tibetans, in the region, and threatened them not to disclose the bloody incident occurred in the local area to the outside world or the media. They proclaimed that all the news should conform to the news report issued by the Xinhua Agency. If anybody discloses the information, he or she will be punished as “violating the law”.
In addition, recently about 100 students in Qinghai Teacher’s College in Amdo (Tsolho [Hainan] Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province) held a peaceful demonstration to protest against the military police’s killing of the Tibetan protesters and to demand the authorities to release all the Tibetan protesters arrested in protests held the three regions of Tibet. But immediately they were controlled by the military police, and at present the college is under tightly sealed off.
Recently the authorities arrested five Tibetan protesters in Rongnga Township in Ngawa County in Amdo (Ngawa Prefecture,Sichuan Province), and their names are as follows: Gonpo Tsering, Tsamothar, Lobsang, Namshi and Lobzang. We have no detail information about where they are held or their health conditions, etc.
According to news provided by a fellow netizen,in Kanlho (Ch. Ganan) and Golok regions in Amdo, the local Public Security Bureau forcibly fined all those who were arrested with 20,000 yuan.
April 9
Yesterday, the second group of foreign journalists (including eleven journalists stationed in China) on a tour organized by the Chinese government arrived in Lanzhou. After having been joined by many Hong Kong and Taiwan journalists, the group was planning to visit the Amdo area in Gansu Province. But when they visited Labrang Monastery (one of the six major Gelug monasteries of Tibetan Buddhism) in Sangchu (Ch. Xiahe) today, over 20 Tibetan monks rushed out of the hall of the monastery, holding the flag of snow mountain and Lion in their hands. They surrounded the journalists and appealed to them in the following words: “we demand that the Dalai Lama return to Tibet. We do not demand Tibet independence, we only demand to have human rights. We do not have any human rights now.” In addition, they said that many monks are still held in custody, and there are undercover agents monitoring activities all over the areas in Sangchu (Xiahe) County. Within a short period of time, over 40 people came out to appeal to the journalists. This is the second time Tibetan monks risked their lives openly to voice their protest since March 27, when monks in the Jokhang Temple risked their lives to appeal tearfully to the first group of the foreign journalists and plead with them to reveal the truth.
Three days ago (April 6), outside of one of the monasteries in Yushul (Ch. Yushu) County in Kham (Yushul Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province), over 100 Tibetans shouted such slogans as “Free Tibet” and “Let the Dalai Lama Come Home.” At that time the monastery was holding Buddhist ceremonies. The protesters were immediately suppressed by a large number of the armed police, and many people were arrested. An insider said that protests have erupted frequently in the county after the Lhasa Incident, each one suppressed by the armed police. Authorities have not announced the number of protesters who were arrested or whether there were any deaths or injuries.
This morning, Jampa Puntso, chairman of Tibet Autonomous Regional Government, replied to a journalist’s question concerning the recent situation of the monks of the Jokhang Temple who appealed tearfully to the group of the foreign journalists on March 27: “After the journalists left, there came diplomats from a dozen countries. On that day, I briefed them on the situation. They proposed that they must meet with these people and hope to go to the Jokhang Temple. I agree with their proposal. I told them that they could go the next day. Though in the original itinerary the visit was not arranged, they could go. The second day they visited there. I told them that they could meet with all thirty monks [who were involved in the incident]. But because we went rather early, and it was a day when the monastery did not open to the public, the monks did not come out despite us calling out to them for quite some time. Later I told them it didn’t matter. Next time the journalists came, they would still be able to meet with these people. We will never purge or punish them because they expressed their opinions to the journalists. We will never do that, because our country is a country ruled by law. Of course, it we find out that they have committed other crimes, that is another story. In my view, if those of you present here today have opportunity to visit Tibet again in the future, you can still meet with them. They will not face punishment or arrest. You asked where they are and whether they are still in the Jokhang Temple. As long as they have not committed any beating, smashing, looting or burning, they will still live in the Jokhang Temple for a long period of time.” This passage made us worry more about the current situation of these monks. The claim that “the monks have not gotten up yet” obviously appears dubious. In addition, Jampa Puntso said that so far 953 people were detained due to their involvement in the riots, among whom 328 people have been released. Another 403 people had been named in arrested warrants by the Procuratorate. Altogether 93 suspects who participated in beating, smashing, looting and burning activities are on the most wanted list. At present 13 people have been captured, and nine voluntarily surrendered themselves. Among those who were detained on suspicion of being involve in the riot, 362 people voluntarily surrendered themselves. However, as far as those on the most wanted list are concerned, according to the broadcasts by the Literature and Art channel of Tibet Television and the Lhasa Television Station, up to April 7, there have been altogether 17 most wanted lists, and 99 people are on the list, not 93.
It is learned that all the subordinating government institutions under Lhasa City in Tibet Autonomous Region and the various prefectures, the various state-owned and private enterprises, the various universities, colleges, middle schools, high schools and the various neighborhood committees are required to condemn the “March 14 Incident” and to expose and criticize “the Dalai Separatist Clique.” In particular, the Tibetan cadres and employees are required to deeply expose “the evil deeds” of the “Dalai Clique,” and to write articles to criticize the Dalai Lama. In the past similar activities were directed at the monasteries, but this time they expanded the scope to include the entire society, even seven-year-old and eight-year-old primary school students can not escape such a fate.
The unilateral propaganda concerning Tibetan issue provided by the official Chinese media has had the effect of causing the national animosity against the Tibetans among the Chinese. The Chinese networks are filled with messages sneering and slandering Tibetans and Tibet’s spiritual leader the Dalai Lama. In addition, many false articles fabricated by people who posed as eye-witness of the incident have appeared, aiming to cover up the truth about the protests took place in Lhasa, Ngawa and other Tibetan areas. It is said that some hotels in Beijing, Shanghai and other places refused to allow Tibetans to make reservations or register to stay there.
The No. 18 most wanted listed was is issued by Tibet Autonomous Regional Public Security Bureau, and was broadcasted in both Tibetan and Chinese by the Literature and Art Channel of Tibet Television Station and Lhasa Television Station. Six people on the list are all male. Up to now 105 Tibetans are on the most wanted lists.
April 10, 2008
The No. 19 most wanted listed was is issued by Tibet Autonomous Regional Public Security Bureau, and was broadcasted in both Tibetan and Chinese by the Literature and Art Channel of Tibet Television Station and Lhasa Television Station. Six people on the list are five men and one woman. Up to now 111 Tibetans are on the most wanted lists.
It is learned that some rooms near Lhasa Railway Station are used as temporary prisons, and some Tibetans who were arrested have already been sent to the prison to the northwest of Lhasa by train. At present, on the train from Lhasa to Xining, all Tibetans will be thoroughly checked, and some would be searched as many as seven times. Tibetans who do not have I.D. issued from Tibet Autonomous Region are, without exception, not allowed to enter Lhasa at all.
Tibet Autonomous Region has already notified the travel agencies to stop arranging tours for foreign tourists. The reason given is to ensure the Olympic torch safely pass the Himalayan region. This order revoked the decision made by the tourism departments last week: Tibet tourism would be open to foreign tour groups again starting from May 1st.
We learned that some monks in Labrang Monastery in Sangchu (Ch. Xiahe) County in Amdo (Kanlho [Ch. Gannan] Prefecture, Gansu Province) because they told the truth and their wish to the group of foreign journalists yesterday. In the evening of April 7, 30 monks in Ngolha Monastery and 10 Tibetans in Thume Village, Ngolha Township in Machu County in Amdo (Kanlho Prefecture, Gansu Province). Among 23 monks from Kirti Monastery in Ngawa County (Ngawa Prefecture, Sichuan Province) who were arrested the other day, the names we obtained are as follows: Lobsang Tsultrim, Lobsang Tsundru, Lobsang Trinley, Lobsang Nyima, Jamyang Nyima, etc. In all the townships and towns headed by Rongsakha Township in Ngawa County in Amdo (Ngawa Prefecture, Sichuan Province), the authorities are conducting propaganda and inventing stories. They demanded the local people to say the following words, looking into the camera: “[I] am strongly against ‘the Dalai Clique,’[I] will never collect any Dalai Lama’s photos; [I] will never join the “Dalai Clique,’[I] will never follow the separatists; the conspiracy to split the nationality will not prevail; I love the Chinese Communist Party; I will completely obey the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party and am grateful to the graciousness of the party.” They warned them if they did not obey, they would be arressed immediately.
April 11
The other day 21 Chinese lawyers expressed their willingness to provide legal assistance to Tibetans who were arrested. In their open letter it says, “ According to the relevant news reports in our country, several hundred people have already been arrested in the Incident of March 14 in Tibet. As practising lawyers, we hope that the government departments involved, in their dealings with Tibetans arrested, will strictly abide by the constitution, the law and the relevant criminal procedures. They should put an end to extorting a confession by torture, respect the independence of the judiciary and safeguard the dignity of law. Here we would like to show our great concern for the relevant cases in Tibet, and would be happy to provide legal assistance to Tibetans arrested.” But a few lawyers involved were warned by the authorities who forbidding them to be involved in the Tibet Incident and so fat at least three lawyers had to withdraw due to the intimidation. These lawyers said that the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Judicature has talked to these lawyers, forbidding them to represent the Tibetans or to defend them. At the same time, the authorities claim that “there are enough lawyers in Tibet itself, so they do not need other regions’ assistance.” In reality, this is a case that politics interferes with the independent legal work, thus, Tibetans have been deprived of the right to receive judicature protection. Under such circumstances, it is hard to imagine how much the lawyers can do to assist the Tibetans. Furthermore, due to the fear under the high pressure, it will also be difficult for Tibetans to risk their lives to look for lawyers to represent them. What is more important is that the result of the trails will not be convincing, and the lawyers designated by the authorities is, in fact, just like
It is learned that a few days ago in Ruthog County, Ngari Region in Utsang (Tibet Autonomous Region) four or five Tibetans staged a protest, shouting such slogans as “Hold peace talk with the Dalai Lama to solve the Tibet Issue and stop suppressing and killing Tibetans.” They were immediately arrested by the police and were held in prison in the Town of Sengge Khabab. In addition, monks and lay people at Tongkor Township, Ganzi County in Kham (Ganzi Prefecture, Sichuan Province) were openly threatened by the authorities, who warned them if people who fled to mountains do not come back to surrender themselves, it will endanger the monastery and the villagers. The local people who were shot are in critical conditions because they dared not to go to the hospital or have not received medical treatment on time.
Drepung and Sera Monasteries as well as the Jokhang and Ramoche Temples and others have been surrounded by the military police for as long as one month. The believers have been forbidden to go on pilgrimage to the monasteries or temples, and all the religious activities and teachings in monasteries have been forced to stop as well. The monks are having difficulties in their daily life. The monastery is temporarily providing a small amount of food to the monks, and nobody can reach them via home phones or cell phones. At present, there are monks who have gone missing.
No. 20 and No.21 most wanted lists were issued by Tibet Autonomous Regional Public Security Bureau, and were broadcasted in both Tibetan and Chinese by the Literature and Art Channel of Tibet Television Station and Lhasa Television Station. 18 people are on No. 20 most wanted list, but we do not know who are on the list except the number of people as the time announced the most wanted list was different from the usual time. Altogether 14 people are on the most wanted list, who are all monks. Judging from the photos, they are the monks who participated in the peaceful protest and quiet sit-in with several thousand monks before March 14. There are altogether 32 people on No. 20 and No. 21 most wanted lists. Today is the day when the largest number of people is on the most wanted lists. Up to now at least 143 Tibetans have been on the most wanted lists.
April 12
The latest news reports that on the night of April 10 a great number of military trucks entered Drepung Monastery, and on April 11 the road to Drepung Monastery was blocked again. It is said that the cause of the incident is that many hungry monks were about to go down the mountain to demand the authorities to lift the curfew after the monastery has been surrounded by military police for over 30 days, but the others claim that the incident was caused by the military police’s action of rushing to the monastery to arrest the monks. In short, we do not know the details about the incident yet, but it is said that there are people who died and injured. The communications with the monastery are still blocked, and we have not been able to contact them.
It is again learned that recently in Lhasa Middle School there have been clashes between Tibetan and Chinese students. In Lhasa many Chinese have shown hostilities toward Tibetans. Some bicycle repair shops refused to mend tires for Tibetan students. The Chinese who are selling vegetables openly shout “for half a kilogram of cucumber, it costs two Yuan for the Chinese, but it costs three Yuan for Tibetans. You deserve it if you are not willing to do so.” In the end of March at the vegetable market of the Bureau of Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Works a mob of the Chinese vegetable sellers beat five Tibetans because they had a quarrel over the price. Immediately the soldiers fired and one of the Tibetans was shot in the leg. In addition, all five Tibetans were arrested.
Some Tibetans who were arrested after March 14 without any reasons have already been released. We found out that these people did not participate in March 14 Incident at all. Some of them are housekeepers, and they were arrested when they went out to do grocery shopping. Others were arrested simply because they were living in such Tibetan inhabited areas as Pharkhor Steet and Karma Kunsang. Even the Tibetan workers who were building houses were all arrested. Among those who were arrested there are about 100 students (including college students and middle school students). It is said that over 800 people were locked up in the storehouse at Lhasa Railway Station. Among them some are under custody of the military police, and others are under custody of the Public Security Offices and Procuratorial personnel. The former ones are cruelly tortured and beat,and they had no shoes on or any food to eat. However, the latter ones are better treated and are given some food. While some people have been directly transferred to Kutsa Detention Center in LKhasa, others were first transferred to prisons of Dulung Dechen and Medro Kungga Counties, then to Kutsa Detention Center in Lhasa. First the various prefectures such as Shigatse and Nachu would dispatch people to come to take back those arrested people from their regions, then those from Lhasa would be released. It is said that up to present over 3,000 people were arrested.
No. 22 most wanted lists was issued by Tibet Autonomous Regional Public Security Bureau, and was broadcasted in both Tibetan and Chinese by the Literature and Art Channel of Tibet Television Station and Lhasa Television Station. 11 people are on the most wanted list, and on the whole they are monks. Though it is impossible for us to know the details at present, we are sure that something must have happened in some monasteries in Lhasa. It is perhaps related to the incident happened in Derpung Monastery yesterday.
According to latest news, in Tongkor Township, Ganzi Prefecture in Kham ()Ganzi Prefecture, Sichuan Province), after the authorities suppressed the protest by local monks and lay people, they issued announcement to over 300 monks and many lay people who fled to hide in the mountains. They threatened that if they do not come down the mountain to surrender with 5 days, they would destroy Tongkor Monastery. I have not heard that any monks or villages have come down the mountain to surrender when the deadline set by the authorities passed. Since at present we have not been able to get in touch with local Tibetans, we do not know what actions the government took. According to the report, some monks from Tongkor Monastery said the following, ” now we dare not to come down the mountain at all, and we will be arrested as soon as we come down the mountain. As soon as we enter Tongkor Monastery, if there are three people who are trying to enter, there will be three soldiers waiting outside. Whatever we have, such as books or money, they will take them away as if they are robbing us. In recent days Tongkor Monastery has not been demolished yet, but all the gates and doors are open.” Tongkor Monastery is a famous monastery with a long history, and the monks have left a great number of valuable cultural relics. Gold statues of Buddha, Thangkha paintings and other valuables survived the disaster in the “Cultural Revolution,” but we worry very much whether they can survive this disaster now.
April 13
Many people in Lhasa heard about the major incident that on April 11 in Drepung Monastery the military police suppressed the monks, but nobody knows the details. Everybody is worrying about the safety of the monks. I would like appeal to the outside world to pay close attention to the situation.
No. 20 and No.21 most wanted lists were issued by Tibet Autonomous Regional Public Security Bureau, and were broadcasted in both Tibetan and Chinese by the Literature and Art Channel of Tibet Television Station and Lhasa Television Station. 18 people are on No. 20 most wanted list, but we do not know who are on the list except the number of people as the time announced the most wanted list was different from the usual time. Altogether 14 people are on the most wanted list.
On April 12 the authorities gathered all the religious leaders and other figures in the eighteen counties in Kham (Ganzi Prefecture, Sichuan Province) to hold emergency meetings. All people who were present at the meeting were demanded to sign their signature on the document opposing the Dalai Lama. Meanwhile, the authorities issued the order that since April 13 in the first group of 43 monasteries in Ganzi the “Patriotic Education” and “Anti-Dalai Clique” campaigns.
A Japanese report reports that the Dalai Lama’s hometown is located in Taktser (Ch. Hongya) Village in Tsongkhakhar (Ch. Ping-an) County under Xining City in Qinghai Province. At present the gate of the old house was tightly closed, and on the walls to the both sides of the gate one finds the announcements put up by the Bureau of Judicature of Qinghai Province. The announcement dated to April 2, and they have both the Tibetan and Chinese editions. The rough content of the Chinese announcement is that one is forbidden to put up and distribute signs or leaflets endangering the national security, neither is one allowed to make or distribute the Dalai lama’s portraits or photos. In addition, on the announcement it also writes “the only way out for the lawless people is if they realize their errors and mend their ways, if they surrender themselves and admit their guilt so that the Bureau of Judicature will settle the case leniently or reduce the punishment.” The announcement also points out if common people inform against the lawless people, they will be praised and rewarded. It is said that there are policemen patrolling the village, and the road to the Dalai lama’s hometown is also sealed off.
April 14
Last night, the news broadcast of Tibet Autonomous Regional Television Station reported that the Work Team to publicize laws and regulations organized by Tibet Autonomous Regional Public Security Bureau has already stationed in Drepung Monastery. Tibet Channel of the Xinhua Network also reported about this yesterday. It states that, “in order to strengthen the effort to publicize and educate people about laws and regulations and to restore the normal Buddhist activities, recently the working team to publicize laws and regulations has stationed in Drepung Monastery.” It also claims that, “the Work Team has been adhering to the national and religious policies and strictly abiding by the relevant laws and regulations. They have smoothly and orderly been carrying out the work, and they have gained understanding and support of the monks and lay Buddhist followers.” But compared with the news from Lhasa, the so-called “the work is progressing smoothly” is probably a lie. At present, the road to Drepung Monastery is still sealed off, but the roads along the highway leading to Drepung Monastery has already opened. We still do not know the details what happened in Drepung Monastery recently. Located at the half way up Gunpel Wutse Mountain, Drepung Monastery is traditionally known as the No. one great monastery of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. It was stipulated that the number of permanent monks there was 7,700, and the number reached up to 10,000 at the peak of its prosperity; at present there are about 1,000 monks.
People.com (http://pic.people.com.cn/GB/7116653.html) reported this morning (originally from Tibet Daily): “Tibet Police authorities offered a reward for suspects involved in the Incident of March 14;” on April 11 TAR Supreme Court, TAR Procuratorate and TAR Public Security Bureau issued the “Joint Announcement” as well as photos of 14 Tibetans who are on the most wanted list, among them at least 12 appear to be monks. Judging from such captions as “No. 136 suspect”, ‘No. 137 suspect” and “No. 141 suspect” as well as the most wanted list which have been issued since April 11, we can infer that these monks who are on the most wanted list are most likely involved in the incident of April 11 in Drepung Monastery. In addition, it is worth noting whether there is any special implication for issuing photos of Tibetans on the most wanted list, majority of whom are Tibetan monks, on official Chinese websites. On these websites they also included the entire text of the “Joint Announcement, which reads as follows: In accordance with the “Joint Announcement” issued by TAR Supreme Court, TAR Procuratorate and TAR Public Security Bureau, at present we issue arrest warrants to the following suspects … TAR Public Security Bureau, April 11, 2008… The following people are suspected of being involved in such illegal activities as beating, smashing, looting and burning. The common people are welcome actively to provide clues. Once the clues are verified, those who have provided the clues will be awarded with 20,000 Yuan. Meanwhile we will keep the identity of those who have provided clues secret. The telephone number to report: 0891-6311189. 6324422 or 110. Issued by TAR Public Security Bureau.
In addition, I do not know whether today the authorities would continue to broadcast the most wanted list on Literature and Art channel of Tibet Television Station and Lhasa Television Station. At the present, it is still in the stage of bidding one’s time to take revenge, and the strict control by the authorities has encompassed all sectors of the society. Thought one cannot tell from the surface, all Tibetans are living in fear now.
In the emergency meeting convened by the authorities in which those in charge of the various monasteries and the directors of the various working units from all 18 counties participated, it is stipulated that in future all monasteries are required to hang the Chinese national flag, at the same time they are also required to vow to acknowledge that the incident in Tibet was masterminded by the “Dalai Clique,” and they are determined to “criticize the Dalai lama’s separatist clique.”
Furthermore, on April 12 the Chinese authorities reported that “Mach 23 Bombing Incident” in Chamdo, Tibet, was solved, and it was carried out by nine monks from Sutra College of Thongsha Monastery in Shangpel Township, Gonjo County. Among them three monks known as Rinchen Gyantsan (27 year old), Jigme Dundrup (28 years old) and Dorje Wanggyal (31 years old) were arrested on April 1st. At that time four military trucks from Chamdo entered Thongshar Monastery in Shangpel Township, surrounded the monastery, and forbad the monastery to have any contact with the outside world. On April 3, the monks from the monastery shouted such slogans as “we are innocent”, “release those monks who were arrested” and “we demand the freedom of the religious belief”. At that time, six monks including Tseten (30 years old), Kunga Puntso (19 years), Tsewang Yeshe (20 years), Tsering Wangdul (17 year old”, Wanggyal (21 years old)and Kunsang Tsering were arrested, and they were paraded through the streets in the county seat of Gonjo County. The authorities announced that these nine monks are suspects, and claimed that they confessed the above-mentioned crime.”
In addition, according to reliable news, a few days ago Sangpel, a student from Sichuan Provincial College of Buddhism, staged a protest in Dartsedo city (Ch. Kangding), holding high the flag of Snow Mountain and Lion. A Tibetan herdsman named Lhapa from Lhagong, Dartsedo County shouted such slogans as “free Tibet” and ” Welcome the Dalai Lama to come back” at the military trucks while holding high the flag of snow mountain and lion. Both of them were arrested, and we do not know their whereabouts at present.
April 16
Today in Lhasa no most wanted list was broadcasted on TV. It is learned that four people on No. 25 most wanted list broadcasted yesterday are monks who came to study in Sera Moanstery from other Tibetan areas,and they were already arrested.
The military police are still searching the major areas where Tibetans concentrated. Members of all those families who are found to worship His Holiness Dalai Lama’s photos were arrested. While many Tibetans hid His Holiness’s photos in cereals such as tsampa (the barley flour), rice or wheat flour, others hid them in beams on the roof. As some people informed the authorities of hidden photos, the military police would come to search the houses. While weeping in their arms, Tibetans had to burn His Holiness’s photos one by one. Recently due to the fact that the authorities do not trust Tibetan party members, cadres or government employees in the Chinese system itself, TAR authorities required all the working units to install video cameras at their gates and offices. All Tibetans say that “now it is really horrible, and everybody is living in fear.”
The various condemnation measures to “reveal and criticize the evil deeds of the Dalai clique”, including convening meetings, everybody making speeches and write condemnation articles, are still going on like wildfire. Even the primary school students are demanded to write condemnation articles. In the condemnation article a primary student writes “this organized and premeditated activity is schemed single-handedly by my mom.”
It is reported that, to protest against the despotic rule, recently nine Lhasa residents who bitterly hated the Chinese Communist Party’s suppression of Tibetans made open statements to the Global Center for Withdrawing from the Communist Party that they would withdraw from the Chinese Communist Party.
Some Amdo Tibetans disclosed that on the night of April 14 a great numbe of military police broke into Labrang Moanstery in Sangchu (Ch. Xiahe) County in Amdo (Kanlho [Gannan] Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province), and searched all the living quarters of the monks. They beat some monks who resisted, destroyed the properties of the monks and torn up the Dalai Lama’s photos enshrined and worshipped in the living quarters of the monks. Later after nearly 200 monks were arrested, they were taken away, interrogated and tortured. On April 15, some monks were released, but other monks are still in custody. At present in Kanlho [Ch. Gannan] Prefecture over 3,000 Tibetans, including monks, have been arrested. Though many people have been released in succession, they had to pay fines so as to avoid being detained. The amount of the fines imposed depends on the degree of the seriousness of the “offense”: the least amount is 2,000 or 3,000 yuan, but it can also be as great as tens of thousands of yuan. The authorities claim that the fines are used to pay the expenses of the military police.
In Jentsa (Ch. Jianza) County, Amdo (Tsolho [Ch. Huangnan] Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province), due to the fact that not long ago the local people held a peaceful protest, demanding the return of the Dalai lama, expressing their wish to meet with the eleventh Panchen Lama recognized by the Dalai lama and providing jobs for Tibetan college graduates, etc, recently about 50 people were arrested by the special police dispatched from Xining. Among them most of them are farmers, and there are not many monks.
The famous Tibetan singer and poet Jangyangkyi who is working at Qinghai Television Station was summoned by the Public Security Bureau of Qinghai Province on April 1, and she is still in custody now. At present we do not know her whereabouts. It is reported that the police secretly searcher Jangyangkyi’s house, and confiscated her computer and phone books. 40-year-old Jangyangkyi was born into a herdsman’s family in Mangra [Ch. Guinan] County in Amdo (Tsolho [Hainan] Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province),and she has a happy family, including two daughters. As a well-known singer, she has recorded and distributed many tapes, CDs, MTVs and DVDs. In 2006 she was invited to visit the United States of America, where she sang in performances and made speeches. In addition, she has Tibetan and Chinese blogs, which are well received by young Tibetans. She has also written Tibetan poems and articles, and she originally plans to publish a monograph.
Tibetans, who are working, doing odds jobs, studying or on business in Beijing, are excluded and monitored. Many hotels and inns refuse to let Tibetans register for rooms, and taxi drivers refuse to take Tibetans in Tibetan robes. The business of the Tibetan-style shops and Tibetan restaurants in Beijing has suffered a disastrous decline. Beijing Police authorities demand the managers of the Tibet-style shops and Tibetan restaurants immediately to report to the police if there are monks or any Tibetans who are discussing sensitive topics.
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