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 27
Press Statement by Oeser
Beijing Time 10:36 am
April 27th 2008
Ongoing Cyberattack on Oeser’s blog http://woeser.middle-way.net/
My website http://woeser.middle-way.net/ has been subjected to a cyber attack. The password was changed sometime yesterday (April 26). Since then I have been unable to log into my own website to either post new material or leave messages. This means that until control of the site can be recovered, postings by visitors are now monitored by whoever can log in with the changed password which I do not have. Please be careful with any of the postings after 1:30 am, April 27th Beijing time.
I am working with friends to recover control. Yet, it might take a while before the problem can be solved. It is possible that I might start another blog later.
The site houses my blog and includes information and comments from Tibetans about conditions and opinions inside Tibet.
This attack is one of numerous attacks by hackers on websites run by Tibetans or western scholars working to help Tibetans. These have happened increasingly in the past few weeks. It is part of the increasing cyberwarfare used by some people to stop others from expressing views and passing on information that they do not want others to know about. It is people who are afraid of the truth who try to stop others from speaking.
Oeser in Beijing
10:36 am
April 27, 2008
Woser is now posting her update on:
http://news.boxun.com/news/gb/china/2008/04/200804270108.shtml
April 26
The Hong Kong based Ming Pao published the news article entitled “Armed Police can still be Seen on Lhasa Streets, Tibet Tourism Open to Outside World on May 1.” It reads “ The special correspondent of Ming pao observed the situation in Lhasa and the surrounding areas this week, and found out that Jokhang Temple, Sera and Drepung Monasteries where riots took place are still closed to tourists, and only Tibetan believers are able to enter them.” I have sought confirmation from Tibetans in Lhasa, but it is proved to be false information. In fact, after March 10, the three well-known Great Monasteries in Lahsa – Drepung, Sera and Ganden Monasteries as well as Jokhang and Ramoch Temples in the center of Lhasa were closed one after another. Up to now no tourists are allowed to visit them, and Tibetans are more strictly forbidden to worship there. Even all the communication facilities are still blocked.
Yesterday when the Xinhua News Agency announced that the Chinese Communist Party will hold talks with the Dalai Lama side, at the same time over 1,000 party members attended the public meeting briefing them on the situation of the struggle against separatism sponsored by the offices which are directly subordinate to Tibet Autonomous Regional government. In addition, several hundred party members participated in the mobilization meeting of the education campaign, whose theme is entitled “ opposing separatism, safeguard stability and promote development ,” sponsored by institutions under TAR Political Consultative Conference. The official Chinese media Guangming Daily and CCP websites concerning Tibet are still attacking the Dalai Lama with lengthy articles. In reality, the situation has not improved at all in areas from Lhasa and Beijing.
Some Chinese hold that “ it is to hoodwink people no matter with whom CCP is holding talks. This time it is nothing but to request the Dalai Lama to stop the activities to disrupt the Olympic torch relay. After the talk starts, if there are Tibetans who try to attack the torch relay, then CCP will shift the blame onto the Dalai Lama, claiming he is not sincere about his intention to hold talks. Thus, they create an excuse to continue to demonize the Dalai Lama;” “ I personally hold that this is purely a strategy to reduce pressure – an all inclusive one to open a way for the Olympics… By releasing such a message, the Chinese authorities is probably aiming at obtaining a promise to attend the Olympics from the various major western governments”; “ this is an ‘empty’ consultation and discussion for the sake of ensuring the success of the Olympics by calming down the situation concerning the Tibet Issue”; “The Chinese announcement about the talk is a trick played by the Chinese government to cheat the world! It does not have any sincerity! If it is sincere, it should open Tibet to all the journalists in the world to interview and report about situation in Tibet, and allow the human right organizations under UN to go to Tibet to investigate into the massacres!” (see Free China Forum)
Most Tibetans doubt the announcement [by the Chinese government], and they do not have much hope for it. They hold that it is putting on a show for the sake of ensuring that Olympics will not be interrupted, and there will not be any satisfying result for Tibetans. The human rights situation in Tibetan areas, including Lhasa, is very poor, in Lhasa alone, over 150 Tibetans were killed during March 14 Incident. It is learned that up to now since March 14, when some Tibetans in Lhasa passed away, if their relatives took the corpse of the dead to the Sky Burial site (i.e. the Drigungthil sky burial platform), the packed corpses would be open and checked by the military police who set up checkpoints on the way. They are checking to see whether they were victims shot during March 14 Incident. This is the greatest disrespect and an act of profanity toward the deceased, which pained the Tibetans and made them resentful; it is an extravagant hope to hold religious ceremonies by monks in memory of the deceased. It is reported that in the various Tibetan areas the authorities have already started to purge Tibetans incorporated into the system. In Lhasa a few Tibetan policemen were dismissed, and the reason is that they diverged secrets.
Zhang Chaoyang, the CEO of the Chinese Sohu.com, led Tibet report team of Sohu.com to visit Lhasa, and they issued the video clip entitled “ The Exclusive Record from Zhang Chaoyang: Our Tibet is still very Good.” What he calls “a in-spot investigation” is carried at a Sichuan style ho pot restaurant in Lahsa; the so-called “the real life of Tibetans” is his conversation with six or seven people. Except one person, the rest are all Han Chinese who are working in Lahsa. Among them two Han Chinese claim that “their parents have worked in Tibet, and they are the second generation who has dedicate their youth to Tibet. At least 80% of Tibetans are very good to us, and they will not go against the motherland, rather they will stand together with the Chinese people”; they also asset that “ Tibet should not be Tibetan’s Tibet, rather it is Tibet for people of all nationalities in China… our Tibet is still very good”,
Zhang Changyang cheered for this, and said that he will prove to the world that Tibet is very happy, with the assumption that justice is on his side. He is simply more CCTV than CCTV itself. Whereas the steamy hot pot restaurant, the “second generation” acting as the spokesperson for Tibet, the two policemen outside of the window and the overbearing Zhang Chaoyang made the resistance as a result of the great sacrifices made by thousands of Tibetans appear to be rather weak —- in fact, our Tibet is still not very good at all! It is learned that Zhang Chaoyang and others are living in Himalayan Hotel. In order to create the appearance that there will be tourism upsurge in Tibet, they had the Tibetan opera troupe called “Shopa Lhamo” pretended to be busy with rehearsals, and had the staff in charge of the logistics for the travel agency pretend to be occupied with training. In addition, they also had the director of the travel agency to talk about the prospect for tourism. But people in the tourism industry disclosed that this year there would not be tourism upsurge in Tibet.
South China Morning Post published the interview with Peman, the chairman of Qinghai Provincial People’s Consultative Conference, and a Tibetan official from Yushul Prefecture, Qinghai Province, who is not willing to reveal his name. They openly criticized CCP authorities’ miscalculation, and disclosed that the purpose of educating and punishing Tibetan lay people and monks is a “struggle to fight against the Dailai lama for the popular feelings of people in various regions in Tibet,” therefore, “the main targets of this campaign are the monks and their monasteries who participated in the most serious resistance carried out within the last two decades; it is predicated that the campaign will last until August when the Olympics ends.” Pema also boldly mad ethe following remark, “Because we can see military police everywhere, and it seems to be stable now. The problem is how long can such kind of stability last? [The government] dealt with the protests heavy-handedly, and the countermoves they decided do not conform to any regularity, thus, this will only create more animosity.
Tibetans are still protesting against the Chinese authorities. Two nuns, 32-year-old Lhaga and 30-year-old Sonam Dekyi in Draka Nunnery in Ganzi County in Kham (Ganzi Prefecture, Sichuan Province) were arrested by the police on April 23, when they distributed “Wind-horse” banners with scriptures and leaflets written with such words as ‘Long Live the Dalai Lama” and “Tibet is a independent country,” etc, while shouting slogans in the county seat of Ganzi County.
My statement: My blog is probably subjected to a cyber attack, and it is also possible that its password was changed one more time, as a result, I have not been able to log onto my own blog to update the major events for today. But I am neither bothered by this nor loose heart because of it because this is not an unsolvable problem.
April 24
Tibet Daily continues to publish “the series of editorials exposing and criticizing the reactionary nature of the Dalai Separatist Clique”, attacking the Dalai Lama to be the chief source of turmoil in Tibet.” This shows that Tibet Authorities of CCP does reflect upon their erroneous policies toward Tibet, however, they have shirked all the responsibilities to the Dalai Lama. Furthermore, the wording and style of writing in these editorials is “Cultural Revolution” like clichés. Tibet Daily even published a preposterous article wrote by a Han Chinese who neither believes in Buddhism nor understands Buddhism. He actually questioned the Dalai Lama, saying “Dalai, can you abide by your religious discipline?” This is indeed absurd and ridiculous.
As for the arrangement of work by Tibet authorities recently, we can see that first they subject cadres who are party members, especially those on grass-root level, to strict political education, and try to control their thought in the name of “patriotic education.” Then, they administer the monasteries very strictly by sending work teams monasteries to punish every monk in the name of “legal education.” Finally, they organize the grass-root cadres to penetrate into the local communities, schools, agricultural and pastoral areas, and do not let off any residents, farmers, herdsmen or students. A few days ago, Lhundrup County Middle School transferred fourteen backbone teachers to form what is known as the Publicizing and Explaining Group of “ thoroughly exposing and criticizing the evil deeds of the Dalai clique and deepening the patriotic education.” They organized the students to view the photo exhibition concerning March 14 Incident and watch relevant movies. Meanwhile they had students write articles to expose and criticize the Dalai Lama, then broadcasted them on the school broadcasting station. In addition, they also showed patriotic movies to the students.
It is learned that that the authorities will impose curfew in Lhasa when the Olympic torch relay arrives in Tibet, and after May 1st they will control people who travel into or outside of Lhasa. Therefore, recently the various working units in Lhasa require all their staff to hand in a copy of their I.D. card and a mini-photo. In addition, all people who are included in the household registration also must hand in a copy of their I.D. card and a mini-photo. The reason is that they all need to obtain travel passes, and even the students in primary schools also need to get travel passes. Children in pre-school and children who are not in pre-school yet also must register. Since March 14, all the working units in Lhasa have started to be on duty around the clock, and even during the weekends and holidays they have to have people on duty, too. Such practice will probably not stop until the Olympic is over. In other Tibetan areas the authorities are also implementing similar system on having people on duty around the clock. The various units in Lhasa have warned their subordinates to keep their mouth shut, and they should absolutely not disclose any news to the outside world, in particular the news about making arrests. They claim that people can not spread rumor, and if they find anybody do so, they will thoroughly investigate the incident and punish the person accordingly.
We still do not know the details about monks who were arrested in Drepung, Sera and other monasteries. One can not reach the phones in the monasteries or the monks’cell phones. I strongly appeal to the outside world to pay attention to their situation and provide assistance. Since March 14 many people in Lhasa have been arrested, thus the prisons are fully occupied. Some people were transferred to the warehouse of the Railway Station. At present, some people have been released, but most of them are still in custody and are maltreated. In Lhundrup Country under Lhasa City, the authorities arrested too many people, so the local prisons are fully occupied. Some people are locked up in the local government’s auditorium, which is smelly and dirty with excrement and urine as there are no toilets available for the prisoners. The public health organizations are preparing to disinfect the auditorium.
On March 16 over 500 Tibetan students at Northwest University for Nationalities staged a protest and a quiet sit-in in Lanzhou city in Gansu Province; on March 17 over 100 Tibetan students at Southwestern Institute for Nationalities held a protest and a quiet sit-in in Chengdu City, Sichuan Province. Recently, it is learned that Northwestern University for Nationalities has required those students who participated in the protest and sit-in to turn in written self-criticism. In the reexamination for MA students at Southwest University for Nationalities there is a survey about this incident.
It is learned that at present over 10,000 armed police are stationing in Machu County in Amdo (Kanlho [Gannan] Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province), and the number of police is the same as that of the local residents. The first group of armed police who arrived at Machu County has already been replaced because of high-altitude reaction. Those armed police who were dispatch to replace the first group do not eat beef or mutton, so every day pork need to be transport to Machu. It is said that these armed police will station in the area until the Olympics is over. Most businessmen are planning to leave the region, and there are no tourists.
Some of the few students from Mewa [Ch. Hongyuan] County in Amdo (Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province) who were shot and injured by the military police on March 17 when they participated in the protest are physically disabled now. Over 30 Tibetans, including those who disclosed the local situation by sending short text messages, were arrested in the county seat.
April 23
In order to further control Tibetan and Tibetan communities, recently the various offices and the various neighborhood committees under the Lhasa Municipality investigated into the background of all people under their jurisdiction. All those who are registered local residents need to check their household registration documents, and all outsiders who are not registered Lhasa residents must register now. In the process of registration, both the landlords and the tenants are required to show certificates, identifications or permits to reside temporarily in Lhasa. Meanwhile, the landlords need to guarantee for the tenants, and know “three things” about their tenants: know their names, know their hometowns and know their professions. The authorities will strictly investigate into “those people with three without” (without identification card, without permit to reside temporarily and without any source of livelihood). Tibet Business Daily claims that the fastest way to get the permit to reside temporarily only takes two hours to process, however, in reality, it is far more difficult for Tibetans from other regions to get the permit to reside temporarily in Lhasa than the floating population of Han Chinese and Chinese Muslims (Hui). The monks from Kham and Amdo who are studying in Lhasa will be the first targets to be expelled from Lhasa.
Due to the fact that Olympic torch relay will arrive at Mount Everest in the last ten day period of May, 2008, and it will reach Lhasa on June 20.The local government in the various townships near Lhasa city already notified the farmers that since May 1 they are not allowed to travel to Lhasa or go there to sell cypress leaves for incense offering. Since the authorities will impose curfew which they will not admit to the outside world, at present the Lhasa residents are vying with each other to buy grains and other daily necessities so that they will be well prepared in case they are not allowed to leave their houses at that time. The troops which have started to station in Lhasa since March 14 have not withdrawn yet. They scatter to the yards of various working units, where they live in tents at present. The Lhsa Stadium is filled with tents set up by the troops and their trucks. Since last week, the authorities have issued orders to the various working units to clear out meeting halls and offices. It might be possible that the authorities are preparing for having additional troops to station in Lhasa to safeguard the Olympic torch relay.
We have learned some more information about the work teams to publicize laws and regulations in monasteries sponsored by TAR Public Security Bureau. Late at night of April 10, Thursday, TAR Public Security Bureau suddenly carried out mass arrests of monks at Drepung and Nechung monasteries. On the same night twelve trucks filled with arrested monks drove out the monasteries. At present, except old and physically weak monks, there are not many monks left in the monastery. There are only four monks left in Nechung Monastery. On the morning of April 16, Tuesday, TAR Public Security Bureau summoned all the security cadres and police, and told them that there were assignments for them, but did not disclose to them what their assignments were. All the cell phone were ordered to be turned off, and the directors would designate people to store them away. They showed three movies to these cadres and police, who were provided with free lunch and dinner. They waited until 12 mid-night to take action. First they went to wait for their order at the Horsemanship Training Center, then around 2:00am they were ordered to suddenly arrest monks from Sera monastery. Altogether over 400 monks were arrested. Thus, like the Drepung Monastery, except the old and weak monks, there are few monks left in Sera Monastery. Around 4:00am on April 18, Friday, the police from Chusul Public security Bureau under Lhasa Municipality and the special police from TAR suddenly carried our mass arrest at Droma Lhakang (a temple established in 11 century) in Nyetang, approximately 30 kilometers to the southwest of Lhas. Almost all the monks were arrested. Due to the fact that Nyetang Monastery owns a great number of rare cultural relics, at present the Chusul County government is dispatching cadres to take turn to guard these relics. These cadres jokingly commented that they became monks now. It is leaned that all those on duty from public security bureau, procuratorial organs and people’s courts are given a stipend of 100 yuan every day, not including the extra bonus. On April 18, the highest authority of Chinese Communist party in Tibet, Zhang Qingli visited Drepung and Sera Monasteries. On the same day Tibet Television Station reported that he “went to visit all the cadres of the work team to educate and publicize laws and regulations stationed in the monastery, and had a cordial informal discussion with the members of the Monastery Administration Committee and the representatives of the monks.” It is said that Tibetans scold Zhang severely in secret, and was resentful to Zhang’s action “of rather killing one thousand people by mistake than allowing one [who was involved in ‘subversive activities’] to escape.” Most Tibetans, including those incorporated within the Chinese system, are terrified and disturbed, but at the same time they are very angry, too. They held that in fact Zhang should mainly take responsibility for the incident of March 14. After having witnessed the cruelty of the authorities in suppressing the Tibetans, the false propaganda of the Chinese media and the phenomena that various Chinese regions start to exclude Tibetans, the Middle-aged and young Tibetans who used to be on the side of the authorities were rather shocked, felt lost and even felt a sense of being abandoned. Then they had strong animosity against the authorities. They think that the Dalai Lama is innocent and he has nothing to do with the March 14 Incident. We can say that the Chinese Communist Party have not reflected on the situation at all, instead they continue to implement their mistaken policies toward Tibet. Consequently, CCP has lost popular sentiments among more and more Tibetans.
It is reported that on April 12 monks from Pangsa and Droma Monasterie, nuns from Cholung Nunery and nearby villagers in Medro Gungkar under Lhasa City held a protest against the “Patriotic Education Campaign” carried out by the authorities, shouting such slogans as “Long live the Dalai Lama”, “Free Tibet”, etc. They were suppressed by the local military police, and we learned that several dozens of people were arrested, and many were severely injured. On the same night, a nun named Lobsang Tsomo from Cholung Nunnery hanged herself, and she was only 31 years old.
During the “Patriotic Education Campaign” being carried out in various Tibetan regions, the authorities demand the monastery to hang the Chinese flag on the top of the monastery, and require the monks to take an oath under the red flag with five stars to make a clear class distinction from the Dalai Lama. They even require very monk in the monasteries to have their pictures taken and to be videotaped by holding the red flag in their hands. Meanwhile, they are also demanded to sing their name on a blank paper, but many monks refused to cooperate.
Some working units which have employed Tibetan temporary workers have already fired these Tibetans, and these Tibetans who have lost their jobs are returning home on after another.
April 22
On April 16 Sichuan Personnel Network published the announcement concerning the Sichuan provincial public security organs’recruiting people’s police issued by Sichuan Provincial Politics and Law Committee, the Personnel Bureau and the Public Security Bureau. The first entry reads “The public security organs in Tibetan areas are recruiting 698 people’s policemen for the grass-root police stations and the police affair office.” These include 443 policemen for Ganzi Prefecture, 215 for Nagwa (Ch.Aba) Prefecture and 40 for Muli County in Liangshan Prefecture; in addition, in Ganzi and Ngawa Prefectures the authorities are recruiting people’s policemen for the positions of the special majors, of which 239 for Ganzi Prefecture and 102 for Ngawa Prefecture. These positions include Tibetan language translators. The announcement emphasizes that “all those whose partners, immediate family members, close relatives or relatives by marriage have received death penalty, are serving their sentences or engage in activities to subvert our country in China and abroad” are forbidden to apply for the position.
Because Mount. Everest is located in Tingri County (Ch. Dingri), Shagatse (Ch. Rikaze) Prefecture, yesterday Shigatse Prefecture held the mobilization meeting to ensure the safe arrival of Olympic torch at the top of Mount Everest, requiring the various police forces under the politics and law organizations, various functional institutions, armed police, border defense forces, fire fighting forces and internal security forces to attach importance to the Olympic torch relay. It is learned that when the torch enters Lhasa, the authorities will impose a curfew in Lhasa. At that time Tibetans will be forbidden to go on pilgrimage or circumambulation trips, but the authorities will not admit that they impose curfew in Lhasa. The various travel agencies in Lahsa received the approval from TAR Youth League Committee that after the Olympic torch arrives at Lahsa, at least 20,000 Han Chinese (most of them will be staff working for the travel agencies and tourists) will hold the activity known as “Safeguard the Torch and Love one’s Country” at Potala Square. Furthermore, since May all Tibetans who do not have their household registration in Lhasa or have no regular job there (including monks from other Tibetan areas who are studying in various monasteries in Lhasa) must return to their hometown. Meanwhile, no Tibetans from Amdo or Kham, i.e. outside of TAR, are allowed travel to Lhasa. It is reported that all the areas where the Olympic torch relay passes will use the similar measures to deal with the issue.
Today Tibet Daily published one of “the series of editorials exposing and criticizing the reactionary nature of the Dalai Separatist Clique”, which claims that “from today on, Tibet Daily again publish a series of editorials to expose and criticize the counter-revolutionary nature of the Dalai Separatist Clique.” This article attacked the Dalai Lama with high-sounding words, and determined the nature of the Dalai Lama as “three calamities and the chief boss”, i.e. “he is the ringleader who damages the fundamental interests of the Tibetan people, is the cause of misfortune for Tibetan people, is the disaster for people in China, and is the chief boss of the separatist political clique which schemes for “Tibet Independence.”
Another round of cultural revolution-like political campaigns are carrying out on a large scale in various regions in Tibet. Manling (Ch.Milin) County, Lingtri (Ch. Linzhi) Prefecture organized nine work teams and dispatched to the various townships, monasteries and others. The measures they took include publicizing the issued to mass assemblies, condemning [the Dalai Clique] in mass assemblies, investigating and finding out the real situation, establishing the regulations and rules and implementing the planning vigorously.
The mass arrests of monks are still going on. It is reported that there are only four monks left in Nechung (Ch. Naiqiong) Monastery near Drepung Monastery in Lhasa. When Tibetans talk about the harsh suppression of the various monasteries, they are all very indignant, but are very scared as well. Since all the monasteries have been forced to close, many Tibetans have to offer butter lamps in front of the carved statues of Buddha on the rocks of Chapori Mountain (Ch. Yaowang shan), to pray from monks and lay people who were suppressed by the authorities.
It is reported that in a Sakya Monastery named Nalantho in Central Tibet (Lhundrup Country, Lhasa City in TAR), on April 17 eight monks were arrested. In Shitsang Monastery in Amdo (Cone County in Kanlho [Ch. Gannan] Prefecture, Gansu Province) 32 monks were arrested on April 15 and April 16.In Chopel Tashi Chokor Monastery in Dorkho Township in Amdo (Cone County in Kanlho [Ch. Gannan] Prefecture, Gansu Province), over 200 monks were arrested. In Tatsang Lhamo Kirti Monastery, Sengdo Monastery and Docho Village in Amdo (Dzoge County, Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province) four monks, who are Koncho Tarke, Koncho Retan, Tayi, Bugang Dargyal, and four villagers known as Puntso (20 year old), Ato (19 year old), Puntso (19 year old), Kandro Tsering (14 years old) were arrested. On the night of April 19, over 190 monks from Tatsang Lhamo Kirti Monastery secretly left the monastery to take refugee in the mountains
The monk named Tusong from Kirti Monastery in Amdo (Ngawa County, Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Orefecture, Sichuan Province) committed suicide at the age of 29 on April 16. He was a blind person. Before he killed himself, he said to his family, “We do not need to mention that you with eyes can not stand such kind of life, Even I, a blind person, can not endure it.”
The information about a few Tibetan artists, teachers and poets who were arrested is as follows: On March 31, the folk artists Dabe, also known as Dawatar, and Dromakyi as well as those who are teaching Tibetan language among the people, including Pachenkya, Lhundrup and Sonam Dorje, were arrested. All five of them were taken to Xining and took into custom. At present we do nto know their whereabouts. On April 1, the well-known female singer and poet Jamyangkyi, who is working at Qinghai Television Station, was summoned by Qinghai Provincial Public Security Bureau and up to now has been taken into custody.
Dabe, also known as Dawatar is the famous bard, who is known as “Golok Dabe” among Tibetan people. On March 3, 2003, after having obtained permission from the local government, Dabe founded Mayul Gesar Art Group (Rma yul ge sar seng chen sgyu rtsal tshogs pa). This is an independent performance group, which has not received any financial aid and whose aim is to develop Tibetan culture by training and educating local people in need. The training program offers dance classes as well as Tibetan and Chinese classes. Some herdsmen will have opportunity to find employment through such studies. He is one of the important cultural figures in Golok. In 1990 he created a kind of Layi (love songs) in 1990; he received awards for his cross-talk performances in 1996 and 2001 respectively. Meanwhile, he also sing and tell Gesar stories, and he issued a VCD entitled “The Art of Telling and Singing Gesar Stories”, which is notes as “the special edition of Gesar stories created and told by Golok Dabe himself.” On the link http://www.tibet3.com/chinese/shis/content/2007-02/02/content_196337.htm£¨one can see he and another Tibetan were performing Geasr cross-talks.
Dromakyi: She is a famous singer. She is also one of the members of Myul Gesar Art group. She also established Black Tent and White Lotus Art Group’(Sbra nag gangs yul me tog sgyu rtsal tshogs pa). Originally she planned to only recruit actresses, but because there were a lot of people who requested to join the group, later she also accepted actors as well. She was the leading role in a few VCD issued by Mayul Gesar Art Group. She is also known for being the host for programs and performances. In addition, she recorded Layi (Love Song) tapes.
Palchenkyap: He is the leader of Machen Cultural Aid Group. This is a cultural aid group which carries out literacy programs in the vast nomadic regions. The group dispatches teachers to teach Tibetan to children of nomads. In order to promote the program, Palchenkyap and two other teachers issued two music VCDs to promote education (one of the VCD is known as “Tibetan Home). In the summer of 2007, they received finaical aid from an American NGO to carry out this education program.
Henzhou (also written as Lhundrup): He is the second in command of Machen Cultural Aid Group and the Literacy Program in nomadic areas. He is also an artist playing dunglen (Tibetan styled lute), and performed for a few VCDs. The lyrics for his songs are mostly about the importance of promoting education and improving women’s living conditions.
Jamyangkyi, whose pen name is Meng Zhu, was born in Sangdo Latsa village in Mangra, Amdo. At present it is under the jurisdiction of Mangra County (Ch. Guinan), Tsolho (Hainan) Prefecture, Qinghai Province. In 1993 she graduated from polytechnic department under Tsolho (Ch. Hainan) Teacher’s College for Nationalities in Qinghai. In the same year, she began to work at the Tibetan language section of Qinghai Television Station. Up to April 2008 she has mainly engaged in editing, broadcasting, translating, writing and directing news programs. In 1994 she began to enroll in a three-year program taught by correspondence sponsored by Qinghai Education College. She is a Tibetan singer who is well-known among all Tibetans and overseas Tibetan communities. She has issued at least five solo albums, including “Black Tent”, “Shambala”, “The Charm of Snow”, “Faraway Lover” and ‘You and Me.”In addition, she also issued three CD and VCD albums, such as “The Charm of Snow”, “Yearning for Tibet”,“Destiny”, etc. She is also one of the few Tibetans who devote themselves to the study of the rights and interests of Tibetan women and children, and she published some articles on the rights and interests of women. In March 2006, she was invited to participate in Tibetan New Year performance sponsored by Latse Library in New York and the Tibetan Studies symposium sponsored by Columbia University. She also has Tibetan and Chinese blogs, which are well received by Tibetan youth. She also wrote many Tibetan poems and articles, and originally planned to publish a monograph.
April 21
Today Tibet Daily reports: Lhasa City formally started the education campaign with the theme of “Opposing Separatism, Safeguarding stability and Promoting Development.” It will last for two months and is divided into “three steps”. Using both carrot and stick, the campaign will carry out various brain-washing activities to educate party members and cadres among the farmers and herdsmen as well as farmers and herdsmen themselves. Meanwhile, the authorities encourage people to explain by using one’s experience as an example and organize people to denounce [“the evil doing”]. Its aim is to “deepen anti-separatist struggle and counterattack the Dalai clique’s scheme to split [the country].”Dorje Tsedrub, the deputy party secretary of Lhasa Municipal Party Committee and mayor of Lhasa Municipality, claims that the performance in the campaign will be used as important standards to assess the achievements of party members and cadres.
The patriotic Education Campaign whose main theme is to “anti-separatism” has already penetrated into the various counties under carious prefectures in TAR. On April 18 Tibet Daily reports that Sangri County in Lhokha (Ch. Shannan) Prefecture is going to carry out a two-month “patriotic education campaign” among the party members, cadres, retirees, the troops stationing in the region and the armed police, including armed police under the rule of the people’s armed force department of the county and the squadron stationing in the county, youth mainly consisting of primary and middle school students, the farmers, herdsmen, individual businessmen and the religious figures mainly comprised of monks and nuns in monasteries. Furthermore, people who are going to undergo the education campaign are divided into five categories, and the campaign is dived into five phases to be carried out. We can say that nobody can escape the campaign. Judging from this, it seems that every township, every county and every prefecture will carry out the political campaign of the same scale, and this will be another “Cultural Revolution” sweeping across the Tibetan areas and touching on the soul of Tibetans.
Some official Chinese media published the interview with Jampa Puntso, the chairman of TAR, by Hong Kong based Phoenix TV Sataion. Jampa Puntso was a former commander of the rebel faction during the “cultural Revolution”. In Jampa his reply, there are full of loopholes, which are worth analyzing. For instance, first, he claimed that they adopted “a comparatively appropriate method of prevention and control” toward the monks from Drepung monastery who staged a peaceful protest on March 10, and then what kind of method of prevention and control is considered comparatively appropriate? Second, he said that when the March 14 Incident happened, “we absolutely could not use any weapon with killing or wounding power”, however, at present some eye witnesses have already written articles or conducted interviews to reveal that they not only heard gun shots, but also saw with their own eyes that the special police killed many people in Parkhor street.
Third, he said that “we can say that we know, to some degree, the connection and intention of the overseas separatists with those in China, and we are somewhat prepared,” but he further explained that “this time [the events] are premeditated longer than we expected and are better prepared.” Since they already know about the event and are also prepared for it, they did not act on time to avoid the escalation of the incident. Apparently, their action is dereliction of duty. Fourth, he said that ‘those to whom the court of law, the Procuratorate and the Public security Bureau issue joint announcement to urge them to surrender themselves’ are mostly Tibetans, but certainly there are people of other ethnic groups, including Han Chinese.” This is a lie! Because all 170 people on the most wanted list are Tibetan,and there is not any Han Chinese in the list! Lastly, he said that “at the beginning the number of people on the most wanted lists are over 40, later the number increased to over 50, and now the number is over 90. Among over 90 people, as far as I know, up to yesterday, approximately 22 people surrendered themselves. Some of them were captures, and now there are over 70 people on the lists.” This is also a lie! On April 18 the deputy director of Lhasa city Public Security Bureau announced on the press conference that the number of people on the most wanted lists are 170, which include 80 who were captured. The 82 include 11 people who surrendered themselves. Though there are still 77 people on the most wanted lists, but it is still an unsettled question whether they are still at large or were already killed.
On April 17 in Rebkong (Ch. Tongren) County, Amdo (Rebkong County, Tsolho [Ch. Huangnan] Prefecture, Qinghai Province), because some monks from Rongwu Monastery demanded the authorities to release those monks who were arrested earlier, though they did not have any protest, it was a peaceful petition, yet they angered the authorities. As a result, the authorities dispatched armed police who madly beat and arrested people involved. When the seventy-year-old well respected local reincarnate Lama Khaso Rinpoche tried to dissuade the police, his head was injured and he was arrested. When a few Tibetan women saw the reincarnated Lama suffering, they cried out and shouted “Our reincarnated lama is about to beat to death”, immediately they risked their lives to save the lama, consequently, they were arrested, too. Villagers in the neighborhood rushed to stop the police, but they were all arrested. Among those who were arrested, the youngest is 15, and the oldest is 75. The 75-year-old man pleaded the military police to stop, but after he was struck down to the floor with a baton, he was also taken into custody. These people’s two hands were tied with iron wires, and as some were tied too tight, the iron wires cut deeply into their flesh. At that time they arrested up to 100 people, who filled four military trucks. Then, a great number of military police rushed into Rongwu Monastery, viciously beating and capturing several hundred monks. Next they searched the living quarters of the monks, confiscated the Dalai Lama’s photos and DVDS. They also arbitrarily destroy articles, and stole the monks’possessions. They even seized tea from the monks. Some say that the number of monks and lay people arrested in Rebkong is up to 430.
Together with Kaso Rinpoceh, another reincarnated lama named Changtse Rinpoche was also arrested. The beating and arresting of the reincarnated lamas incurred great grief and indignation among Tibetans. When all the villagers from Nyandu village were about to stage a demonstration, they were persuaded to go back home by Khanchen Rinpoceh. When the most well respected and well-known reincarnated Lama Sharitsang met with the officials from Tsolho ( Ch. Huangnan) Prefecture, he said excitedly, “In future, do not ask us reincarnated lamas to mediate such incidents, and we will never participate in such coordinating activities. If you continue to do so, you should just close the monasteries. Among the common people, it is said that Shangritsang Rinpoche has already resigned his official positions in the government to show his standpoint, but as Kaso rinpoche was severely injured, he was transferred to undergo medical treatment at Qinghai Provicial Hospital. At present, Rongwu Monastery was still controlled by a great number of military police, and all the religious activities were forced to stop. Many Tibetan cadres feel aggrieved. Some Tibetan cadres wept bitterly,and said “Where are the mountain spirits and protective deities we worship on all the holidays? Today when many people were arrested, unexpected it is a clear and boundless sky.” The relationship between Han Chinese and Tibetan is deteriorating, and curses and abuses between Han Chinese and Tibetans happened now and then. The local people exclaimed, “In fact, the physical harm is far lesser than the psychological harm these incidents caused to Tibetans incorporated with the Chinese system; even if the incident is calmed down, it is hard to heal the psychological harm caused to Tibetans within the Chinese system.”
In addition, on April 14 a great number of military police suddenly arrived at Nyantho Monastery in Ngolha Township, Machu County in Amdo (Kanlho [Gannan] Tibetan autonomous Prefecture, gansu Province), and searched the living quarters of the monks. They confiscated the Dalai Lama’s photos and DVDs, and arrested 150 monks. On April 11 and April 16, several dozens of Tibetans from Tserima Township, Machu County, were arrested. The names we obtained are as follows: the 18-year-old Lhama Tsering, the 19-year-iold Losanggyal, the 22-year-old Tsering Dorje, the 30-year-old Tsarima, the 19-year-old Lhama, the 33-year-old Gesanggyal, the 23-year-old Khrdrup, the 36-year-old Ngondra and his son Jamyang Thome. At present we do not know their whereabouts.
April 20
Correction: The total number of people on the most wanted lists issued by the authorities should be 170, not 169 noted in an early entry.
During the press conference on the morning of April 18, Jiang Zaiping, the Deputy Director of Lhasa Municipal Public Security Bureau, said that up to the present 365 people suspected of being involved in “March 14 Incident of Beating, Smashing, Looting and Burning” have voluntarily surrendered themselves. In addition, 170 suspects against whom the authorities have evidence proving their involvement have been listed on the most wanted lists. Among these suspects on the most wanted list, 82 have been captured, and 11 of them voluntarily surrendered themselves. This official maintains that the authorities “obtained evidence to show that these suspects were involved into the incident of beating, smashing, looting and burning,” and the “Joint Announcement” issued by TAR Supreme Court,TAR Procuratorate and TAR Public Security Bureau also claims that these monks were involved in such illegal activities as beating, smashing, looting and burning. However, judged from the pictures of people on the most wanted lists on Sina.com (among them, there are no pictures for No. 143, No. 144 and between no. 155 to no. 165. The picture for No. 121 and No. 128 overlapped), there are as many as 37 monks between No. 112-170 on the most wanted lists, and they are between the age of 20-40. Judging from the time when they were listed on the most wanted list, these monks should be the ones who were put on the most wanted list after they protested against the work team’s demand to criticize the Dalai Lama in Derepung Monastery as well as some monks who were put on the most wanted lists for the same reason in other monasteries. When we look at their facial expressions and postures on the pictures on the most wanted lists, they were simply appealing and providing a verbal defense. None of the pictures show that monks were involving in beating, smashing, looting and burning. Then, these monks were forced by these work teams and suppressed by fully armed military police in their monasteries, how is it possible to have any evidence to prove their involvement in March 14 Incident of Beating, Smashing, Looting and Burning?” Since March 10 they had been under house arrest in their monasteries, and it has been for a month. These monks are still on the most wanted lists, but,they are surrounded layer upon layer by the military police. Except the fate of being beat and arrested, how is it possible for them to escape from their monasteries? Up to the present, we do not know whether these monks are dead or alive. I appeal to the outside world to pay close attention to the situation of the monks.
It is reported that before dawn on April 18 about 40 trucks full of military police drove to Sera Monastery on the northern suburb of Lhasa, then,they arrested and took away over 400 monks. There are originally 700 monks in Sera Monastery, but at present there are only old and young monks. It is learned that monks dressed in thin clothes were taken to be imprisoned in Dunlung Dechen County. Most of the monks from Ganden Chokhor Monastery in Lhundrup Country, Lhasa, were arrested, and the nuns form Shepungpa Nunnery in Lingdrup Country were also arrested one after another.
All the working units in TAR and other Tibetan areas in Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan and Yunnan provinces, one after another, held the various meetings angrily to condemn the Dalai Clique.” Some former Red Guards, the former rebel factions and the form “activists”, who were active during the “Cultural Revolution” have again picked up the crazy languages prevalent during the “Cultural Revolution.” They gibed at the Dalai Lama and Tibetans in exile, and some even launched personal attacks against the former. Some cadres who retired with special honors or retired regularly suggested that the authorities should establish Joint Defense organizations among the residents, in reality, these organizations are just like the militia organization which “turned all the civilians into soldiers” during the “Cultural Revolution.” In other words, they are plainclothes police.
At present, the various recreation arenas in Lhsa, including dancing halls, night clubs, Karaoke halls, tea houses, bath centers, feet washing houses, beauty salons and hair salons, continue to open again, and the sex industry in Tibet also continue to carry out its business as usual. However, Nangma halls where mainly Tibetan songs and dances are performed and majority of whose customs are Tibetans, have not been allowed to open for business at present. The reason is that the authorities are afraid that Tibetans would gather together and stir up trouble. It is learned that many people want to leave Lhasa. Among them are businessmen whose businesses are slack in the moment or Tibetans who have been incorporated into the Chinese system. There is a saying among the latter group that they felt unsafe when there are no soldiers, but they felt even more anxious when there are soldiers.
Along the streets in the areas between pedestrian street of Yuthok Road to the Jokhang Temple sound activated equipments have been installed.
This Friday, April 18, the Central University for Nationalities in Beijing demand over 140 students who participated in the candlelight vigil on March 17 to submit self-criticism, and some students submitted their self-criticism under the pressure. On the press conference held by the News Office of the Sate Council on April 2, Sherab Nyima, the vice president of the Central University for Nationalities, said that they did not find students who supported the activity of March 14, but he admitted that there were indeed some students who staged a quiet sit-in to pray for peace after they heard about the incident of beating, smashing, looting and burning and felt very unsettled. But he also said that “all the Tibetan teachers and students expressed their indignation against the Incident of “March 14” in Tibet.
Recently, many of the 21 lawyers who have expressed their willingness to provide legal assistance to Tibetans arrested were warned by the Chinese authorities, summon to have face to face talk or were warned on phone forbidding them to be involved. I just learned that at present it is time for the authorities to carry annual inspection for licenses for lawyers, but so far the authorities delayed their annual inspection for at least two lawyer’s offices, which will result in affecting about 100 lawyers. If the delay is too long, this will cause internal conflicts among the lawyers. A few extreme Chinese nationalists wrote to the public e-mail address of the lawyers who are willing to provide legal assistance for Tibetans, and they reviled and threatened these lawyers in the following words: “… Wait until I find you beasts, wait and see how I deal with you. Jump now, and try to be in the limelight. Whoever come out to defend the Tibetan separatists, I will claim your life and your family’s lives…”
April 19
Today there is not much news.
The most wanted lists which have been issued continuously for many days seem to come to an end now. Altogether 25 most wanted lists, on which there are 169 Tibetan monks and lay people, were announced. Recently over 30 people on the most wanted lists were removed from the lists, and the reason given by the authorities is that they were either captured or voluntarily submitted themselves to the authorities.
It is learned that in some working units with a relative larger number of Tibetan employees, for instance China Tibetology Research Center, required all the employees to write articles to condemn “March 14” Incident in Lhasa and other incidents happened one after another in other Tibetan areas. In their words, “Thoroughly reveal and criticize the Dalai Separatist Clique.” All the employees at Beijing Tibetan Medicine Hospitals are required to register at the local police station. The Tibetan employees at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the National Committee of the National Affairs, Nationalities Publishing House, the Central University for Nationalities and other working units are required to attend meetings and study about the issues so as to check “the hidden danger” for safety. The authorities of the various colleges and universities also vigorously guard against the Tibetan students. One Tibetan student comments on the situation as follows: “ Our teachers summoned us to talk to us, and the policemen from the local police station found us to advise us to provide some “information”. The school administrations started to have us fill out special questionnaires for minority students, and dispatched party members to investigate our words and deeds…” Similarly, Tibetan Middle School in Beijing and other middle schools where there are Tibetan students also sternly take precautions, and forbid the students to contact the outside world.
April 18
It is learned that over 200 monks and lay people arrested yesterday in Rebgong (Ch. Tongren) County in Amdo (Tsolho [Ch. Huangnan] Prefecture, Qinghai Province) are held at Rebgong Public Security Bureau, but we do not know their conditions at present. Rongwu Monastery, the well-known major local monastery, has been surrounded by military police who are also stationing at the monastery. The monastery remains closed to the believers and tourists who were forbidden to go on pilgrimage or visit it.
The cross-talk artist Dorbe and female singer Dromakyi form Machen County, the county seat of Golok Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, in Amdo (Golok Prefecture, Qinghai Province) were arrested. The cross-talk artist Dorbe is the chairman of Dorbe Art Center in Golok, and the singer Dromakyi is the member of the Association for Protecting Women’s Rights of Golok Prefecture. They were arrested on March 31. It is learned that the reason for Dorbe to be arrested is that he supported the protest staged by monks from the Labrang Monastery by printing the Tibetan Flag of Snow Mountain and Lion and the Dalai Lama’s photos. When the military police was arresting Dorbe, they insulted his dignity by burning his beard and hair with cigarette lighter. The reason Dromakyi was arrested is probably related to the lyrics she wrote.In addition, on March 31 five people from a private Tibetan language school in Muchen County, including the principal Pachenkya, the deputy principal Lhundrub and the teacher Sonam Dorje, were taken away to be imprisoned in Xining. At present we do not know any details about their situation.
Beijing Olympic Torch relay will enter Tibet Autonomous Region in mid-May, and it will be escorted to Mount Everest between May 19 to May 23, therefore, the authorities originally proclaimed that in May Tibet will open to tourism, but now they have changed their decision. They claim that the condition has not become ripe yet, thus, they postponed the plan to open Tibet to international and domestic tourists. They have not determined the new dates for Tibet to open to tourists. People working in the tourism industry in Lhasa reveled that this year they will not receive tourists from Europe or America. Some institutions of the tourist industry will be on vocation, but the government will grant them full pay.
Tibet Autonomous Region is implementing harsher new regulations. Since April 12 all the monasteries in various areas, without exception, are required to hang the Chinese flag. If there are any people who oppose it, they will be punished mercilessly. It is learned that all the monasteries in Tibetan areas in Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan and Yunnan Provinces are also required to implement this regulation. At present, the Three Great Monasteries (Drepung, Sera and Ganden Monasteries) in Lhasa, the Ramoche and Jokhang Temples, which have been sealed off for over a month, are still surrounded by the military police. While the believers are forbidden to pay homage to the monastery, so are the monks to leave the monastery.
Today in Lhasa no most wanted list was broadcasted in Lhasa.But the Art and Literature Channel of Tibet Television Station and Lhasa Television Station broadcasted the announcement to eliminate about a 23 Tibetans from the most wanted list. They are all monks. It is said that they might be the monks who were arrested as a result of protesting against criticizing the Dalai Lama in Drepung and other monasteries. The reason to cancel the arrest warrant for them is either they have already been captured or had been hand in to the authorities by the Work Team.
I interviewed a Tibetan who just arrived in Beijing by train from Lhasa. He lives near the Parkhor Street. In the afternoon of March 10 he saw the police from the local police station arrested some monks and four commoners in the square of the Jokhang Temple. After March 11, there had been a great number of plainclothes policemen from morning till night, among whom there were several dozens of short-hair plainclothes policewomen. Before 3:00pm on March 14, at the Northern Street of Parkhor he saw masked special operation police in black suit fired at Tibetans who staged a demonstration by walking around Parkhor, and he saw with his own eyes that a teenager girl died of a bullet piercing through her throat. In addition, the special operation police drove rapidly to the spot and threw the girl’s body on the car. His friend saw from upstairs that the special operational police fired at people in Parkhor and killed several people, and later their corpses were all seized by the police. When he fled to the East Lingkhor Road of outside of Parkhor, he saw in front of the gate of TAR Public Security Bureau many policemen were using cameras or video cameras to take pictures of Tibetans who were smashing the shops or burning the cars only one street away from them. Others were looking on unconcerned, and he did not see any of them attempt to try to stop. Later he also saw three tanks with Caterpillar treads drove from Jiangsu Road to the East Lingkhor Road. The next day, he also saw armored cars.
Lhasa people comment that, “These days it is rather common to hear that some people were arrested or some people just died.”
April 17
As early as two months ago, i.e. on the evening of February 11,because the military police disrupted the religious ceremony held by the local monastery in Rebgong (Ch. Tongren) County in Tsolho (Ch. Huangnan) Prefecture, Qinghai Province, it caused great resentment among the local monks and lay people. Thus, they shouted slogans demanding freedom of religious belief and wish a long life to the Dalai Lama. Consequently, they were dispersed by the local government with tear gases, and madly arrested over 200 monks and lay people. The next day, this prompted several thousand monks and lay people to stage a demonstration at the county seat, demanding the local government to release the monks and lay people who were arrested. Under the pressure, the local government had to release all those who were arrested, but three monks and one old man were severely injured resulting from beating, and had to be sent to the emergency room so as to save their lives. Soon afterward, the authorities transferred special police from Xining and Zhengzhou (in the local hotel there are banners on which such words as “welcome the special police from Zhengzhou to stay at our hotel) to Rebgong. Suppressed by the massive forces, the “Incident of February 11” happened in Rebgong was temporarily calmed down, but we can say this is the prelude to the series of incidents happened after March 10 in Lhasa and protests which spread to all Tibetan areas. On March 17, all the monks of Rongwu Monastery in Rebgong (Ch. Tongren) County made incense offering at the mountain pass to the wet of Rongwu Monastery, reciting in unison prayers for the Dalai Lama. Later when the monks were about to go on protest in downtown, they were prevented from going by lay people who were crying out loud and pleading them not to go. Some monks slashed their wrists under great indignation and resentment, and appeared to be very excited. At that time, the armed policemen were on high alert. In the end, the monks made several demands to the government via the reincarnated lama of the monastery Sharitsang Rinpoche: the armed policemen cannot patrol around the monastery; dismantle the security cameras installed in the monastery; Buddhist activities such as making incense offering should not be stopped unreasonably. The local government agreed to all the demands. However, in the afternoon, the local officials organized work teams to visit Tibetan families, forcing Tibetans to sign their name on the written pledge. They had to pledge not to go on protest etc. At the same time, on March 18, police with special duties from Xining were dispatched to Rebgong and the authorities continued their revenge against the protesters. On April 15, the authorities again arrested the old man and monks who were injured resulting from beating in the “Incident of February 11” and kept them in custody. Thereafter, some monks and lay people who participated in the protest were arrested on after another. At the same time, they have been keeping a close watch on and controlling the dissidents in the region. This morning (April 17) some monks from Rongwu Monastery went to inquire about the conditions of monks and lay people who are imprisoned by the authorities, the local government ignored them, and did not give any answers to them. On their way back to the monastery, these monks were surrounded and blocked by the military police. First they arrested 20 monks on the spot. The common people pleaded the police and attempted to prevent them from taking action; soon quite a great number of these lay people were also arrested and taken away. This incident happened around noon. According to a local person, at that time about 100 monks and lay people, who filled four military trucks, were arrested. Among them there was a reincarnated lama known by his Dharma name Khaso, who is a well respected 60-year lama. He was also arrested when he was trying to mediate. Throughout the incident, none of the monks or lay people resisted, they were just expressing their wishes and appealing. In the afternoon, the authorities dispatched a great number of military police to rush to Rebgong from Xining. It is said that, in reality, they are infantry soldiers who changed into military police uniform and changed their plate numbers as well. Meanwhile, a great number of fully armed military police charged into Rongwu Monastery, carrying batons and machine guns. They searched all the living quarters of the monks, confiscated all the photos of the Dalai Lama and all the DVDS concerning the Dalai Lama. Many monks were arrested and taken away from the monastery. The local people said that 80% of the monks in Rongwu Monastery were arrested, and altogether at least 200 monks and lay people were arrested. At present the monastery is rather empty. There are only a few old monks left in the monastery, but even they are not allowed to leave the monastery. The local people’s morale is rather low, and they are sad and indignant. Even those Tibetans who are incorporated into the Chinese system are very dissatisfied. Everyone feels insecure, and the atmosphere is rather intense.
On April 14, in Tso (Ch. Hezuo) city and Sangchu (Ch. Xiahe) County, Labrang Monastery was searched by the military police and its monks were arrested. In addition, Gyamogong and Kajagong monasteries in Tso city and Tsayu Monastery in Tsayu Township, Malong Monastery in Thangkanga Township, Kangse Monastery in Kyitsang Township, Tashi Monastery in Thangkanga Township in Sangchu County were also searched by the military police. On April 15, Ngawo Chenmo Monastery in Sangchu was searched by the military police, and nine monks were arrested. The Chinese authorities announced that the military police searched some monasteries in accordance with the information provided by the common people, and they found a batch of guns, knives, explosives and others banned by the authorities. In order to fabricate the charges against the Tibetans as “terrorists”, it seems that similar evidence like this will be found by the police in other monasteries in Tibetan areas.
According to the report by the official Chinese media, after the Incident of March 14 in Lhasa happened, the public security organs have already detained 953 suspects who were suspected of being involved in beating, smashing, looting and burning activities, among whom 362 suspects voluntarily surrendered themselves. Among those who were arrested, 328 were already released. Among those who were detained there are 403 people whose arrest warrants were approved by the procuratorates. 93 suspects are still at large and they are on the most wanted list. So far 13 of these 93 people were arrested. In addition, nine suspects whoa re on the most wanted list surrendered themselves.
According to the report by the official Chinese media, after the Incident of March 14 in Lhasa happened, the public security organs have already detained 953 suspects who were suspected of being involved in beating, smashing, looting and burning activities, among whom 362 suspects voluntarily surrendered themselves. Among those who were arrested, 328 were already released. Among those who were detained there are 403 people whose arrest warrants were approved by the procuratorates. 93 suspects are still at large and they are on the most wanted list. So far 13 of these 93 people were arrested. In addition, nine suspects whoa re on the most wanted list surrendered themselves.
Today in Lhasa no most wanted list was broadcasted on TV. But the Art and Literature Channel of Tibet Television Station and Lhasa Television Station broadcasted the announcement to eliminate about a dozen Tibetans from the most wanted list. Most of them are monks. It is said that they are the monks who protested against criticizing the Dalai Lama. The reason to cancel the arrest warrant for them is either they have voluntarily surrendered or already captured. The authorities claim that the lawless people whose number on the most wanted list was no. 119 and no. 123 have already admitted their guilt, thus the arrest warrants were cancelled.
April 15
The incident happened in Drepung Monastery on April 11 is becoming somewhat clearer. The report by phayul website reads as follows: According to news verified via reliable channels by Tibet Center for Human Rights and Democracy, Tibet Autonomous Regional government dispatched the “Work Team to Publicize Laws and Regulations” to station at Drepung Monastery. They have started to carry out the “Patriotic Education Campaign” and such propaganda activities as “Opposing the Dalai Clique”, but they met with unanimous opposition by all the monks. The Work Team summoned a great number of military police to control those monk who were protesting against their action, thus, a certain number of monks were arrested and taken away with the excuse that they disturbed and protested against the “Patriotic Education” campaign. We do not know the details about their arrests or the location where they are detained. Though on April 13 the official Chinese news media Xinhua agency reports the event that the Work Team began to station at Drepung Monastery, the news report conceals the information about the monks’ protest and those monks who were arrested. Extra armed police deployed there blocked all roads leading to Drepung Monastery. The police stationed at the monastery strictly restrict the monks’ freedom of movement, and forbid any visitors from outside, including believers, to enter the monastery. Some sources claim that the monks at Drepung Monastery who were arrested were transported to Chushul County and Ngachu region respectively.
All the government institutions and working units under Tibet Autonomous Region are holding meetings. It is claimed that all cadres starting from the grass-root level, in particular the Communist party members, would undergo strict rectification. In addition, in the authorities’ actions to carry out mass arrests all over Tibetan areas, they willfully arrested Tibetans they suspected and form Tibetan political prisoners who had already been released. At present we do not have any information about where these arrested Tibetans are held or any information about their health.
Last night, No. 24 most wanted list 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. Four people are on the most wanted list, and all of them are male, but no monks are on this list. Up to now altogether 165 Tibetans have been on the most wanted lists. Tonight, No. 25 most wanted list 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. Four people are on the most wanted list, and all of them are monks. So far 169 Tibetans have been on the most wanted lists.
Yesterday morning (April 14), some monks and lay people in Mangkham County Kham (Chamdo Prefecture, TAR) held a peaceful demonstration, and immediately they were suppressed by a great number of military police. At present I have not been able to find out whether there were people killed or injured in the protest or whether anybody was arrested. Recently, when the authorities carried out the “Patriotic Education Campaign’ at the well-known monastery called Wozer Monastery in Mangkham County, they met wih opposition from the monks. Immediately all monks left the monastery to show that they refuse to accept it.
On April 8, the school affiliated to Tatsang Lhamo Kirti Monastery in Dzoge (Mdzod dge; Ch. Ruo-er-gai) County in Amdo (Ngawa Prefecture, Sichuan Province) was closed down by the authorities. The reason is that many students from this school also participated in the mss protest held by local monks and lay people on March 15. This school was founded by Nyima, the well-known scholar from Kirti Monastery, in 1986, later it was enlarged to be a regular senior school (12 grades). Before it was forcibly closed down by the authorities, there were altogether 504 students in the school. Up to present, over 300 students have graduated from this school. Furthermore, the local government recently arrested 73 Tibetans and paraded them on the street so as to warn Tibetans what they were forbidden to participate in any anti-government activities. Among those arrested 19 of them wee monks from Tatsang Lhamo Kirti Monastery. Some Tibetans have already sentenced by the authorities, but we do not know any details about them.
On March 25 about 100 Tibetans in Heka Township in Tsigortang (Ch. Xinghai) County in Amdo (Tsolho [Hainan]Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province) held a protest. One employee with the surname Liu at the local Public Security Bureau confirmed to Radio Free Asia that up to now 15 to 16 Tibetans, including those who voluntarily submitted themselves, have been arrested.
It is learned that the authorities in Cone (Ch. Zhuoi) County in Amdo (Kanlho [Gannan] Prefecture, Gansu Province) arranged all the working units to select people to station near major townships and monasteries so as to monitor the local people. These people will station for half a year. It is said that over 300 monks were arrested in the region, and a greater number of common people were arrested. Due to the fact that the two prisons in the county were overcrowded, some people was transferred to prisons in the neighboring Nixia Hui Autonomous Prefecture.
Read also Tibet Update (1) and Tibet Update (2).
The following photos are from Woeser’s blog, please click here and here:
