Email Update on Tibet

Mobile phone pictures depict intensity of demonstration in Amdo Labrang. According to confirmed information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), thousands of Tibetan monks and laypeople converged and stage demonstration in the streets of Sangchu County, Kanlho "Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture" ("TAP"), Gansu Province.

The demonstration which took place around 2pm (Beijing Time) today is currently ongoing. Mobile phone pictures depicting the intensity of the demonstration are obtained by the TCHRD.


Around 50 monks from the Labrang Tashikyil Monastery staged a demonstration carrying the banned Tibetan national flag and called for "Tibetan Independence" around 2 p.m. (Beijing Time) today afternoon. Around 500 monks from the same monastery later joined the demonstration. The demonstration eventually grew into thousands when laypeople also joined in. The police started to fire live ammunitions in the air and started to beat when the demonstrators neared the Sangchu County Public Security Bureau headquarters.

TCHRD will continue to monitor the situation and update as the situation progresses.


Mr. Tashi Phuntsok
Information Officer
Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy
Gangchen Kysihong, Dharamsala H.P India








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---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Tashi Phuntsok
Date: Mar 17, 2008 6:49 PM
Subject: Re: Mobile phone pictures depict intensity of demonstration in Amdo Labrang
To: 518 Folkschool <518folkschool@gmail.com>

UPRISING IN TIBET
CHRONOLOGY OF PEACEFUL PROTESTS IN TIBET SINCE 10 MARCH 2008

Since 10 March 2008, spate after spate of peaceful protests broke out in Chinese occupied Tibet. The Chinese security forces have rolled in tanks and deployed troops in large numbers in various parts of Tibet in order to forcibly quell the peaceful demonstrations. The protests mark decades of deep resentment by the Tibetan people against the Chinese rule in Tibet.

Following is a list of protests in chronological order. The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) acknowledges that despite being fully alert some of the peaceful protest might not have been reported to the Centre.


Drepung Monastery- 10 March 2008

On the evening of 10 March 2008, about three hundred monks from Drepung Monastery, located on the outskirts of the capital, attempted to start a planned peaceful protest march towards Barkhor Street, Lhasa. However, they were obstructed from proceeding with their peaceful march by a large number of Chinese armed police before reaching Lhasa. Monks suspected of being the ringleaders of the planned protest were arrested by the Public Security Bureau (PSB) officials. Drepung Monastery has been sealed since then.


Sera Monastery - 10 & 11 March

On 10 March 2008, a group of fifteen monks, later joined by two laypersons led a peaceful pro-Tibet march from Tsuklakhang Temple, proclaiming pro-independence slogans, distributing pamphlets and raising the banned Tibetan national flags at Barkhor Street in Lhasa. They were arrested immediately by the stationed Public Security Bureau (PSB) officials following a brief protest march. The arrested Tibetans were reportedly beaten severely and manhandled by the PSB officials. Moreover, the shops and vendors around Barkhor Street were ordered to close and pack up. The detained monks were confirmed to be visiting student monks of Sera Monastery, mainly from the Kham and Amdo regions of Tibet. Additional contingents of armed forces were deployed to the area to issue an explicit warning to people against undertaking further protests as well as to control and monitor the activities of the people.

On 11 March, about 2000 strong Chinese troop fired tear gas in order to disperse hundreds of monks from Sera Monastery who were calling for the release of their fellow monks and shouting pro-Tibet slogans. The People's Armed Police forces sealed off the monasteries thereby completely curbing the people's movement in and out of the area, including protesting laypeople from visiting these monasteries.


Lutsang Monastery, Mangra County, Tsolho "TAP"- 10 March

In yet another incident, a protest has also been reported from the traditional Tibetan area of Amdo in Mangra County, Tsolho (Ch: Hainan) 'Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture' ("TAP") Qinghai Province on 10 March. About 150 monks from Lutsang Monastery in Mangra County, Tsolho "TAP" and around 200 laypersons from the area were barred by the Mangra County People's Armed Police (PAP) forces when they converged outside the County Assembly Hall where a government sponsored show was going on. Sensing a protest by the Tibetans, the show was forced to discontinue. Later monks and laypeople started shouting slogans "Long live Dalai Lama" and "The Dalai Lama should return to Tibet".

Jyekundo, "TAP" Qinghai - 9 & 10 March

On 9 March, hundreds of banned portraits of the Dalai Lama were confiscated from a number of homes in Jyekundo, (Ch: Yushu/Jiegu) "TAP", Qinghai Province during a midnight raid conducted by local Public Security Bureau (PSB) officials. Two families were reportedly fined 500 Yuan each for possessing the banned portraits. The next day, pamphlets calling for Tibet's independence were known to have been pasted on the walls around the area.

Ditsa Monastery, - 10 March

In one incident, around 20 local Chinese officials convened a meeting of monks at Ditsa Monastery, Bayan County, Tsoshar "TAP" (Ch: Haidong), Qinghai Province. However, around 70 monks walked out of the meeting carrying the portrait of the Dalai Lama and shouted pro-independence slogans. Later the monks proceeded towards a small hill behind the monastery to offer Sangsol Prayer, and were later joined by onlookers. Open calls for solidarity with "the peace marcher from Dharamsala to Lhasa," initiated by leading exiled Tibetan NGOs, were even reportedly raised by the monks. A total of around four hundred people gathered for the prayer that day.

Labrang Tashikyil Monastery, Sangchu County, "TAP" - 10 March

Incidents of police removing pamphlets calling for Tibet's independence were reported from Labrang Tashikyil Monastery in Sangchu County (Ch: Xiahe xian), Kanlho "TAP" Gansu Province.


Kandze - 10 March

There are also reports of people having pasted pamphlets calling for Tibet's independence from Kandze County, Kandze "TAP" Sichuan Province on 10 March. So far there is no information on case of arrest or detention from the area.

Raid in former political prisoners' homes - 10 March

According to sources, on the evening of 10 March, sudden raids were being conducted in the homes of former political prisoners by the authorities looking particularly for any incriminating CDs such as the US Congressional Gold Medal to the Dalai Lama ceremony which have covertly been in circulation recently, or electronic goods particularly computers, phones and Internet connections.

Recall of government employees, Arrest and restriction in Tibet University

On 11 March, the authorities of Lhasa City have recalled all the employees of various government departments who were on leave to return to work immediately and issued a restraint order banning taking leave. Around five students of Tibet University were also confirmed to be arrested by the PSB officials on 13 March. Restrictions were also imposed on the movement of students, including Tibet University students in Lhasa, with authorities increasing the vigilance personnel and keeping a record of student movements at the main entrance gate of the University.


Chutsang Nunnery- 12 & 13 March

On the morning of 12 March, coinciding with the Tibetan Women's Uprising Day, around a hundred Tibetan nuns from Chutsang Nunnery in the west side of Lhasa marched towards Barkhor Street for a peaceful demonstration. However, they were blocked by Chinese People's Armed Police from moving forward and sent back to their monastery. There are no reports of arrest or detention after the march. However, on the morning of 13 March, the same group of nuns carried out their protest march towards Lhasa and have not yet returned to their monastery. On contacting the monastery, only a few senior nuns remain there.


Gaden Monastery- 12 March

Similarly, Gaden Monastery (about 50 Kms east of Lhasa City) in Takse County, remains sealed off and surrounded by People's Armed Police since yesterday afternoon, following the protest by monks on 12 March. Contact with the outside world is known to have been terminated at the moment.


Ramoche Temple - 14 March

Information coming out of Lhasa has confirmed that Ramoche Temple in the north side of Lhasa has been surrounded by People's Armed Police (PAP) following a peaceful protest led by monks of the temple in Lhasa this morning. Ramoche Temple and all roads leading toward the temple were cordoned off by a large number of PAP forces, restricting monks from moving outside. A scuffle broke out between PAP forces and the protesting monks and common people. The report of agitating protestors setting fire on a vehicle and shops also surfaced from Tibet but incident of death, injury and arrest could not be ascertained.

Following protests by Tibetans in Lhasa, a meeting was convened among the concerned Department heads of surrounding districts adjoining Lhasa City, to restrict and control people's entry into the city. It is highly possible that security and movement of people may be tightened in an attempt to block the flow of information about protests to the outside world, and to prevent others from joining similar protests in the capital.


Amdo Labrang - 14 March

Thousands of Tibetan monks and laypeople converged and staged demonstration in the streets of Sangchu County (Ch: Xiahe xian), Kanlho "Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture" ("TAP"), Gansu Province. The demonstration which took place around 2pm (Beijing Time) today is currently ongoing. Mobile phone pictures depicting the intensity of the demonstration are obtained by the TCHRD.

Around 50 monks from the Labrang Tashikyil Monastery staged a demonstration carrying the banned Tibetan national flag and called for "Tibetan Independence" around 2 p.m. (Beijing Time) on 14 March. Around 500 monks from the same monastery later joined the demonstration. The demonstration eventually grew into thousands when laypeople also joined in. The police started to fire live ammunitions in the air and started to beat when the demonstrators neared the Sangchu County Public Security Bureau headquarters.


Amdo Labrang – 15 March

On 15 March a fresh demonstration erupted in the morning around 10 AM (Beijing Time) in Labrang, Sangchu County(Ch: Xiahe xian), Kanlho "TAP" Gansu Province in the eastern part of the Tibetan area as a follow-up to the previous day's demonstration staged by monks of Labrang Tashikyil Monastery which was later joined by thousands of Tibetans in the area.

Thousands of people including monks from Labrang Tashikyil Monastery staged a peaceful demonstration at the county government's headquarters. The demonstration was started by monks of Labrang Tashikyil Monastery and was later joined by common citizens at a place known as Choeten Karpo (White Stupa) where people offered Sangsol Prayer (incense burning ritual). After the prayer session, people raised "pro-independence" and "Long live the Dalai Lama'" slogans while heading towards the Sangchu County Government headquarters. The People's Armed Police (PAP) fired tear gas and live ammunition into the air to disperse the demonstrators. The demonstrators were arrested and beaten by PAP forces and PSB officials from the area, although the number could not be ascertained at the moment.

Chinese Authorities issue "surrender" order – 15 March

In the morning of 15 March 2008, the People's Higher Court, Regional People's Procuratorate and the regional Public Security Bureau of the so-called "Tibet Autonomous Region" ("TAR") issued a notice demanding protestors to give themselves in for leniency by Monday midnight. The notice further stated that those who surrender and inform "will be exempt from punishment", it also stated, "those who cover up or shelter the lawbreakers would be punished in accordance with the law."


Taktsang Lhamo Kirti Monastery – 15 March

Monks of Taktsang Lhamo Kirti Monastery (a branch of Amdo Ngaba Kirti Monastery in Dzoge County (Ch: Zoige) Ngaba (Ch: Aba) "TAP", Sichuan Province staged a peaceful demonstration in the afternoon of 15 March 2008. Truckloads of troops were sent into the area to disperse the protesting crowd to put the situation under control. More than ten monks were reportedly arrested and around five others injured following a violent crackdown by People's Armed Police (PAP) on the peaceful protestors.


Bumying and Onpo Monastery sealed - 16 March

Hundreds of People's Armed Police have surrounded Bumying and Onpo Monasteries in Tibet, (Shiqu County, Ganze Prefecture, Sichuan Province), to avoid further spread of the protests in Lhasa and other areas. Bumying Monastery remained sealed off following incident of Tibetan independence pamphlets having scattered in the area on the evening of 15 March. Further problems were provoked when police demanded the removal of a photograph of the Dalai Lama but a senior monk from the monastery refused to do so. After a short while, troops of People's Armed Police surrounded the monastery from all sides.

Onpo monastery, also in Sershul town is currently surrounded by People's Armed Police, seemingly without provocation. However, it appears to be a precautionary measure on the part of the Chinese authorities as this is the home monastery of several of the monks arrested in Lhasa from the Sera Monastery protest march earlier this week on March 10.


Amdo Ngaba Kirti Monastery – 16 March

At around 11.30 AM (Beijing Time) on 16 March 2008, thousands of Tibetan monks of Amdo Ngaba Kirti Monastery, in Ngaba County (Ch: Aba), Ngaba "Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture" ("TAP"), Sichuan Province, gathered for a prayer session in the morning. Shortly after the end of morning prayer session, thousands of monks erupted into spontaneous protest by raising slogans calling for "Tibet independence", "return of the Dalai Lama" and "freedom for Tibet". In moment's time, the Chinese security police burst into the Monastery campus and lobbed tear gas on the Tibetan protestors.

At least seven shot dead in demonstration in Ngaba County - 16 March

At least seven people were known to have been shot dead including monks of Ngaba Kirti Monastery by the People's Armed Police (PAP) during the peaceful demonstration by thousands of people in Ngaba County (Ch: Aba) this afternoon. Hundreds of people are also known to have been injured in the incident following PAP crackdown on the protestors. The demonstration is still going on when the Centre received the information from the venue of demonstration.

The demonstration started around 11.30 AM (Beijing Time), when thousands of Tibetan monks of Amdo Ngaba Kirti Monastery, in Ngaba County (Ch: Aba), Ngaba "Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture" ("TAP") Sichuan Province, gathered for a prayer session this morning. Shortly after the end of morning prayer session, thousands of monks erupted into spontaneous protest by raising slogans calling for "Tibet independence", "return of the Dalai Lama" and "freedom for Tibet". The demonstration was later joined by common citizens of Ngaba County total numbering thousands of people who were heading towards Ngaba County government headquarters and Ngaba County PSB Office.


Eight dead bodies have been brought into Ngaba Kirti Monastery: 16 March

Eight dead bodies have been brought into Ngaba Kirti Monastery according to confirmed information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy. The bodies were brought in from the protest scene in Ngaba County, Sichuan Province. Sources say at least "30 Tibetans felled" after armed troops shot indiscriminately into the peacefully protesting Tibetans. Out of the eight bodies, one has been identified as Lobsang Tashi, a former monk in his mid 20s. The remaining bodies are unidentified at the moment. The monks in Kirti Monastery are currently offering prayers for the deceased.

Fresh protest broke out in Rong Gonchen Monastery, Rebkong County- 16 March


A fresh protest broke out in Rong Gonchen Monastery, Rebkong County (Ch: Tongren Xian), Malho Prefecture (Ch: Huangnan) "Tibet Autonomous Prefecture", Qinghai Province. Around 300 monks of Rong Gonchen Monastery conducted Sangsol Prayer (Incense burning ritual) on the hill just behind the monastery during the early hours of the day. It was known that the monks performed Long Life Prayer Ceremony for the Dalai Lama. Shortly after the end of the prayer ceremony, the monks started peace march towards the government headquarters of Rebkong County which is located in the downtown market area which was later joined by lay people of the County.

However, in minutes' time they were confronted and blocked by the security personnel from continuing the demonstration. Source says that the monks are currently stranded at the monastery courtyard surrounded by a heavy presence of paramilitary troops. In a course of time, more and more ordinary people flock in to join the monks protesting inside the monastery courtyard. The situation is said to be extremely tense. The source also says that the security personnel have already started firing tear gas on the crowds to disperse them. At the moment, the arrests, and deaths of the protestors could not be ascertained.

Eight dead bodies brought into Ngaba Kirti Monastery: 16 March 2008


Eight dead bodies have been brought into Ngaba Kirti Monastery according to confirmed information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy. The bodies were brought in from the protest scene in Ngaba County, Sichuan Province. Sources say at least "30 Tibetans felled" after armed troops shot indiscriminately into the peacefully protesting Tibetans. Out of the eight bodies, one has been identified as Lobsang Tashi, a former monk in his mid 20s. The remaining bodies are unidentified at the moment. The monks in Kirti Monastery are currently offering prayers for the deceased.

Students staged a protest in eastern Tibet: 16 March 2008


Tibetan students in the eastern Gansu province staged a peaceful protest in the afternoon of 16 March. Around 500 Tibetan students of the Tibetan Studies Department of the North Western Nationality University, Lanzhou City, Gansu Provincial Capital, Lanzhou staged a peaceful demonstration inside the University campus this afternoon (Beijing Time).

Confirmed information says that students had circulated leaflets containing information about the recent Lhasa demonstrations inside the University campus. The sources confirmed that there are about one thousand Tibetan students studying in the university. Information confirmed that there are 300 Tibetan students holed up in the campus by the security forces. The students were known to be carrying a large banner with a slogan "DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN LIVES ARE PRECIOUS". The Tibetan students also raised slogans calling for the immediate end to the brutal crackdown on the Tibetan people referring to the ongoing reports of arrests in the Lhasa city.

Following the circulation of leaflets, the city People's Armed Police (PAP) forces and Public Security Bureau (PSB) personnel stormed the university and cordon off the entire campus area. According to sources, the movements of students were known to have been strictly curtailed under a heavy presence of PAP and PSB at the University campus gate.


Protest in Amdo Machu: 16 March

Meanwhile in another incident, at around 6 PM (Beijing Time), about 1500 local Tibetans from Machu County (Ch: Maqu xian), Kanlho "Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture"("TAP"), Gansu Province staged a peaceful demonstration in the main city of the County. Protestors raised slogans calling for the "Independence for Tibet", "Long Live the Dalai Lama" and other demands. The sources also confirmed that the agitated protestors had burnt down one police vehicle during the demonstration. Additional large-scale contingents of PAP and PSB were brought in to crackdown upon the protestors.

Nyulru Protest: 16 March


Around 250 Tibetans of Nyulra Township, Machu County (Ch: Maqu xian), Kanlho "Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture"("TAP"), Gansu Province destroyed the doors of County government offices during the protest. The protestors also took off the Chinese national flag and hoisted the banned Tibetan flag in place. The protestors later shouted pro-independence slogans. The situation is known to be extremely tense at the moment with the large-scale mobilization of truckloads of paramilitary troops had already began in the area. No further information on the situation could not be ascertained

Mass abductions in midnight raids by Chinese security forces in Lhasa: 15 & 16 March


Hundreds of Tibetans are arbitrarily arrested in the ongoing house-by-house raid by Chinese security forces in Lhasa beginning from 15 March 2008. All former political prisoners have already been rounded off and thrown into prisons by the security forces according to confirmed information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD).

With streets filled with patrolling Chinese armed troops and tanks in Lhasa city, the security agencies comb each and every house in Lhasa and pick up all suspected Tibetans, especially youth, from their houses accompanied by severe beatings by the armed forces. In testimonies received by TCHRD, mothers and elderlies in the families helplessly plea at security forces upon seeing their sons and loved ones being beaten and dragged away.

Law enforcement authorities in the so-called "Tibet Autonomous Region" had on Saturday (15 March) issued an ultimatum to the protesting Tibetans to voluntarily surrender before Monday midnight (17 March). However, the actual arrest has already begun in house-by-house raid since yesterday while the world expects it to take place from tomorrow. Although Martial Law is not officially imposed in Lhasa, it has all the elements of the Martial Law imposed in 1989 by the then "TAR" Party Secretary Hu Jintao, currently the President of People's Republic of China.

TCHRD fears more arbitrary arrest and enforced disappearances to take place in the coming few days. The Centre also expresses its deepest fear of torture on the Tibetan arrestees which is a regular feature in the Chinese administered detention centres and prisons in Chinese occupied Tibet. TCHRD appeals to the international community to urgently show their solidarity and act for the arrested peaceful Tibetan protesters and innocent arrestees.


Around 40 middle school students arrested in Marthang
Around 40 Tibetan middle school students were known to have been severely beaten before being arrested at around 8:30 AM (Beijing Time) following students' call for the Dalai Lama's return to Tibet, according to confirmed information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) multiple sources within Tibet.

Around one hundred Tibetan students of Marthang Nationality Middle School in Marthang County (Ch: Hongyuan Xian), Ngaba (Ch: Aba) Prefecture, "Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture" ("TAP"), Sichuan Province, erupted into a spontaneous demonstration inside the school compound calling for the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet during the morning school hours. The age of the students are known to be between 14-20.According to witnesses, the People's Armed Police (PAP) and Marthang County Public Security Bureau (PSB) officials blocked and immediately crushed the students while they came out of the school premises shouting slogan calling for the Dalai Lama's return to Tibet. Students were severely beaten and manhandled before being dragged into the waiting police vehicles.

According to the latest information coming out of Tibet, it indicates that around 700 students of the Marthang Nationality Middle School in a solemn gesture of solidarity with the arrested students are staging protest outside Marthang County PSB office. The conditions and identities of those middle school students could not be ascertained at the moment; however, the Centre will continue to monitor the situation and will update as and when more information surfaces from the area.

TCHRD condemns in its strongest terms the Chinese security forces' heavy handedness in dealing with the peaceful Tibetan students and expresses its deepest concern over the safety of the protesting students. TCHRD calls for the immediate and unconditional release of those arrested this morning for peacefully expressing their views and exercising their freedom of expression, association and assembly.

The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) condemns in strongest terms the Chinese security forces use of brute force upon the peaceful Tibetan protesters. TCHRD expresses its serious concern on the well being of the protestors and urge the Chinese authorities to exercise restraint in responding to continuing protests in the light of numbers of confirmed death surfacing from the area who are peacefully expressing their views and exercising their freedom of expression, association and assembly. TCHRD calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all Tibetans arrested and detained in the past days. The Centre will continue to monitor the situation inside Tibet and release updates as the situation progresses.

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Tashi Phuntsok (Mr.)
Information Officer

Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy
Gangchen Kysihong, Dharamsala H.P India

Phone:  01892-223363/229225
Cell no: 9418055622