Tibetans Stage Peaceful Protests in Karze, Nagchu, Mangra and Ngapa; 16 Arrested

Monday, March 16, 2009

Tibet.net
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Dharamshala: According to information received from Tibet on 13 March 2009, four Tibetans, including a nun, two lay people and one monk were arrested for holding peaceful demonstrations in Karze County (Ch:Ganzi) in Karze Tibet Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province on 5 March.

Tibet is virtually under undeclared martial as the Chinese government has deployed massive paramilitary forces across the length of Tibet, especially in the days leading up to the 50th anniversary of the Tibetan national uprising against the Chinese oppression.

On the morning of 3 March, at around 10:20 a.m. (local time), a Tibetan nun named Pema Yangtso from Shiluda village in Sengo town in Karze, staged peaceful protest. The concerned officials from the local Public Security Bureau had taken her into custody, sources said.

Later in the afternoon, around 1 p.m., similar demonstration was staged by three Tibetans, who were identified as Rinchen Phuntsok, aged 15, Tsering Dakpa, aged 16 and a monk named Choenyi Gyatso aged 18. All three were detained and are currently in PSB's  custody.

In Nyima town in Nagchu County, slogans of “ Tibet's Independence” written in bold blue letters were seen across the wall of a county government building on 26 February. The PSB officials are suspecting these as handiworks of monks from the nearby Drong Ngu and Tana monasteries. The monks are being rounded up to tally their handwritings with those appeared on the wall.  According to sources, a tense situation and strict restriction continue to prevail in the area, as officials have begun a manhunt for suspects.

Reports from Tibetan areas in Qinghai Province (Tso-Ngon) indicated that an extra contingent of armed security forces was added to strengthen repression in Mangra (Ch: Guinan) prefecture and  in townships of Tharshul, Sumdo (Ch:Tongde), Mangra and Gomang, on 12 March. Heightened repression has been imposed in Lutsang and Kagya monasteries by sending more troops.

Moreover, since 13 March, more than 70 security personnel laid siege to the above towns and monasteries. A large number of army in plainclothes have also been deployed. In addition to this, phone connections are also reported to be cut off.

On the night of 10 March, a large number of written slogans of “Tibet's Independence” and “Return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet” were reportedly distributed and pasted in and around Sumdo monastery in Dzoge (Ch:Ruo'ergai) in Ngapa Tibet Autonomous Prefecture. After the incident, monks from the monastery are being interrogated and grilled by Chinese police.

There are also reports of heavy paramilitary presence in Taktsang Lhamo Kirti monastery. Under strict restriction, the monks are being locked inside the monastery and visitors are not allowed in.

Meanwhile, sources have identified three monks of Kirti monastery, who were among those 9 detained between 3 and 9 March. Ven Gyatso Gurli, Ven Jamyang and Ven Wooser were arrested around 5 March.

There are also reports about arrests of three monks for protesting in Gomang monastery in Ngapa. In Se monastery, unknown number of monks have been detained. Detail information could not be obtained owing to draconian security measures imposed throughout the area.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Kashag have appealed to Tibetans in Tibet not to engage in protests and to avoid any activity that will bring unnecessary imprisonment, detention and harm.

More than 220 Tibetans have been killed and 1,294 injured in the Chinese government’s ruthless crackdown on Tibetan protesters across Tibet since 10 March last year.

More than 5,600 people are still under arrest or detention and more than 1,000 are reportedly missing.