kyidugnyamnyong

Tibetan People’s Peaceful Movement in 2008 and the Chinese Government’s Suppresive Policy

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ALL TIBETANS AS A COMMUNITY OF ONE THROUGH TIMES GOOD AND BAD

ALL TIBETANS AS A COMMUNITY OF ONE THROUGH TIMES GOOD AND BAD A brief compilation of reports on the widespread peaceful protests carried out by people throughout the three provinces of Tibet from 10 March 2008 to 31 January 2009 and on the violent suppression and persecution of the Tibetan people by the Chinese government

Tibetan Parliament in Exile

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Tibetan People’s Peaceful Movement in 2008 and the Chinese Government’s Suppresive Policy

Editors:

Members of Standing Committee of Tibetan Parliament Geshe Beri Jigme Wangyal Geshe Monlam Tharchin Dragne Dolma Tsering Kirti Dolker Lhamo

Assistant Editor: English translator: Cover Designer:

Nordang Lobsang Gyatso Pema Thrinley Tenzin Gyaltsen

Report first compiled by: Report concluded by: Published by: Copyrights owned by: Publishing year: No. of copies: Printing Press:

Tibet Solidarity Movement Committee Standing Committee of Tibetan Parliament Tibetan Parliament Tibetan Parliament January 10, 2012 1000 Arpit Printers, Gaggal, Dharamshala Road, H.P (9418044708)

Contact Address: Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile Central Tibetan Administration Dharamsala -176215 H.P., India Tel: +91-1892-222481 Fax: +91-1892-224593 Email:tibetanparliament@tibet.net Web: <www.chithu.org/> or <www.tibetanparliament.org> Anyone interested in the book may also visit above internet site.

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Contents S.no

Topic

Page no

1.

General introduction

1 - 4

2.

Protest reports of March 2008

5 - 54

3.

Protest reports of April 2008

55 - 84

4.

Protest reports of May 2008

85 - 100

5.

Protest reports of June 2008

101 - 118

6.

Protest reports of July 2008

119 - 127

7.

Protest reports of August 2008

128 - 132

8.

Protest reports of September 2008

133 - 136

9.

Protest reports of October 2008

137 - 142

10.

Protest reports of November 2008

143 - 150

11.

Protest reports of December 2008

151 - 154

12.

Protest reports of January 2009

155 - 163

13.

Prayer of Truthful words

164 - 165

14.

Appendix, List of the names of Tibetans sentenced

to imprisonment and sucumbed to untimely death 4

166 - 186

Tibetan People’s Peaceful Movement in 2008 and the Chinese Government’s Suppresive Policy

Introduction

From 10 March 2008, the 49th anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising Day, people throughout the vast expanse of The Three Provinces of Tibet, including especially in Capital Lhasa, carried out protests which became widespread, were vigorously spirited and emphatic in their focus, and which continued uninterrupted for almost a full year.

The number of peaceful protests was truly enormous. For example, a report by China’s official Xinhua news agency said that from 10 to 25 March, more than 150 protests had been staged. This meant that within a period of just 15 days, there were on average more than 10 protests each day. Likewise, at a mass public gathering on 1 August to commemorate the founding of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, the party secretary Li Zhangping of the Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture said that (as of 3 July) there had been more than 150 activities in the Kardze area designed to split the motherland. What this shows is that within the area of Kardze, there were, on average, 1.3 protests each day. From these figures one can gain a cursory measure of the extent of the protests which took place in Tibet.

The largest of the peaceful protests involved more than 10,000 Tibetans; and there were the smallest ones which involved no more than just one Tibetan protester.

Regarding the participants in the peaceful protests, there were the monks and nuns, tantric practitioners, people with high status and respect in society such as lamas, tulkus, abbots, geshes, and former abbots, as well as farmers and nomads, teachers and students, government officials, cadres and workers, party members and leaders, doctors and artistic professionals, townspeople and villagers, those aged over 80 years old as well those who were yet to reach the age of 12, and the rich as well as the poor, and so on, who all came together as one.

Regarding the geographical areas in which the peaceful protests took place, they included areas in the so-called Tibet Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, Sichuan Province, Gansu Province, and Yunnan Province. To put it simply, peaceful protests took place not only throughout all the three traditional provinces of Tibet but also in places within China, including the Chinese capital Beijing, where many Tibetan students staged peaceful protests.

As regards the forms of peaceful protests, they included staging of rallies on the streets of towns and cities, carrying of banners, holding of peace marches, stabbing oneself with knife, committing suicide out of feelings of utter despair, fasting, putting up posters, staging open protests in direct confrontations with Chinese government Work Teams, stoppage of farming one’s land, halting of motor vehicle transport services, rejecting patriotic education orders, refusing to acquiesce to demands to commit blasphemy against His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and so on. Apart from a stray few instances in which Chinese agent

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provocateurs disguised themselves as Tibetans and provoked violent turns, the protests that took place so far have been totally non-violent in 99 percent of the cases.

Concerning the slogans that were raised during the peaceful protests, they included the assertion that Tibet is independent; plea that His Holiness the Dalai Lama live a long life; demand that His Holiness the Dalai Lama be invited back to Tibet; insistence that there be freedom in Tibet; demand that there be respect for human rights and religious freedom in Tibet; assertion that Tibet belongs to the Tibetan people; call for the release of all political prisoners in Tibet, including the young Panchen Lama reincarnation, insistence that the Chinese quit Tibet, and so on.

On 9 April 2008, Jampa Phuntsog, the Chairman of the Tibet autonomous Region government, gave a press briefing in Beijing. At that time he said that so far the police in the autonomous Tibetan region had detained 953 people, and that of them 403 had been formally arrested on authorization by the regional procuracy. He also said that about 362 people had surrendered themselves to the authorities. On 9 April, Mao Shenwu, the deputy chief of Kanlho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Gansu Province, gave a press briefing in Tsoe city to journalists from foreign media. He said at that time that from 14 to 19 March, there were protest activities in six counties and cities â&#x20AC;&#x201C; namely, Sangchu County, Tsoe City, Luchu County, Machu County, Chone County, and Thewo County â&#x20AC;&#x201C; of Kanlho Prefecture. He maintained that during those protests, arson and looting was committed on 4,279 houses; that smashing and destruction was allegedly carried out on 74 motor vehicles, 622 hydroelectric installations, 590 drinking water facilities, and 278 thermal power installations. He also said that as of 8 April, a total of 432 people had been arrested from throughout Kanlho Prefecture while more than 2,200 people had surrendered themselves to the authorities. He added that 519 of them were monks and nuns.

Likewise, Xiao Yugcai, a deputy chief of Ngaba Qiang and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, gave a press briefing at which he said that on 16 March, led by some monks of Kirti Monastery, numerous protests were staged at the Ngaba County seat. He continued by claiming that during those protests, 24 shops, two police stations, and 81 motor vehicles belonging to the police and armed forces were set on fire. He added that, in addition, more than 200 government officials and police personnel were injured while the value of the losses resulting from the smashing, destruction, looting and arson would certainly exceed the value of the total income of the prefecture in the past more than 10 years. From these one could gain a cursory understanding of the number, size and geographical extent of the peaceful protests, the number of arrests, and so on.

The Chinese government did not at all bother to designate officials to even so much as listen to the heartfelt grievances and problems of the people who took part in the peaceful protests. Rather, it resorted to the immediate reprisal action of sending in the paramilitary Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Armed Police Force and the army to carry out a bloody crackdown. Including with killings and stabbings, these armed forces carried out unrestrained beating of the peaceful protesters in the course of apprehending and putting them under detention. It is our understanding, from the information we have received thus far, that in the course of carrying out such violent repression, at least 219 Tibetans have been confirmed as killed, at least 6,705 have been held and put under detention, and more than 1,294 have been injured. In the so-called Tibet Autonomous Region alone, more than 76 Tibetans are known to have been tried and sentenced. In the Kham and Amdo regions, trials and sentences were initially carried out in secrecy. Later on, trials continued to be carried out, with Tibetans given fixed terms of jail sentences. As these trials and sentencings are continuing to

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Tibetan People’s Peaceful Movement in 2008 and the Chinese Government’s Suppresive Policy

take place even now, it is difficult to arrive at even an estimate of their numbers. Nevertheless, it is a fact that so far more than 286 Tibetans have so far been already been tried and sentenced.

When numerous large-scale peaceful protests continued to take place one after another throughout the entire expanse of Tibet, the Chinese government at once resorted to expelling from there all the foreign tourists as well as media persons and bringing in massive deployments of the paramilitary People’s Armed Police Force and the People’s Liberation Army. It thereby changed the whole complexion of dealing with the situation by carrying out (without actually declaring) martial law. Under it, troops have been carrying out door-to-door entries into Tibetan homes where indiscriminate pillaging and detentions continue to be made. Amid all this, a so-called education in patriotism campaign was carried out, under which Tibetans were coerced to blaspheme His Holiness the Dalai Lama and to praise and sing for the Communist Party of China. Under what is known as a “sky net project”, which was carried out especially vigorously after the Beijing Olympic Games, spy cameras were installed at monasteries and over markets throughout Tibet. By that means, every movement of the Tibetan people was closely monitored from day to day. Besides, a significantly large number of Tibetans who had taken part in peaceful protests were charged with being guilty of having carried out “beating smashing, looting, and burning” and so are continuously being tried and punished with sentences of life in jail and others. Besides, fearing an outbreak of disturbance in 2009 which might be even more turbulent than that in the year before, the Chinese government keeps reinforcing, on almost daily basis, the deployment of armed forces in all the three traditional provinces of Tibet, thereby continuously strengthening the armed repression there and carrying out an ever repressive “strike hard” campaign against the Tibetan people. At the same time, during the Spring Festival (the Chinese New Year) of this year and the Tibetan Earth-Ox New Year, Tibetans were ordered to make extra efforts to hold celebrations designed to suggest feelings of greater happiness than before. In particular, the People’s Congress of the so-called Tibet Autonomous Region instituted a new festival marking what was stated to be the rising and liberation of more than a million serfs and the 50th year of the introduction of democratic reforms. And all Tibetans were ordered to celebrate the occasion with displays suggestive of bubbling joy in their hearts. Such were the kinds of actions carried out by the Chinese government to oppose the true feelings of the Tibetan people both in Tibet and in exile. It therefore becomes obvious, in whatever way one looks at it, that the tragic situation in Tibet continues to go from bad to worse with every passing day. Still, on 23 November, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Qin Gang made it clear in his reply to a question during a press briefing in Beijing that his government had rejected a report on the situation in Tibet brought out by a United Nations panel of experts on torture. Not only that, he even refused to acknowledge reports that there had been deaths as direct results of torture since peaceful protests erupted in the Tibet Autonomous Region in March. The fact remains, however, that even now, Tibetan peaceful protesters continue to die as a result of beating and torture by the Chinese paramilitary People’s Armed Police Force and the Public Security Bureau police personnel.

With regard to the information presented in the following pages, they are meant to be a symbolic representation of the sense of empathy which inheres in us. They arise from our feeling of oneness through the vicissitudes of time with the people of the three provinces of Tibet and who undoubtedly have the ultimate right of say on the issue of the Snowland of Tibet. Putting their very lives, properties and everything else on the line, they have since 10 March 2008 carried out a campaign which was expansive in its geographical coverage and sharply focused in its core objectives. Underlying the purposes of publishing this book are our view that efforts should be made to maintain a record of their deeds and accomplishments so that it will continue to exist indelibly on this earth, like a curving on a rock surface, for as long

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as this eon endures; that the authentic information provided by Tibetans both in and outside Tibet out of their feelings of trust in and allegiance to their government in exile should not be allowed to go waste; that non-partisan peoples, groups and others in the international community should be enabled to gain an appreciative understanding of the courage shown by the Tibetan people and, likewise, that the deplorable, eye-witnessed misdeeds of the Chinese government against them should be fully exposed. It was with these objectives in view that the Tibetan Solidarity Committee, jointly set up by the Kashag of the Central Tibetan Administration and the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, asked that all the information received be compiled into a volume. A series of actions were carried out, designed to dutifully implement this directive. Finally, the Political Committee of the Standing Committee of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile put together all the information that had hitherto been submitted to the Tibetan Solidarity Committee and the Standing Committee of the parliament from all relevant sources over a period of time. With this as the draft resource, the Political Committee set out to refer to other relevant information and reports, including materials available with the Research and Analysis Office of the Central Tibetan Administrationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Department of Security, publications brought out over the relevant period of time in both public and private domains, and news publications by both Tibetan and foreign journalists from time to time to compare, verify and otherwise research information as much as it was possible. In the case of items of information that were not compatible with one another or, likewise, in the case of information that were received during the extreme emergency situation of the initial period which lacked clarity, relevant people who were familiar with the concerned places and situations were interviewed and guidance sought from the concerned Central Tibetan Administration departments and offices to arrive at the most authentic reportage of the events. We expect that concerned readers too will bear these in mind. We have not received the names of all the people who took part in the massive peaceful protests at different places and were taken away in mass detention centres. However, with regard to those who got killed or were put on trial and sentenced, names and descriptions of as many as possible have been recorded on the basis of whatever information we could gather. We have also put in writing as many names and other personal details as possible of people who took part in each of the peaceful protests which took place in different parts of Tibet. Even now, China is continuing to carry out the campaign of the so-called â&#x20AC;&#x153;love your nation, love your religionâ&#x20AC;? in all the places across The Three Provinces of Tibet. Although everyone knows that Tibetans everywhere are unequivocal in rejecting the campaign, problems of accessibility with regard to time and distance have prevented us from receiving detailed information from a number of places. Because of these and numerous other related problems, many information could not be included in their requisite details in this report. And the fact remains that to this day and time, the situation in Tibet continues to be critical and fails to settle down. In view of this, we remain hopeful about receiving guidelines and advice from whosoever anywhere has any clear information or knowledge on the continuing peaceful protests by the Tibetans in Tibet and on related matters. We too shall continue to include in our official publications whatever new information and details may come to light.

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Tibetan People’s Peaceful Movement in 2008 and the Chinese Government’s Suppresive Policy

Protests and related events in March 2008

10 March At around 11:00 AM on 10 March, more than 300 monks of Drepung marched out of their monastery in order to stage a peaceful demonstration. As they did so, Work Team cadres and some 15 paramilitary People’s Armed Police Force personnel who were on permanent posting in the monastery moved to stop them. But they failed and the monks pushed ahead, shouting slogans as they marched on until they reached near Lhasa Holiday Inn. There, a large body of People’s Armed Police Force sent by the Chinese government stopped the monks. In response, the monks tried to stage a symbolic protest by sitting crosslegged on the spot and made loud recitations of the prayers Gyalwey Zhabten (Prayer of Victory, which is dedicated to His Holiness the Dalai Lama) and Dentsig Monlam (Prayer of words of Truth, composed

by His Holiness the Dalai Lama). Reports said around 50 monks were arrested at that time. However, it has not been possible to this day to obtain any clear information on the number of monks who were arrested at that time. Besides, the Chinese troops fired guns and lobbed tears gas explosives on the monks.

But so far it has not been possible to obtain any information about deaths and injuries which might have occurred during the incident.

Around 5 to 6 PM on 10 March, about 15 monks from Sera Monastery staged a peaceful protest march along the Bharkor (sacred circumambulation path) in Lhasa. They shouted slogans and carried three Tibetan national flags. Although members of the public rallied behind the monks as soon as they started shouting slogans, police quickly arrested first the monks who shouted slogans, as well as two or three laypeople. And they carried out a severe beating of the detainees on the spot.

It was being said that those who staged the protest rally and shouted slogans were 15 visiting monk student at Jhadrel Khangtsen of Sera Monastery. However, there is no definite information whether they were among the people who were arrested. Nevertheless, from our ongoing queries, the following five names have been mentioned as being among the people who were likely to have been arrested: 1) Tulku Tenpa Rigsang from Golog Lungkar monastery, 2) Geleg Pel, 3) Samten, 4) Thubwang from Golog Darthang Monastery, and 5) Pema Gharwang. Also being mentioned are the following monks of Wonpo Monastery in Dzachukha area of Kham who had been studying at Sera monastery at the time: 1) Lobsang Ngodup, 2) Lodroe, 3) Lobsang, 4) Thubdron, 5) Phurden, 6) Lobsang Thukje, 7) Tsultrim Palden, and 8) Lobsang Sherab. Yet other names that have been mentioned are: 1) Soepa of Mangge Monastery, and 2) Tsegyam of Kashi Monastery. Apart from that, there were two laypeople of whom one is said to be from Kham; no further details are available.

On 10 March, posters were seen put up calling for Tibet’s independence in Kardze County of Kardze

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Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province. The Chinese government reacted by issuing a dire warning, saying no Tibetan whatsoever would be spared if found engaged in staging an uprising. At the same time, Chinese troops surrounded all the Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in the prefecture and imposed tight security restrictions on them. No further information has been received from the area so far.

Early in the morning on 10 March, about 137 monks of Lutsang Monastery in Mangra (Chinese: Guinan) County of Tsolho (Chinese: Hainan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai Province, joined by a little more than 215 laypeople, set out with an aim to stage a protest rally at the county people’s assembly hall when a stage performance event, scheduled to be held there, goes on. However, as they arrived near the hall, they were stopped by the county police. The stage performance, which had already commenced, was also abruptly brought to a halt. It has been learnt that the performance was stopped after the authorities came to know that the monks and the lay public were planning to stage a protest demonstration at the county hall. Following this development, the monks proceeded to leave the county seat to return to their monastery, with their heads covered with their religious shawls as they shouted slogans, such as “May His Holiness the Dalai Lama live for ten thousand years!” and “His Holiness the Dalai Lama should return to Tibet!” Because some of the monks took photos of the police and armed forces personnel who stopped them, there were cases of snatching and confiscation of cameras by them. In particular, the county’s paramilitary People’s Armed Police Force had fired several warning shots over the monks.

However, there were no deaths or casualties.

On 10 March, a large number of posters calling for Tibet’s independence appeared in Yushu (Kyegudo) County of Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai Province. The day before, in the evening of 9 March, Chinese police conducted a sudden raid of the homes of a section of Tibetans and confiscated more than 200 pictures of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Reports also said that two Tibetan families were fined 500 yuan each for the alleged crime of keeping pictures of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

On 10 March, a team of about 20 Chinese officials arrived at Ditsa Monastery in Palung (or Bayan) (Chinese: Hualong) Tibetan and Hui Autonomous County in Tsoshar (Chinese: Haidong) Prefecture of Qinghai Province and called a meeting. During the meeting, however, about 70 monks staged a walkout, carrying with them a portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and shouting slogans calling for Tibet’s independence as they marched toward the county seat. In addition, a sangsol (or incense-burning religious ceremony) was held on the hillock behind the monastery, with the participants expressing support for the Tibetans who were at that time on a peace march from India to Tibet. It appears that there were altogether about 400 monks and laypeople at the sangsol ceremony. Although there has been no report of any arrest, the monastery was fully surrounded by Chinese troops who imposed tight restrictions there.

Reports said that on 10 March many posters calling for Tibet’s independence were seen put up also in Labrang Tashi Khyil town of Sangchu (Chinese: Xiahe) County in Kanlho (Chinese: Gannan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Gansu Province. The Chinese police was reported to have removed those posters.

On 10 March, a crowd of about 500 men and women, including monks of Khagya-mey Monastery in Sangchu County of Kanlho Prefecture in Gansu Province, locked their homes and marched to their Township headquarters, carrying with them Tibetan national flags, and staged a forceful protest there, including with shouting of slogans.

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Tibetan People’s Peaceful Movement in 2008 and the Chinese Government’s Suppresive Policy

10 March was not the right time for the monks of Rongwo Gonchen in Rebgong (Chinese: Tongren) County of Malho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai Province because it was already since an earlier occasion under very severe restrictions from the Chinese authorities, rendering the situation there still very critical. Thus, although there was no occasion yet for the monk to gather into a crowd and thereby stage a peaceful demonstration or perform sangsol, a group of three persons, including monks and laypeople, still performed the ceremony at about 8 AM atop a mountain pass. When the Chinese authorities came to know about it, they at once dismantled the sangsol seat, put the site under guard at night and, in such ways, imposed restrictions.

At about 03:00 PM on the same day, more than 100 people from the nomadic cluster of Gonshul in Rebgong County and the monks of Dorje Dzong monastery together gathered in front of the government headquarters of the local Dokar Township. They raised a number of protest slogans, such as “May His Holiness the Dalai Lama live for ten thousand years!” “We demand freedom for Tibet!” and “We demand freedom of religious belief!” The Chinese authorities responded by sending in the police and issuing a warning to stop the protest campaign. It was thus that the demonstration was brought to an end.

Restrictions were already very tight in Lhasa in the night of 10 March. Nevertheless, the Tibetan masses gave strong indications of being prepared to stage protests. Because of that, a group of temporary police personnel, who were not permanent government officials but deployed on security duty around the city’s Bharkor area, became frightened and ran away.

From the night of 10 March onward, sudden searches were carried out in Lhasa at the homes of a section of former Tibetan political prisoners who were on release. During the searches, they especially looked for CDs of different kinds and sought to find out whether electronic equipments were being used at these homes.

11 March At about 3:00 PM on 11 March, monks of Sera monastery staged a protest rally, demanding that fellow monks who were arrested on 10 March be released; they also shouted slogans, saying such things as that Tibet was an independent country. The Chinese responded by lobbing tear gas explosives to bring the protest to an end. Among the large number of monks who were arrested at that time, we have come to know the names of the following: 1) Gen Dalha, 2) Lobsang Choezin, 3) Jampel Dragpa, 4) Lobsang Tsondue, 5) Lobsang Thegchog, 6) Pema Dorje, 7) Choepa, 8) Dhon-ne, 9) Tenzin Soepa, 10) Tenkyab, 11) Sonam Lodroe, 12) Lobsang Sherab, 13) Lobsang Lhundrub, 14) Lobsang Tsultrim, and 15) Dakyab. They were all monks who originally belonged to Wonpo Monastery. A layman named Gonglo was also among those held, bringing to 16 the total number of those who were known to have been arrested. Besides, a section of monks had suffered injuries. From that day on, the paramilitary People Armed Police Force surrounded both Sera and Drepung monasteries, preventing the monks from going out and, likewise, barring members of the worshipping public from entering them.

On 11 March, monks of Ganden Monastery in the outskirts of Lhasa staged a peaceful demonstration.

Because a number of monks managed to break free and kept going toward Lhasa city, strong force was

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used by the armed forces to stop them. No information could be obtained regarding deaths and injuries, if any.

An internal circular was issued in the morning of 11 March, ordering all officials from the various offices in Lhasa who were on leave to at once report back for duty and banning everyone from submitting any application for leave for the time being. All students, including those of Tibet University, were put under strict orders against going out. Roll calls were made after listing the names of everyone and reports said some five students were arrested.

12 March At about 10:00 AM on 12 March, more than 100 nuns of Chubsang Nunnery in Lhasa emerged from their nunnery with the objective of staging a peaceful protest rally on the city’s Bharkor street. However, they were stopped along the way by the paramilitary Chinese People’s Armed Police Force who turned them back to their nunnery. Other than that, there were no reports of any arrest.

On 12 March, an enormous crowd of monks of Drepung Monastery gathered on the monastery’s courtyard and as they then prepared to march to Lhasa to stage a peaceful protest rally there, Chinese troops stopped them. As they did so, Lobsang kelsang, aged 25 years old, and Lobsang Damchoe, 23 years old, both originally monks of Kirti Monastery in Ngaba County of Sichuan Province, scribbled on their bodies by cutting into their bare skins with knives. As a result, they were drenched from head to toe in blood and it was not possible to make out what many drawings or writings they had inscribed thus on their bodies.

Reports said they came out of the crowd and shouted many kinds of slogans.

On 12 March, the Ganden Monastery continued to be besieged by the paramilitary Chinese People’s Armed Police Force after they surrounded the monastery from the afternoon of the day before when the monks staged a peaceful protest, with the result that the monks were cut off from all outside contacts.

Nevertheless, reports said that even under such a situation, monks were continuing to hold peaceful protests.

Because of the above developments, meetings were call by the relevant local authorities in all the counties around Lhasa city, at which it was announced that all travels to the city by the general public was banned for the time being.

13 March In the morning of 13 March, nuns of Chubsang Nunnery once again tried to break free in order to be able to go to the Bharkor and stage a protest rally there. However, they were stopped by Chinese troops. There were reports of fears that some of the nuns were arrested.

On 13 March, monks of Radreng Monastery near Lhasa staged a peaceful demonstration and, as a result, some of them were arrested. However, it was not possible to find out further details about the report.

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Tibetan People’s Peaceful Movement in 2008 and the Chinese Government’s Suppresive Policy

On 13 March, a number of Tibetans continued to be taken into detention, accused of engaging in political crimes, and reports said that among them were monk Sonam Dakpa of Dza Wonpo Monastery and layman Ngawang Sonam from the Wonpo area.

On 13 March, all the Tibetan nationality members and employees of non-governmental bodies in the Lhasa city area, especially if the NGOs had foreign connections, were ordered to attend a special meeting by the concerned office of the local foreign affairs bureau. They were warned at the meeting that anyone who indiscriminately gave information or explanations of the ongoing events to foreigners would not only be dealt with severely but also their NGOs would be shut down and their fates would be decided upon according to law. They were told that although all foreigners were to be temporarily banned from Tibet, they should, when still coming into face-to-face contacts with them in the meanwhile, explain that the disturbance which began recently, and was continuing, would be resolved soon and that stability and harmony would return. They were also told that they would be dealt with very sternly in case they were found to have visited whatever internet sites they wished to or to have engaged in exchanging email messages without discrimination. Besides, they were told during the internal meeting, that the same thing should be explained to the foreigners too. They were told many other such things as well. Besides, a few days earlier, the background information on all the foreigners working with non-governmental organizations were again scrutinized and taken down in writing in great detail.

14 March In the morning of 14 March, monks of Ramoche Temple in Lhasa city began by shouting slogans calling for Tibet’s independence. The Chinese government responded by surrounding the temple with the paramilitary People’s Armed Police Force as well as the regular police force and thereby tried to prevent the monks from continuing the protest. When that happened, members of the Tibetan public rose strongly in support of the monks. That, in turn, led to a spontaneous upsurge of massive Tibetan protest, leading to a violent clash between the Tibetans and the Chinese government forces. The Chinese government quickly took advantage of the situation created by this development and sent in its agent provocateurs, disguising them as monks and Tibetan civilians. These agent provocateurs beat Chinese people, set fire to their shops, and engaged in other kinds of violence and destruction. Photos were especially taken of these stage-managed violence and destruction. Violent crackdown was then carried out later in the evening, resulting in many Tibetans being killed or injured while a large number of Tibetans were arrested. A report

by China’s official Xinhua news agency acknowledged that seven to 10 Tibetans had died. However, our own finding is that in reality at least 80 Tibetans had died in that incident.

Among them, the names and descriptions of the following persons have been found out: 1) Phurbu, aged 20, of Lhasa; 2) Sonam Norbu, aged 27, of Derge; 3) Azin, aged about 30, of Palyul; 4) Sonam Lhamo, age 21, of Palyul; 5) Dargey, aged 20, of Damshung; 6) Konchog Samphel, aged 21, of Damshung; 7) Lhakpa Tsering, aged 21, born in Toelung and permanent resident of Lugu Street, Outer gate 11, Inner gate 1, Lhasa; 8) Thupten Tsering, aged 24, of Lhasa; 9) Tenzin Samdup, aged 39, of Lhasa; 10) Rigzin Choenyi, aged 26, Shugseb Nunnery; 11) Lobsang Tsepel, aged 31, of Sera; 12) Ngodup, aged 28, of Tibet University; 13) Lobsang Dolma, aged 23, of Garu Nunnery; 14) Ngawang Thekchen of Taglung Drak Monastery; 15) Dhondup Dolma, aged 19, student; 16) Dechen Dolma, aged 57, of

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Drapchi in Lhasa; 17) Phurbu Tsamchoe, aged 20, of Lhasa; 18) Tashi Dorje, aged 22, of Nagchu; 19) Tashi Tsering of Bathang County; 20) Kalsang Yeshi of Markham; 21) Penpa, aged 29, a lama graduate from Toelung Tsurpu monastery and residing at Nhangney Monastery at the time of his death; 22) Bhumo Tenzin Dolkar, aged 21, of Toelung; 23) Tsomo, aged about 27, born in Ema Gang Township of Namling County in Shigatse Prefecture; 24) Dechung, aged 24, of Teshoetsang family in Phusum Township of Nyemo County, Lhasa City. He usually lived in Lhasa city, pursuing his occupation by carving wooden printing blocks. He was killed on 14 March with a bullet fired on his chest. It appears that his body was not handed over to his family.

Likewise, relatively smaller scale protests were held at a number of places in the vicinity of Lhasa city, including Toelung, Samye Monastery, Ratoe and Nyethang, and Tashi Lhunpo Monastery. And there have been reports of arrests and injuries of Tibetans in the Chinese government crackdown on them.

After Martial Law was imposed in Lhasa in all but name from the evening of 14 March, not just the paramilitary People’s Armed Police Force but also even regular People’s Liberation Army forces were pressed into service. Among them was the modernized Infantry Unit No. 55 (this unit had its newly built armed forces base near Toelung Trisam in western part of Lhasa city) which had to be put into use. Apart from that, there were other information from a section of sources which revealed that during the launch of the violent crackdown in Lhasa, the 149 Motorized Infantry Division [Unit 56016] of the 13th Group Army under Chengdu military region (The Southwest Area Military Region) and the 52nd Mountain Infantry Brigade under Tibet (Lhasa) Military District also took part. It is said that these two units are the best armed sections of the Southwest Area Military Region and also its speediest rapid counterattack forces.

In the afternoon of 14 March, more than 2,000 people, constituted mainly by monks of Labrang Tashikhyil Monastery in Sangchu County of Kanlho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province, massed together. They carried a total of about 850 Tibetan national flags and forcefully raise slogans in favour of Tibet’s independence at the site where the county government headquarters were located. The Chinese government responded with a violent crackdown, resulting in many Tibetans getting injured and being arrested.

At about 11:00 in the night of 14 March, personnel from the Lhasa City Public Security Bureau took into custody two persons – Tashi Sonam, aged 48, and Gyaltsen, aged 40 – both originally from Kardze County but earning their living by doing business in Lhasa. Both disappeared with no one knowing where they had been put in detention, or any other information about them.

At the end of February 2008, a lama named Pello Tulku was not allowed by the Chinese authorities to give a religious empowerment teaching at the ‘Arthang Monastery in Driru County of Nagchu Prefecture.

As a result, there was hostility between the religious and lay Tibetan public on one side and members of the Chinese Work Team and other officials on the other side. It eventually led to an additional Work Team of more cadres being sent to the place on 1 March to at once begin carrying out a campaign of education in patriotism on all Tibetans from the ages of 18 to 30, irrespective of whether they were members of the religious community or laypeople. Besides, all roads and traffic from Nagchu to Lhasa were blockaded from 14 March. A prohibitory order was issued, directing that except in the case of those having their residential registration (themtho, Chinese: hukou) in Nagchu Prefecture, everyone else who had come

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Tibetan People’s Peaceful Movement in 2008 and the Chinese Government’s Suppresive Policy

from other places should go back. Cadres then entered Tibetan homes one after another and prepared a list of all the male children. However, apart from the carrying out of the campaign, there were no clear reports of arrests.

15 March More than 200 people staged a demonstration at Nyangdren Lam in northern Lhasa in the morning of 15 March. Also on 15 March morning, there was demonstration at Karma Gonsar (or Karma Kunsang) in eastern Lhasa. The paramilitary People’s Armed Police Force carried out a violent crackdown in both the cases.

Large numbers of armoured vehicles, armed soldiers and the like could be seen in Lhasa. Besides, a ban was imposed on all travels within the city while all schools were temporarily closed down. In addition, all restaurants and shops were also shut down.

In the night of 15 March, an army truck bearing the “Sharlung” marking left Lhasa and headed toward Toelung, carrying a cargo of corpses and dripping with blood. This information was conveyed from Tibet by a person who had witnessed it himself.

On 15 March, Tashi Gyaltsen and other monks of Khalo Choekhor Gon monastery in Phenpo Lhundup County staged a demonstration and shouted slogans. After that, about 50 monks of Ganden Choekhor Gon, nuns of Shara Nunnery and other nunneries as well as laypeople formed a crowd of more than one thousand and marched to the county government headquarters where they staged an emotional and spirited demonstration. The Chinese government responded with a violent crackdown, with reports saying there had been many arrests, deaths, and injuries. Among the dead was a man named Jinpa, aged 28, who was a farmer in Lhundup County.

On 15 March, as a protest was being staged behind Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in Shigatse, about 40 people were beaten as they were taken into detention. Large number of troops then arrived around Tashi Lhunpo Monastery. From inside the monastery, monks shouted slogans. There were reports of such cases as that of Chinese soldiers scaling compound walls to enter the monastery.

On 15 March, all the monks, except the abbot, of Samye Monastery in Lhokha Dranang County marched en masse to the nearby township where they staged a forceful demonstration, including with shouting of slogans. After the relevant units of the county authorities and others brought the protest to an end, troops of the paramilitary People’s Armed Police Force and others were at once rushed to put the monastery under siege. Nevertheless, for three days, not a single monk came out of the monastery while from outside the troops could not decide how they should gain entry; they simply imposed a ban on people from going in. Afterwards, through the intermediary of the concerned units of the county authorities, the Lhokha Prefectural authorities dispatched large numbers of police, civilian and army officials to conduct education in patriotism on the monastery’s monks. They carried out their campaign with emphatic fury and, during the course of it, arrested nine monks.

On 15 March, more than 200 monks of Choeten Sagar Dragpa, located along the east of Labrang Tashi

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ALL TIBETANS AS A COMMUNITY OF ONE THROUGH TIMES GOOD AND BAD

Khyil, staged a protest rally, carrying with them a portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Likewise, from the courtyard of Drag Gonpo Ri, located at the western end of Labrang Monastery, a crowd of hundreds of monks led an even bigger crowd of several thousands of religious and lay people to together stage a massive demonstration, with shouting of slogans, in front of the Sangchu County headquarters. The Chinese sent its paramilitary People’s Armed Police Force to carry out a violent crackdown. Reports said there were large numbers of arrests and injuries among the Tibetan protesters. Reports also said that among those who took part in the two days of peaceful demonstrations on 14 and 15 March were people from far and wide who had come to seek religious blessing at Labrang, including many youths from Hortsang Konyin Shogpa and most of the young monks of Hortsang Serti monastery. Likewise, about 200 people of Sangtsho Tsedun in Sangkhog Township came together and staged a forceful cavalry peace protest.

On 15 March, more than 300 monks of Rebtsha Gyalmo Gon monastery in Tsoe City in Kanlho Prefecture, Gansu Province, staged a forceful peaceful protest rally, carrying with them banners containing different kinds of slogans.

On 15 March, about 100 monks who were up to Middle Way class students of the Gaden Shedrup Dhargyeling monastery at Bora Ngonpo Thang in Sangchu County staged a peaceful protest rally from the monastery to the Township government headquarters, shouting slogans, taking down the township government’s name board from its gate, and carrying out other kinds of protest actions. Later in the evening, a large number of Chinese troops arrived at the monastery and carried out highly repressive control actions.

On 15 March, more than 500 religiously ordained and laypeople, led by the monks of Gothog Gonpa in Tsoe City, staged a protest rally and shouted slogans along the city street. Reports said paramilitary People’s Armed Police Force as well as regular police disrupted the peaceful protest by carrying out a violent crackdown.

Again, on the same day, more than 500 students of the Gansu provincial nationalities teacher training College in the eastern street area of Tsoe city and of the Kanlho vocational training college were reported to have walked out of their classes and staged a demonstration.

On 15 March, a crowd of more than 400 religiously ordained and laypeople led by monks of Tagtsang Lhamo Kirti Monastery in Dzoege County in Ngaba Qiang and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province staged a strongly charged protest rally, including with shouting of slogans, in the market area just below the monastery.

On 15 March, despite tight restrictions being enforced by the police in Lithang County areas of Kardze Prefecture in Sichuan Province, a Tibetan man named Bartshong Lupo-la stopped seven motor vehicles of the Chinese police and kept shouting slogans in front of them. After the police seized and took him away, Tibetans in the local area demanded that he should be release or they will stage demonstrations.

Although they did release him eventually, armed restrictions were greatly strengthened in the area, especially with deployment of reinforcement troops at all the monasteries in Lithang County. Apart from that, there were reports that protests had been staged by Tibetans in Kardze County and at the Othog and one other nomadic community in Lithang County, as well as at the Sershul Monastery in neighbouring Sershul County.

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Tibetan People’s Peaceful Movement in 2008 and the Chinese Government’s Suppresive Policy

Likewise, reports there were reports saying that peaceful demonstrations were held at Toelung Dechen County and Tagtse County, both parts of Lhasa City.

In the Samye Monastery area too, it was heard, there was a protest and reinforcement troops were being sent there from Lhasa. However, there were no further clarifications on those reports.

16 March At about 11:00 AM on 16 March, monks of Geden Legshey Ling at Kirti Monastery in Ngaba County of Ngaba Qiang and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, twice tried to leave their monasteries in order to stage protest rallies. However, each time the paramilitary People’s Armed Police Force arrived and stopped them. Because of that, the monks undertook a march along the circuit of the monastery’s prayer assembly hall and shouted slogans such as “May His Holiness the Dalai Lama Live for ten thousand Years!” and “Tibet is an independent country!”

After that, the monks again tried and managed to break out of the monastery. They kept clashing with troops as they continued their march to the county government headquarters. On reaching the County seat area, they were joined by the local Tibetan public and the combined crowd staged a protest rally, shouting slogans along the way. Immediately after hearing what was going on, Tibetans from across the surrounding areas streamed into the county government seat area and the crowd of religious and lay people swelled to about 10,000. The additional crowds of people included students of the Ngaba County Tibetan-language Middle School, monks and laypeople from Se monastery, Ngatoe (Upper Ngaba) Tshodrug, Ngatoe Gomang Gondrong, Nyentse Gondrong, Me’u Ruma, Adue Gondrong, Khashul Gondrong, Togden Gondrong, and Trotsig Gondrong. Ngamey (Lower Ngaba) Akhyam Apel Gondrong, Choeten Chag Gondrong, Dekyi Gondrong, three Dongkhu clan communities, Ngasib Nga Chushok, Thawa Ghongab, Ngamey and other places. In addition, a substantial number of lay Tibetan protesters were reported to have come from other counties. The protest and slogan shouting continued throughout the day.

Likewise, at a large number of places far off from Ngaba County, such as Achog Tsenyi Gondrong, Kirti Dongri Gondrong, Ngaba Chugley Gabma, Chahruwa, Ra’ruwa, and Nagtsangma, people gathered at the gates of their respective Township government offices and staged demonstrations with shouting of slogans.

To demand the immediate release of all the Tibetans who had been arrested by police on that day, the Tibetan public crowded at the gate of the county police (ie, the Public Security Bureau) headquarters and strongly raised their voices for the purpose. The Chinese armed forces and police initially responded by lobbing tear gas explosives on the Tibetan crowd, followed by shooting with their guns and then shooting with machine guns. Some 23 Tibetans were killed in the process while a large number of other Tibetans got injured.

Among those who were killed, reports revealed the names of the following victims: 1) Tashi Wangchug, aged 27; 2) Tsezin of Theu Drongdhotsang, aged 34; 3) Lhundup Tso, a girl from Ngoshul who was a

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student there, aged 16; 4) Atisha, aged 20, 5) Norbu, a student from Shinglung Khagabtsang, aged 17; 6) Gephen Thaglo from Ponkor Khyi-nyertsang at Zamthang Asugma, aged 64; 7) Geygyam of Soruma, aged about 40, and 8) Lotse of Soruma Lhamotshang, aged about 25.

The bodies of about 13 Tibetans who were killed during the day reached Ngaba Kirti Monastery later in the evening. Death rituals and prayers were held for them all at the monastery. From that day on, all the roads and paths both in and outside the monasteries were blockaded and very tight restrictions were enforced with troops permanently deployed to fully surround them.

On 16 March, the general body of monks of Gyalten Phuntsogling, a Bon monastery, and the local people of Nhangshig had joined the massive protest which was staged at the Ngaba county government seat.

At that time, Tsezin of Theudrong Dhotsang, a former monk of Nhangshig Monastery, displayed heroic valour by taking a leap to the front. A Chinese soldier shot him on one of his legs from near the door of the Ngaba County police office. Undaunted, he continued protesting, with the result that he was shot on his other leg as well. Still, he kept protesting and shouting slogans, supporting himself on his knees.

Fellow Tibetans tried to save him, but he shouted to them, “don’t save me! I have come here after having made up my mind to sacrifice my life! You too should keep protesting with me!” As he said that, a bullet pierced one of his arms. Finally, he was shot on his forehead as well and killed thereby.

As he was among the first lot of Tibetans to be killed in the violent crackdown, the Chinese government dispatched a large body of troops to the monastery which was thereby put under army restrictions. County officials ordered the monks that they all should love and be loyal to the motherland, oppose separatism, hand over those who had taken part in the protest, hoist the Chinese national Red Flag in the monastery’s compound, and so on.

But the monks were reported to have replied that while they did not know what to make of the call to oppose separatism, it was unthinkable for them to ever oppose those who had sacrificed their lives for the sake of their country. They thereby made clear their intention not to hand over anyone who had taken part in the protest. They were also emphatic in never allowing the communist Chinese Red Flag to be raised in the monastery compound. And they made clear their resolve to pull it down in case the officials would put up the flag. With such defiant utterances, the monks made clear their resolve never to accept any of the demands made by the officials.

Because of this development, the officials called the monastery’s administrative head to a separate meeting and told them that the Chinese government demands must be carried out and in case of any failure to do so, stern decision will be taken. But the concerned monastery head responded by telling the officials that they could do their worst. “You, the Communist Party of China, are helpless in the face of the defiance of these monks; I, a solitary monk, certainly do not have any means to make them obey you.” Besides, he told them, displaying the Communist Chinese Red Flag in the monastery was unprecedented and also impossible. And because he, thus, refused to carry out any of their demands, the head of the monastery was detained at the local police station and subjected to interrogation there over several days.

Later on, the Public Security Bureau set up a police station by the circumambulation path of the monastery, but monks soon destroyed its doors, windows, and so on. Besides, monks also put in the mail box

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Tibetan People’s Peaceful Movement in 2008 and the Chinese Government’s Suppresive Policy

messages saying they did not want repression but independence; that they did not want oppression but rights, and so on. Because of that, reports said, some monks were subjected to severe rounds of interrogation and the like.

On 16 March, the general body of monks of Tashi Thekchenling at Thangkor Sogtsang Monastery in Dzoege County of Ngaba Prefecture, Sichuan Province, staged a protest rally with shouting of slogans.

However, because the county government dispatched a large body of troops there, the demonstration had to be brought to an end for the time being.

On 16 March, around 300 monks of Rong Gonchen monastery in Rebgong County of Malho Prefecture, Sichuan Province, having completed a morning religious incense-burniing ceremony on the hill behind the monastery, proceeded to march to the county government seat to stage protest there. However, they were stopped by the paramilitary People’s Armed Police Force as well as the regular army; they lobbed tear gas explosives into the crowd of monks in an attempt to disperse them. They also issued an order to impose curfew on the lay Tibetan public, saying no one was allowed to come out of their homes. As a result, the situation in the area became serious.

On 16 March, several hundred religiously ordained and laypeople led by monks of Thubten Choekhorling, the main monastery of the five nomadic clan communities of Rebgong County located at Kyasey Khartse began their day by saying payers and making butter-lamp offerings. Later in the afternoon, they staged a rally in a neat file, carrying portraits of his Holiness the Dalai Lama and banners bearing slogans such as “Invite His Holiness the Dalai Lama back to Tibet,” and “Struggle for Freedom”. The participants shouted slogans but without any display of any action indicative of violence or rudeness.

On 16 March, a 52-year-old monk named Akel of Lithang monastery in Kardze County staged a peaceful protest by lying down on road. As a result, police used force to take him away. When that happened, the local Tibetan public rose up in his defence, which led to his release later in the evening.

At about 4:00 PM on 16 March, a group of around 500 students belonging to the Tibetan Studies Department of Northwest Nationalities University in Lanzhou City staged a hunger strike on the playground of the university, displaying a banner which read “Tibetans are a community of one people through times good and bad” and shouting slogans calling for an end to the violent repression. The Chinese police responded by blocking the university gate and stopping all outside contacts for the protesters.

On 16 March, a group of monks of Pangsa Monastery in Maldrogungkar County of Lhasa city staged a protest and as a result some of them were arrested by police. But following appeals by the local Tibetan public, the police only just agreed to release them. However, another group had to flee into the mountains where they were forced to remain in hiding.

On16 March, about 200 people belonging to three Dokhar clan communities in Kanlho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Gansu Province staged a protest rally, including with shouting of slogans. In particular they raised in their slogans the point that while collecting signatures from the Tibetan public last year to find out whether they wished that His Holiness the Dalai Lama should return to Tibet, the Chinese authorities had made false claims about the result of the survey.

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ALL TIBETANS AS A COMMUNITY OF ONE THROUGH TIMES GOOD AND BAD

At about 6:00 PM on 16 March, more than 2,000 people staged a protest rally at the county seat of Machu in Kanlho Prefecture, Gansu Province. The protest was led by Tibetan students of the county middle school and junior middle school. The protesters carried portraits of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Tibetan national flags. And they shouted slogans saying “May His Holiness the Dalai Lama Live for Ten Thousand Years!” We Demand Human Rights and Religious Freedom in Tibet!” We Demand that His Holiness the Dalai Lama be Invited back to Tibet at the very earliest!” With the shouting of such and other slogans, the large-scale protest continued for about three hours. The Chinese responded with a brutally violent crackdown, with the result that many Tibetans became seriously injured and there were reports of deaths of Tibetans also.

On 16 March, more than 400 people of Ngulra Zholma Chikhog in Machu County, Gansu Province, staged a protest demonstration with shouting of slogans. Other protest actions such as the burning of the communist Chinese Red Flag on the compound of the township lower school were also carried.

On 6 March, a large number of religiously ordained and laypeople led by monks of Shedrub Dhargyeling, a monastery located at Lushoe in Achog Meyma town of Tsoe city, Gansu Province, staged a protest rally, shouting slogans to emphasize the point that Tibet has historically been an independent country, that His Holiness the Dalai Lama should be invited back to Tibet, and so on. They continued their rally until they reached Lushoe Township. At schools and other public buildings, they put up Tibetan national flags. At that time, the Chinese officials simply ran away. Later in the afternoon, however, a large body of Chinese armed forces arrived and began enforcing security restrictions.

Reports said that on 16 March, a section of monks of Ragya Monastery in Machen County of Golog Prefecture, Qinghai Province, staged a demonstration with shouting of slogans. However, there have been no further or detailed information about the event.

For three days since 16 March, several thousand religiously ordained and lay people, including monks of Khotse Monastery, which is part of Labrang Tashikhyil monastery, held religious incense-burning ceremonies, shouted slogans calling for restoration of Tibet’s independence, and saying prayers for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s success and well being. They were grand and large-scale activities.

On 16 March, students of two schools in Tsoe City held a protest rally in the city, carrying a banner which called for the resolution of the Sino-Tibetan dispute and an end to the violent repression of the Tibetan people and, likewise, shouting slogans.

Also on 16 March, a crowd of religiously ordained and laypeople staged a demonstration in Lithang County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province. However, later in the afternoon, the relevant Chinese authorities issued a decree, ordering all schools in the county to be closed and all work at the government office to be halted for a period of three days from 17 to 19 March, and declaring a curfew to ban people from coming out of their homes.

On 16 March, the masses of the Tibetan public held a demonstration with shouting of slogans near Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in Shigatse. However, no further information could be obtained.

There were also reports that on 16 March, Tibetans, carrying Tibetan national flags and portraits of His

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Tibetan People’s Peaceful Movement in 2008 and the Chinese Government’s Suppresive Policy

Holiness the Dalai Lama, staged a protest rally at the Gepasumdo (also known as Thunte, Chinese: Tongde) County seat in Tsolho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province. They were stopped by Chinese troops who clamped down by imposing security restrictions in the area.

On 16 March, two truckloads of Chinese soldiers who were not dressed in their army uniforms arrived at Ngog Gyalmo Gon monastery in Tsoe City on their way elsewhere. The monks stopped the trucks, used enamel paint to write “Free Tibet” on them, applied enamel paint on the face of government officials as well, and carried out other such actions to symbolize their protest.

It was reported that in the night of 16 March, the Chinese national flag flying in the front compound of the Kangtsa County Middle School in Tsojang Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, was taken down and replaced with a Tibetan national flag.

On 16 March, about 600 Tibetan people, including religiously ordained and laypeople, led by more than 250 monks of Shitsang Garsar Monastery in Luchu County of Kanlho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province, staged a protest demonstration with shouting of slogans in the middle of the county market for three hours. During it, they took down the Red Flag of Communist China from the county government, Public Security Bureau and other buildings and put up Tibetan national flags there. The same protest actions were later carried out at the Township government headquarters located near Shitsang Monastery.

17 March On about 16-17 March, all the Tibetan petty trades people, parents of students, people looking for employment and the like in Lhasa city, Nagchu county town, and other places were repatriated to their home localities. Among them were about 200 Tibetans who were returned to Yagla Township in Sog County of Nagchu Prefecture. At a meeting especially called by the county authorities to deal with these people, it was announced that none of them could henceforth travel out of the township; rather, they were required to regularly attend political education meetings. It was further announced that should any of them travel out of the township, they would forfeit their residence registration (themtho, Chinese: hukou) as well as their agricultural land and every other kind of local entitlements.

In the morning of 17 March, several thousand religiously ordained and laypeople belonging to Pangsa Monastery, Rinchenling, Tashigang and other places in Maldrogungkar County again staged a forcefully driven protest. All the schools, offices, shops, tea shops and all else in the area were shut down. Although a force of seven truckloads of the paramilitary People’s Armed Police Force had already arrived from Lhasa, they could not stop the protest. As a result, reinforcement of more People’s Armed Police Force troops continued to leave Lhasa for Maldrogungkar.

Reports also said that on 17 March there was a resumption of more demonstrations in the Ganden Choekhorling area of Phenpo Lhundup County in Lhasa City.

At about10:30 AM on 17 March, two Chinese army trucks bearing the “Sharlung” marking, carrying corpses, and headed for Toelung, were seen dripping with blood at a western Lhasa petrol pump station.

(This place is at the junction of three roads in Dongkar Township and is hence the main vehicular traffic

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ALL TIBETANS AS A COMMUNITY OF ONE THROUGH TIMES GOOD AND BAD

meeting point in the area. When restrictions were imposed in Lhasa city, this was one of the main control spots.) Reports said that when the spot was filled with motor vehicles caught in a traffic jam, a section of Tibetans saw blood dripping from these two trucks.

On 17 March, a peaceful demonstration was led by 16 monks of Dingkha Monastery in Toelung Dechen County. With support from the ordinary masses, it soon developed into a large-scale demonstration.

Twelve monks and a significant number of laypeople were arrested by the Chinese authorities.

Twelve monks of Dhuekhor Monastery in Dechen Township in Toelung Dechen County of Lhasa city were arrested on 17 March from the demonstration that day. Likewise, more than 10 monks of Dhungkar Monastery in Toelung Dechen County were also taken into custody while report said heavy monetary fines of 15,000 yuan were imposed on some monks.

From early in the morning of 17 March, very tight security was imposed across Lithang county areas of Kardze Prefecture in Sichuan Province with deployment of police personnel equipped with arms and regular army soldiers.

Reports also said that on 17 March, hundreds of students and members of the public gathered in the Rongpatsa area of Kardze County in preparation for staging a demonstration. They also said that the Tibetan national flag was planted in the Tehor Dhargay Monastery.

On 17 March, people belonging to about 200 families of the three clans of the Rong-ngar area in Sangchu County of Gansu Province staged a forceful demonstration against the Chinese government, including with shouting of slogans. About five people were arrested at that time.

On 17 March, around 100 people belonging to the Rutoema Shogpa, one of the five Shogpas (or branches) of the Dzoege Meyma Shogpa in Dzoege County located to the east of Labrang formed a cavalry and galloped to Dzoege Garsar, where the Toema Township was headquartered. There they took down the communist Chinese Red Flag, put up prayer flags, and carried put other forms of protest actions. As a result, both the civilian and armed force officials of the Chinese government held a meeting, after which threats were issued, all sorts of beatings carried out, and eventually, reports said, 42 Tibetans were imposed fines of 1,000 yuan each.

On 17 March, more than 300 people, including religiously ordained and laypeople, of The Three Dokar Clans in Kanlho Prefecture of Gansu Province performed a religious incense-burning ceremony and followed it up by marching to the prefectural government seat in order to stage a peaceful demonstration with shouting of slogans there. However, on persuasion by influential community figures, they ended the demonstration for the time being.

On 17 March, about 500 Tibetan people, young and old, of Ngulra Zhoelma in Machu County of Gansu Province staged a demonstration at their Township government headquarters. For about three days they kept putting up Tibetan national flags there.

On 17 March, more than 1,000 people, religiously ordained as well as laypeople, including monks of Ritroe Gephel Ling, also known as Sargon Ganden Tashi Choeling, in Whelbhen Township of Machu

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Tibetan People’s Peaceful Movement in 2008 and the Chinese Government’s Suppresive Policy

County, Gansu Province, staged a forceful protest with shouting of slogans. They removed from inside the Township government offices all the portraits of the Chinese officials of all levels and, instead, put up there pictures of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. They also said prayers for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s long life and success. In addition, they removed the Red Flags from the offices of the five major township units and so on and replaced them with improvised flags of white sheets of cloth on which were written “Tibetan Independence”.

On 17 March, more than 1,000 people, including religiously ordained and laypeople, led by students of the Nationalities Upper Middle School at Barkham, the government seat of Ngaba Prefecture in Sichuan Province, staged a peaceful protest demonstration against the Chinese government with shouting of slogans. And when the students of Barkham County Middle School prepared to leave their school with aim to stage a protest march and shout slogans in the main market area, the police at once locked the school gate. As a result, students could not get out of the school. In protest, they staged a hunger strike inside the school. At that time, they shouted slogans, saying they had an intense wish to receive a visual blessing of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and demanded that the Chinese government allow him to come back to Tibet. Following this development, many students of the Barkham County Nationalities Upper Middle School were arrested. Reports especially said at that time that a section of Tibetan protesters, such as those named as Khangkon of Ngaba County and Thewo Sonam, were tried and sentenced. However, further, detailed information could not be obtained.

At 7:00 PM on 17 March, monks of Achog Tsenyi Gon Jamyang Masengling in Ngaba County, joined by nearly one thousand members of the lay public, staged a forceful protest with shouting of slogans.

The protesters took down the Chinese Red Flags from the Township government offices, People’s Junior School, the Forest Department, and so on and put up Tibetan national flags instead. At that time, the Chinese security forces maintained a close watch over the protest but did not intervene or make any arrest, with the result that no one was killed or injured at that time.

Each day since 17 March, Chinese police and armed forces personnel made sudden forced entries into the living quarters of the monks of Ngayul Segon Thubten Chog-ley Namgyal Ling and taunted the monks with all sorts of degrading remarks to humiliate them. In particular, they told them that the peaceful protest of 16 March was a “rebellious disturbance” and a campaign of “snatching, looting, beating and burning”, and that the government had clear information on which of the monks were involved in the alleged rebellious disturbance. And they added, “But it is better if you own up yourselves to acknowledge your mistakes and confess.” So saying, they carried out beatings, denigrations, interrogations and so on in a campaign of physical, mental and oral torture of the monks. And the intensity of it kept worsening considerably day by day.

In the morning of 17 March, nuns of Mamey Nunnery in Ngaba County of Sichuan Province staged a forceful protest, with shouting of slogans, at the county seat of the local Chinese government, carrying with them a portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Buddhist banner. Although they shouted slogans and rallied through the streets in the market, it all ended without any intervention from any of the Chinese security forces and all the nun were able to get back safely to their nunnery.

On 17 March, monks of Namtso Monastery, nuns of Me'u Ruma Nunnery and the laypeople of the area staged forceful protests with shouting of slogans three times, carrying with them Tibetan national flags,

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ALL TIBETANS AS A COMMUNITY OF ONE THROUGH TIMES GOOD AND BAD

at the nomadic Me’u Ruma Township in Ngaba County of Sichuan Province. At Lamlungdo, the Chinese troops entered into a spree of indiscriminate and merciless beating of everyone, including the very young and old, with the butts of their guns. As a result, many Tibetans became injured. Some were arrested and brought to the Ngaba County seat. Reports said that as a result of the climate of fear created by the Chinese authorities, many Tibetans dared not remain at their homes; instead, they took flight into the nearby mountains where they remained in hiding from possible dangers of persecution.

On 17 March, the people of Cha Township in Ngaba County again staged a protest demonstration with shouting of slogans. They pulled down the communist Chinese Red Flag from the roof of the local Public Security Bureau office and also removed the office’s gate nameplate, besides carrying out other forms of protest actions. No information could be obtained regarding further details.

In the middle of the night on 17 March, Chinese government as well as other buildings in Ngamey Lota Township in Ngaba County of Sichuan province were set on fire. At that time the local situation was such that the Tibetan people could not have gone to the township government seat area. The local Tibetans were reported to be firm in believing that it was most likely Chinese intelligence service people who carried out the arson. Nevertheless, following the incident, the Chinese government greatly intensified restrictions at both Ngamey Lota clan and Akham clan community areas. About 41 people were arrested from the Lota clan community area over a period of time.

On 17 March, A section of students of the Nationalities Middle School in Kakhog County of Ngaba Prefecture jumped over the school’s compound wall and staged a demonstration. Police arrested those students. Following this development, more than 600 other students staged a peaceful demonstration, demanding that the police immediately release the arrested students. Two students were seriously injured in apparent Chinese crackdown on them.

In the morning of 17 March, a large-scale protest, including with shouting of slogans, was held at the gate of Thangkor Township, led by the general body of monks of Sogtsang monastery in Dzoege County of Ngaba Prefecture in Sichuan Province. When they brought down the communist Chinese Red Flag from the local government building and proceeded to replace it with a Tibetan national flag, the Chinese security forces launched an attack, lobbing tear gas explosives, carrying out other forms of repression, and imposing security restrictions.

On 17 March, two Chinese army trucks again arrived at the Ngog Gyalmo Monastery in Tsoe City in Gansu Province. The monastery’s general body of monks prepared to stage a demonstration. However, on advice by concerned respected persons, they abandoned their plan for the time being.

On 17 March, students of the Tibetan Medicine Department at the Kanlho Prefectural College of Health in Gansu Province led a demonstration. On that day, more than 1,000 Tibetan people from the surrounding areas of Tsoe city, including the townships of Nhabug and Dragmar, carried out peaceful demonstrations with shouting of slogans, putting up or distributing posters, and carrying out other forms of protest actions.

On 17 March, a large number of Chinese police personnel and government officials arrived at the Shitsang Monastery in Luchu County of Kanlho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Gansu Province. They

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Tibetan People’s Peaceful Movement in 2008 and the Chinese Government’s Suppresive Policy

declared an order, saying henceforth no such campaigns were allowed to be carried out. In addition, they also issued an order, saying no monk at the monastery was allowed to go out, and enforced tight security measures.

On 17 March, after the spring religious camp had come to an end at the Rongwo Monastery in Rebgong County of Malho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai Province, a religious incense-burning ceremony was held, firework displays with bursting of firecrackers were done, and a demonstration with shouting of slogans was carried out in defiance of tight restrictions that were already in force. In addition, demonstrations with shouting of slogans were held by students of many schools. As a result, the Chinese army carried out a clampdown and all schools in the county had to be declared closed for holiday for more than a month. Later that night, the monks of Rongwo Monastery held a clandestine discussion and an internal document bearing three points was agreed on and distributed among them.

On 17 March, four Tibetans, including one named Choepa Thar of Luchu, the chief of the nomadic community of Rebgong, held a religious incense-burning ceremony on an elevated spot and followed it up by taking down the communist Chinese Red Flag from the local Junior School ground and replacing it with a Tibetan national flag. They then took off on motorbikes to the Khartse Yultso Township government building from which they took down the communist Chinese Red Flag and put up a Tibetan national flag in its place. A crowd of more than 300 Tibetans gathered there and staged a demonstration, including with shouting or slogans.

On 17 March, the people of Dowa in Trang-yar Township of Rebgong County, Qinghai Province, carried out a campaign of protest against the Chinese government.

In the night of 17 March, the communist Chinese Red Flags were removed in the Wombu Township boarding school and in a Chinese school in Kangtsa County of Tsojang Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai Province and replaced with Tibetan national flags.

On 17 March, the monks of Tsang Monastery in Ba or Gepasumdo (or Thunte, Chinese: Tongde) County in Tsolho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, carrying two Tibetan national flags and a portrait of His holiness the Dalai Lama, set off on a peace march to the provincial capital Zilling (Chinese: Xining). They shouted slogans bearing the essence of their demands, such as 1) “The Chinese government should hold direct negotiations with His Holiness the Dalai Lama on the issue of Tibet!” 2) “His Holiness the Dalai Lama should be invited to Tibet! May His Holiness live for then thousand years!” 3) “We demand human rights and democracy in Tibet!” 4) “All political prisoners in Tibet, including the Panchen Lama, should be released!” and 5) “If the Chinese government does not fulfil our demands, we shall definitely rise in opposition to it until the end of our dear lives!”

As the Tibetans proceeded with their peace march in this manner, some three truckloads of Chinese soldiers arrived a little past midday. Later in the night, around 30 more truckloads of Chinese troops arrived.

They enforced right security measures and arrested about 29 monks.

On 17 March, about 200 monks of Serlag Gonpa (Monastery) and about 100 students in Ba or Gepasumdo County of Qinghai Province staged a protest rally with shouting of slogans. About 21 monks were arrested from the protest.

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On 17 March, thousands of regular Chinese soldiers arrived at Serta County of Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province. Despite tight security measures having thereby been imposed, many Tibetans still defied the Chinese government and staged protests, shouting slogans, displaying their dissatisfaction in all sorts of manners and shouting war and victory cries.

On 17 March, there was a surge of uprising by most of the youths of Thewo County in Kanlho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province, led by the monks of the three monasteries of Draggam Lhasol Gon, Poshog Gon, and Ngo-khye Ritroe. As the crowd of youths marched toward the seat of the county government, the county police and the paramilitary Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Armed Police Force stopped them along the way. When that happened, the Tibetans, who were carrying portraits of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, began shouting slogans, saying things such as Tibet was an independent country. The Chinese responded by breaking up the crowd, with the result that the Tibetan people got scattered and some of them got beaten by the Chinese forces. A few days after that, the county Chinese police and the paramilitary Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Armed Police Force arrested more than 300 Tibetans, including religiously ordained and laypeople, from Draggam Lhasol Gon and other places and put them under detention in the county police detention centre.

Reports said that two laymen, named as Pema Kyab and Sonam Lobsang, were beaten so badly during arrest that they had to be taken to hospital. A section of Tibetans were later released after fines ranging from 1,000 yuan to 5,000 yuan were collected from them. Reports said the authorities had decided to try another section of the detained Tibetans with a view to have them serve jail sentences.

On 17 March, more than 100 Tibetans, including religiously ordained and laypeople, led by the monks of the two monasteries, both belonging to Ganden Tenphelling in Khagya Toema (or Upper Khagya) Township in Sangchu County of Gansu Province staged a protest. They took down the communist Chinese Red Flag from the Township government office and put up in its place a Tibetan national flag. They then carried out a protest rally with shouting of slogans.

On 7 March, more than 500 Tibetans, including both religiously ordained and laypeople, led by monks at Chabcha Township in Tsolho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, staged a protest rally with shouting of slogans. The Chinese police used violence to clampdown on them.

On 17 March, monks of Thalshul Monastery and more than 100 laypeople in Mangra County assembled together and then staged a peaceful demonstration with shouting of slogans. Elsewhere, a crowd of more than 500 people, including religiously ordained and laypeople, and including 30 monks of Gha-gya Monastery, also staged a demonstration with shouting of slogans in Mangra County of Tsolho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. Although the Chinese authorities clamped down with imposition of tight security measures, no reports were received saying protesters had been arrested at that time itself.

On 17 March, led by about 300 monks of Achog Monastery in Sangchu County of Gansu Province, a crowd of hundreds of Tibetans, including both religiously ordained and laypeople, staged a protest rally with shouting of slogans and marched toward the Achog Township government seat. On reaching there, the protesters took down the communist Chinese Red Flag from the Township Public Security Bureau office, the Township government office, schools, and so on and put up Tibetan national flags in their places.

And because the Chinese government officials and others either hid or ran away, the Tibetans did not face any trouble at that time. However, later in the evening, all the mountains, plains and roads of Achog

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Tibetan People’s Peaceful Movement in 2008 and the Chinese Government’s Suppresive Policy

Township filled up with large-scale deployment of Chinese troops and they imposed very tight security measures in the area.

On 17 March, the monks of Akhor Dragkar Gon Ganden Tashi Jangchupling and the laypeople of Wamar Township in Chone County of Kanlho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province, held a protest rally.

On 17 March, a massive deployment of around 2,000 troops from China’s military region based in Gansu Province arrived at Machu County and carried out tight security clampdown in the county.

On17 March, monks of Nyenthong Gon monastery together with about 500 local Tibetans of Ngulra Ghongma (ie, Upper Ngulra) Township in Machu County of Gansu Province put up on the walls of the Township government buildings five Tibetan national flags of different sizes. They also pulled down the communist Chinese Red Flag and flew the Tibetan national flag in its place in the course of carrying out a highly driven demonstration with shouting of slogans. Likewise, more than 600 Tibetans, led by the monks of Tshendrog Gon monastery in Meyma Township in Machu County staged a demonstration with shouting of slogans before their township government headquarters. They also carried out such other protest actions as pulling down the communist Chinese Red Flag and replacing it with the Tibetan national flag. Also, monks of sa-ngag Ritroe Tharpaling and more than 300 Tibetan residents in Tsenurma Township of Machu County also staged a demonstration with shouting of slogans. They also took down the communist Chinese Red Flag and put up in its place the Tibetan national flag and carried out other protest actions as well. In addition, more than 150 Tibetan people, including religiously ordained and laypeople, belonging to the two monasteries of Tashi Choeling in Chukhama Township in Machu County of Gansu Province staged a peaceful demonstration with shouting of slogans. They too pulled down communist Chinese Red Flags and put up Tibetan national flags in their place and carried out other forms of protest actions as well. And in Mhakhug Tarey Township of Machu County in Gansu Province, a cavalry of more than 90 local Tibetan horsemen staged a demonstration with shouting of slogans, demanding that His Holiness the Dalai Lama should be invited back to Tibet as soon as possible, saying Tibet was a fully independent country, and so on.

In the afternoon of 17 March, after the conclusion of a grand religious event at the Kadhag Todrel Ling, which is part of the Taglung Monastery of the Ngagyur Nyingma order, at Khangsar Township in Chigdril County of Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, there was an uprising by more than 1,000 people. The crowd included family members of Chigdril County government officials as well as Tibetan government officials themselves, besides the local Tibetan public. It was a large-scale demonstration with shouting of slogans. According to what we have heard, Chigdril County was the main place that gave rise to protests across Golog County; and the Khangsar Township within it was accused of having the biggest criminal responsibility for it.

In the afternoon of 17 March, more than 100 Tibetan people, including Tibetan officials of Minthang Township in Chigdril County of Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture staged a demonstration with shouting of slogans. They took down the communist Chinese Red Flags from the township government and Public Security Bureau buildings and, for a full week, kept the Tibetan national flag flying in their places. They threw in the air prayer flag papers, made ceremonial scarf offerings, performed religious incense-burning ceremonies, raised joyous shouts of victory to the gods and carried out numerous other

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ALL TIBETANS AS A COMMUNITY OF ONE THROUGH TIMES GOOD AND BAD

similar actions. It was as if the Tibetan people had rediscovered their soul. In Sogruma Township, the Chinese authorities arrested about 21 Tibetans over a period of time after they staged demonstrations with shouting of slogans.

On 17 March, more than 100 Tibetan students at the China (Central) Nationalities University in Beijing staged a candlelight vigil as a symbolic peaceful protest over the martyrdom of Tibetan men and women in the three traditional provinces of Tibet during the current month of March.

18 March At about 1:50 PM on 18 March, the following Tibetans led a protest with shouting of slogans at the four-way cross junction of the Liberation Road and the Sichuan-Tibet Highway in Kardze County of Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province: 1) Ngoega (Ngodup Phuntsog) of Chukhatsang family in Serchuteng Township of Kardze County 2) Pema Dechen of Tagyug Tengtsang family 3) monk Tsering Gyurme of Tsitshang Monastery 4) Dhonden of Rongpatsa Township 5) Apha Jamyang of Chogri 6) Chime Gonpo of Drukhangteng 7) Goen-ga of Drukhangteng 8) Sangpo of Tsangkhatsang 9) Aruratsang Loyang 10) Maduetsang Gonpo 11) Ta (Tashi) Palden of Wosang 12) Norbu Tsering from Dzapa and bridegroom of the Yarlogcha family 13) Showu Mingming, daughter of Choeten Zhabtsang family 14) Loga of Tachuda 15) monk Tseten Phuntsok, former religious chant-master of Kardze Monastery and two laypersons.

Led by the above list of persons, the Tibetans forcefully shouted numerous slogans, such as “There is no human right in Tibet!” “We demand freedom in Tibet!” “We demand that Gyalwa Tenzin Gyatso reside in Tibet!” “Release at once all the political prisoners, including the young Panchen Lama!” May the Gyalwa Yabsey duo (refers to the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama as spiritual father and son or teacher and student) live for ten thousand years!” They also handed out large number of leaflets containing messages such as those expressing demand for freedom in Tibet.

As the protest actions went on thus, the Tibetans were surrounded from all sides by about 150 personnel of the paramilitary People’s Armed Police Force and the regular police forces. However, those personnel soon themselves continued to be surrounded by several thousand Tibetans and the protester, joined by more than a thousand other Tibetan people, turned from the south of the Liberation Road toward north and kept moving till they reached the tailoring unit of Kardze Monastery, all the while shouting slogans. After that, the trucks carrying several hundred troops of the paramilitary People’s Armed Police Force kept forcing themselves into the Tibetan crowd and began disrupting the protest. As the above listed persons, being the leaders, were at the head of the crowd of protesters, the People’s Armed Police Force continued

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Tibetan People’s Peaceful Movement in 2008 and the Chinese Government’s Suppresive Policy

to take video and still photographs of them both from the front and back sides as they kept marching and shouting slogans. When they reached a spot called Kubum Zhab, the People’s Armed Police Force swung into action, setting upon the protest leaders from all sides, armed with metal rods and other arms to stop them and to subject them to a vicious spell of beating without any kind of restraint and even shooting at the protest leaders. As a result, Ngoega, Apha Jamyang and former religious chant master Tseten Phuntsog received injuries. Many of those who protested with them were taken away and put under detention or arrest with no one knowing whether any of them were alive any longer after the severe beating. Some in the international media and others reported at that time that several Tibetans had been killed.

On 18 March, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao addressed a press conference during which he answered questions about the so-called 3-14 Lhasa incident and other matters.

On 18 March, besides continuing the violent repression in Tibet’s capital Lhasa by the paramilitary People’s Armed Police Force, all the former Tibetan political prisoners as well as those under any kind of political suspicion were arrested. In the case of those who had been jailed for a long time previously for political reasons and who did not happen to be home at the time, their family members were taken into custody.

On 18 March, Chinese army personnel stood guard on rooftops of local party committee offices overlooking Tibetan residential compounds in Lhasa while they were also posted to guard the gates of the residential compounds to enforce curfew. Later in the evening, the troops made a door-to-door entry into all the Tibetan homes. Anyone who was found to be not a member of the family was taken away, without even so much as asking whether he or she had a city residential permit or other relevant questions.

During a BBC News forum discussion on 18 March, it was reported that about 600 monks were being transported from Lhasa to Chengdu city, capital of Sichuan Province, in the night.

On 18 March, the Tibetan public staged a demonstration with shouting of slogans in the Rushoe Qu area of Markham County in Chamdo Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, with the result that a total of about 20 people were arrested.

In the afternoon of 18 March, when more than 400 students of Yushu Nationalities Middle school in Yushu (Kyegudo) Prefecture staged a protest in the school with various kinds of actions, including with taking down of the communist Chinese Red Flag, troops from a nearby army camp arrived and surrounded the school and took other strict control measures designed to ensure that any news about it did not go out. To maintain strict secrecy about it, warnings were issued saying anyone who talked about it to the outside world would be executed. Order was also issued saying no students or teachers at the school were permitted to go out of the school as they wished until the end of the Olympic Games scheduled to be held in Beijing in August.

On 18 March, security clampdown was intensified at the Sakya Monastery in Sakya County of Shigatse Prefecture with dispatch of army troops. Additional Work Team members were also sent there. When the team began conducting political education of the monks, the latter expressed displeasure by pointing out that the monastery was in a state of peace and there was no need for any political education.

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On 18 March, all the Tibetan nationality officials in Machu County in Gansu Province were summoned to an urgent meeting and told that anyone found communicating with the outside world by telephone or internet would be severely dealt with and in any case never be let off lightly. The Tibetan officials were also told that they had to give cooperative help to the police at all the road intersections in the county.

At Khuchung Serdey in Ngulra Ghongma (ie, Upper Ngulra) Township in Machu County of Gansu Province, a peaceful protest was held and the Tibetan national flag raised. Around 700 people, including religiously ordained and laypeople, significantly the general body of monks of Thubten Yongdueling, a Nyingma monastery in Whelbhen Township in Machu County of Gansu Province, took part in the protest, with shouting of slogans. In place of the white fabric with the slogans calling for Tibet’s independence put up during the previous day’s demonstration, the Tibetan protesters planted Tibetan national flags. Also, around 500 Tibetans, both religiously ordained and laypeople, staged a protest march through the market street with shouting of slogans over two days at Chukhama Township in Machu County. Besides, on 18 March, more than 40 Tibetans again wrote “Tibet is an independent country” at the township government and the Township police offices as they continued to stage protests. Nevertheless, on mediation and guarantee by officials of Chukhama Gon monastery and others, no one was arrested on that day.

On 18 March, people from the three Lowa Dewas and Ngogphu Dewa, which were four of the five Ngog Dewas (ie, clan communities) in the Tsoe City, Gansu Province, staged a peaceful cavalry protest against the Chinese government with shouting of slogans and galloped in the direction of the Lushoe Township government seat.

On 18 March, the people of Akhor Tukhi Dewa in Chone County of Gansu Province pulled down the communist Chinese Red Flag from the compound of the local junior school and set it on fire besides carrying out other forms of protest actions.

On 18 March, around 1,000 Tibetans, young and old, led by a group of youngsters from Ma-ngey and Pelgur Townships, located near Luchu County in Gansu Province, staged a protest demonstration through the centre of the county market area. Shouting slogans as they marched on, the protesters pulled down the communist Chinese Red Flags from all government offices and carried out other kinds of protest actions as well. Elsewhere, the people of the five Ala Shogkhas in Luchu County of Gansu Province came together to stage a protest. Following it, most of the men in these five communities were driven to escape to the nearby rocky mountains or thick forest areas.

On 18 March, when Tibetans staged a peaceful demonstration at Serta County in Kardze Prefecture of Sichuan Province, carrying Tibetan national flags in their hands, the Chinese government responded with violent reprisal actions. Around 80 Tibetans, both religiously ordained and laypeople, were arrested while many were injured. Elsewhere, junior school students as well as religiously ordained and laypeople, numbering in many hundreds, held demonstrations with shouting of slogans at each of Khekor Township and Phuggu Township in Serta County. They pulled down the communist Chinese Red Flags and replaced them with Tibetan national flags and carried out other forms of protest actions as well. In addition, many branch monasteries in Serta, including Serta Sera Monastery, put up Tibetan national flags in their compounds.

On18 March, around 500 monks of Choepel Zhing Tashi Choekhorling Monastery in Dokhog Township of Chone County in Kanlho Prefecture of Gansu Province began their day with the holding of a religious

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Tibetan People’s Peaceful Movement in 2008 and the Chinese Government’s Suppresive Policy

incense-burning ceremony. After that, they, joined by many hundreds of local Tibetans in Nyinpa Township and Dokhog Township, and carrying Tibetan national flags, staged a demonstration in front of the Dokhog Township government headquarters. They pulled down the communist Chinese Red Flag from the local junior school’s compound and put up a Tibetan national flag in its place.

For five continuous days from 18 March, the higher class students of the Tibetan Middle School at Chone County in Sichuan Province boycotted their classes and instead carried out various kinds of protest actions to express solidarity with the Tibetans who had been staging demonstrations in the county.

On 18 March, around 2,000 Tibetan people, including both religiously ordained and laypeople, of Bora Township in Sangchu County of Kanlho Prefecture, Sichuan Province, collected together and staged a protest march along the streets of the township market, shouting slogans to drive home the point that His Holiness the Dalai Lama should be invited to Tibet; the Panchen Lama, the manifestation of the Buddha Amitabha, should be freed from the chains of his current prison bondage; that the people of the Three Provinces of Tibet, having remained repressed under communist Chinese subjugation for the past 49 years, should now all hold their heads up; and so on. Tibetans on horseback rode to junior schools, middle schools, township government offices, and so on to take down the communist Chinese Red Flags there and put up Tibetan national flags in their places. With such and numerous other forms of actions, largescale protests were carried out. As a result, the paramilitary People’s Armed Police Force surrounded the protesting crowd and pointed their guns to frighten them and in an obvious threat to begin shooting. Tear gas explosives were also fired into the protesting crowd. All this resulted in a large number of Tibetans and their riding horses getting injured. The Chinese government issued an order banning the prefectural and county hospitals from admitting or giving medical treatment to the injured Tibetans. The protest and related events of that day were also covered by many in the international news media.

On 18 March, more than 15 Tibetans belonging to Nagtshangma, Charuwa and other places who had taken part in a protest at the Cha Township of Ngaba County in Sichuan Province were arrested. In addition, the Chinese authorities circulated as well as put up notices, saying anyone else who would stage any turmoil would be at once arrested and dealt with sternly. Because of the severity of the Chinese repression, many Tibetans in those localities did not dare to remain at home; rather, they ran away to remain in hiding high in the mountains.

On 18 March, Chinese soldiers fully surrounded Achog Tsen-nyi Gonpa in Ngaba County of Sichuan Province and thereby put it under very tight armed surveillance. No one was allowed to go in or out of the monastery. All gatherings of the Tibetan public, whether in or out of their homes, were also strictly banned. All prayer services and routine prayer recitations at the monasteries had to be stopped for the time being. One by one, the monks were, each day, detained and interrogated during day time; those to be arrested were secretly taken away by force after nightfall.

At about noon on 18 March, a group of Tibetans, including the religious ordained and both male and female laypeople, led by some monks of Kakhog Achog Township in Ngaba County staged a peaceful demonstration with shouting of slogans. They pulled down the communist Chinese Red Flag from the boundary wall of the Township government office and replaced it with a Buddhist religious flag. At that time, although a large body of Chinese police force had arrived, there were no clashes or arguments between the two sides at that time. Nevertheless, after that action, those involved in the protest were taken

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into custody one after another. Finally, later on, around ten Tibetans, including those named as Jampa and Tobkho, were formally arrested. It was reported that four people were finally tried and sentenced, although no further information could be obtained.

On 18 March, five Tibetans, including one named Damdul, of the Thangkor Kabarma Dewa in Dzoege County of Ngaba Prefecture in Sichuan Province were arrested.

In the afternoon of 18 March, more than 200 Tibetans, including religiously ordained and laypeople, led by the general body of monks of Dringwa Sumdo Gon monastery in Dzoege County of Ngaba Prefecture, Sichuan Province, staged a protest rally, shouting slogans such as “May His Holiness the Dalai Lama live for ten thousand years!” They took down the communist Chinese Red Flags from the Dringwa Yultso Township government and the Sumdo Monastery compound and destroyed them. Following that, about 10 truckloads of police and armed force personnel arrived and clamped down with tight security measures at the monastery and throughout the township.

On 18 March, around 500 Tibetan people from the six Tsowas (ie, clan communities) of Ghen-gya Township in Labrang (Sangchu) County of Gansu Province, having set out from their respective communities, assembled in front of the township government office. There they carried out various kinds of protest actions, including with shouting of slogans. In addition, they pulled down the communist Chinese Red Flag from courtyard of the school near the Township government office and kept fluttering in its place a Tibetan national flag throughout the day. Elsewhere, when the people of the Surig Dewa (or Surig clan community) staged a demonstration with shouting of slogans, they demanded that the political prisoner Jigme Gyatso who belonged to the area and who was currently serving a 17-year jail term in the Chushur high security prison in Tibet Autonomous Region be released, besides shouting other demand as well.

On 18 March, nearly 1,000 people belonging to the Achog Tsowa in Sangchu County of Gansu Province, riding motor bikes and horses, raced to the Achog Township government seat where they staged a forceful demonstration with shouting of slogans. But thanks to the advice and explanations given by some influential Tibetan community figures, the Tibetans just managed to escape from serious consequences.

On 18 March, many hundreds of Tibetans, including both religiously ordained and laypeople, led by the monks of the Tsayue Township monastery of Ganden Choephel Ling, staged a protest demonstration with shouting of slogans. They took down from the Tsayue Township school’s courtyard the communist Chinese Red Flag and kept fluttering in its place a Tibetan national flag for something like three full days.

After that, regular Chinese armed force troops, paramilitary People’s Armed Police Force personnel, Public Security Bureau (the police) personnel and others arrived and carried out a search operation at the Tsayue monastery, as well as at many Tibetan homes nearby.

On 18 March, making opportune use of the occasion for holding the ceremony for the propitiation of the protector deity shrine at the Meyshi Thangsar Monastery in Labrang County of Gansu Province, all the gathering of the religiously ordained and laypeople, led by the monks, staged a demonstration with shouting of slogans. They pulled down from the township government office building the communist Chinese Red Flag and replaced it with a Tibetan national flag. And they raised shouts of “Victory to the Gods!” while doing so.

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Tibetan People’s Peaceful Movement in 2008 and the Chinese Government’s Suppresive Policy

On 18 March, more than 150 truckloads of the paramilitary People’s Armed Police Force arrived at Tsoe City in Kanlho Prefecture, Gansu Province, from Wuhan in mainland China. The Teacher's Training College, the Tibetan Middle School, the Junior School, and others in the city were shut down for holiday and their students and staff ordered to return home for an indefinite period of time.

On 18 March, the main body of monks of Rongwo Gonchen monastery in Rebgong County of Malho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, performed a religious incense-burning ceremony, carried out firework displays, and held a prayer service for the Tibetans who had lost their lives during the peaceful protest demonstrations in Lhasa.

On 18 March, monks of Do-ngag Shedrub Choekhorling, a monastery at Pelyul Dharthang Township in Chigdril County of Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, staged a demonstration at the township. They carried stretch banners and Tibetan national flags, pulled down the communist Chinese Red Flags from the Pelyul county government offices and junior school courtyard and replaced them with Tibetan national flags. And they shouted slogans saying, “We demand peace and freedom in Tibet!” “His Holiness the Dalai Lama must come to Tibet!” “May His Holiness the Dalai Lama live for ten thousand years!” “We demand freedom of religious belief!” “We demand human rights!” and so on.

Students of the junior school also shouted slogans. Later in the night, monks of the Lungkar Gon, Samdrub Dedenling, in Pelyul Township, staged a candlelight march in town amid recitations of the prayer for the long life and success of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. About 16 Tibetans were held and kept under detention.

19 March A force of about 2,000 troops of the paramilitary People’s Armed Police Force, dispatched from Kunming City of Yunnan, arrived at Gyalthang County of Dechen Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, also in Yunnan Province. They carried out a strong round-the-clock security measures.

On 19 March, the people of Chisa and Gonshul Townships in Rebgong County of Malho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, staged peaceful protest demonstrations. In Gonshul Township, they pulled down the communist Chinese Red Flag from the township school courtyard and put up a Tibetan national flag in its place.

On 19 March, about 400 people of the Poenkhor clan community in Shitsang Mang-ngoe Township of Luchu County in Kanlho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province, staged a protest demonstration with shouting of slogans. They pulled down the communist Chinese Red Flag from the courtyard of a school in the area and put up a Tibetan national flag in its place. Having done so, they prepared to march onward to Luchu County government seat but were stopped by the Chinese army with use of tear gas and other violent means.

On 19 March, Tsering Dhondup of the Lachoetsang family from Meyma Township in Machu County, Gansu Province, shouted protest slogans in prison and was, as a result, secretly taken away to another prison. Of the 17 monks of Meyma Tsendrog Gon monastery who were being held in detention, 15 were imposed fines ranging from 5,000 yuan to 15,000 yuan for a total of 140,000 yuan. In addition, Tsendrog

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Gon was made part of a list of 12 monasteries in the Tsendrog area blacklisted for being guilty of more serious criminal offences.

On 19 March, Phagpa and Tashi Tsering, both monks of Ngulra Khulkor monastery in Machu County of Gansu Province were arrested by the Chinese army.

On 19 March, more than 1,000 people of Whelbhen Township in Machu County of Gansu Province collected together and staged a protest rally through the market. The rally was led by about 60 youngsters with their heads wrapped in white cloths. They carried a stretch banner on which a three-point demand was written. It was a large-scale protest demonstration. A Tibetan national flag was kept fluttering over the pastureland of Kongser Khador.

On 19 March, about 30 Tibetans were arrested from around Chigdril Pelyul Township in Golog County of Sichuan Province.

From 19 March on, troops belonging to sections of the units of Chinese armed forces were made to dress as Tibetan Buddhist monks and were sent out into the market areas of Lhasa to present the impression that the situation there had normalized, according to reports received. The soldiers falsely dressed as Tibetan Buddhist monks, went to the streets and residential courtyards of Lhasa and spied on the Tibetan people.

Members of the Tibetan public, being unaware of the Chinese machination, advised those who were in fact fake Tibetan Buddhist monks that they should not be seen moving around and confided them with heartfelt counsel and information. As a result, they ended up being informed on and indiscriminately arrested from the streets and residential compounds. The fake Tibetan Buddhist monks belonged to the following sections and units of the Chinese armed forces: 1) The border security unit of the paramilitary People’s Armed Police Force 2) The Liaison office of the Tibet (Lhasa) Military District 3) The intelligence unit of the Tibet (Lhasa) Military District 4) The 52nd Mountain Infantry Brigade of the Tibet (Lhasa) Military District (This brigade was previously stationed at Gyechig Township in Kongpo Nyingtri Prefecture of Tibet Autonomous Region.)

On 19 March, monks of Sakya Monastery in Sakya County of Shigatse Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, expelled the cadres of a Work Team sent by the Chinese government to conduct political education on them, telling them, among other things, that there was no need for any such education for them.

They also shouted slogans, saying “Tibet is Independent,” Chinese quit Tibet,” and so on.

On 19 March, the Chinese government told Ngaba Kirti Monastery that it had committed a major crime by initiating the protest campaign that took place in Ngaba County. With that they took away the monastery’s officials, the discipline master (ie, Gekoe), religious supervisor Alag Dudul, and others to the county headquarters for a meeting. The tight security clampdown on the monastery continued as before, with the result that it faced immense hardship in ensuring even its food supply.

On 19 March, the people of Rong Kharsar Township in Ngaba County of Sichuan Province staged a protest rally with shouting of slogans. And they pulled down the communist Chinese Red Flag from the township government headquarters.

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Tibetan People’s Peaceful Movement in 2008 and the Chinese Government’s Suppresive Policy

In the evening of 19 March, both the religiously ordained and laypeople of the area led by the monks of Dzoege Jhamme Gon, Thoesam Namgyel Ling, in Dzoege County of Ngaba Prefecture, Sichuan Province, staged a demonstration with shouting of slogans. They pulled down the communist Chinese Red Flag from all government or government-related buildings and sites in the township and carried out other forms of protest actions. As all this continued, a large body of Chinese soldiers arrived and stopped the protest. A prohibitory order was issued to ban all movements of people between the monastery and all Tibetan residential areas.

Reports said that on 19 March, students of the Upper Middle School in Barkham County of Ngaba Prefecture, Sichuan Province, again put up the Tibetan national flag and, likewise, staged a protest demonstration.

On 19 March, the Ngogphu Dewa clan community in Tsoe City of Kanlho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province, was surrounded by Chinese soldiers and two Tibetans were arrested. Likewise, 12 Tibetans were taken into custodial detention from Lowa Dewa. Later in the night, Chinese soldiers indiscriminately entered Tibetan homes and each family was punished with the imposition of fines in many thousands of yuan and in numerous other manners. On that occasion, many young Tibetans were driven to flee into the surrounding mountains to remain in hiding there in order to escape the persecution.

On 19 March, reinforcement of Chinese People’s Armed Police Force arrived at Machu County and began a campaign of arrest of both religiously ordained and lay Tibetan people. Ten people were arrested on that day.

On 19 March, the propaganda department of Gansu Province announced and publicized the Chinese government’s contention that the protest incidents in the province were intimately linked to the serious incident of “killing and beating” which had occurred in Tibet on 14 March. It claimed that the incident was plotted and directed by the “Dalai Clique”. It maintained that the objective was to disrupt the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games by creating turmoil in society and to split the country through the disruption of stability and harmony in the country.

In the morning of 19 March, the troops were withdrawn from Rongwo Gonchen monastery in Rebgong County of Malho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province. At 11:00 PM later that day, a candlelight circuit march was held on the main ground of the monastery. When that happened, a large body of Chinese soldiers again arrived at the monastery and threatened to carry out arrests. From that day onwards, notices were put up as well as read out, saying, among numerous other things, that leniency would be shown to those who had taken part in protests since the Monlam festival if they surrendered on their own to the authorities within a period of 10 days.

20 March On 20 March, there was a report saying the people of Tso-nga Township in Markham County of Chamdo Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, carried out protest activities.

On 20 March, the students of the Qinghai Nationalities University displayed moods of protest to make

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clear their solidarity with the heroic men and women of The Three Provinces of Tibet who had lost their lives during Chinese crackdown on their peaceful protest actions.

On 20 March, the religiously ordained and laypeople of Tsekhog County in Malho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Qinghai Province staged a forceful protest demonstration.

On 20 March, eight residents of the Muto Dewa, one of the eight Lushoe Dewas (or clan communities) of the Lower Achog Township in Tsoe City in Gansu Province were arrested, accused of being the organizers of the protest campaign which had taken place on 16 March at the Lushoe Gon market area.

It has been learnt that on 20 March, Chinese armed forces suddenly arrived at the Dokar Tsowa in Kanlho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Gansu Province and arrested about 33 Tibetans, accusing them of having taken part in the protest demonstration in the area on 16 July. Also, a fine of 3,000 yuan each was imposed on most of them.

From 20 March onward, Prefectural and county officials kept arriving at the Bora Gon monastery and started conducting what was called patriotic education for the monks. It was demanded by the officials that the names of those who were the ringleaders of the recent protest must be handed over. With such and other demands made in a highly coercive manner, the situation was made extremely difficult and oppressive for the ordinary monks. Nevertheless, the monks remained steadfast in refusing to submit to the demands of the patriotic education drive.

In the morning of 20 March, it was the occasion for holding the ritual dance (cham) of the prayer festival (Chhodrul Monlam) at the Gyalrong Tshodun Kirti Gon monastery. However, because the Chinese authorities had issued an order banning the Cham performance and all other forms of public gatherings, more than 40 monks visited the local Township government office and lodged a protestd there, arguing strongly with the leaders there. Finally, they were only just able to stage the religious dance event.

On 20 March, the religiously ordained and laypeople of Dotoe Township in Dzamthang County of Ngaba Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, together staged a peaceful protest demonstration with shouting of slogans. The Chinese at once dispatched army troops and clamped down with imposition of tight security measures. The Vice Governor of the province and a group of officials of the Township arrived at Yuthog Gon monastery and ordered the holding of an immediate, urgent meeting there.

It was learnt that on 20 March, about nine Tibetans were arrested from Sogtsang in Dzoege County of Ngaba Qiang and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province.

On 20 March, when the people of Nyitoe and Khekor townships in Serta County of Sichuan Province staged a forceful but peaceful protest demonstration with shouting of slogans, members of the Chinese paramilitary Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Armed Police Force fired at them later in the afternoon. It was learnt that a 37year-old man with the birth name of Kyaril (also known as Ngoedub), son of Abhoe Tseshul Barchung Tseyengtsang, was shot dead while more than 10 other Tibetans were injured. It was said that the order to fire on the Tibetan protesters had come directly from the central government of China. Those who were injured received neither timely nor adequate medical attention. On the other hand, they were beaten and tortured without any kind of limit on the degree of violence.

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Tibetan People’s Peaceful Movement in 2008 and the Chinese Government’s Suppresive Policy

On 20 March, protests were held at Ngulru Dopa, Dogo Ruwa and other places in Tsho-nga Township of Markham County in Chamdo Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region. A total of 16 Tibetans were arrested from these protests and taken to a Markham County jail. Regarding their names, information was received only about two, namely 1) Nomatshang Lirab, and 2) Tsewang Tashi.

On 20 March, students of the Nationalities Middle School in Chentsa County of Malho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, pulled down the communist Chinese Red Flag and set it on fire while putting up a Tibetan national flag in its place.

On 20 March, protest demonstrations, including with shouting of slogans, were held in Chagri Township, Do-Ghongma Township, Panchen Township, Yangthang Township, and Markhog Township in Pema County of Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province. The protesters pulled down the communist Chinese Red Flags and put up Tibetan national flags in their places.

21 March On 21 March, troops belonging to the paramilitary People’s Armed Police Force arrived at Khagya Toema (or Upper Toema) in Sangchu County of Gansu Province and arrested a total of about 37 religiously ordained and lay Tibetans. They were then taken to Tsoe city. Later in the afternoon, a large body of Chinese troops arrived at Mheshi Tharsar Gonpa in Labrang and carried out a door-to-door search of the monks’ living rooms. By the end of the search, 20 monks and three lay Tibetans were arrested.

On 21 March, a large body of Chinese soldiers arrived at Ala Shogkha in Luchu County of Gansu Province and arrested about 29 Tibetans. In addition, all the members of the family of a 56-year-old man named Tashi were especially targeted with severe beatings.

On 21 March, the students of the Qinghai Nationalities University continued their display of moods of protest to make clear their solidarity with the heroic men and women of The Three Provinces of Tibet who had lost their lives during Chinese crackdown on their peaceful protest actions.

On 21 March, several elderly monks of Dege Khakong Tritso monastery in Dege County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, arrived at the township, took away with them 50 school children to their monastery where they were made to stay, dressed as monks. The reason behind it could not be found out.

At 9:00 AM on 21 March, more than 1,000 Tibetans, including both religiously ordained and lay people, belonging to Sera Monastery in Serta County and the surrounding communities of five clans assembled together in a show of solidarity with the Tibetans killed by the Chinese troops in Khekor Township the day before. As they were marching down from Nyikhog to Khekor Township, carrying with them Tibetan national flags, a section of elderly Tibetans spoke to them. They expressed admiration for the determination of the peaceful protesters but said it would be a regrettable tragic loss if as on the day before, the same violent crackdown would be carried out by the Chinese troops, resulting in Tibetans being killed.

Rather, they suggested, it was not as if they will no longer have the time to protest later on. Faced with a determined counseling along such lines, the protesters felt compelled to stop the protest march. After

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that, the Chinese claimed that the protest demonstration by a large number of people of Nyitoe was led mainly by three persons, namely Rigdag of Lagya in Abhoe, Mhenkyab, and Ghosoe of Whelshul Rogsa.

They issued a proclamation, saying if the trio would surrender to the authorities on their own, leniency would be shown whereas if they refused, a reward of 100,000 yuan would be paid to anyone who would give information leading to their capture. Also, a large body of Chinese troops had surrounded the Serta Larung Buddhist centre and imposed tight security measures there.

On 21 March, more than 20 Tibetans, both religiously ordained and lay people, belonging to Mheshul, Ko’udey Karong, and Kherui Khyi-nga in Tobden Township of Rebgong County in Malho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, began protesting in front of the township government offices, holding up a portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Eventually, the number of protesters swelled to a crowd of more than 300 Tibetans. And as the crowd was still increasingly rapidly, the police launched a violent crackdown, and arrested a section of the protesting Tibetans.

On 21 March, the people of the three clan communities of Rongpo Sharbhunar in Nyinshug Township of Tsekhog County in Malho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, staged a peaceful protest with shouting of slogans. Some of the protesters, both monks and laypeople, were arrested.

For two days – on 21 and 22 March – Chinese leaders, having arrived at Kirti Monastery in Ngaba County of Sichuan Province, divided the monks into eight groups, ordered them to confess their wrongdoings, told them that a “love your nation, love your religion” campaign had been begun, and also said that anyone who would confide the Chinese government with information of high, medium or low level secrecy about the protests would be given commensurate rewards.

In the night of 21 March, Chinese armed forces launched a sudden raid on Mamey Nunnery in Ngaba county of Sichuan Province and arrested more than 20 nuns, giving them no time even to put on their monastic robes. They were forcibly taken to the county detention centre.

On 21 March, about17 monks of Thangkor Sogtsang Monastery in Dzoege County of Sichuan Province, including one named Yonten Gyatso, were taken away by force.

On 21 March, Chinese soldiers broke into several Tibetan homes at Dingwa Shogkha in Dzoege County of Sichuan Province in order to arrest some of the people who had earlier led a protest in the area. However, they failed to lay hand on anyone, and had to return empty handed. Elsewhere, more than 200 Tibetans belonging to Zhagdom Drawo Dewa, Hor and Hortha in Dzoege County staged a peaceful protest with shouting of slogans, as well as with pasting and scattering of posters and leaflets. Chinese troops intervened to clampdown on them and imposed security measures while also having photographed the protest actions and carried out other kinds of repressive actions.

On 21 March, student of the Tibetan Nationality Middle School in Bhido Township of Yadzi (Chinese: Xunhua) County in Tsoshar Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, boycotted their classes, staged a hunger strike, shouted protest slogans, and carried out other kinds of protest actions as well, in order to make clear their solidarity with the Tibetan people throughout Tibet in their protest campaign. As a result, the school was forced to declare holiday for several days.

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Tibetan People’s Peaceful Movement in 2008 and the Chinese Government’s Suppresive Policy

Over a period of two days on 21 and 22 March, more than 30 Tibetans were arrested from throughout Machu County of Kanlho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province. In addition, a Tibetan youth named Dzati, who was from Ngaba County in Sichuan Province, was so severely beaten by the police as to execute him in that manner. Having done so, the Chinese police burned the victim’s body rather than handing it over to his family.

22 March On 22 March, Chinese leaders called the monks at Kirti Monastery in Ngaba County of Sichuan Province to repeated mass meetings and announced a complete shutdown of all religious activities at the monastery at 2:30 PM. Outside, the existing troops surrounding the monastery were reinforced with deployment of additional soldiers for whom a new army camp was set up. Artilleries targeted the monastery from four sides while army helicopters hovered menacingly over it in a move to severely intimidate the monks.

Around 22 March, many Tibetans were arrested from Ruchen 2 and Ruchen 3 communities of Me’u Ruma and other places in Ngaba County of Sichuan Province.

On 22 March, threats and warnings were issued by the Chinese government, saying monks of Tagtsang Lhamo Kirti Monastery in Dzoege County of Sichuan Province who had earlier initiated rebellious actions and who now surrender on their own would be shown leniency while those who fail to do so would be punished with exemplary severity.

On 22 March, seven or eight monks, including Ghuru, of Zhagdom Drawo Dewa, in Dzoege County of Sichuan Province were arrested and taken away to the county seat.

At around 10:00 AM on 22 March, led by the people of Trulche Dewa, Khoelsa Thang, Lugyal and Nyamo, the four major clan communities which are constituent parts of the eight Nhangra Towns in Chentsa County of Malho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai Province, the people of Kyareng Township, made up of Kyareng Dewa, Yulpoche, and Lokhog, staged a protest demonstration at the county seat, carrying with them Tibetan national flags, portraits of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and of the young Panchen Lama. Joined by the people of Lechen Dewa, Markhu Thang and Bartsa, the crowd of peaceful protesters swelled to more than 800 and their protest, carried out with a forceful zeal, continued till around 3:00 PM. The county government authorities later used a section of highly influential Lamas and Tulkus, asking them to talk to the protesters with a view to end the demonstration. And, so, the peaceful protest came to an end.

On 22 March, the monks of Ngangrong Gon, Ko’u Bhagon and Mhagur Namgyal Ling monasteries in Chentsa County of Malho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai Province staged a protest demonstration with shouting of slogans, carrying with them portraits of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama. They also recited the prayer “Words of Truth” composed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

As they did so, Chinese police intervened to stop them and sent them all back to their monasteries.

A around 9:00 AM on 22 March, a peaceful demonstration, with shouting of slogans, was held at the Atshog Monastery in Holkha Township of Tsigorthang County, Tsolho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province. In addition, Tibetan national flags were raised both on the roof of the monastery’s

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prayer assembly hall and on the hillock behind the monastery. A communist Chinese Red Flag on display in a junior school near the monastery was taken down and a Tibetan national flag put up in its place. While shouting slogans, the protesters demanded that China grant freedom for Tibet and prayed for His Holiness the Dalai Lama to live for ten thousand years, and so on. Eventually, Chinese soldiers arrived and surrounded the monastery. They made use of lamas and a section of retired monks to stop the peaceful demonstration. This was followed by the issuance of an order, prohibiting the monks from speaking with each other on subjects and matters not allowed by the authorities while an education campaign was also launched.

On 22 March, more than 500 people, including monks and laypeople, of Pelyul Township in Chigdril County of Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, gathered on a hilltop and resolved to fight the Chinese soldiers as their final recourse if the authorities were to continue to harass Karwang Nyima Rinpoche, the head of the local Dharthang Monastery. In this connection, they issued an appeal, urging that the United Nations, the United States of America and other foreign nations must come to the place with a view to provide guidance and pay attention to the situation there.

On 22 March, Phugdey Jigme (nickname Goril, or baldy) and five other monks of Gyutoe Monastery in Labrang (Sangchu) County, Gansu Province, were taken into custody for the second time for their alleged involvement in the Tibet movement in the area.

It was learnt that at 1:00 PM on 22 March, Chinese soldiers dressed as Tibetan Buddhist monks suddenly set upon and brutally beat eight lay Tibetans on a street of Machu County in Kanlho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province, and then arrested them.

Reports emerged that over a period of four days from 19 to 22 March, a total of 48 Tibetans were arrested from across Machu County. Likewise, it was learnt that three monks were arrested from the Ngulra area.

And at Mhakhug Tara, a large force of Chinese soldiers arrived and arrested 16 Tibetans. The Tibetan were beaten and tortured with utmost severity and finally a fine of 90,000 yuan was collected from them.

It was reported that at a very early morning hour on 22 March, an explosive device inserted in a yakâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s horn exploded in an empty room of the Kyabhel Township government office in Gonjo County of Chamdo Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region.

On 22 March, the people of the nomadic community of Tsekhog in Rebgong County of Malho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, started a peaceful demonstration with just 20 participants.

However, their number later swelled to hundreds of people who staged a large-scale peaceful demonstration with shouting of slogans, carrying with them portraits of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the 10th Panchen Lama and the 17th Karmapa. Three or four truckloads of Chinese soldiers later arrived at the scene and imposed a security clampdown. More than 20 protesters were arrested.

23 March It was learnt in the evening of 23 March that a monk named Lobsang Thogmey at the Ramoche Temple in Lhasa city had died in his living room due to starvation. The reason for that was that from 10 March, China

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Tibetan People’s Peaceful Movement in 2008 and the Chinese Government’s Suppresive Policy

had imposed severe restrictions on the monastery and this was greatly strengthened since 14 March, with troops surrounding the temple from all sides and not allowing even food and drink to be brought into it.

On 23 March, Jigme Lotsa, a monk originally from Ragtam Monastery in Serta County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, was arrested from Labrang Tashi Khyil monastery in Sangchu County of Kanlho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province. His living quarter in the monastery was searched and all his personal belongings taken away. He was the partner with Dhondup Wangchen from Bayan County in Tsoshar Prefecture, Qinghai Province, in shooting for the documentary film “Jigdrel” (Leaving Fear Behind) which captures the real situation in Tibet today.

On 23 March, Chinese police went to Jholeb Dewa near Kirti Monastery in Ngaba County of Sichuan Province with a view to arrest a monk named Choedhar, also known as Konchog, who had earlier spent five years in jail as a political prisoner. When they could not lay their hand on him, the police took into custody his family members, which included an about 35-year-old man named Kyipo, an about 39-yearold woman named He-gya, and an about 37-year-old monk named Lobsang Tenzin.

On 23 March, a list consisting of names of about 60 Tibetans was announced at Me’u Ruma Township in Ngaba County of Sichuan Province. The announcement said that if these persons did not surrender to the authorities on their own by 25 March, an emergency operation will be launched for their capture. And so the authorities began issuing threats with a view to instil fear in the minds of the local Tibetans.

On 23 March, the monks of Tashi Choeling Monastery in Chone County of Kanlho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province, carried out a protest demonstration against the Chinese government. Following a violent clampdown, a large number of monks were arrested while an announcement was issued saying those who had got away should surrender on their own by March 24.

Report said that on 23 March, the people of Upper and Lower Meru, Loba, Silzhing Dewas (or clan communities) and others in Chentsa County of Malho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, again led a protest demonstration. They shouted slogans as they rallied on in their peaceful protest march.

When they reached the Lokhog Dewa area, which is located near the county government seat, troops of the paramilitary People’s Armed Police Force and other armed forces moved to stop them at the spot.

However, said reports, the protesters pressed on to continue their march. Three of the persons who were arrested on 23 March for having taken part in the protest of the day before were named as 1) Sherab, 2) Karbo, and 3) Konba Tseten. In addition, three other persons were arrested from Chentsathang.

In the evening of 23 March, many students of the Qinghai Provincial Nationalities Teacher Training College based at Chabcha County collected together at their college gate with a view to stage a peaceful protest rally through the market street with shouting of slogans. However they were stopped there itself and a security clampdown was imposed.

In the night of 23 March, a group of Chinese soldier forcibly entered Keykya Dewa and Ko’u-da Dewa in Bora Township. They arrested and severely beat three elderly Tibetan men. Numerous religious items of every kind belonging to these clan community areas were robbed or stolen by the soldiers.

Over a period of two days, on 22 and 23 March, five Tibetans, including monks and laypeople, were ar-

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ALL TIBETANS AS A COMMUNITY OF ONE THROUGH TIMES GOOD AND BAD

rested in the Meyma Township area of Machu County in Kanlho Prefecture of Gansu Province.

On 23 March, large bodies of police, officials and Chinese People’s Liberation Army soldiers arrived at Whelbhen Township in a highly intimidating manner and proceeded to take down the Tibetan national flag which had been fluttering there over the past three days. As they did so, a driver at the Sargon monastery bared his chest to the Chinese soldiers and shouted to them that they could do so only over his dead body and in that manner staged a very passionate protest.

On 23 March, 26 monks of Tsayue Monastery in Sangchu County of Kanlho Prefecture, Gansu Province, were arrested by the Chinese authorities and taken to the county government seat.

On 23 March, the people of both Ponkor Toema (or Upper Ponkor) Township and Ponkor Meyma (or Lower Meyma) Township in Dharlag County of Golog Prefecture, Sichuan Province, staged a demonstration with shouting of slogans. They pulled down Chinese national flags and put up Tibetan national flags and carried out various other forms of protest actions as well, according to reports received.

24 March On 24 March, about 200 nuns of Ngang-gong Nunnery at Chogri in Draggo County of Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, led a protest rally from the nunnery to Tehor Qu (Qu being Chinese for Sub-district) and the Township government seat area, a distance of 4-5 km. On arriving there at 4:30 PM, they staged a protest rally, shouting slogans such as “May His Holiness the Dalai Lama live for ten thousand years”, “Tibet is a fully independent country”. They were gradually joined by local Tibetans who also shouted slogans against the Chinese government. They included more than 200 monks from the nearby Chogri Monastery and about150 nuns of Kharsar Nunnery in Kharsar Township. The huge crowd of Tibetans, including monks and nuns as well as laypeople, continued the large-scale protest rally with shouting of slogans in the Tehor Qu area until 5:00 PM. Finally, Chinese armed force fired into the protesting crowd. Kunga, a 21-year-old monk of Chogri Monastery, was killed on the spot. The Chinese soldiers tried to take away his body, but a group of fellow monks snatched it away and kept it in hiding. Also, a bullet hit a 30-year-old layman named Tsewang Dhondup on his kidney, with the severity of the injury being such that treatment was reported to be very difficult.

It was heard that over a period of several days, the Chinese government, in a move to win over the Tibetan masses in the Bathang and Derong Counties in Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, distributed 20,000 yuan each to the monasteries there and 600 kilos of rice to each of the Tibetan household there.

On 24 March, during the course of carrying out a door-to-door search of Tibetan homes in Kardze County of Sichuan Province, the Chinese found about 70 pictures of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and 3 audio-visual tapes, both old and new, on or by him from the family of Chuga Tshang at Serchu Teng. Mr Ngoega, the head of this family, was already under detention by that time.

On 24 March, a Chinese government building at Lithang County in Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, got burned down. The local Tibetans believed the action was carried out by the Chinese government of-

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Tibetan People’s Peaceful Movement in 2008 and the Chinese Government’s Suppresive Policy

ficials themselves as a strategy of deception.

On 24 March, Tibetan traders in the Shigatse Prefecture area stopped plying their trade in protest. On that day, Five Tibetans staged a brief protest rally on a street of the market. They were at once arrested by the police. More detailed information about it could not be obtained.

On 24 March, around 30 monks of Dzamthang Gonchen monastery gathered in front of the Dzamthang Township Public Security Bureau office in Ngaba County of Sichuan Province and shouted slogans, saying “We want freedom in Tibet!” His Holiness the Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso should come to Tibet!”

“May His Holiness the Dalai Lama live for ten thousand years!” Dzamthang Gonchen is one of the biggest and oldest monastries of the Jonang Sect of Tibetan Buddhism in the Domey (or Amdo) region of Tibet. There were also reports that monks and laypeople of Dzamthang Yuthog Township staged a peaceful protest demonstration with shouting of slogans.

Report emerged that on 24 March, the monks of Shingza Monastery in Yulgan County of Malho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, staged a protest demonstration against the Chinese government with shouting of slogans. At that time, the Chinese authorities came to know that some Tibetans had made phone calls to India and made immediate arrests; and they subjected the detainees to severe forms of interrogation.

From 24 March, Chinese police arrived at Akhor Monastery in Wamar Township of Chone County, Gansu Province, set up residential station for themselves there and announced the start of a patriotism education campaign there. Twenty-four monks and 15 laypeople were taken into custody. Later on, Fines of 3,000 yuan each were imposed on 20 monks and 15 laypeople before being released over a period of time, according to reports.

Reports said that on 24 March, three Tibetans belonging to a place called Dowa in Rebgong County of Malho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, were tried. These three Tibetans were accused of being among the ringleaders of a protest against the Chinese government that had taken place in the Dowa area in Rebgong County on 17 March and were sentenced as follows: 1) Chagthar Gyal, 17 years old, two years 2) Choepa, 20 years old, one year and nine months 3) Talo, 19 years old, nine months.

None of them was allowed to meet with their families at that time. They were among the very first group of Tibetans to be tried and sentenced since the 10th March Tibetan uprising day anniversary of that year.

On 24 March, seven large trucks and 5 smaller motor vehicles filled with Chinese soldiers arrived from Dharlag County of Golog County in Sichuan Province to undertake patrolling at Ponkor Township. On arriving and undertaking their patrolling there, a crowd of around 350 Tibetans of Upper and Lower Ponkor planned to carry out a cavalry charge against them to stop them. However, Ponkor Monastery and Lama Phuntsog Lodoe from the town intervened to mediate between the two sides and as a result the trouble subsided on that day.

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ALL TIBETANS AS A COMMUNITY OF ONE THROUGH TIMES GOOD AND BAD

25 March On 25 March, the Chinese police and army in Draggo County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, arrived at Chogri Monastery, forcibly took away from it the body of monk Kunga whom they had killed during the previous day’s violent crackdown on protesting Tibetans, and burned it near Draggo Monastery. At that time, the monks of Draggo monastery firstly held a prayer service for the deceased monk.

After that, more than 300 monks, including their abbot, in a unanimous course of action, put on their full religious robes and, at about10:00 AM, started a peaceful protest march. They set out in a protest rally in the direction of the Draggo County government seat. Along the way, they were joined by a substantial number of laypeople. At that time, a small number of police and army personnel tried to stop the Tibetans at a large bridge, but failed to do so. After the Tibetans had marched for more than one kilometre away from the bridge, a large body of Chinese soldiers arrived and fired their guns in the air. When they then tried to arrest the monks, the latter thwarted the move by holding on to each other, taking a vow to remain together with each other, whether in death or in life. The Chinese police and soldiers then prepared to begin firing into the crowd of lay Tibetan protesters. However, all of them, in unison, lied flat on the road, and the troops did not dare to massacre them. Finally, the monks returned to their monastery a little past midday. During their protest, they shouted slogans such as “May His Holiness the Dalai Lama live for ten thousand years!” “Invite His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet!” “Release the young Panchen Rinpoche!”

“Tibet is a fully independent country!” and “End the violent repression and security clampdown in Tibet!”

From the evening of 25 March, Chinese soldiers surrounded Chogri Monastery in Draggo County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province. Having done so, they arrested Chogri Monastery’s former abbot Khetsun, monk Sherab from Jhangchub Ling Village, and monk Tashi from Gorong Village. Besides, some nuns of Nang-gong Nunnery were also arrested.

On 25 March, students and the public from across the villages in Holkha Township of Tsigorthang (Chinese: Xinghai) County in Tsolho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, collected in a spontaneous gathering and staged a forceful protest demonstration against the Chinese government from 10:30 M to 1:00 PM in front of the county government offices. During the protest they carried a stretch banner saying “Peace, Democracy, we are reciting mani for fellow-Tibetans who have been killed”. And in Chinese, they wrote on the stretch banner: “Stop the violent repression” and so on. In such manner, they held their protest rally.

In the morning of 25 March, five Tibetans were arrested, including the abbot Lobsang Wangchen of Chogri Monastery in Draggo County in Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, a Lharampa Geshe from Ganden Jhangtse; Tsewang Gyatso, Kelsang Dawa, Tharchin, and Palden Sherab from Chukhar Village; and Kunyang, son of Thaga in Chukhar Village. The reports said that the arrest of Palden Sherab of Chukhar Village was carried out by running him down with a motor vehicle, which broke his legs.

Reports said that monks at the Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in a number of counties such as Rebgong and Tsekhog in Malho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, were continuing to face severe hardship as a result of Chinese stoppage of the delivery of food and water to them over the last several days.

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In the morning of 25 March, the concerned Chinese government authorities handed over to his family the body of monk Lobsang Thogmey of Ramoche Temple in Lhasa who had died in the night of 23 March during a security operation. Lobsang Thogmey was born at a place called Chagrishar in Gyantse County of Shigatse Prefecture and was 32 years old at the time of his death. The concerned Chinese authorities did not bother to explain how or why the monk died.

On 24 and 25 March, 13 Tibetans were again arrested from Dechen Qu (or sub-district) of Toelung Dechen County, Lhasa City.

On 25 March, not a single member of the Tibetan public was being allowed to go as he or she liked toward the Bharkor area. Apart from few Chinese shops, all other shops in Lhasa city did not open. In some areas of the city, even people taking children to school were prevented from proceeding while the Jokhang Temple was closed as a result of a security clampdown.

According to a report which emerged on 25 March, large groups of Chinese armed forces were continuing to arrive in Lithang County of Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province; that new army camps were being built there; and that already more than 100 army tents could be seen pitched there. An announcement was made that these soldiers would remain there until September.

On 25 March, more than 30 Tibetans were arrested in Pema County of Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province. It was also learnt that a section of monks arrested in Lhasa were being held in detention in a prison in Pema County.

On 25 March, three monks – Tobden, Jampa Gendun and Kelsang Jampa – of Jhamme Monastery in Dzoege County of Ngaba Prefecture, Sichuan Province, were arrested and taken to the county seat. The authorities had initially issued an order, saying one member of the family of each monk of Jhamme Monastery should report to a meeting. But the three monks said they were the ones who had led the protest – due to which the order was issued – and that no one else was involved.

26 March Reports said that on 25 and 26 March, Chinese currency notes bearing writings that said Tibet was an independent country, how utmost cruelties were inflicted during China’s invasion of Tibet, and so on were seen scattered everywhere in Mi-nyag Pamey Township of Dartsedo (Chinese: Kangding) County in Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province. Elsewhere, posters on Tibet’s independence were seen put up on electric wire poles in Mi-nyag Lhagang area.

At 2:00 AM on 26 March, a 45-year-old Tibetan man named Bhande Tsering belonging to Aka Shogkha in Luchu County of Gansu Province was arrested and taken away by Chinese soldiers. He was so severely beaten by them that he died on the spot. Also, three Tibetans were arrested from Ala Bhagtsha Dewa. It was also reported that at Ala Makha Dewa, a man was driven to commit suicide as Chinese soldiers prepared to arrest him. This information could not be confirmed in any further detail. Around that time, more than 200 Tibetans from the three places of Ala, Zamtsa, Gyitsang Nagri in Luchu County were held in detention in the county prison. Many Tibetans had to flee into the mountains to escape arrest and beating.

Sudden, unannounced raids were made at Tibetan homes by Chinese soldiers who carried out searches,

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beat the women and old people, frightened the children, and carried out other kinds of atrocities.

Before the break of dawn on 26 March, Chinese soldiers fully surrounded Tashi Choekhor Ling Monastery in Chone County of Gansu Province carried out door-to-door search of the monks’ living rooms. All pictures of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, or speeches by him and so on were confiscated and a security clampdown was continued.

At around 3:00 - 4:00 AM on 26 March, about five truckloads of Chinese soldiers arrived at Holkha Township in Tsigorthang County of Tsolho Prefecture in Qinghai Province and surrounded all the nearby villages. Having done so, they arrested three persons – namely, Ribum Gyal, Tsewang and a girl – and took them away by force. Following that development, nearly 600 Tibetans gathered in front of the Township people’s government offices and demanded the release of these persons. The Tibetans made it clear that they would continue their protest until the three were released. The Chinese government then gave an undertaking to release the trio the next day. The Tibetans then sent out a message to each Dewa (or clan community area), saying the mass protest gathering in front of the township government offices would be resumed from the day after if the three Tibetans were not released on the promised day. Also on that day, the Public Security Bureau of Xinghai (ie, Tsigorthang) County announced in both Tibetan and Chinese languages a notice titled “Announcement requiring those who took part in the illegal gathering on ‘3-25’ at Holkha Township to come and admit their guilt”.

On 26 March, a Tibetan man named Dhondup Wangchen who belonged to Bayan (Chinese: Hualong) County in Tsoshar Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, was arrested by the Chinese government while he was on his way from Xining City to Chabcha County in Tsolho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in the same province. He had secretly entered Tibet from India on 14 October 2007 and together with his friend Jigme Lotsa – who was a monk of Labrang Monastery and originally belonged to Serta County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province – travelled across Tibet, including in towns, cities, villages and nomadic areas and filmed interviews with a total of 108 Tibetans, both religious and laypeople.

The purpose was to know the actual living conditions and the genuine desires of the Tibetan people living in Tibet and the footage was used to produce a documentary film titled “Jigdrel” (Leaving Fear Behind).

On 26 March, under campaigns of security clampdown and arrest, the Chinese government expelled the monks of Chogri Monastery in Draggo County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province. Nuns of Nganggong Nunnery continued to be arrested. As a result, many nuns of the nunnery continued to flee to other places. Searches continued to be carried out in every monastery and nunnery as well as at the laypeople’s homes. Reports said many people, both monks and nuns as well as laypeople, simply disappeared.

On and around 26 March, Tibetans continued to be arrested at the Thangkor Gon monastery and Township in Dzoege County of Ngaba Prefecture in Sichuan Province. A Work Team of Chinese cadres arrived at the monastery and ordered the monks to sign a document to signify their admission that all the actions undertaken in connection with the Tibet independence campaign under the alleged instigation and direction of the Dalai Clique were wrong. However, none of the monks put their signature on that document.

At 3:00 PM on 26 March, all the Chinese army soldiers especially deployed in Tibet’s capital Lhasa were withdrawn. It was ensured that only the regular police force (the Public Security Bureau personnel) and local law and order officers could be seen around in the city. The reason for that was that a group of for-

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Tibetan People’s Peaceful Movement in 2008 and the Chinese Government’s Suppresive Policy

eign journalists were being brought on a visit to the city.

On 26 March, Namgyal Tsering, a Drepung Geshe and a former abbot of Chogri Monastery at Tehor Township in Kardze Prefecture of Sichuan Province, as well as Sonam Gyurmey, a Lharampa Geshe from Sera Jey Monastery who was the Chogri Monastery’s school head were arrested after they were called away to the county seat on the pretext that they should come to attend a meeting there. On the same day, officials of the Chogri Getse Township launched an education campaign by which the people of the township were ordered to denounce His Holiness the Dalai Lama. However, an old woman named Tshanglo, aged over 60 years old, stood up from the crowd and said: “I will not blaspheme against His Holiness the Dalai Lama. All Tibetans are same; there is no such thing as a separatist. You may beat me, or you may kill me, but there is no way I can take part in this campaign.” When the party secretary of the township beat the old woman, the latter’s son Yeshe came in her defence. Following a fight between the two, the party secretary had to be hospitalized. Reports further said that the development left the son with no option but to flee from the area.

On 26 March, the Ganden Rabten Nampar Gyalwey Ling Monastery in Draggo County too was fully surrounded by Chinese soldiers who imposed a very tight security clampdown on it. Reports said the Chinese wanted to find out those responsible for initiating the peaceful protest which took place in the area the day before. For that purpose, even people travelling on road were said to be stopped and searched.

On 26 March, it was reported that a group of Tibetan people staged a protest demonstration with shouting of slogans at Dartsedo, the seat of the Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province. It was not possible to obtain further information about it.

27 March On 27 March, Dawa-la, a 31-year-old man who belonged to Phenpo Lhundup County, died in the county hospital. He had taken part in the large-scale protest against the Chinese government which took place in the county on 15 March. Following arrest, he was beaten with such severity without limits at the detention centre that he became permanently crippled. Knowing that he was about to die, the Chinese released him on medical parole. Although kept in hospital and given medical care for four days, there was no improvement in his condition and he died. After his death, the Chinese leader of the locality imposed a fine of 1,000 yuan on Dawa’s family, claiming the deceased had destroyed public properties and caused losses to the government economy.

Reports said that following the protest demonstration in the area on 26 March, Chinese soldiers, on 27 March, confiscated more than 100 motor bikes from Tibetans in Draggo County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, fearing that the Tibetans may otherwise use them to flee from the area.

Because such enormously large numbers of Tibetans were arrested in Lhasa, there was not enough prison space to hold them there. As a result, when protests took place in the surrounding counties, they had to keep the detainees in jails within the county where the protests took place.

On 27 March, a group of journalists selected by the Chinese government, having arrived in Tibet’s capi-

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tal Lhasa on Jul 26, was taken on a visit to the Jokhang Temple. The Chinese government’s scripted arrangement was that initially about three elderly monks of the temple would be asked to speak with the journalists. The general body of monks of the temple was to present an impression of being engaged in a religious debate session and other kinds of religious activities. However, things did not take place according to the Chinese government plan when a group of monks, led by the monks of the Namdrel (or Buddhist logic) class shouted slogans with shedding of tears of anguish and the news of it reached across the world.

On 27 March, a group of people belonging to Holkha Township in Tsigorthang County of Tsolho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, gathered before the gate of the township government and appealed for the release of those such as Dunglenpa Ribum Gyal who had been arrested on 26 March. However, not only was their appeal refused, but the authorities also sent in a force of more than 500 People’s Armed Police Force personnel and imposed a security clampdown on them. Besides, about three more Tibetans were arrested.

On 27 March, a notice was sent to the city areas of Lhasa from the relevant Tibet Autonomous Region office, directing all Communist Party of China members and retired government officials to go to the Potala Palace, the Jokhang, and so on for several days to offer worship and perform circumambulations there.

This was meant to deceive a group of foreign journalists selected by the Chinese government as well as a group of foreign diplomats who were in the Tibetan capital city on a visit.

At around 6:00 PM on 27 March, report emerged that a group of more than 30 Tibetans staged a demonstration in the middle of the densely crowded Tachang market in Nagchu Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, shouting slogans that demanded freedom for Tibetan people. However, as soon as they started shouting slogans, Chinese police arrived. They told the Tibetans that they should have trust in the nation. So saying, they arrested the Tibetans. At that time, the paramilitary People’s Armed Police Force troops also arrived and mistakenly arrested a group of school children who were going to the market area.

(These school children were released on 28 July.)

In the Nagchu area, a large number of Chinese soldiers had already been deployed before the Tibetan national Uprising Day of 10 March. In particular, on 1 March, when a Work Team of Chinese cadres was conducting patriotism education at the Tarma Gon monastery in Diru County of Nagchu Prefecture, Ngawang Gyalten, who was concurrently serving as both its abbot and administrative head, stood up and said, “we, the six million Tibetan people, are scattered everywhere as if a cane had been struck upon a pool of water. We all must, therefore, be reunited and His Holiness the Dalai Lama invited back to Tibet.

If that does not happen, there is no way we can accept the patriotism education.” Following it, the general body of monks spoke up in support of him and made it clear that if the Reverent Ngawang Gyalten was touched by the authorities, they would not be able to bear it. With talks like that, the monks expressed strong support for the abbot head. In particular, the general public too expressed strong support for him.

As a result, the Work Team deployed large numbers of troops both in the monastery and throughout Nagchu prefecture. Thus, they imposed a tight security clampdown; but their patriotism education was a failure. The monastery had about 70 monks.

It was reported that on 27 March, two Chinese government offices in Nyarong County of Kardze Prefecture in Sichuan Province were set on fire and on the following day Tibetans from the nearby areas were

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summoned and subjected to severe interrogations.

28 March In the morning of 28 March, it was announced that Rigzin from Jhangdrong Dewa, Choedak from Khuyurbu Township, and Karma from Gorong Village, all monks of Chogri Monastery in Draggo County of Sichuan Province, being the main leaders of the protest demonstration of 24 March, would be punished severely once they were found. In addition, six truckloads of Chinese soldiers arrived at Chogri Shug-yul Dewa and made indiscriminate arrests of Tibetans.

On 28 March, a very large number of posters were seen put up in a number of Townships in Nyarong County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, saying, “We demand independence for Tibet, May His Holiness the Dalai Lama live long”. It was reported that these slogans were written even on slabs of stones.

On 28 March, a monk named Sangpo belonging to Dhongtog Monastery in Kardze County and a student at the Kardze Buddhist School, staged a solitary protest rally, carrying a Tibetan national flag, in Dartsedo, the government seat of Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province. He was instantly arrested by the Chinese police.

A Work Team of Chinese cadres had recently arrived also at the Zhabten Gon monastery in Nagchu Prefecture. Such a large number of Chinese soldiers also arrived there as the team began conducting political education there that there was not enough space for them. As a result, they were posted everywhere at the monastery, including even on the roof. Reports said that the education meeting was continuing even at 2:00 AM on 28 March. Reports also said that at that time, because of the ongoing political education meetings, all Tibetans who were not registered as permanent residents of Nagchu Prefecture were banned from entering or remaining there.

On 28 March, a meeting was held to conduct “love your country, love your religion” education for the lamas, tulkus and officials of the more than 40 monasteries, etc, in Sershul County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, called by the county religious governing body. Because the participants in that education meeting did not accede to the Chinese government demands being sought to be imposed on them, the meeting had to be suspended for the time being.

On 28 March, Tsering Dorje, a monk of Nheyra Gon monastery in Tsawa Pashoe County of Chamdo Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, pasted a large number of posters at many places – on County government office buildings and on boulders near around the monastery. The posters demanded religious freedom in Tibet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama to be invited back to Tibet, and so on. He was arrested as soon as he returned to his monastery.

Reports said that on a date around 28 March, the bodies of about 83 Tibetans who had been killed during the violent crackdown on the Tibetan protests in Lhasa on 14 March were cremated in one go at an electric crematorium in a place called Yabda in Dongkar Township of Toelung Dechen County, Lhasa City.

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In the morning of 28 March, the Chinese police ordered all Tibetan shops and restaurants in the Ngaba County market to be closed. After everyone had, therefore, returned to their homes, several thousand Chinese soldiers entered Kirti Monastery and remained there from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Five to six soldiers were sent into each living room of the monks to carry out thorough searches. All the 700 living rooms of the monks were searched in that manner. All pictures of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tibetan national flags, pictures and documents related to the Tibetan issue, as well as audio-visual items related to them were confiscated. At about 5:00 PM, about 100 monks were arrested and taken to Ngaba County government seat. During searches carried out at the rooms of the monks over a period of time, money totaling at least more than 1.2 million yuan were stolen or snatched from the monks by the soldiers.

On a day around 28 March, a motor vehicle driver from Meâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;u Ruma in Ngaba County, Sichuan Province, found the boby of a Tibetan near a highway. He noticed that the man had been killed not with any gunshot but had been beaten to death.

29 March At 02:00 PM on 29 March, a large number of people gathered in front of the Ramoche Temple in Lhasa and shouted slogans. Likewise, large crowds of Tibetans also gathered in front of the Tsuglakhang, Beijing Sharlam road and so on and staged demonstrations. Because of that, the Chinese authorities quickly ordered the few shops that were open in those areas to close down and deployed the armed forces there.

A new security clampdown began to be carried out and everyone coming to or going from those places were searched.

On 29 March, a large number of Chinese armed forces again entered Ngaba Kirti Monastery and arrested many monks. Over a period of two days on 28 and 29 March, more than 300 monks of Kirti Monastery were arrested. In particular, monks who possessed gadgets were forced at gunpoint to appear as if they had bullied some junior monks to hold in their hands computers and other gadgets and pose as if they were coming out thus from their rooms as they were then photographed. The soldiers forced the monks to trample on the pictures of His Holiness the Dalai Lama they found in their rooms. They also forced monks to hold in their hand pictures of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Tibetan national flags and photographed them in order to make distorted explanations of them later on. Numerous such kinds of bullying and deceptive actions were carried out. Local Tibetans had, under a practice prevalent since long in the past, offered their weapons for hunting wild lives as part of their solemn undertaking to give up the violent practice for the rest of their lives and these had been kept on display in the monasteryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s temple for propitiating the local spirits. However, the Chinese authorities confiscated these and used them to give all sorts of distorted interpretations, such as calling them evidences that the monks had been planning a violent uprising. The Chinese employed coercion to force the monks to pose for all sorts of video photographing with the purpose of fabricating false evidences in attempts to mislead the people in the outside world.

On 29 March, indiscriminate searches were carried out in Ngatoe Adue Monastery and several monks were arrested.

At just about nightfall on 29 March, troops of the paramilitary Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Armed Police Force suddenly ar-

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rived at Tagtsang Lhamo Kirti Monastery in Dzoege County of Ngaba Prefecture, Sichuan Province, and arrested about 19 of its monks.

Over a period of time recently, a virulent spell of patriotic education campaign was continued not just in the Tibet Autonomous Region but also in all the other place as well where peaceful protests had been held recently, with the monasteries and nunneries being especially targeted. In the so-called Tibet Autonomous Region in particular, a total of 100 high level officials were sent out to the prefectures and counties to carry out a large-scale patriotic education drive. Because of shortage of officials for this purpose, recently retired Public Security Bureau officers, paramilitary People’s Armed Police Force officers, and People’s Liberation Army officers from the Tibet Autonomous Region were privately persuaded to dress themselves as monks in a pretence of having taken to religious life in their later years and join the monasteries so that they could then lend a helping hand to the patriotic education cadres. They were reported to have been promised increased pension and allowances if they agreed. It was said, however, that these retired officers refused the offer, saying that having served the government with genuine and selfless dedication thus far, dressing themselves as monks to devote their retirement years to religion by joining monasteries would not only bring a bad name to China but also would not be beneficial in any way.

On 29 March, a large number of Chinese soldiers were sent to Zigar Gon monastery in Jomda County of Chamdo Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, after considerable number of posters were seen put up by the highway, on walls and over other places near the monastery. The posters were reported to have proclaimed that Tibet was an independent country, the Chinese should quit Tibet, that His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s compassionate blessings be upon us, and so on. The soldiers were reported to have imposed severe security measures at the monastery.

Reports said that on 29 March, five monks of Nyima Ling Monastery in Gyalchen Township of Sog County in Nagchu Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, were arrested after they staged a protest against the Chinese Work Team cadres who were conducting a “love your nation, love your religion” campaign meeting at the monastery. (Some said the area was part of Yagla Township, that the protest took place on 24 March, that six monks were arrested on 26 March, and that two were released later on.)

On 29 March, when a Work Team of Chinese cadres arrived at Zhiwa Gonpa, a branch of Zhiwa Lhathim Gonpa in Ralang Township of Nyarong County in Kardze Prefecture of Sichuan Province, and began conducting a patriotism education, the monks staged a protest against them, shouting slogans such as “Tibet is an independent country!” “His Holiness the Dalai Lama should come back to Tibet!” When that happened, a force of some 200 Chinese soldiers immediately arrived at the monastery and imposed a severe security clampdown. However, the reports did not contain any information about any arrest. He monastery had a total of 160 resident monks.

30 March Reports said that on 30 March, about 100 monks of Wara Monastery in Jomda County of Chamdo Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, staged a peaceful protest against the Chinese government. Eventually, on request by the relevant county officials, the lamas of that monastery prevailed on the monks by providing

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them counsel to end the protest.

At around 11:00 PM on 30 March, students of the Qinghai Provincial Nationalities Teacher Training College, located at Chabcha County, the government seat of Tsolho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, staged a peaceful protest demonstration.

On 30 March, a group of monks was arrested from Achog Tsenyi Gonpa in Ngaba County of Sichuan Province after all the living rooms of the monks were subjected to a thorough search by soldiers.

On 30 March, about 20 monks were arrested from Ngatoe Gomang Monastery after the living rooms of all the monks were searched out. At that time, Legtsog, a 75-year-old monk of Gomang Gon, originally from Ngatoe Keshi, was detained by Chinese police while he was on his way to perform religious service at the home of a family. They subjected him to a severe round of beating before finally letting him go back to his monastery. Back at the monastery, he kept complaining with great bitterness, saying the situation was entirely intolerable, that it was as if 1959 had come back again. He then worked out the exact amounts of money his students, relatives and others had left with him for safekeeping, and sent a student to deliver the amounts to their respective owners. Having done so, he had succumbed to the mental stress by committing suicide.

On 30 March, 23 monks of Kirti Dongri Gon monastery in Ngaba County of Sichuan Province, including Lobsang Tsultrim, were taken away by the Chinese authorities and kept under detention.

In the morning of 30 March, about 90 Tibetan nationality officials of Dzoege County in Ngaba Prefecture of Sichuan Province, carrying mobile phones with them, were brought to Tagtsang Lhamo Kirti Monastery and joined Chinese soldiers to carry out door-to-door search of the living rooms of all the monks.

Even the guns among the ritual weapons objects kept in the monastery’s guardian deity temple were brought out by falsely claiming, among other things, that they were weapons meant to be used by monks allegedly planning to stage a rebellion.

On 30 March, monks of Zhiwa Lhathim Monastery in Ralung Township of Nyarong County in Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, staged a protest rally, setting off in the direction of the county government seat. However, along the way, they were stopped by Chinese soldiers and sent back to their monastery.

The monastery itself was kept fully surrounded by Chinese soldiers. When this state of siege continued, the local laypeople could not take it anymore and so they submitted a petition to the county government, speaking of a plan to stage a forceful protest demonstration before the county government offices with shouting of slogans.

31 March On 31 March, when the campaign called “education in patriotism” was being held at the Whonpo Gonpa in Dza Sershul County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, by the relevant Chinese government authorities, a series of charges were made by them. The officials said that the monastery was the biggest field of battle in the fight against the Chinese People’s Liberation Army during the 1959 Tibetan uprising, that eight monks of Whonpo Gonpa had initiated the disturbance in the area after the protests took place in Lhasa for the first time in 2008, that monk Trinley Namgyal had emerged as one or the main figures

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in the protests in Lhasa, that covert actions had been undertaken to launch the protests in March and that large numbers of documents with separatist contents had been found, and so on. On the basis of these charges, arrests were made of 1) Religious text tutor Gen Lobsang Dhondup 2) Gekoe (Discipline Master) Lobsang Yarphel 3) Lama Sonam Nyima 4) Chagdzoe (Treasurer) Thubten Tsering 5) Ex-Chagdzoe Soebey 6) Nyerpa (Storekeeper) Lobsang, and others.

On 31 March, Yeshe Gyatso of Tsemo Yarteng Dewa and monk Shedrub of Dzong-ngon Gonpa in Rebgong County of Malho Prefecture, Qinghai Province, were arrested and beaten without any kind of limit on the degree of violence, accused of having given information to people in the outside world through telephone conversations.

On 31 March, Singer Dabey of Golog County in Qinghai Province was arrested, accused of having distributed a large numbers of Tibetan national flags and pictures of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

March 2008, dates not clear

At about the end of March, monks of Benkar Monastery in Diru County of Nagchu Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, protested against the Chinese Work Team cadres who had been sent there also to conduct education in patriotism. They said they will never agree to take part in any patriotism education meeting unless five of its monks arrested in December 2007 and still remaining in jail were released.

As a result, the patriotism education meeting could not be held. The monastery had about 300 resident monks.

Report said that the people of Gonjo County in Chamdo Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, twice staged demonstrations at the county government seat in March. It was stated that most of the protesters belonged to the Sa-ngen Township area.

The people of Tsowa and other townships in Markham County of Chamdo Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, staged protest demonstrations in March and they led to the arrest of 16 protesters.

Chinese media reports said that from 10 March, security measures on the staff and students of Tibet University at Lhasa had been strengthened and that as part of it daily roll calls were being made. The roll calls were claimed to reveal that no one was missing, injured, or dead. The reports also claimed that no one from Tibet University was involved in the 14 March protest demonstrations in Lhasa. However, the reality was otherwise. Information available within the university was reported to show that nearly 100 of its students and staff were involved in the 14 March protests. Reports also said that, as a result, there had been even cases of expulsion of staff members from the university service. In particular, the political education campaign at the university was greatly strengthened and during meetings called for the purpose, criticism sessions were also held. And during the criticism sessions, names were cited, in the main, of one

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or two Tibetans who had graduated from the university nearly 20 years ago but were now working in the Tibetan government-in-exile. Criticism sessions were especially held to condemn them and to advice the others to never behave like them by taking on a reactionary path after having been nurtured there.

Likewise, the claim made by the Chinese government over the CCTV news channel that Tibet University did not have anyone named Ngodup, reported as having been shot dead by Chinese soldiers during the 14 March peaceful protest demonstrations in Lhasa, among its staff or students was not true. The deceased manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s full name was Tenzin Ngodup and he was born in Ghungru Township of Chamdo Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region.

Another name that figured in the list of those who had died at that time was a Sera monk named Lobsang Tsephel. While it was not clear whether he was a registered monk at Sera Monastery, the information was genuine that a person named Lobsang Tsephel, born in Toelung Dechen County of Lhasa City, had died from a bullet wound received during the crackdown on the peaceful Tibetan demonstrations in Lhasa on 14 March.

At about the end of March 2008, the Public Security Bureau and the Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Armed Police Force, using video footage shot during preparations for staging a demonstration in the direction of Labrang area by the Tibetan people of Sangchu County, summoned the main leaders of the protest demonstration in a joint operation. Having done so, they subjected the Tibetans to interrogations, beating, threats, other forms of violence designed to coerce information, and so on. As a result, they had to endure numerous kinds of pain and humiliation.

In March 2008, two monks, namely, Dragpa Gyaltsen and Neymey, both belonging to Gyalshoe Bhenkar Gon monastery in Bhenkar Township of Diru County in Nagchu Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, were separately sentenced to jail terms of two years each. In addition, it was decided that nine more Tibetans, including a monk named Bhuchung Norwa belonging to that monastery, were to be tried and sentenced in May 2008. The main cause behind it was that in December 2007, a group of child monks of Gyalshoe Bhenkar Gon monastery was beaten by some Chinese traders, and given the police reaction to it, the local Tibetans united together to hold a major protest rally, accusing the Chinese government of being guilty of practicing racial discrimination and so on. Following that development, and because the monks rejected the Chinese government demands made during the education in patriotism campaign at the monastery, a total of about 270 Tibetans, both monks and laypeople, were arrested and jailed at the Diru County Detention centre. Reports said that while in detention, two women, named as Loten and Sherab, having only recently given birth to babies, faced special hardship and were, as a result, released on deposits of monetary fines.

A large number of monks of Sera Monastery were arrested after they continued to stage demonstration inside the monastery with shouting of slogans, demanding that monks who were originally from Woenpo Monastery in Dzachukha area of Kardze Prefecture in Sichuan Province as well as others who had been studying at Sera Monastery at the time and who had been arrested by the police for staging a protest rally in Lhasa on 10 March should be released. Among those arrested, the names of the following were confirmed: Lobsang Jampel senior, Lobsang Jampel junior, Lobsang Jamyang, Lobsang Jampa, Gyalsen Norbu, and Thongga, all of whom were studying at Sera Monastery at the time but were originally from Othog Gonpa in Nagchu Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region.

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Also arrested for taking part in the protest at Sera Monastery, which took place at the end of March 2008, were reported to be Karma Choejor and Drongpo Rabten, both originally from Choega Drongjang Kargon monastery in Dedar Township of Bathang County in Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province. No information could be obtained regarding where they were taken.

At the end of March 2008, four or so Tibetan youths, who were travel agency employees, were arrested by the police in Gyalthang County of Dechen Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, on suspicion that they had sent out information through the internet. It was said that the youths were originally from the Kokonor area of Amdo in Qinghai Province, but no further information could be obtained.

From the middle of March 2008, more than 10,000 soldiers were deployed in Gyalthang County of Yunnan Province and they imposed tight security restrictions. At the county’s Rongpa Nyishar Township alone, some 1,000 troops were posted. Nevertheless, at both Rongpa Nyishar Township and some villages in the county, large number of posters appeared, saying Tibetans of all the three traditional province of Tibet should unite and resist the Chinese government policy, and that His Holiness the Dalai Lama should be invited back to Tibet as soon as possible.

From sometime in March 2008 onwards, Work Team cadres were sent to each and every monastery and nunnery throughout Sog County in Nagchu Prefecture, to carry out a patriotism education campaign.

During the campaign, monks and nuns were banned from going out of their religious centres. Especially harsh security measures were imposed at Sog Tsenden Monastery and Ripung Nunnery.

After the massive peaceful demonstrations in Lhasa on 14 March, foreigners studying Tibetan language at the Tibet University were banned from going out of the university until the end of the month. In addition, for more than a week, they were very openly prohibited from using the internet, mobile telephones or other means of communication. Those who wished to go out to do shopping or for other purposes were required to write an application a day or two in advance and a special written permission, if granted, was valid for only one or two hours, and this restriction continued to remain in force.

Reports said that a man named Pasang Ngodub, who was born at Drigung Lungshoe in Maldrogungkar County, was arrested on 14 March for taking part in the demonstrations that day from his home at Karma Kunsang in Lhasa city and remained disappeared ever since. His father’s name was Lobsang Soepa but was no longer alive, and he had a wife and children. He also had a brother named Tashi Tsephel who was formerly a monk of Drigung Thil Monastery. After the 14 March demonstrations, he simply disappeared.

He was also a former political prisoner, having spent five years in jail.

On 18 or 19 March, a woman in her thirties named Whelsa Norzin Wangmo, belonging to Khyungchu Township in Kakhog County of Ngaba Prefecture, Sichuan Province, father’s name Sonam Gonpo and mother’s name Sonam Kyi, was arrested. She was an officer at the County’s judicial department as well as an author. Reports also said that Jampel Senge, a brother of hers, was also arrested later on.

Around 19 March, more than 100 people belonging to the two clan communities of Rong Mugu Dewa and Tsognyi Dewa in Rongwam Township of Ngaba Prefecture, Sichuan Province, staged a protest march to the county government seat, shouting along the way slogans such as “His Holiness the Dalai Lama

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must come to Tibet!” “We want freedom in Tibet!” and “We want freedom of religious belief!” At the township seat, they continued to demonstrate and shout slogans in front of the township government and other Chinese offices. Some days after that, Chinese police and some officials arrived and arrested a number of Tibetans, including a 23-year-old person named Gonpo Tsering of the Gabmatsang family at Mugu Dewa. They were taken away to Dzoege County to be held in detention there.

Around 20 March, Dongkhu Tulku Lobsang Jampel Gyatso, the deputy head of the religious management committee at Kirti Monastery in Ngaba County of Sichuan Province was arrested from a hospital in the provincial capital Chengdu. He had previously been arrested around 1972, was tried and sentenced in or around 1975 and jailed for more than 10 year in Maowun County. He was released in 1986. In 1998, when the patriotism education was launched for the first time at Kirti Monastery, he could not remain in it and so had to absent himself from the monastery to avoid it.

After 19 March, a total of more than 100 personnel made up of Chinese officials, police, and soldiers arrived at Rongkharsar Township in Ngaba County of Sichuan Province and carried out a door-to-door search of all Tibetan homes. All photos of His Holiness the Dalai Lama were confiscated and threats of all kinds made against the Tibetans. At that time, two persons – Ludrub, 22, son of Gedun Gyatsotsang, and Tseringten, 19, son of Thangtatsang – were arrested and taken away.

At the end of March, Lobsang Jinpa, a 30-year-old monk of Kirti Monastery, originally from Ngasib Kanyag Dewa in Ngaba county of Sichuan Province, committed suicide. He left behind a signed suicide note saying it was impossible for him to live under the Chinese government’s violent repression for even a second more.

After 17 March, seven Tibetans were held and kept in detention from Shitsang Pangong Dewa of Luchu County in Gansu Province.

On a day about mid-March, the head of Whonpo Gon monastery Adrel Tulku Lobsang Tsultrim Tenzin Rinpoche, his son Dashar, and Whonpo monk Trinley Namgyal were arrested. In addition, it was announced that monk Trinley Namgyal was guilty of committing the second most serious level of offences during the protests in Lhasa.

Following the appearance of reports of arrest of Tibetans at the end of March, a large number of Chinese soldiers arrived at Whonpo Gonpa in Dza Sershul County of Kardze Prefecture in Sichuan Province and searched the rooms of all the monks there. Following discovery of Tibetan national flags and other banned items from some of the rooms, the soldiers beat some of the monks. Besides, statues, computers, and other items were snatched away from the monks and extremely tight security measures were imposed all around the monastery.

Around 11 March, monks Tashi Gyatso (three seniors and/or juniors), Dhondub, Tsultrim, Kelsang Gyatso, and so on belonging to Bora Gon in Drepung Monastery were arrested. No one knew where they were taken and neither could any information about it be obtained.

Reports also said that in March 2008, Chinese police and soldiers made sudden appearances at Kekya Dewa, Lungkyog Gabmey Dewa, Loyagthang Dewa, and Kowuda Dewa in the Bora area. They indis-

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criminately arrested and forcibly took away a large number of innocent Tibetans, held them in detention and committed inhuman atrocities of horrific measures on them.

From about 19 March, Tibetans living in the eight Achog Dewas (or clan communities) in Sangchu County of Kanlho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province, held religious incense-burning rituals, accumulated prayer recitations meant to ensure good health and success for His Holiness the Dalai Lama in his efforts, and put up a large number of posters calling for Tibetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s independence. Following that, the number of soldiers posted at the monastery was increased day after day, every evening/night. A Tibetan residential school in Achog Township having a student strength of more than 1,000 students was closed down for the time being and their bedrooms and other rooms were used for storing arms. All movements between the different Tibetan communities in the area were banned and notices were issued by the prefectural as well as county authorities to order guilty Tibetans to surrender on their own. For no rhyme or reason, the soldiers beat up Tibetans, searched their home, and stole or snatched their belongings. Over a period of time, several tens of Tibetans were arrested from both the monasteries and lay communities.

About 14 monks were taken to Sangchu County where they were put under detention.

In March 2008, the monks and people of the Gyitsang monastery and town and Mhegya monastery and town in Mheshi Township of Labrang County in Domey staged a protest demonstration with shouting of slogans. Reports said four monks of Gyitsang Monastery and several laypeople of Mhegya were arrested.

Around 19 March, a crowd of people from Luchu Shitsang Larigul and Thanglungdo rushed to the Larigul Township where they staged a protest demonstration. Elsewhere, about 40 people were arrested and severely beaten without limits after many people from Shitsang Choekhor Dewa staged a protest demonstration at Zamtsang Township. Finally, fines of 3,000 yuan each were collected from 33 people before they were released.

From about the end of March 2008, most of the male Tibetans in all the places in Luchu County of Gansu Province where demonstrations had taken place were arrested, held under detention and kept on being beaten over many days. Finally, a fine of 3,000 yuan was collected from each of them before they were released.

From 23 to 25 March, a significant number of truckloads of Tibetans were arrested from Upper and Lower Nurma in Machu County, Gansu Province. Again, on 26 and 27 March, a large number of Tibetans were arrested from the same areas.

From 20 March, about 40 Tibetans were reported to have been arrested from Sakhog and Ghoegyang areas in Khangsar Township of Chigdril County in Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province. From 25 to 31 March, more than 50 Tibetans were arrested from Upper and Lower Poenkor areas of Dharlag County in Golog Prefecture, Qinghai Province. Besides, reports said a section of the homes of Tibetans in the area were searched. The Chinese authorities declared that some 500 Tibetan horsemen who had taken off into the mountain would be treated with leniency if they surrendered. However, when two of them went to surrender, no leniency was shown to them; the police arrested and took them to the Dharlag County Jail.

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The following are the names of Tibetans who have been newly learnt to have got killed in peaceful protests in March 1) Lobsang Tenzin, aged 24, born in Lhoka Gungkar County, father’s name Phutsog Gyaltsen (deceased).

He normal lived in Lhasa, doing tailoring. He was hit in his temple with a bullet fired by the Chinese while taking part in a peaceful protest on 14 March. Reports said he was taken to the People’s Hospital for treatment but succumbed to his injury there nevertheless. It was not clear, however, whether he died in the city People’s Hospital or TAR People’s Hospital.

2) Gyaltsen Yarphel (lay name Lobsang Tsering), aged 43, father’s name Tsering Bhagdro, monk of Ganden Monastery, Lhasa. He died after participating in the 14 March peaceful demonstrations.

3) Ngawang Sherab (lay name Migmar), aged 31, father’s name Tsering Bhagdro, monk of Ganden Monastery, Lhasa. He died after participating in the 14 March peaceful demonstrations. (Gyaltsen Yarphel and Ngawang Sherab, listed above, were sibling from same parents.) Apart from the fact that both died after the 14 March protest, no further information could be obtained about them.

4) Lobsang Jinpa (religious name Ngawang Tsondue), aged 38, born in Mi-nyag in Dartsedo County. He was earlier a monk at Drepung Monastery, Lhasa, but had since returned to his home. On 14 March, he took part in a peaceful demonstration in Lhasa, was hit with a bullet in the violent Chinese crackdown, and died on the way while being taken to hospital. He is survived by his wife and a child.

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Protests and related events in April 2008

1 April On 1 April, 20 truckloads of Chinese People’s Armed Police Force took off from Chamdo County and arrived at Thangkya Monastery in Gonjo County where they arrested monks Rinchen Gyaltsen, Gyurmey Dhondup and the Shedra Kyorpon (monk who overseas mass prayer recitations) Dorje Wangyal. They were accused of being behind an earlier incident in which an explosive device was thrown into an empty house at Kyabel Township. The monastery was totally surrounded by the troops with no one being let out.

The monks were warned that anyone who tries to sneak out will be shot at.

On 1 April, 7 monks of Sargon Tashi Choeling monastery in Whelbhen Township of Machu County, Gansu Province, took a voluntary pledge to represent all the monks of the monastery and then visited the County Public Security Bureau office where they put their thumb impressions on relevant documents and so on. It was reported that monetary fines were collected from them when they were finally released.

On 1 April, the Chinese government barred Abbot Lobsang Palden of Kirti Monastery at Gyalrong Tsodun (ie, seven clan communities at Gyalrong) and, instead, sent him back to the Kirti Monastery in Amdo Ngaba. At the monastery at Gyalrong Tsodun, about 100 novice monks who were not yet 18 years old were expelled and barred from putting on their religious robes. The monastery’s routine religious sessions and classes were disrupted, with the Chinese authorities emphasizing the importance of holding patriotism education and raising in it the communist Chinese Red Flag. In addition, the monks were sought to be intimidated with holding of army assault drills both in and around the monastery.

2 April On 2 April, a Work Team of Chinese cadres arrived at Ba Choede Monastery in Bathang County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, ordered the monks to sign a document acknowledging the Chinese government’s accusation that the disturbance that had occurred in Lhasa were incited by the Dalai Lama.

But nearly all the monks present at the monastery rejected it altogether and the two sides continued to argue with each other. Reports said that eventually the Chinese authorities arrested five monks of Ba Choede Monastery, including its abbot Jigme Dorje and Discipline master Yeshe.

At about 10:00 AM on 2 April, the more than 500 nuns of a nunnery called Ratroe, located at the foot of a hill in Tawu County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, set out in neat rows with reciting of prayers toward a crematorium near Tawu Township with the purpose of holding a prayer service there for the Tibetans who had died in the violent crackdown on the recent peaceful Tibetan protests. Along the way,

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however, they were stopped by the local police and two sides engaged in heated exchanges of words. The police eventually had no choice but to let the nuns to continue their prayer march to the crematorium.

However, when the nuns reached near the township middle school, the township party secretary and other officials again stopped them, bringing with them three truckloads of police. When that happened, students from the middle school shouted slogans in support of Tibet’s independence and ten-thousand-year life prayer for His Holiness the Dalai Lama. In addition, a large crowd of local Tibetans also gathered on the spot. On their way back to their nunnery from the crematorium, the nuns kept reciting prayers such as those on the "supreme compassionate mind" and "In the snow capped realm". The local Tibetans showed all manners of manifest support of the nuns, such as by offering them prostrations. Because of all that, the police did not dare to act against the nuns at that time, thereby enabling them to successfully conclude their peaceful march. In addition, the monks of Tawu Nyatso Monastery had warned the police that if they stopped the nuns, then they too would join them. The police had to use tact and prudence to dissuade the monks.

On 2 April, Work Teams of Chinese cadres arrived at Tongkhor Monastery and other monasteries in Tongkhor Township of Kardze County in Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, and launched a strong education in patriotism drive. At Tongkhor Monastery, the Work Team tried to make the monks sign a document, which contained such criticism as that the Dalai Lama is a separatist. But Lobsang Jamyang, who was one of the administrative leaders of the monastery, told the Chinese cadres that it was impossible for the monks to sign that document. Speaking before the meeting of the monks, good behaviour of the monks had so far been ensured and that he would not sign that document even if it should cost him his life. In addition, a monk named Yeshe Nyima also stood up and said such things as that he would not sign the document even if the alternative was to lose his life. And the general body of monks also protested, saying there was no way they could sign that document.

From 31 March to 2 April, more than 30 monks were arrested from Sargon Tashi Choepel Ling in Whelbhen Township of Machu County in Kanlho Prefecture of Gansu Province. Of them, 12 were eventually released after they were made to pay fines of 1500 yuan each. In addition, 20 monks of Thubten Yongdueling, a Nyingma monastery, and one layperson in Whelbhen Township were also arrested.

On 2 April, Chinese soldiers detained and brutally beat 56 Tibetans belonging to Ngulra Zholmey Chikhog in Machu County of Kanlho Prefecture, Gansu Province. Even the family members of the arrested Tibetans were intimidated with warnings of dire consequences.

On 2 April, the Qinghai Provincial Higher People’s Court, the Qinghai Provincial People’s Procuracy, and the Qinghai Provincial Public Security Bureau together announced a five-point notice of warning to intimidate the Tibetan people of the province.

In the night of 2 April, Achog Monastery in Sangchu County of Kanlho Prefecture, Gansu Province, was suddenly besieged both within and from outside by Chinese soldiers. All movements in and out of the monastery were banned. Soldiers also besieged nearby villages of Muto, Khyungtrug, Khimar and on the hills above as they then launched a thorough search of the whole of the monastery. Pictures of His Holiness the Dalai Lama were confiscated and thrown to the ground, trampled upon and so on. At the end of it, some 14 monks were again arrested and taken away to Sangchu County. Many men in the nearby villages and townships had to flee into the mountains in the night or otherwise remain in constant

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apprehensions.

Around 2 April, the Chinese authorities put up proclamations of Wanted notices against several Tibetans— including monk Lobsang Jinpa of Kirti Monastery, aged 31, and originally from Rongkharsar Township in Ngaba County; Monk Lobsang Phuntsog, aged 33 and originally from Me’u Ruma; monk Ludrub, aged 35, also from M’u Ruma, and monk Gangtsul, aged 24, also from M’u Ruma – who were alleged to be the main organizers of the recent protest demonstrations in Ngaba County. All of them had fled from the place in recent days and the police had failed to capture them. The proclamation said that anyone could apprehend these alleged criminal ringleaders from any place.

Starting from 2 April, an education campaign was being carried out in the Rongkharsar Township of Ngaba County, Sichuan Province, requiring the Tibetan people to criticize His Holiness the Dalai Lama and praise the Communist Party of China. The Tibetans were coerced to utter the following points: 1) We denounce the Dalai clique 2) We will not keep Dalai Lama pictures at home 3) We have no wish to join the Dalai clique 4) We shall not follow the path of separatism 5) The evil hopes to create dissention between the different nationalities will never succeed 6) We love and support the Communist Party of China 7) We shall unreservedly follow the Communist Party of China 8) We acknowledge the gratitude we owe to the Communist Party of China Each person was made to read these eight points loudly and clearly and video pictures were taken of the proceedings. The Tibetans sought to be intimidated with the warning that any of them who failed to read them word-by-word with the requisite amount of clarity would be arrested at once. It became clear that at many places throughout Ngaba County, the content of the material for carrying out the education in patriotism was the same as above.

3 April On 3 April, Chinese police and the paramilitary People’s Armed Police Force again arrived at Tongkhor Monastery in Kardze County of Sichuan Province and carried out a door-to-door search of all the rooms of the monks. All pictures of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and of the Tongkhor Lama were taken away by use of force. Even mobile phones and money in the pockets and purses of the monks were snatched away. Given such a state of affair, Geshe Tsultrim Tenzin, an around 70-year-old monk, tried to explain to the Chinese officers that he was not going to take down the picture of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from his room. For doing so, he was arrested at once. While all this was going on, the local Tibetans in the surrounding area kept gathering and protesting in order to offer support to the monks. After the protest grew strong, a 26-year-old layman named Tsultrim Phuntsog was arrested. At around 8:00-9:00 PM, loud sounds could be heard of gunfire in Tongkhor Qu (or subdistrict). Tongkhor Monastery usually had more than 30 monks. Reports said that although it was not clear how many had been arrested, or had got injured or killed during and after the protests, the fact was that the monastery later had only a few elderly monks remaining in it.

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At least 14 Tibetans were shot dead on that day, with their names being as give below: 1) Tsewang Rigzin, aged 37, Discipline Master (Gekoe) of Tongkhor Monastery, originally from Jhuruda Village 2) Thubten Zangden, aged 27, religious Chant Master (Umzey) of Tongkhor Monastery, originally from Tsugra Township 3) Monk Konchog Sherab, aged 30, originally from Kharsung Township 4) Monk Tsering Kalden, originally from Badah Village 5) Lhun-go, aged 35, monk of Tongkhor Monastery, originally from Wala-da Township 6) Lobsang Rinchen, aged 25, monk of Tongkhor Monastery 7) Tenlam, female, aged 32, belonging to Ghugra Township 8) Bhubhu Deleg, layman, aged 30, belonging to Sothog-da Village 9) Tseyang Kyi, aged 22, daughter of Tsa-ngoetsang 10) Sonam Tsultrim, layman, aged 22, belonging to Nyatri Village 11) Tsering Dhondup, layman, son of Tsering Phuntsog of Druyag Township 12) Kunsang Choedon, daughter of Tsang-ngoen of Mhogren Township 13) Druglo Tso, female, aged 34, belonging to Ghugra Township 14) Tsering Dhondup, layman, aged 43, belonging to Kharsung Township In addition, the following people were injured with gunshot wounds: Khechog Pawo, aged 20, monk of Tongkhor Monastery and originally from Thathog Township; Monk Kello; Nyima; Thubten Geleg; Yeshe Sangpo, and layman Tseten Phuntsog. What is more, it was impossible to find out whether so many other monks and laypeople had died or got injured.

At about 6:30 PM on 3 April, Trinley Lhundub, who was originally from Khagang Township in Jomda County of Chamdo Prefecture but was, at that time, staying at and running a shop near the Tromsigang Market in Lhasa, was home with his family. A group of police personnel came and asked him to come out for a brief moment. However, as he emerged from his home, they arrested and took him away. No one knew why he was arrested.

On 3 April, Gesang, aged 32, a monk of Namtso Gon monastery and son of Tsesoetsang at Me’u Ruma’s Thoeshey Dewa in Ngaba County of Sichuan Province, was beaten to death by Chinese soldiers in full presence of the local Tibetan public. It was said that he was beaten to death like that because he had objected to the communist Chinese Red Flag being raised in the monastery’s compound.

On 3 April, monks of Thangkya Gon monastery in Gonjo County of Chamdo Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, staged a protest with shouting of slogans, demanding, among other things, that three monks the authorities had arrested on 1 April without any clear reason should be released, that there be freedom of speech and that the freedom of religious belief of the Tibetan people be respected, and also saying that Tibet was an independent country. In the Chinese crackdown which followed, a number of monks were again arrested by police and held in detention in the county prison. They were put into trucks and paraded through the street of the county market, as the Tibetan public was intimidated with the announcement declaring the monks as people who did not know how to care for their lives, that others should never think of behaving like them, and that anyone who follow their example would be punished like them. Thangkya

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Monastery was fully surrounded by Chinese soldiers and put under tight security clampdown.

On 3 April, the relevant local Chinese authorities forced the Bonpo Monastery at Mi-nyak Dapa Ngoende (ngoede) Township in Tawu County in Kardze Prefecture of Sichuan Province to raise the communist Chinese Red Flag. However, by the evening of that day, the flag was pulled down by the monks of the monastery, according to reports received.

4 April Over a period of several days since 4 April, more than 30 Tibetans were arrested from across Chentsa County in Malho Prefecture of Qinghai Province. On 20 March, students of the Chentsa County Nationalities Middle school had staged the first protest in the area, during which they pulled down the communist Chinese Red Flag and burned it, put up a Tibetan national flag, shouted slogans, and so on. As an immediate result, four or five students were reported to have been expelled from the school. Later, on 22 and 23 March, the Tibetan public in the area staged demonstrations and carried out other forms of protest actions. Following these developments, the Chinese launched an investigation and, during the course of it, many Tibetans were arrested.

On 4 April, personnel of the paramilitary People’s Armed Police Force arrived at Dingwa Sumdo Gonpa in Dzoege County of Ngaba Prefecture, Sichuan Province, and carried out searches. When the people of Drelung Dewa learnt about it, they felt concerned that monks were likely being arrested and so set up highway blockades to stop the trucks belonging to the troops. However, since it eventually turned out that no monks were arrested, the situation subsided slightly.

On 4 April, 36 monks were arrested from Ngulra Monastery in Machu County of Kanlho Prefecture, Gansu Province. They were subjected to all manners of contempt, ridicule, beating, interrogation and other forms of ill-treatment without any kind of restraint during their detention. Eventually, 29 of them were released after being made to pay monetary fines of 5,000 yuan each.

5 April On 4 and 5 April, officials from the relevant Chinese authorities arrived at Lithang Gonchen in Lithang County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, and ordered the monks to sign their names on blank sheets of paper. But the monks protested, saying there was no way they could put their signatures on papers without any kind of written content. Following that, the Chinese officials demanded that the officials of the monastery ensure that the monks comply with the order. But nothing came of it and the cadres were forced to return without success.

At a Torgyag ceremony (ritual of offering to ward off or drive away evil spirits) being held at Nyatso Monastery in Tawu County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, on 5 April, a large number of people gathered. Following the ceremony, monks and laypeople, totalling a crowd of about 1,000 people, took a march to toward the county, all along reciting the Jangchub Semchog (compassionate mind generation) prayer. Along the way, Chinese soldiers, while being prepared to allow the monks to continue the march, stopped the laypeople. In protest, the people began shouting slogans, forcefully saying, “May His Holiness the Dalai Lama live for ten thousand years!” “There is no freedom in Tibet!” “We demand human

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rights in Tibet!” and so on. The Chinese troops responded by firing into the crowd, leading to several people being injured. They included 1) Tsewang Gyaltsen or Tsewang Gyatso, from Pangnang 2) Mabhu Gyaltsen or Gyatso, from Re’wu 3) Yabshi Dhondub It was reported that some of the wounded Tibetans had to be taken from the county hospital to China because of the seriousness of their injuries.

On 5 April, Chinese soldiers carried out wanton searches at Tongkhor Monastery in Kardze County of Sichuan Province, even breaking glass panes of the Tongkhor Zhabdrung Rinpoche’s living room. Statues and other sacred objects in the monastery’s prayer hall were indiscriminately thrown around and broken as if the Cultural Revolution had come back. Among the monasteries in the Kardze area, Tongkhor Monastery had the richest collection of invaluable ancient religious objects. So what was particularly disturbing was that these objects remain in grave danger of destruction at the hand of the Chinese soldiers as a result of such wanton search operations.

In the night of 5 April, the Chinese national flag was pulled down from near the gate of a school near Rabgang Monastery at Mi-nyak Nagtren Dewa in Garthar Township of Tawu County, Sichuan Province.

And on the notice boards of stone slabs and metallic sheets lining both the sides of a street called Ghekethang, red enamel paint was used to write slogans supporting Tibetan independence. On 6 April, when some local police officers and relevant government officials arrived there and tried to erase the slogans, there was a slight dispute with local Tibetans. In addition, a section of local officials visited the area monasteries and schools to conduct patriotism education, but the Tibetans everywhere made it clear that they did not like it.

On 5 April, a large body of paramilitary People’s Armed Police Force arrived at Sogtsang Monastery in Dzoege County of Ngaba Prefecture, Sichuan Province, and conducted a search of the living rooms of all the monks there. In addition, two of its monks – Tsultrim Gyatso from Chugra Dewa and Lobsang Thubten from Dopel Dewa – were arrested and taken to Dzoege County.

On 5 April, security clampdown at Ratroe Nunnery in Tawu County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, was strengthened and an announcement made of the start of a campaign of education in “love your nation, love your religion”.

On 5 April, Chinese soldiers arrested five Tibetans from Ngulra Zholma in Machu County of Kanlho Prefecture, Sichuan Province. This brought to 61 the number of Tibetans arrested from this particular Dewa thus far.

7 April In the afternoon of 7 April, all the monks of the Ramoche Temple in Lhasa, except about 30, were arrested. The temple usually had more than 100 resident monks. Reports said that later that night, searches were carried out in the living room of the monks.

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In the night of 7 April, Chinese soldiers carried out raids at Nghulra Gon monastery and Thumey Rinag Dewa in Ngulra Township of Machu County, Gansu Province, and arrested 30 monks and 10 people, respectively. Reports said that thus far, more than 110 people, both monks and laypeople, had been arrested from the Ngulra Dewa area alone.

On 7 April, the propaganda minister of Gansu Province and the party secretary of Machu County especially visited Zheshul Gon monastery in Meyma Township of Machu County and Dzoege Nyinmey Tsagenbheshang Gon, also known as Ganden Rabgyaling Monastery, and announced a dicta that when international media persons visit them, Tibetans were strictly forbidden from saying to them whatever they genuinely felt like.

A total of about 70 Tibetans had been arrested following the peaceful protest demonstration on 17 March led by the monks of Dingkha Monastery in Dechen Qu (or sub-district) of Toelung Dechen County in Lhasa City. Reports later emerged that some of them were later released after being made to pay monetary fines. Some had been released earlier on payment of a fine of 120 yuan each. Some others were released at the beginning of April after being made to pay fines of 1,220 yuan each. Out of this amount, 1,000 yuan had to be paid to the county government, 200 yuan to the Qu government, and 20 yuan was the charged incurred by rthe government on the transportation of the detainees, or so it was explained to them.

Because there were two successive, continuous protest demonstrations in Phenpo Lhundup County, Lhasa City, and large numbers of Tibetans arrested from them, the county ran out of space for holding them.

As a result, many were transferred to the Toelung Dechen County jail for the purpose of keeping them in detention.

It was reported that on 7 April, a fairly substantial number of posters calling for Tibet’s independence was seen put up in areas around Dza Bharma Gonsar monastery in Dege County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province. Further details about it were, however, not clear.

8 April On 8 April, about 40 Tibetans who had come to Lhasa from Gonjo County of Chamdo Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, on pilgrimage or business trip, were rounded by the concerned Chinese government authorities and sent back home. It was explained that they were sent back due to the fact that they did not have their themtho (Chinese: hukou or permanent residence registration) in Lhasa and for other reasons.

However, there were no reports whatsoever of any Chinese, of whom there were so many, staying in the city doing businesses or being employed as non-permanent workers having been ever sent back home.

Even on 8 April, the number of patients visiting the People’s Hospital and Goten Hospital in Lhasa city were so numerous that they had bed shortage problems to be able to admit people for inpatient care. On 8 April, although the condition of some of the outpatients had become very serious, they were turned back with the explanation that there was not enough number of beds. The local Tibetans have explained that the reason for that was that so many Tibetans had serious injuries as a result of having been beaten or shot at by Chinese armed forces during the violent crackdown on peaceful protests since 14 March.

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From 8 April onwards, a group of monks of Rangjhon Ringpo monastery in Zongtsa Township of Bathang County, Sichuan Province, carved on rock the entire "Prayer of Words of Truth" composed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and placed on the spot on the town’s Rangsang hillock where the local people usually hold their religious incense-burning ceremony. In addition, for three days, they held prayers for the religious and political well being of the Tibetan people and performed incense-burning ceremonies on the hillock.

On 8 April, the relevant department of the Chinese government closed down the school run by Tagtsang Lhamo Kirti Monastery in Ngaba County of Sichuan Province. The school was the main educational institution for the monastery’s monks below the age of 18 as well as the children of the nomads and farmers of the local Tibetan community to learn Tibetan language and culture. The school was started in 1986 and had 504 students on its roll at the time it was shut down by the Chinese government. It was extremely beneficial to both the monastery and the surrounding lay community. On 15 March, when the monks of Tagtsang Lhamo Kirti Monastery staged a protest rally against the Chinese government, many students from this school had joined in, which was the reason cited by the Chinese government authorities for shutting it down.

9 April At about 12:30 PM on 9 April, when a group of international media persons arrived at Labrang Tashikhyil Monastery in the course of their visit to the Labrang area of Sangchu County in Kanlho Prefecture, Gansu Province, on a trip organized by the Chinese government, about 15 of its monks staged a defiant protest.

Carrying a Tibetan national flag, a stretch banner saying “We have no freedom of speech”, and other things, they also shouted loud and lucid slogans, saying, in the main, “We demand human rights!” “We all demand independence!” “We need His Holiness the Dalai Lama to return to Tibet!” Reports also said some of the monks told the visiting foreign journalists that a section of monks arrested by the Chinese leaders in the recent past were still being held in jail, as well as other things.

On 9 April, it was announced at the Tongkhor area of Kardze County, Sichuan Province, that all Tibetans who had fled from the area to avoid dangers from the Chinese authorities and forces should surrender.

Both Tongkhor Monastery and Tongkhor Township were besieged by Chinese army troops day and night.

Reports also said that the Tibetan public in Upper Tongkhor was continuing to resist the Chinese patriotism education drive.

10 April From the night of 10 April, reinforcement army troops were sent to Drepung Monastery in Lhasa to strengthen the security measures there. In addition, additional cadres of Work Team were also sent there and a violent enforcement of a strengthened patriotism education drive carried out. Reports said the monks strongly protested against the Chinese authorities’ move.

On a date around 10 April, announcements were made to the Tibetan public in the Rongkharsar area if Ngaba County, Sichuan Province, saying anyone who hands over to the Chinese government monk Lobsang Jinpa belonging to the area would be presented with a reward of 30,000 yuan. It was also announced

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that a man named (name unclear) from Ngaba injured on 16 March was learnt to have escaped to the Rongkharsar area and anyone who hands him over to the Chinese government would be presented with a reward of 15,000 yuan. Confidentiality was guaranteed to anyone giving information on them. The local Tibetan public was also told that monthly salary would be paid to those who would denounce His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan government-in-Exile and so on. The Chinese officials also said that a so-called second rebel general meeting of Tibetans in exile had been scheduled to be held and that unless the identity of those who had destroyed the township government office in the recent past became known, no one would be allowed to go anywhere for any purpose, including for work.

11 April Around 11 April, after protests both by monks and laypeople in the area, the Chinese authorities, on the one hand, sought to intimidate the Tibetan public in the Draggo County area of Kardze Prefecture in Sichuan Province with displays of army drills and, on the other hand, sought to employ guile by initiating a campaign to make them sign a document by which they would say they were opposed to the Dalai Lama’s return to the country. In fact, a section of the people in Tehor Township, Soggen Township, Dzonggo Township, and Dilgo Township in Draggo county of Kardze Prefecture had signed on such a document after being misled into doing so by Chinese officials. Also, people were made to sign a document with the false claim that it was meant to petition for the release of two Geshes of Chogri Gon monastery who had earlier been arrested on 26 March. When it was later found out what it was really about, no one in other Townships signed on that document. When the signed documents were put together later on, it became clear that their tow-point contents read as follows: 1) 2)

We oppose separatism, we are patriotic for the motherland We do not support the Dalai Lama’s return to the country

In addition, there was also a blank paper bearing the rubber stamp of a concerned Chinese government office. It was also falsely announced verbally that the incidents in Lhasa and other places at that time were created by the Dalai Lama, although this was not put in writing.

After peaceful protest demonstrations continued to spread across all the three traditional Tibetan provinces, there was massive deployment of Chinese army troops. In particular, large numbers of soldiers were deployed along the Nepal-Tibet and other border areas.

Also, the concerned Chinese government authorities called up the old people’s militia groups while also conscripting youngsters to form new people’s militia groups. Plans were made for the militia groups and the regular army to carry out joint security operations until the start of the Olympic Games scheduled to be held in Beijing in August 2008. In Sershul County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, 70 people’s militia personnel were paired with 10 soldiers in each of its township and they began carrying out 24-hour security clampdowns on every movement of the Tibetan people. Reserve reinforcement troops were kept in readiness in case there were incidents requiring them to be sent for additional deployment.

In some townships in Markham County of Chamdo Prefecture in Tibet autonomous Region too, it was reported that personal backgrounds of individuals were being queried for the purpose of deciding about their recruitment in new people’s militia groups.

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In continuing security clampdown in Tibet’s capital Lhasa on 11 April, security measures at all the monasteries, including the Jokhang Temple, were strengthened. As a result, monks were not at all allowed to go out of their monasteries and neither were the worshipping members of the public allowed to visit them.

Store managers of the monasteries responsible for food and drink purchases were let out only after careful scrutiny and in laypeople’s dress.

On 11 April, the monks of Trayang Gon Thubten Do-ngag Yarphel Ling Degon in Drasar Township of Chigdril County in Golog Prefecture, Qinghai Province, staged a peaceful protest demonstration with shouting of slogans in the Township, making an altar display of a portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

12 April Reports emerged that on 11 or 12 April, many monks of Drepung Monastery were arrested. The reason for that was that the Chinese authorities had strengthened the patriotic education they had been carrying out there with use of violence and intimidation since 10 March and the monks had strongly opposed it.

From 12 April, meetings were called at Dartsedo County in Sichuan Province for the purpose of carrying out education in patriotism. All the administrative heads and important responsible officials of all the monasteries in all the counties of Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture as well as important officials at government offices in the county were especially summoned to the meetings. On 26 March, when patriotism education was being imparted to the officials of the monasteries in the Sershul County area, the cadres of the Chinese Work team told them that it was a serious mistake on their part that not only had they failed to make proper admissions of their mistakes but also that they had spoken about the need to hold negotiations with the Dalai Lama and such other things. They said the monastic officials must not only make a clear admission of their mistakes at the ongoing patriotism education meeting but also that after the meeting disperses, they should plant on their respective monastery rooftops the Five-Star Red Flag of communist China. In addition, they said, the entire people of Sershul County – both the monks and laypeople – should, one by one, file under the Five-Star Red Flag of communist China and make a solemn undertaking by declaring that the current disturbances in Tibet were plotted by the Dalai Lama, and by vowing to oppose the separatism of the Dalai Lama. However, although the Chinese officials announced their plan for holding this oath taking formality, when the meeting got under way, the three most influential lamas present in it said that if the Chinese government went ahead with this education plan, the popular masses of Tibetans, both monks and laypeople, would feel greatly disheartened and despaired with the result that the resultant situation would be the opposite of what the authorities had wished to achieve. They said that if the authorities were taking genuine responsibility for the well being of the people by ensuring that no cause for turmoil arises among them, then the patriotism education campaign should be stopped. Otherwise, they would not be able to take responsibility for what may happen, they added. Other lamas and tulkus attending the meeting also spoke up in support of them. Because of that, it emerged that the campaign to make people to sign declarations such things as that they were opposed to His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s return could not be carried out for the time being. Nevertheless, the reports said, the large numbers of army troops already stationed at the monasteries were not withdrawn. Many of the soldiers continued to remain, wearing civilian dresses and making daily rounds of the monasteries.

On 12 April, there was once again a peaceful protest demonstration in Maldrogungkar County of Lhasa

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City led mainly by the monks of Pangsa Monastery in Tashigang Township of Balab Qu, nuns of Choekhor Nunnery (commonly known as Choekhug Gon) as well as monks of Dhomo Monastery and it ended with a substantial number of monks, nuns and laypeople being arrested. However, it was not possible to obtain more detailed information about the incident. Reports said that during an earlier protest demonstration at the same place in March, led by monks of Pangsa Monastery, nuns of Choekhor Nunnery and so on, an about 25-year-old nun named Tsering Dolkar of Choekhor Nunnery was seriously injured in the ensuing violent Chinese crackdown and that she died later on. Her father’s name was Tsephel and she was born in Ruthog Township (earlier, part of Balab Qu or sub-district) in Maldrogungkar County. Reports also said that following the violent crackdown on the peaceful demonstration on 12 April, a 31-year-old Choekhor nun named Lobsang Tsomo was driven to commit suicide.

There were reports that on 12 April, a monk arrested on an earlier date from Drepung Monastery had died in prison. However, no further clear information could be obtained about it. Other reports said that a few days earlier, two women had died soon after their release from a prison in Lhasa.

On 12 April, a camping of “love your nation, love your religion” was launched at the Rongwo Gonchen Monastery in Rebgong County of Malho Prefecture, Qinghai Province, by both prefectural and county-level officials. And during the campaign meeting, announcement with strongly toned threats of dire consequences was made, saying monk Lobsang Dhondup of Thoesam Norling Monastery and monks Lobsang Dhondup and Dragpa of Guepa Monastery, accused of being the main leaders of protest demonstrations held on earlier occasions, be handed over and so on to the authorities.

13 April On 13 April, the Public Security Bureau of Lhasa city made a sudden arrest of Tenchoe, also known as Tenzin Choedag, a 20-year-old man born in Lhasa, from his home. He was put under detention on suspicion of having participated in the peaceful protests in the city. It was even stated that he was going to be tried in a short while. Reports also said that decision had been taken to impose jail sentences on many other persons like him.

On 13 April, officials of the Chinese government, police officers, personnel from the paramilitary People’s Armed Police Force and so on arrived at Tsang Monastery in Gepasumdo (or Thunte) County of Tsolho Prefecture, Qinghai Province, and conducted an investigation to find out those who had taken part in the peaceful protest in the area on 17 March. A monk named Khedub Gyatso was arrested.

On 12 and 13 April, large numbers of prefectural and county officials arrived at Bora Monastery in Bora Township of Sangchu County of Kanlho Prefecture, Gansu Province, to begin conducting an education in patriotism campaign. The area had seen protest demonstrations on 15, 18 and 23 March. On 18 March, violent clampdown was carried out against those who had taken part in the day’s protest. As a result of it, about 45-year-old Kathub Tsering, 27-year-old Nyingchub Ling, 51-year-old Dorje Tashi, 23-year-old Bhandekhar, and so on had broken legs, injured heads, and other damages as a result of severe beatings.

On 23 March, arrests began to be made and by 15 April so many Tibetans had been taken into custody, including a man named Lhago Kyab, who was a teacher at a local school. On 15 April, the local Public Security Bureau brought out a list of 30 names of monks of Bora Monastery and demanded that they be handed over or else a search will be carried out at the monastery.

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On 13 April, three monks, including one named Lobsang Dhondup, of Rongwo Gonchen Monastery conferred with the other monks at the monastery and then went to talk to the Chinese police in the hope that the monastery could be spared more trouble from the authorities.

On 13 April, many Tibetans, both in religious robes and laypeople, arrested from the Ngaba County area of Sichuan Province, were taken to Chengdu and another nearby prison.

14 April On 14 April, it was learnt that the three monks of Rongwo Gonchen Monastery who had gone to hold discussion with the county police authorities the day before had been placed under arrest. They asked questions amongst themselves and held discussions and so on over the matter. After that, a fair number of them went to visit them under army escort. That day, many Tibetan nomads and farmers were arrested by the Chinese government from throughout Rebgong County.

Reports said that in the morning of 14 April, there was a protest demonstration with shouting of slogans held at Markham County in Chamdo Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region. Several days earlier, a section of monks of Woeser Monastery located near Markham chose to seek discharge from the monastery to express their opposition after the monks were ordered to denounce His Holiness the Dalai Lama with the launch of a patriotism education campaign there.

On 14 April, Public Security Bureau personnel and paramilitary Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Armed Police Force troops arrived at the Ngog Gyalmo Monastery in Tsoe City of Kanlho Prefecture, Gansu Province. When they sought to find out those who had shouted slogans during the peaceful protest demonstration in the area on 16 March and also conducted search of the monksâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; living quarters, a section of monks claimed that they individually, rather than any of the other monks, were the culprits. Eventually, the Chinese forces arrested 19 monks as well as some 23 laypeople from the nearby clan community areas and subjected them to beatings and torture without any kind of limit on the degree of brutality.

In the night of 14 April, Chinese soldiers carried out searches at the Tsang Monastery in Gepasumdo (Thunte) County of Tsolho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, and forcibly took away all the pictures of His Holiness the Dalai Lama they found.

On 14 April, Chinese soldiers arrived at Ngulra Nyenthog Monastery in Machu County of Gansu Province, carried out searches and reduced to tatters all speeches and so on of His Holiness the Dalai Lama that they could lay their hands on. In addition, about 150 monks were arrested.

In the morning of 14 April, searches were carried out at the Choepelzhing Tashi Choekhorling Monastery in Dokhog Township of Chone County, Gansu Province, and destroyed all pictures and portraits of His Holiness the Dalai Lama they could find. In addition, the Chinese imposed a fine of 5,000 yuan on each of the more than 200 monks they had arrested in March.

According to new information received, from April 30 onwards, all the local Public Security Bureau beat personnel (Chinese: baoan) in Lhasa city responsible for maintaining law and order were relieved of their

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duties and their tasks assigned to the army. It was reported that a notice of this decision was circulated to all the concerned and affected persons. Most of those beat personnel were Tibetan nationals and the decision made it obvious that the Chinese authorities did not trust their Tibetan personnel.

In many places, especially in Lhasa, a section of Chinese people practiced discrimination against Tibetans and thereby sought to sow discord between the two communities. For example, some Chinese vegetable sellers charged different prices from Tibetans and Chinese and thereby deliberately put them in a course of conflict with each other. And at the Lhasa Middle School, whenever there was a fight between a Tibetan and a Chinese student, the Chinese people all ganged up to beat the Tibetan students. There were numerous instances of such show of contempt against Tibetans.

15 April Around 14 and 15 April, officials from the concerned county office arrived at Gulog Zhipa Dewa and all the other nearby Dewas (ie, clan communities) in Nyagchu County in Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, and proceeded to order the Tibetans to sign a document to accuse His Holiness the Dalai Lama of having plotted the recent protest incidents in Tibet. But as they then began taking the signatures, a local resident named Gyaltsen made clear his disapproval of the campaign and refusal to sign it by getting up from the meeting and staging a walkout. Following it, other Tibetans followed suit and staged a walkout one after another. As a result, the campaign was a failure. The local Chinese government officials then at once summoned Gyaltsen and questioned him about his intentions. However, there was no report saying he was detained and so on.

In the night of 15 April, Chinese soldiers suddenly barged into Labrang Monastery in Sangchu County of Gansu Province from its western corner and raided each living room of the monks, entering in groups of about five to six. And while the search went on, the monks were made to sit outside their doors with their hands touching the floor and their heads bowed down. All modern technology items belonging to the monks were snatched or robbed by the soldiers as they liked while many religious objects, including statues, and other items were stolen by them. In addition, about 180 monks of Labrang Monastery were beaten without any kind of limit and rendered severely injured while being arrested.

In the night of 15 April, Chinese soldiers arrived at the Shitsang Gatsel Gon monastery in Luchu County of Gansu Province, arrested 28 monks and took them to the county seat. In addition, at 2:00 AM on 16 April, Chinese soldiers conducted a sudden raid at the monastery and arrested four monks. Reports said personnel of the People’s Armed Police Force trampled on pictures of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Conducting a campaign called “love your nation, love your religion thought reform education” on a daily basis, they made the monks to memorize all kinds of documents. Although soldiers had been withdrawn from many parts of Domey, a force of about 300 Chinese soldiers remained permanently station at a school near Shitsang Monastery. They maintained constant close watch over the monastery to monitor the situation there.

In the morning of 15 April, 36 monks of Tsang Monastery in Gepasumdo (Thunte) County in Tsolho Prefecture, Qinghai Province, were arrested and taken away to the prefectural seat.

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After making indiscriminate arrests, the Chinese government authorities subjected the Tibetans to beatings without any kind of limit throughout the period of their detention and imprisonment. This was not all. For example, on 16-17 March, six or seven Tibetans belonging to Gonjo County of Chamdo Prefecture but arrested from Lhasa were released after fines of 600 yuan each were collected from them. They were released because it was stated that the gravity of their crimes was less. Earlier, following their arrest, they were put in an overcrowded prison crammed with more than 800 Tibetans, during which they were given just a mug of tea and a piece of steamed bread once every four days and absolutely nothing else to eat or drink in between. They spoke of having personally witnessed Tibetans with broken ribs, arms and legs and other kinds of injuries. Reports said those detained in the Amdo Ngaba region too were being fed extremely poorly.

On 15 April, it was entirely unknown where the three monks of Rongwo Monastery and the laypeople in Rebgong County of Malho Prefecture, Qinghai Province, arrested the day before, had been taken.

Because of it, students of Rongwo Monastery studying in classes up to the Uma (or Madyamika) class prepared to stage a protest demonstration. The Chinese authorities came to know about it and so fully surrounded the monastery with soldiers.

16 April On 16 April, relevant government officials of Lithang County arrived at Lithang Gonchen in Kardze Prefecture of Sichuan Province and issued an edict saying the Red Flag of Communist China should be flown at the monastery from 17 April onwards. A section of the officials of the monastery responded by telling the Chinese government cadres that they had the power and so it was up to them to decide whether to put up the flag or not. However, they continued, there was every possibility that planting the flag would, far for ensuring harmony, provoke disturbances and they should not be held responsible if such an eventuality materializes. They insisted that they be, therefore, presented with a written, stamped and signed official edict saying the Red Flag had been put up by the county government. Because of that, the Red Flag could not be hoisted at the monastery on 17 April. Apart from Lithang Gonchen, similar coercive order was issued not only to all its branch monasteries as well but also to all the Tibetan monasteries across what today constitute parts of Sichuan Province as well as to Tibetan monasteries throughout Qinghai and Gansu Provinces. Besides, from 12 April, a measure was implemented requiring all the religious centres and institutions in the so-called Tibet Autonomous Region to fly the Red Flag of communist China.

There was a report saying that on 16 April, more than 200 local Tibetans of a place called Kyichukha Township (also known as Gapa or Gadekha) in Nyagchu County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, staged a peaceful protest demonstration. However, there were no further details and clarifications on it.

A report emerged on 16 April, saying that a monk named Thoesam of Kirti Monastery in Ngaba County of Sichuan Province was driven to commit suicide. He was born at Meâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;u Ruma Dewa in the same county and was 29 years old at the time. He was a new student in the Uma class at Kirti Monastery.

After both the religiously robed and lay local Tibetan people staged a passionately driven peaceful protest demonstration at Ngaba County in March, the relevant authorities of the Chinese government began carrying out what was called a patriotism education campaign, conducted searches at the monastery, and

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subjected the monks to considerable amounts of harassment. As a result, in the previous month too, there was a report of an elderly monk committing suicide at the monastery as he could not bear to live with the kind of situation that the Chinese authorities had created. He was a weak-sighted monk and was reported to have told a relative on 16 April, “You with a good eyesight cannot bear to live witnessing such a situation at present; neither can I, a weak-sighted person.”

On 16 April, Chinese police surreptitiously entered the Je Kumbum Monastery and carried out the arrest of five monks, including two named as Tri Kelsang Tsondue and Konchog Samten. They took those monks to the provincial capital Xining where they subjected them to beatings without any kind of limit.

At about 4:30 AM on 16 April, a large group of the People’s Armed Police Force personnel fully surrounded Ratoe Monastery in Nyethang Township of Chushur County, Lhasa City, and forced out all its monks to the monastery’s courtyard. Having done so, they carried out a door-to-door search of the monks’ living rooms. As the search went on, they told the monks that anyone who possessed any kind of weapons should surrender them at once. All pictures of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, documents with political contents, the monastery’s telephones and mobile handsets belonging to some 70 monks were forcibly taken away. Finally, 50 monks of the monastery were arrested and taken away to the Chushur County prison.

Although some of them were later released, 32 other monks, including former political prisoner Namkar who had previously been jailed at Drapchi Prison in Lhasa and monastic official Thubchog, continued to be kept in detention at Chushur Prison. Most of those detained monks had been born in Chushur County while some of the others among them were from Kham Drag-yab, Lhokha, Toelung and other places.

Reports said these monks were subjected to beatings without any kind of limit on the level of brutality.

The main reasons behind the above incident was that on 14 March, 30 monks of Ratoe Monastery had staged a protest march from Ratoe Monastery to a place near Nethang Township, shouting slogans calling for freedom for the Tibetan people, praying for long life for His Holiness the Dalai Lama and so on. They were stopped along their way by the People’s Armed Police Force. At that time, as the Chinese troops prepared to carry out arrests, the local Tibetan people intervened to object, with the result that they had to restrain themselves and the monks were able to return to their monastery. However, over course of time the monks were prevented from going out of their monastery and subjected to a number of other restrictions. Additional Work Team cadres were sent to the monastery to carry out a highly coercive patriotism education campaign. Under the campaign, the monks were ordered do such things as carrying out blasphemies against His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The monks not only refused but continued to protest. As a result, a large body of the People’s Armed Police Force was suddenly rushed to the monastery. With that, a large number of monks were arrested while the rest were subjected to forced education in patriotism.

Ratoe Monastery usually had about 90 resident monks.

On 16 April, 41 Tibetans were released after being made to pay a fine of 5,000 yuan each while three other Tibetans were released after being made to pay a fine of 10,000 yuan each in Ngulra Chikhog area of Machu County in Kanlho Prefecture, Gansu Province. In addition, six Tibetans, including Lama Tsering of Gyalrig Tsang in Upper Nurma in Machu County were arrested.

On 16 April, the monks of Labrang Monastery in Sangchu County of Kanlho Prefecture, Gansu Province, prepared to stage a protest, saying, among other things, that unless the large number of monks arrested the day before were released, they too were all prepared to join them in prison. However, the Chinese

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government learnt about it and released all but nine monks. Among those who continued to remain in detention were three who were suspected to be among the monks who had staged protest during the arrival of a foreign media group on 9 April. The remaining six or so were monks who were newly arrested and subjected to unrestrained brutal beatings.

On 16 April, a total of around 60 Tibetan people, including monks of Trayang Gonpa and laypeople, in Drasar Township of Golog County in Ngaba Prefecture, Sichuan Province, were arrested. Eight of them were later released after being made to pay fines of 3,000 yuan each.

17 April At about11:00 AM on 17 April, about 22 monks of Rongwo Gonchen in Rebgong County of Malho Prefecture, Qinghai Province, staged a protest demonstration, demanding that 3 monks of the monastery who were arrested on 13 April be released. Those three monks were arrested by the county police who accused them of being the main leaders of the protest demonstration which had taken place on 17 March.

But as those 22 or so monks kept protesting, Chinese soldiers arrived and arrested them. When monks back at the monastery learnt about it, more than 80 of them again staged a protest demonstration. Many local Tibetans, young and old, including, especially, the about 80-year-old Alag Khaso Tsang Lobsang Jigme Trinley Rinpoche, former Abbot of Rongwo Gonchen, came forward to try to mediate between the two sides. However, the Chinese soldiers beat him as well, leaving him with a large, gaping wound on his head, a wounded shoulder and a broken leg. He was rushed to the Xining emergency care hospital where he was kept under detention. Besides, they arrested a total of about 140 people, including all the protesting monks and laypeople. The monastery was fully surrounded by soldiers. Monks were banned from going out of their monastery and, likewise, no one was allowed to enter the monastery as part of a tight Chinese security clampdown.

One report said that at about 03:00 AM on 17 April, a large number of monks of Sera Monastery were arrested and taken to a Toelung County area to the west of Lhasa where they were detained in a brick factory building. It appeared that this place was in the neighbourhood of the Chushur Prison near Lhasa city.

On 17 April, arrest was again carried out at Tsang Monastery in Gepasumdo (Thunte) County of Tsolho Prefecture, Qinghai Province, of 20 of its monks and they were taken away to the county government seat area. It was stated that a patriotism education campaign was again to be launched at the monastery on 19 April.

On 17 April, the Chinese army used violence to carry out the arrest of eight young aged monks of Nalanda Monastery in Phenpo Lhundup County, Lhasa city. Besides, a layman named Nyima Tenzin belonging to Chukha Jhang Village in Phenpo Lhundup County was subjected to such severe beating that he ended with a broken back. Not only was he denied proper medical care, but he was also made to pay a fine of 5,000 yuan.

Around 17 or 18 April, several monks of Tenkhang, a branch monastery of Taglung Gonpa in Damshung County, Lhasa City, were arrested after they staged a protest demonstration at the county government

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seat. Taglung Gonpa is located in Phenpo Lhundup County, Lhasa.

On 17 April, although several monks of Rongwo Gonchen in Rebgong County of Malho Prefecture, Qinghai Province, including Tenzin Chophel, a religious instructor and a Geshe Lharampa from Ganden Jangtse, were released, border security troops deployed from the Hainan Province of China, a special unit of the Chinese police force and others were continuing to keep them under strict security surveillance.

On 17 April, a 52-year-old man named Chambu Gudub belonging to Yonag Village of Yang-nge Township in Sog County of Nagchu Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, was arrested by police after he staged a protest during the course of an education in patriotism campaign.

On 17 April, Neychung, a 38-year-old woman belonging to the Hurama Dewa in Charuwa in Ngaba county of Sichuan Province died after she failed to respond to treatment for fatal injuries she suffered from as a result of severe beatings while she was in prison. Neychung had taken part in protests against Chinese rule which took place at Cha Township on 16 and 17 March. For being the first person at that time who took down the nameplate on the gate of the local Public Security Bureau office, the Chinese government put her under arrest on 18 March. Although released on 26 March, her whole body was filled with bruise marks and she was unable even to talk. She also could not eat and swallowing even a tiny morsel of food caused her to vomit. In short, she was only barely alive with only her breathing having not fully stopped. Her family and close relatives took her to hospital, but they denied her admission, saying she did not have the permission to go to hospital. Due to that objection, they could not give her any medical attention. It was in such heart-renting conditions of abject neglect and denial that she had to remain and she died after a brief while. The Chinese authorities even prevented monks from being invited after her death to perform rituals for her. At that time her husband had fled into the mountains. She left behind four children, of whom the elder son Takho, aged 23, and the younger son Choepe, aged 20, were arrested by the Chinese after her death. They were held at the Ngaba County Detention Centre and subjected to severe beatings. As a result, Takho had a broken leg and he was kept at a military hospital in Chengdu city. The younger son Chope was said to be held at the Ngaba County Detention Centre. However, no one had full information about their exact situations.

On 17 April, eight Tibetans from the Ke Dewa and three Tibetans from the Dubzhuggo Dewa, both parts of the Lushoe Tsogye (or eight Lushoe clan communities) of Lower Achog in Tsoe City of Kanlho Prefecture, Gansu Province, were arrested. And they were subjected to such severe, unrestrained beatings that Dugthar from Dubzhuggo Dewa, for example, ended with a broken skull and damaged kidney. Over a period of time, Tibetans arrested from the area were subjected to all manners of intimidation, beating, detention, imprisonment, and so on. Besides, families in the Muto, Ngagoe, thempa, ke, Dubzhuggo Dewa, and others had monetary fines imposed on them in amounts ranging from 2,000 yuan to 30,000 yuan per family. Those who did not have the money to pay the extortionate fines had their properties confiscated.

The reports said that within that small Tibetan area, the total bill for monetary fines imposed by the Chinese government authorities totaled 3,33,000 yuan.

On 17 March, Lodoe Wangpo, also known as Bhoe Zhide Gyatso, a monk of Mura Gon Mahyul Samten Choekhorling, located in Mujhe Township in Machu County of Kanlho Prefecture, Gansu Province, was arrested from Lanzhou city by state security officials of Gansu provincial and Kanlho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture on the following four counts of criminality:

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1) that he had led the Tibetan uprising protests in Machu County; 2) that he not only had direct link with His Holiness the Dalai Lama but also that his educational upbringing was also in full conformity of the type of education desired by His Holiness the Dalai Lama; 3) that he had sent abroad audio visual and other materials on Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s violent crackdown and killings against the peaceful Tibetan uprising protests; and 4) that he was responsible for destroying the friendly relationship that existed between the Tibetan and Chinese nationalities.

18 April On 18 April, a massive body of Chinese soldiers said to be from Hainan Province arrived at the Rongwo Gonchen monastery in Rebgong County of Malho Prefecture, Qinghai Province, and imposed a highly repressive security clampdown. According to estimates, a total of more than 430 Tibetans were arrested since 17 April. The arrests were carried out in highly degrading, inhuman manners, with each Tibetan having their face pressed to the ground while soldiers trampled him on the back of his neck as metallic wire was used to tie him up, and so on. The first three monks arrested on April 12 and many of the monks arrested for taking part in the first protest demonstration on 17 March were no longer in the Rebgong County prison but had already been taken to a prison elsewhere, with no information being available about them. In addition, searches carried out at the Rongwo Gonchen monastery continued for 35 hours, during which numerous items were plundered and taken away. Besides, searches were begun in the nearby smaller monasteries also. At Yama Tashi Khyil, a small retreat centre, searches began to be made on 18 April. In particular, very strict searches were carried out at the Labrang (ie, the residential centre of a lama) of Alag Drotsang. However, there were no reports of arrests of monks there.

On 18 April, the monks of Dechen Gonpa in Trang-yar, Rebgong County, Qinghai Province, having come to know about the brutal Chinese beating of Alag Khaso Tsang, prepared to stage a protest demonstration.

However, the Chinese imposed a security clampdown on them and beat some of them.

On 18 April, former abbot Khetsun of Chogri Monastery in Tehor Township of Draggo County in Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, had to be released from prison after his physical conditions had become very poor.

On 18 April, invaluable, highly sacred statues and other religious objects worth at least 15 million yuan were stolen or plundered from Tshendrog Monastery in Meyma Township of Machu County in Kanlho Prefecture, Gansu Province, by soldiers who had been brought in from Lanzhou city. The monastery was accused of having links with the Tibetan government in exile and of having kept weapons in hiding. The massive body of soldiers especially called in from Lanzhou carried out a thorough search of the monastery both in and out.

In the night of 18 April, Chinese soldiers fully surrounded Minthang Gon Woesel Thegchog Ling monastery and carried out a search of all the living rooms of the monks. All pictures of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and so on were torn into tatters while many items of value were plundered. All telephone communication lines were cut. About 48 Tibetans from the two Ruchens (or major units) in Minthang Township were arrested. Then, over the following days, 34 of them were released with the imposition of monetary fines totaling 430,000 yuan.

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county19 April In the morning of 19 April, a tantric named Chiba, aged about 35, belonging to Lehchen Township in Chentsa County of Malho Prefecture, Qinghai Province, was taken away by the county police just after he had got up from bed and was tying the sash of his robe. He was accused of having taken part in the peaceful protest demonstration at the county government seat in March.

On 19 April, during a patriotism education campaign being carried out at the Nechung Monastery, located near Drepung Monastery in Lhasa City, a monk rose from the meeting and said, “We do not want your so-called ‘love your nation, love your religion’ campaign. And I do not wish to take part in it,” and so on. Other monks in the meeting supported him and protested. Reports said that because of it, six or seven monks were arrested. Estimates suggest that Nechung Monastery appeared to have a strength of about 35 resident monks.

Reports emerged that on 19 April, a person named Nyima Dragpa belonging to Barzi Township in Tawu County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, was suddenly arrested by Chinese police. He was about 41 years old and a former monk of Nyatso Monastery. Earlier, in 1998, when posters calling for Tibet’s independence appear on walls in Tawu County for the first time, he was considered a suspect and arrested.

And in 2000, when a monk with his namesake of Nyima Dragpa at Nyatso Monastery, a former political prisoner, was arrested, he too was taken in. (That other former political prisoner named Nyima Dagpa died in prison on 1 October 2003 under torture by the Chinese.)

On 19 April, a total of about 190 young monks of Tagtsang Lhamo Kirti Monastery in Dzoege County of Ngaba Prefecture, Sichuan Province, were driven to flee from their monastery, being unable to endure the extreme security measures being enforced there by the Chinese government.

On 19 April, two monks of Dingwa Sumdo Gon monastery in Dzoege County of Ngaba Prefecture, Gansu Province, were arrested by Chinese police. The families of the two monks as well as their clan community members rushed after them in an attempt to free them, but they could not catch up.

20 April On 20 April, cadres from the Chinese government again arrived at Lithang Gonchen monastery in Kardze Prefecture of Sichuan Province. They told the monks of Tsen-nyi Dratsang to hold in each of their hands a communist Chinese Red Flag with its five stars and get themselves photographed signing their names on a piece of paper. But the monks were spontaneous in their absolute rejection of the demand, according to reports.

On 20 April, the relevant Chinese government authorities summoned the monks of Woenpo Monastery in Sershul County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, to a meeting at Dzamey Qu (or sub-district). At the meeting, an announcement was made of a four-point education in patriotism requirements designed to fulfil the conditions of opposing separatism. Order was issued for the Communist Chinese Red Flag to be hoisted over the roof of the monastery’s prayer assembly hall, in addition to the announcement of

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other things as well. Reports said that when the monks, including the monastery’s discipline master, gave every indication of opposing the move, the authorities withdrew the flag hoisting order. A 70-year-old monk named Sonam Nyendak of Woenpo Monastery was reported to have become insane after having kept on muttering to himself, “I will not be able to endure this kind of hardship under the communist Chinese repression.”

From 15 to 20 April, a total of 39 people, both religiously robed and lay people, including 9 monks of the Nyingma monastery Thubten Yongdueling and 30 laypeople in Whelbhen Township in Machu County of Gansu Province were released after being ordered to pay fines totalling 295,000 yuan.

22 April On 22 April, the Chinese People’s Armed Police Force carried out a search operation in the shrine of the guardian deities of Rongwo Gonchen in Rebgong County of Malho Prefecture, Qinghai Province, took out from it the several items of bow and arrow and swords and the like, spread them out on the ground and took photos of them in order to make distorted use of them for propaganda purpose. From some families in the monastery’s neighbourhood, the Chinese seized some small items of explosives kept by them for use to ward of hailstorm and save their standing crops. The Chinese accused the Tibetans farmers of keeping them for the purpose of carrying out a violent campaign. Chinese officials were all along in full knowledge of the fact that in so many parts of Tibet, township governments had distributed such explosive items to their local farmers, instructing them to use them for the purpose of warding off dangers, such as from hailstorm, to their standing crops.

On 22 April, cadres from the relevant county office and others arrived at Chogri Township in Draggo County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, and continued the campaign of getting the Tibetan public there to sign their names on blank pieces of paper. From several years earlier, the Chinese authorities had been carrying out projects in Chogri whereby the Tibetans were made to grow grass and trees and were paid nominal amounts of compensation for their lost crops. Now the cadres were telling them to sign their names on the blank papers if they wanted to continue to receive that money. Some of the poor families in the area were previously being helped by concerned lamas and tulkus in the payment of the school fees of their children. Now, the Chinese were saying in their announcements that those who sign their names on the blank papers would get government help for the payment of the school fees of their children. As a result, it appeared that few people had given their signatures. However some Tibetans who had been subjected to such announcements had told the Chinese officials that they did not, at that moment, want to take the Chinese government money even though they were certainly poor.

On 22 April, a large number of posters were seen put up in Mi-nyag Lhagang area of Dartsedo (Chinese: Kangding) County in Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province. The main contents of the posters included calls for Tibet’s independence, demands that His Holiness the Dalai Lama should be invited to Tibet, and call for respect for Tibetan people’s freedom. The Chinese police were yet to find out who were the persons responsible for putting them up but were continuing their investigations, according to reports received.

On 22 April, officials of Tawu County in Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, were reported to be sub-

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jecting the Tibetan farmers of Mi-nyag Garthar to severe harassments on the pretext of advising them to resume their farming work. This was because the local people had launched a campaign of refusing to farm their land.

23 April At 1:00 PM on 23 April, Sonam Dekyi, a 30-year-old nun of Dragkar Nunnery, originally from Sershul County, in Kardze County of Sichuan Province, and Lhaga, a 32-year-old from Dzongpa, staged a protest rally at Kardze County market with shouting of slogans. They shouted that Tibet was an independent country, wished long life for His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and so on. They also had those slogans written on pieces of paper and threw them in the air like prayer flags as they kept running about while doing so and continuing to shout slogans. After some while, the Chinese People’s Armed Police Force arrested them.

24 April (This refers to events around 22 April.) The Chinese government had decided to deploy a force of 3,000 soldiers at Shelkar in Dhingri County of Shigatse Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region. Already over the past few days, a regiment each was stationed at Dragmar and in a nearby guest house. In addition, on 24 April, the yak herders of Choelung Gon in Dhingri County were given the task of transporting goods meant for the confirmed stationing of a regiment of Chinese troops on top of the Sharkhumbu Ghangla mountain. In other developments, at the beginning of April, Chinese soldiers stationed at Dragmar had arrested five Tibetan businessmen from a group of seven who were returning to Dhingri County through Sharkhumbu. The remaining two were arrested by police after arriving at their homes. Their families went in search of them, but did not find them anywhere within Dhingri County; they had simply disappeared. And no one knew why they were arrested.

On a date around 24 April, about 17 Tibetans were reported to have been taken away from Cha Township in Ngaba County of Sichuan Province and subjected to brutal beatings at the detention centre where they were held.

25 April On 25 April, three lay Tibetans were arrested in Whonpo Township of Sershul County in Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, for politically related alleged offences. They were named as Drugshul Yido, Markam Kedar, and Basug Kyab.

On 25 April, 20 Tibetans belonging to Ganden Choekhorling area in Phenpo Lhundup County in Lhasa City, who were among those arrested in March, were transferred to Lhasa. It was also reported that a nun belonging to the Shar Bumpa Gonpa nunnery from a Gerpa family in Chuja Jhangshar village of Phenpo Lhundup County had been brutally beaten by the Chinese during a protest demonstration in March and was now lying in hospital. She had recently been discharged from hospital but her condition worsened

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so considerably that she had to be taken to the county hospital where she was reported to be hanging between life and death.

26 April At about 8:00 AM on 26 April, former abbot Tashi Gyaltsen and current Umzey (religious chant leader) Samphel of Zakhog Gonsar Gon monastery in Dege County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, were arrested by the Chinese.

On 26 April, a Work Team of Chinese cadres arrived at the Bahda Samdup Ling Gonpa in Tsenda Township of Sershul County in Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, and strengthened an ongoing patriotism education there. Without offering any explanation of purpose or reason, they proceeded to collect signatures from the monks besides beginning to carry out other actions as well. Some monks could not bring themselves to sign their names as asked and so went out of the monastery. The monastery had a normal strength of more than 70 resident monks. Three monks of this monastery – Geleg Thabkhe, aged about 27; Geleg Dragpa, aged about 28; and Tenzin Phuntsog, aged about 17 – had been arrested from the protests in Lhasa in March. No one could find out where they had been taken.

On 26 April, three monks of Tagtsang Lhamo Kirti Monastery in Dzoege County of Ngaba Prefecture, Sichuan Province, were arrested. Of the 24 monks of this monastery arrested until then, only eight had been released. No one, whether from the monastery or the concerned families, could find out over the last two months what had happened to the remaining 17, including where they were being held.

On 26 April, the supervisory committee of Tshendrog Monastery in Meyma Township of Machu County in Kanlho Prefecture, Gansu Province, wrote petitions to the concerned government departments and leaders, asking that the sacred religious objects, such as the golden image of Choekyong Tha’og deity, plundered during the raid at the monastery by the Machu County Public Security Bureau and the People’s Armed Police Force on 18 April, be returned.

27 April On 27 April, religious tutor Lobsang Dhonyoe, Phurga, and Tanam of Zakhog Gonsar Gon monastery in Dege County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, were again arrested. (Phurga and Tanam were later released in the morning of 28 April.)

28 April On 28 April, 19 nuns, including those named as Tsondue and Dhangdrung, of Shugseb Nunnery and 4 monks of the nearby Ghangri Thoekar Monastery at Tselna Township in Chushur County of Lhasa city staged a peaceful protest demonstration near their nunnery and monastery, calling for Tibet’s independence. The Chinese county police arrested them all and took them to the Chushur County Detention centre where they were locked up.

The original cause of that incident dated back to sometime after 10 March (the exact date was not clear),

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when 19 nuns of Shugseb Nunnery took out a peaceful protest rally from their nunnery to Nyethang Lhachenpo. All were arrested by police. Following that development, all the other nuns at Shugseb set out from their nunnery, demanding that all the arrested nuns be release or else they will continue the protest, with the Chinese Work Team cadres at the nunnery being unable to stop them. When the protesting nuns reached below their nunnery, they were stopped by the Chinese People’s Armed Police Force. However, in addition to that, all the previously arrested nuns were released from the county detention centre on 15 March. Nevertheless, in the night of that day, some people, with their faces covered with black cloths and incapable of recognition even as regards their gender, beat up some of the Work Team cadres. However, it was nuns at the nunnery who were accused of having carried out the beating and so a security clampdown was begun there. However, at that time, the date for the nunnery’s annual retreat session arrived and this was begun, with the result that the patriotism education could not be strengthened at once. Nevertheless, at the beginning of April, annual Work Team cadres arrived at the nunnery and began a campaign of blaspheming His Holiness the Dalai Lama, subjecting the nuns to conservable amounts of harassment. This was the reason which compelled the nuns to stage the protest demonstration.

The nuns and monks arrested on that day were taken to the Chushur County detention centre. However, it was not possible to gather information about their treatment and situation there. At the monastery, the Chinese People’s Armed Police Force continued to maintain strong security controls. Shugseb Nunnery had, including already registered and not-yet-registered nuns, more than 300 residents. And Ghyangri Thoekar monastery usually had about 20 resident monks.

On 28 April, Chinese soldiers carried out a search operation at the village just below Whonpo Gon Ganden Do-ngag Shedrub Dhargyeling monastery in Sershul County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province.

As they did so, they proceeded to snatch and destroy portraits of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from the families’ altars. A woman named Tru’u Lhamo, with tears streaming from her eyes, shouted, “Gyalwa Rinpoche (ie, His Holiness the Dalai Lama) is our refuge for both this and future lives! He must immediately be invited to Tibet! May he live for ten thousand years! Give us the reason why we cannot display and offer prostration and worship to him! Why have you arrested the Adrel Lama Rinpoche as well as all the monks of our monastery?” Having shouted these on top her voice, she committed suicide by strangling herself with a rope.

Following a series of peaceful protest demonstrations by Tibetans in Dharlag County of Golog Prefecture in Qinghai Province, many were arrested by the Chinese Public Security Bureau and the Chinese People’s Armed Police Force. However, a section of Tibetan protesters had escaped arrest by running away and continued to remain at large. On 28 April, both police and Chinese People’s Armed Police Force reinforcements arrived and went after the escaped Tibetans in order to arrest them. The police shot dead on spot a man named Choetop, an about 27-year-old monk of Pangkhor Gon monastery in Poenkhor Toema Township in Dharlag County. In that sad incident, a policeman was also reported to have lost his life.

The monk’s mother, Wangdon, also receive two bullet wounds. A total of seven Tibetans, including four members of his Sangsang Leletsang family, were arrested in the incident.

29 April On 29 April, on the charges of taking part in the 3-14 incident in Lhasa, and, during it, carrying out crimes

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of arson, robbery, harassment and disturbance, assembling to assault state organs, preventing state personnel from carrying out their functions, theft and so on, the Intermediate Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Court of Lhasa City sentenced the following Tibetans as follows: Life sentences for 1) Pasang (religious name Ngawang Yignyen and a monk at a monastery in Dechen Township of Toelung Dechen County, Lhasa City), 2) Sonam Tsering, and 3) Tsering; More than 15-year jail term for seven Tibetans, including 1) Jigme, 2) Kelsang Bhagdro, 3) Karma Dawa, 4) Migmar, 5) Ngawang Choeyang, and 6) Bhagdro; And three- to 14-year jail terms for 1) Yargay, 2) Choephel Tashi, 3) Dorje Dhargay, 4) Ngawang, 5) Kelsang Tsering, 6) Migmar, 7) Sonam Tsering, 8) Kelsang Samten, 9) Tseten, 10)Phelsam Tashi, 11) Lhagpa Tsering senior, 12) Lobsang Tashi, 13) Lhagpa Tsering, 14) Tharchin, 15) Thubten Gyatso, 16) Tashi Gyatso, 17) Kelsang Dhondup, 18) Tenzin Gyaltsen, 19) Kelsang Nyima, and 20 Yeshe.

Most of the monks who received more than 15-year jail terms belonged to Toelung Dingkha Gon monastery. A section of the others were Tibetans who had taken part in protests at Phenpo Lhundup County.

Among those above who were sentenced, Yeshe belonged to Phenpo Lhundup County, Lhasa City. The 35-yeard-old was convicted on two counts of offences for his 12-year jail term: He had taken part in two demonstrations at two different places. Both took place after the 3-14 protests in Lhasa in which he was not directly involved. Besides, it was being stated that the law was applied differently between the city and the countryside, with those initiating protests in the latter getting heavier sentences. This was stated by a resident of Toelung Dechen who did not wish to be named.

On 29 April, Konchog, a monk of Sanglung Gon monastery in Zamthang Township of Ngaba County in Sichuan Province, staged a peaceful protest in front of the county Public Security Bureau office. He was arrested for his action.

30 April On 30 April, under a patriotism education being carried out at the Dza Gonsar Gon monastery in Dza Barma Township of Dege County of Kardze County, Sichuan Province, monks were coercively ordered to sign their names on a document which criticized alleged Tibetan separatism. But because the monks refused to comply, the monastery was kept fully surrounded by Chinese soldiers and very tight security measures imposed there.

Reports also said that China had, for sometime in the recent past, been bringing in large numbers of Chinese Muslim immigrants to areas in Tawu County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, such as Mi-nyag Garthar and Pamey. In the Mi-nyag Garthar area, Tibetan farmers were continuing their protest action against the Chinese government by refusing to cultivate their land.

On 30 April, 11 Tibetans in Ngulra Chikhog area of Machu County in Kanlho Prefecture, Gansu Province, were released after being made to pay a fine of 15,000 yuan each.

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April 2008, dates not clear On a Wednesday in the beginning of April, some monks were arrested from Ganden Monastery in Lhasa as well. The day before, on Tuesday, some monks had been arrested at Sera Monastery in Lhasa as well.

However, the reports did not give clear dates of both.

There have been many reports that since the peaceful protests in Lhasa, Chinese civilians ganged up to beat Tibetans in some of the Tibetan residential compounds, with numerous case of Chinese civilians apprehending Tibetans and handing them over to the Chinese authorities with information about their alleged crimes.

Since the beginning of April, China launched with great urgency and in rapid succession in all the prefectures of the so-called Tibet Autonomous Region a campaign called education in patriotism which was stated to be directed at “opposing separatism, safeguarding stability and promoting development”. The campaign was carried out at different levels for the party and government officials and workers in different offices; monks and nuns in their respective monasteries and nunneries; the ordinary farming and nomadic masses; students in the junior, middle and high schools; officials and workers at enterprises; retired officials, and so on. Each Tibetan was required to individually denigrate His Holiness the Dalai Lama, acknowledge that Tibet was part of China, and so on in a highly coercive atmosphere. This was psychologically devastating to the Tibetan people as it was entirely inconsistent with their mental bearing. It opened a new psychological wound in the minds of the Tibetan people.

On a date around 10 April, Lobsang Gyatso, the 45-year-old Gekoe (discipline master) of Kirti Gonpa in Ngaba County of Sichuan Province was taken into custody. And the Chinese had ordered him to give them the names of everyone who were, during the recent protest demonstration, the leaders, and those who had leaked secret information to the outside world, as well as people who had cared for the corpses of Tibetans killed in the violent crackdown. But the Gekoe told the Chinese that the entire responsibility was theirs since they were the ones who had caused the whole incident in the first place and that he and the monastery could not bear any part of that responsibility. The Chinese responded by arresting him.

About four days after that, many posters were seen put up over several days on open spaces in and about the monastery, as well as elsewhere, protesting against the Chinese government and saying a monastery must necessarily have its discipline master and that the monks had an unwavering determination to again stage an uprising unless he was released. The posters also said, among other things, to the Tibetan people that if they had Tibet in their minds, they should be on guard against being deceived and misled by others.

During the passionately driven protest at Phenpo Lhundup County, many Tibetans were arrested. A section of them were released after being rendered chronically ill. Besides, from the beginning of April, the Chinese began arresting nuns from the Shar Bumpa Nunnery. The nunnery originally had 60 resident nuns, but now only seven were left, with all the others having been arrested. The arrests were carried out not by the police but by the paramilitary People’s Armed Police Force. A nun named Tsering Lhathog, who had a weak hearing due to ear damage, was accused of showing dislike for what the Chinese authorities were doing and was brutally beaten by the People’s Armed Police Force personnel. As a result,

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she was left with a gaping wound on her head and other injuries. She was kept at the Jhangkha Township hospital without the appropriate course of treatment she was in dire need of. Besides, a large number of other religious and laypeople were beaten without any kind of restraint or limit on the level of brutality.

Because all detainees could not be contained in the county prison, many were detained in a hall. Likewise, at other monasteries such as Ganden Choekhor Gon, most of the monks were arrested.

At about the beginning of April, three monks of Meyshi Thangsar Gon monastery in Sangchu County of Kanlho Prefecture, Gansu Province, were arrested. Announcement was also made to explain how serious their crimes were.

At the beginning of April, Ms. Jamyang Kyi, a presenter at the Qinghai Provincial Television station, was arrested and initially detained at a hotel for several days. Reports said she was later jailed and also subjected to beating. Police conducted searches at her home and also went through her personal computer there. She is a well known singer as well as an advocate for women’s rights. She posts writings and notes on a blog she maintains on a Tibetan language web site.

At the beginning of April, Lhakpa, a resident at Acha Rusar Dewa in Mi-nyag Lhagang Township of Dartsedo County, Kardze Prefecture, made use of the arrival at his locality of a large number of Chinese army trucks to stage a defiant protest. Displaying a Tibetan national flag, he shouted, “Invite His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet!” “Tibet is a fully independent country!” and other slogans. A few Tibetans who happened to be at the place extended their support to him. Afterwards he was arrested.

Reports said that at the beginning of April, a large number of posters were seen put up in a section of Gyalthang County of Dechen Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan Province, saying, Bhoemi kyidug nyam-nyong (roughly meaning, ‘The Tibetans are a community of one people through times good and bad.’)

Several days before 9 April, four or five Tibetan youths staged a peaceful protest demonstration with shouting of slogans at Ruthog County in Ngari Prefecture of Tibet Autonomous Region. Police took them into custody and detained them at Sengge Township, the prefectural government headquarters. They were later said to have been released, although dates and other details could not be found out.

From the beginning of April, each (Tibetan) home in Lhasa city was visited by two or so police personnel who made a roll call of all the residents. In the case of those who had left the city for work and other purposes, they took from the concerned families the telephone numbers, addresses and other contact details at the places where they were visiting. Fresh listing was done of those who were currently present in the city. And there were continuous reports that Tibetans who were in Lhasa on pilgrimage or business purposes from other parts of Tibet were being sent back through the police of their hometowns.

Following peaceful protests across the three traditional provinces of Tibet this time in March, indiscriminate arrests were made of Tibetans across the land. In particular, former political prisoners were invariably arrested and kept in detention irrespective of any question about their involvement in any crime.

Monks Tenzin and Lobsang Choedhar, also known as Konchog, of Kirti Monastery in Ngaba County of Sichuan Province, were former political prisoners. Both were arrested after being injured during the violent Chinese crackdown on the Tibetan protest in the area and were now said to be subjected to especially

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severe torture.

Jamyang Tsultrim, a nun of Mama Nunnery and originally from A-jong village in lower Ngaba (Ngamey) Township of Ngaba County, Sichuan Province, was ordered in prison to trample on a portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. But because she refused, they beat her with great severity.

A son of the Tsongduetsang family in Lower Ngaba was injured (during the violent Chinese crackdown on a Tibetan protest in the area) and had to be taken to a hospital in Barkham County of Ngaba Prefecture.

Reports said both he and the person who accompanied him to look after him had disappeared.

(This refers to an event before 9 April.) Monks of Wara Monastery in Jomda County of Chamdo Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, showed a strong disliking to a Chinese government announcement saying that a patriotism education campaign had been planned to be launched at the monastery. The local Tibetans of Wara also made it clear that if the Chinese authorities continued to harass the monks of their Monastery, there was no way for them to remain silent spectators. And so the situation at Wara Monastery and surrounding area continued to remain very tense.

For the purpose of carrying out the so-called patriotism education at the monastery, more than ten Chinese cadres of Tibetan nationality from the local Thangphug Township in Jomda County arrived at the monastery and, in consultation with the monastery’s so-called Democratic Management Committee, called the monks to a couple or so of meetings. However, during those meetings, the monks showed a strong disliking for the campaign and on 5 April many of them walked out of the monastery. From 8 April, Chinese soldiers posted themselves inconspicuously around the monastery to carry out surveillance against the monks, trying to find out who they were making contacts with. Presently, the monastery is left with only about 50 monks and they are being subjected to the patriotism education campaign. They are being compelled to criticize and denounce His Holiness the Dalai Lama. However, the monastery’s tutorial head and others have made it clear to the Chinese officials that they could never accept a campaign designed to blaspheme or denounce His Holiness the Dalai Lama even at the cost of their lives. The report said the monks continued to be adamant in sticking to this position.

(This refers to an event sometime before 19 April.) In order to be able to carry out indiscriminate arrest of Tibetans, the Chinese government was reported to be co-opting prostitutes, as well as offering monetary rewards. On the one hand, the Chinese authorities are indiscriminately arresting entirely innocent Tibetans and then releasing some of them after collecting monetary fines from them. On the other hand, the authorities of the Tibet Autonomous Region Higher People’s Court, the regional People’s Procuracy Department, the regional Public Security Bureau and so on have announced a list of wanted Tibetans with promises of a reward of 20,000 yuan per head to anyone providing information on their whereabouts.

Besides, although not seen in writing, announcements had been made to present a reward of 5,000 yuan to anyone who would provide information about any Tibetan injured as a result of having taken part in a demonstration in any part of Tibet, 20,000 yuan to anyone who would provide information on anyone who had sent out by phone to India and other parts of the outside world information about what was going on in Tibet, 100,000 yuan to anyone who were the ring leaders of any of the recent protests. In that way, the Chinese government planned to arrest as many Tibetans as it could.

Reports also said that in Mangra County of Tsolho Prefecture in Qinghai Province, as well as at other

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places, Chinese prostitutes were being used to gather information about people who had taken part in the recent protests so that they could then be arrested.

At the beginning of April, the Chinese authorities carried out a door-to-door search of Tibetan homes at Yushu County in Qinghai Province and confiscated satellite TV receivers they found at few homes. Notices were put up saying indiscriminately watching foreign news channels was banned and that only news channels of the Chinese government were permitted to be watched. The Tibetans were thus especially banned from accessing news from the outside world.

Sometime after 20 April, as the relevant Chinese government department carried out the hoisting of the communist Chinese Red Flag at Namtso Monastery in Me’u Ruma Township in Ngaba County of Sichuan Province, a monk tried to stop it. He was said to have been severely beaten by the Chinese police.

Likewise, it was reported that many of the Tibetans, both religious and laypeople, arrested from Ngaba County over a period of time, were being held in detention in a prison at a place called Tujiangyan, located near the provincial capital Chengdu city. It was also stated that many of the detainees there had broken limbs and other damaged body parts and had no adequate medical facility.

Around 21 April, four Tibetans, including one named Atag, belonging to Dingwa Dochog Dewa in Dzoege County of Ngaba Prefectures, Sichuan Province, were arrested by police and taken to the county seat of the government.

In April, an education campaign called “opposing the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government in exile” was carried out at the monasteries of Zaru Gon Tashi Phuntsogling, Loge Gonpa, Chagrong Gonpa, Dzoeru Gonpa, and Kyangchey Drenpa Gonpa in Dzoege County of Ngaba Prefecture, Sichuan Province.

However, a section for monks made it clear that rather than denouncing His Holiness the Dalai Lama, they would opt for the last possible choice of death, and made other similar remarks, according to reports received.

At the beginning of April, a Tibetan named Yeshe was arrested by the Chinese police from a border area of Kardze County. Reports suggested that he was likely the same Yeshe who on 26 March got into a fight with the local Party secretary because the latter had misbehaved with his more than 60-year-old mother named Tsanglo after she publicly opposed a Chinese campaign to denounce the Dalai Lama at Chogri Getse Township in Draggo County of Sichuan Province. Yeshe had to flee the township after the fight.

A Tibetan belonging to Jomda County in Chamdo Prefecture of Tibet Autonomous Region who was released at the beginning of April and who did not wish his name to be revealed, said: “Two Tibetans who took part in the 14 March protests in Lhasa told me that they were first taken to the Gutsa Detention Centre in the city after their arrest. Thereafter, they were transferred in a truck meant for transporting prisoners to a place which was extremely cold. There was not enough to eat or drink for the Tibetan detainees taken there while all sorts of persecutions were carried out against them with the result that some of the detainees drank their own urine. They also said that they personally witnessed some of the detainees die from starvation. They have pleaded for this information to be given without fail to the Tibetan government (in exile) and people in the outside world. I have heard that these two Tibetans still remain chronically ill.”

(This event refers to a period before 24 April.) Ever since they staged a protest against the Chinese gov-

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ernment, the people and the monastery of Draggo County in Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, had remained under tight security clampdown. Signatures were sought to be collected from the public to denounce His Holiness the Dalai Lama, with the camaping for it being started with the farmers and nomads.

And at that time, a young man named Tashi Sangpo belonging to a place called Ghephen Likhogma in Draggo County gave a sound dressing down on those collecting the signatures. The Chinese authorities later accused him of having subverted the campaign and so subjected him to all manners of persecution, including brutal beating. As a result, he was so badly injured as to be unable even to talk and had to be taken to hospital. Still, the authorities have accused the youth of having earlier taken part in the peaceful protest at Draggo County and so have placed him under detention.

(This event refers to a period before 24 April.) A Work Team of Chinese cadres arrived at Zhiwa Gonpa, a branch of Zhiwa Lhathim Gonpa in Ralung Township of Nyarong County in Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, and sought to know the names of the ring leaders of the protest which had taken place the day before. They also said the Red Flag of communist China should be hoisted on top of the monastery’s building and gave an order to entrust that task to three senior monks there. However, the three monks rejected the order. The general body of monks was also unanimous in protesting against the flag hoisting move. And because there was no one who could be pointed out as being guilty of having encouraged or led the peaceful protest that had taken place earlier, the Chinese authorities did not yet have anyone to arrest at that time. Thus, while there was no report of any arrest as such till then, the monastery was besieged by a force of more than 200 Chinese soldiers who carried out a security clampdown there as before.

Earlier, on 14 March, nuns of Ngang-gong Tsun-gon nunnery in Chogri Town of Tehor Township in Draggo County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, had led a protest demonstration, with the result that a number of nuns were arrested. Among them, seven nuns and one layperson were sentenced to jail terms ranging from three to seven years in secret trials on and around 29 April.

The following four nuns were each given a jail sentence of seven years: 1) Nun Khando Lhamo of Ngang-gong nunnery, originally from Dragchu Township 2) Nun Wamo of Ngang-gong nunnery, originally Kharsar Township 3) Nun Dolma Yangtsho of Ngang-gong nunnery, originally from Saya Township 4) Nun Choedon of Ngang-gong nunnery, originally from Sog-gon Township And the following nuns and one layperson were each given a three-year jail term: 1) Nun Yebug of Ngang-gong nunnery, originally from Dhilyul Township 2) Nun Sonam Choedon, 28 years old, of Ngang-gong nunnery, originally from Tsogo Township 3) Nun Deyang of Ngang-gong nunnery, originally from Tsogo Township 4) Kalsang Dorjee, a layperson belonging to Tehor Township In the month of April, the relevant authorities from the Chinese government issued in highly threatening manners orders to the Nyingma Monastery of Mindoeling and the Sakya monastery of Drayangden located at Mi-nyag Drapa Wado Township in Nyagchu County in Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, telling the monk there to fly the communist Chinese Red Flag and sign a document to condemn His Holiness the Dalai Lama for allegedly opposing the Olympic torch relay through Tibet and for instigating protests in Tibet. However, responsible leaders of these monasteries refused to carry out these orders.

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Reports said that as a result of it, the Chinese police took into custody Lamas Akhu Ako of Mindoeling Monastery and Tulku Thubten of Drayangden Monastery to Nyagchu County where they were put under detention and subjected to interrogations.

At the beginning of April, the Chinese authorities planned to hold a patriotism education campaign at Jhakhyung Gonpa in Palung (or Bayan) County of Tshoshar Prefecture in Qinghai Province, after they came to suspect that its monks were planning to stage a protest demonstration. But as they proceeded to start the campaign, most of the monks fled their monastery, with the result that only a little over ten monks remained. Presently, a large number of Chinese soldiers have arrived at the monastery and are carrying out a security clampdown there.

On 23 March, the Chinese authorities had arrested about 185 people from the area and monastery of Tashi Choekhorling in Chone County of Kanlho Prefecture, Gansu Province. For around 20 days, they were subjected to all manners of ill-treatment, including torture and brutal beating, without any kind of restrictions on the level of brutality. Finally, in April, most of them were released after being made to pay fines ranging from 4,000 yuan to 20,000 yuan per detainee. Some continued to remain in detention and were to be tried.

In the month of April, Konbe Kyagrub and Tsondue, both belonging to the Ngulra Chikhog area in Machu County of Kanlho Prefecture, Gansu Province, were released from jail after being made to pay fines of 10,000 yuan each. And Kyablo of Thumey Runag was made to pay a fine of 15,000 yuan for his release.

About 13 Tibetans had been arrested and put under detention after both the religious and laypeople of Bharzhi Township in Chigdril County of Golog Prefecture, Qinghai Province, staged a protest demonstration in April. They were eventually released after being made to pay fines ranging from 2,000 yuan or 3,000 yuan per detainee.

In April, the Chinese government launched a severe security clampdown in townships across Bathang County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province. In keeping with this, government official, police, intelligence agents, and others also arrived at all the places throughout Dzongtsa Township and carried strict investigations. In particular, the people at the Rinpog Village were issued an order, saying any Tibetan who had come back from India should at once report to the Dzongtsa Township office and register themselves, and get themselves photographed there.

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Protests and related events in May 2008

1 May After leaflets containing slogans written in both Tibetan and Chinese languages, calling for Tibet’s independence, were seen strung on strings, like lungta prayer flags, over a distance of two kilometres from near Samtenling Nunnery (also known as Watak Tsun-gon) in Sibmo Township of Draggo County in Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, in the night of 1 or 2 May 2008, the Chinese authorities summoned to the county seat the responsible officials of the nunnery and interrogated them. Afterwards, a Work Team of Chinese cadres arrived at the nunnery to hold patriotism education meetings for the nuns. And during the meeting, the nuns refused to submit to the Work Team cadres’ demands and, as a result, they staged a walk-out one after another until no one remained for them to educate. This nunnery normally had more than 200 resident nuns.

After concerned officials from Nagchu Prefecture and Nagchu County arrived at Nagchu Zhabten Gonpa at Nagchu Township and said the about 11 stupas of different sizes standing in the back of the monastery’s Tsechu shrine and elsewhere should be uprooted and relocated by use of earthmoving heavy machinery as they did not look attractive to tourists, work was carried out between 1 and 8 May. The stupas were in the process of being dug up with a view to load them into trucks and moved to the site of a crematorium located on the side of a hill called Nagchu Gyabri Dharcha Lhamo. Those stupas had stood at their original locations since being built there long in the past, were damaged during the Cultural Revolution and were among structures renovated afterwards. The Chinese government officials had explained that the sites from which the stupas were ordered to be removed should be converted into a park and so on. No consideration was given on any question whether the local Tibetans, both religious and laypeople, were agreeable to the move, and to the likelihood of the stupas crumbling or becoming damaged during the relocation exercise. As the plan was in the process of being carried out, the local people were reported to be in a state of intense sadness. The bigger of them were Dudul stupas (designed to subdue demons) while the other were Jangchub and Namgyal stupas.

On 1 May, nine monks of Ganden Choephel Ling, but popularly referred to as Kangtsey Gonchen, located in Kangtsa County of Tsojang Prefecture, Qinghai Province, set out on a peaceful protest demonstration from near the door of the monastery’ shop in the county market, distributing or putting up posters containing a set of five demands and shouting slogans. They were stopped by the police.

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2 May On 2 May, two boys and two girls who were students of the Draggo County Middle School in Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, staged a protest demonstration at the county for some 15 minutes. They shouted slogans in both Tibetan and Chinese languages, saying, “Tibet is an independent county; Gyalwa Tenzin Gyatso should be invited back to Tibet and enthroned!”

3 May It was reported that on 3 May, Gendun Paljor and Dorje Dragpa, both monks of Sanglung Gonpa in Dzamthang County of Ngaba Prefecture, Sichuan Province, went to the county Public Security Bureau office to plead for the release of monk Konchog who had been arrested on an earlier occasion. Both were arrested and severely beaten. The event’s origin dated back to 29 April when Konchog, a monk at Sanglung Gonpa at Nada Township staged a protest with shouting of slogans in front of the county Public Security Bureau office. He was arrested by the police. The reports did not say what slogans were shouted during the protest demonstration.

On 3 May, three Tibetans, including former political prisoners Lobsang Dawa, a monk of Ganden Monastery in Lhasa who had earlier spent 10 years in jail, were released from Chushar Prison in Chushur County of Lhasa City after completing their jail terms. The reports said they were directly handed over to their concerned county authorities to be taken to their families. Lobsang Dawa was among those who had been arrested in 1996 during a patriotism education campaign at Ganden Monastery.

4 May On 4 May, officials of the religious affairs office and police of Kangtsa County in Tsojang Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, arrived at Kangtsa Gonchen and took away to the county headquarters those who had taken part in a peaceful protest demonstration in the area sometime ago. They were intimidated and interrogated, with some of them being beaten also.

Around 9:00 AM on 4 May, seven Chinese policemen suddenly barged into the home of the Akar Tashi family at Lhathog Yuchu Township in Chamdo County, Tibet Autonomous Region. But as they prepared to arrest him, Akar Tashi argued with them, saying he had no reason to want to go with them. The police then surrounded him in a move to take him away by force, but he kept resisting, thwarting their attempts to get hold of him. Reports said that the situation turned tragic when the police executed him by shooting him down on the spot. Akar Tashi was 38-39 years old. He was previously under Chinese government suspicion in connection with politically related matters. In addition, they suspected him of being involved in the recent peaceful protests in Lhasa and for that reason had come to arrest him.

5 May In the morning of 4 May, a Work Team of more than 30 Chinese government officials drawn from Sangchu

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County and other places made a sudden appearance at Bora Gonpa in Kanlho Prefecture of Gansu Province and ordered the monastery’s prayer leader (Umzey), discipline master (Gekoe) and the general body of monks to a meeting. At the meeting, they declared a decree, ordering the monastery as well as the township in which it was situated to begin worshipping Dholgyal (a controversial spirit among Tibetan Buddhists).

6 May Beginning from around 6-7 May, a section of Tibetans arrested for taking part in protest demonstrations in Maldrogungkar County, Phenpo Lhundup County, Tagtse County and other counties in the neighbourhood of Lhasa city were suddenly released en masse. In the case of Phenpo Lhundup County especially, where more than 500 Tibetans had been arrested, about 300 had already been released. They included about 35 nuns of the Shar Bumpa Nunnery alone, all of them having already been released in this month in one go. In one instance especially in the Phenpo Lhundup area, a section of detainees were released in the night of May 18, with reports saying they were even transported to their homes from Lhasa. Reports suggested that there would be continuous release of more detainees. However, a section of the released detainees were reported to suffer from a range of injuries. In particular, an old woman named Kunga, aged around 60, belonging to Maldrogungkar County, had suffered from all kinds of ill-treatment during detention and on account of that died about three days after her release.

7 May On 7 May, the Public Security Bureau of Kardze Prefecture announced an order titled Arrest Order No. 01 (2008). The order was a direction to the county units of the Public Security Bureaus, the branch Public Security Bureaus, the police stations at the Township and village levels, and others. It said that since March 2008, an extremely small minority of nationality splittists had, with a view to disrupt the country’s stability in the Tibetan areas, continuously carried out a series of criminal conspiracies, organizing activities, plots, and so on. The order claimed that following investigations, it was found that 36 people, including one named Tsering Neymey, were suspected of having committed the crimes. It added that those 36 people were still on the run. The order required the concerned police authorities and offices to at once set out to implement it so as to be able to carry out the arrest of the alleged criminal suspects in a timely manner. It required the alleged criminal suspects to be detained as soon as they were seen. Those who inform the higher authorities on the whereabouts of the alleged criminal suspects, and officers and private citizens who score accomplishment by arrest them were promised rewards of stated amounts and kinds.

The order also promised leniency according to law to alleged criminal suspects who may come forward to confess their crimes and surrender to the authorities on their own. The order carried at its bottom the telephone numbers of the Kardze Prefectural Public Security Bureau, Kardze County Public Security Bureau, Serta County Public Security Bureau, and Draggo County Public Security Bureau offices.

On 7 May, Lhatrug (Lhagpa Choezom), a nun at the Dragkar Nunnery in Sershulteng Township of Kardze County, Sichuan Province, and Peypey, a former nun at this nunnery, staged an afternoon protest demonstration at the Kardze county government seat, shouting, “Tibet is an independent country!” “May His Holiness the Dalai Lama live for ten thousand years!” and so on. Reports said the two were later arrested

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by police.

On 7 May, a large force of several thousand Chinese soldiers suddenly arrived at Labrang Monastery in Sangchu County of Kanlho Prefecture, Gansu Province, and carried out an emergency search operation.

In addition, said reports, some 149 monks were arrested.

At about 10:00 PM on 7 May, the Public Security Bureau of Lhasa city carried out a sudden arrest of Yangzom-la, a doctor at the Lhasa City People’s Hospital, and her husband, Shilog-la, from their home, according to reports at that time. Dr. Yangzom had worked at the Lhasa City People’s Hospital for a number of years. Although officially retired, she was continuing to lend her service at the hospital. Her husband Shilog-la too was retired and now working as a tailor on full time basis, living within the jurisdiction of the Kyirey Neighbourhood Watch Committee. The main, stated reason for Yangzom-la’s arrest was that during the protest demonstrations in Lhasa and in rural areas in its neighbourhood, she had given medical care to Tibetans who were injured in the violent Chinese crackdown. The reports said that Shilog-la was arrested on suspicion that he had communicated to alleged separatists abroad information about the protest incidents in Tibet in March. The reports were not clear about Yangzom-la’s field of specialization and neither was information forthcoming on what happened to both of them after their arrest.

8 May On 8 May, a large number of monks of Labrang Monastery in Sangchu County of Kanlho Prefecture, Gansu Province, staged a protest demonstration, demanding the release of the monks from the monastery who had been arrested on 7 May. In order that the protest demonstration may not grow bigger and spread wider, the Chinese government released all but 18 of the arrested monks. But the monks continued their protest, demanding that the remaining 18 monks should also be released. As a result, the Chinese had to release 11 more of the monks in the morning of May 9. However, the previously arrested monks had been subject to severe beatings. In particular, Monks Jigme and Thabkhe were reported to have been beaten with especially brutal severity.

9 May On 9 May, a 15-year-old boy named Sonam Gyalpo staged a protest at a four-way road junction in the Sog County market of Nagchu Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, shouting slogans such as “Tibet is an independent country!” and “May Gyalwa Tenzin Gyatso live for ten thousand years!” Reports said he was arrested by the Sog County police and taken to the Nagchu county detention centre. Likewise, following the appearance in Nagchu Township and Sog County areas in April of large numbers of posters calling for Tibet’s independence, Chogden Tsultrim, a 19-year-old monk of Sog Tsenden Monastery, was arrested from Nagchu Township. He was accused of having thrown around and distributed those posters and was currently reported to be held in the Sog County detention centre.

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11 May On 11 May, Soe Lhamo (Sonam Lhamo) of the Gyayul Ngotsatsang family and Dongrama Zurtsang Thubten Dolma, both nuns at Dragkar Nunnery in Kardze County of Sichuan Province, staged a peaceful protest demonstration at the Kardze County government seat area with shouting of slogans. Both were arrested and put under detention by the police.

12 May On 12 May, as the Chinese government was in the process of conducting a patriotism education at the Khenlung (Khenpa Lung) Gonpa in Markham County of Chamdo Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, the monks were ordered to, among other things, recognize that the person responsible for laying the evil plan for the widespread demonstrations which took place throughout the three traditional provinces of Tibet was His Holiness the Dalai Lama. But because the monks refused to toe the Chinese government line on this issue, County police and paramilitary People’s Armed Police Force personnel arrived at the monastery. They arrested 10 monks of Khenlung Gonpa, including one named lodoe.

In the afternoon of 12 May, 10 nuns of Dragkar Tsun-gon nunnery again staged a peaceful protest demonstration at the Kardze County government seat area, in Sichuan Province. The nuns were named as Tagah, Trinley, Sonam Yangzom, Tamdin Choekyi, Yangkyi, Lhamo Choekyi, Jampa Lhamo, Dekyi, Nyiga or Nguga, and Bhutse or Bhuzu. To express solidarity and empathy with them following their arrest by the county police, other nuns staged protest with wailings of sadness for them. As a result, two nuns – Yangkyi of Bhandegang Choegyaltsang and Taga of Labong Teng – though arrested, were released later on.

However, the other jailed nuns continued to remain in detention. Report also said nuns such as Taga were beaten with savage brutality.

13 May On 13 May, a Work Team of Chinese government cadres launched an education campaign called “love your nation, love your religion” at Woeser Gonpa in Markham County of Chamdo Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region. Because the monks refused to accept the Chinese government’s demands made under the education campaign, they arrested six monks, including one named Tenzin Tshangpa. Reports said that the Chinese hooded the monks’ heads with black cloth pieces as they took them away.

On 13 May, Lobsang Choegyen, aged 18; Palden Tsultrim; Losang Tenzin, aged 20; and Kel Thubten (ie, Kelsang Thubten), aged 17, all monks of Kardze Monastery in Kardze County of Sichuan Province, staged a protest demonstration at the county government seat area. They were all arrested. They were reported to have distributed a large number of documents during the protest. Further information, including on what happened to them after their arrest, could not be obtained.

At the Kardze Monastery and at an old airfield (turned out to be the airfield called Marathang) nearby in Kardze County of Sichuan Province, a video filming was being carried out in an action undertaken by the Chinese government. The filming depicted an evening scene with all the actors being soldiers belonging

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to an exclusively Chinese performance troupe. It showed Tibetans staging a protest demonstration and hitting Chinese soldiers in some form of retaliation with the idea to present them as violent in various ways. And the Chinese soldiers were depicted as responding to the Tibetan people’s violent actions. The filming was being carried out every evening. It was being suggested that the Chinese government’s possible plan behind the exercise was to eventually use the film as a propaganda tool by trying to make the outside world believe that the Chinese paramilitary People’s Armed Police Force and others had only acted in self-defence against violent Tibetan protesters. Although shooting had been going on over several days, it was still continuing on 13 May and other days.

On 13 May, Choeying Gyatso, a monk of Thoesam Dratsang at the Rongwo Gonchen in Rebgong County in Malho Prefecture, Qinghai Province, originally from Tsekhog County in the same prefecture, visited the county people’s procuracy to file an appeal. He told the people’s procuracy that after his room at his monastery was searched and he himself was arrested on 17 April, an amount of 23,000 yuan had gone missing. He appealed to the people’s procuracy to investigate the loss and help recover the amount. He further said that since it was the County Public Security Bureau which carried out the search of his room after the protest incident had occurred, they should know who might have been responsible for the loss and that the county police must take full responsibility for it. Monk Choeying Gyatso had been arrested on 17 April and released in the morning of 19 April. When he arrived at his monastery room that morning, he found only the empty red coloured cloth purse lying on his bed, with all the money he had kept in it gone.

14 May At about 9:00 AM on 14 May, Dorje Khando, Lhagdon and Pema Lhamo, all nuns of Ganden Choeling Nunnery in Kardze County, Sichuan Province, went to the place where the county government headquarters were situated and staged a protest demonstration there with shouting of slogans. Initially, led by the nuns of this nunnery, a fairly large number of Tibetan people had set out to stage a protest demonstration at the county government offices. However, they were stopped by a force of about 300 police and paramilitary People’s Armed Police Force when they arrived at a bridge near the county government offices.

Nevertheless, the above three nuns had somehow managed to slip through the forces and continue to the county government offices where they staged a protest. After their arrest, the Chinese police and paramilitary People’s Armed Police Force sought to make an example of them by subjecting them to savage beatings in front of the public. Reports said blood gushed out of these nuns during the beatings. Reports further said that when a boy named Serga (Soega) wailed out at the severe public beating of the nuns, he too was arrested. Further reports after the nuns and other were stopped at the bridge near the county government seat could not be obtained.

At about 4:00 PM on 14 May, four nuns of Ganden Choeling Nunnery in Kardze County of Sichuan Province, namely 1) Yeshe Choetso, (Yiga), aged 36; 2) Gyalga Lhamo, aged 54; 3) Deyang, aged 31; and Choetso, aged 25, staged a protest demonstration with shouting slogans at the Kardze County government seat. And they were all arrested.

Reports said that on 14 May, a monk in Serta County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, got several thousand photocopies of the Tibetan national flag made and then distributed or put up a large number

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of them while staging a protest demonstration with shouting of slogans. The reports said the monk’s name was Bumga, that he was originally from Gonjo County of Chamdo Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, and that he was 22 years old. However, it was not clear which monastery he belonged to. It was being stated after his arrest that he was a resident at the Serta Larung Ngarig Nangten Lobling. Nevertheless, reports said the monk had not accepted that as true. Reports also said that reinforcement troops had been sent to Serta County in Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province.

At around 5:00 PM on 14 May, 52 nuns of Bhuram (Pangri) Na Nunnery, located at Se-ngo Township in Kardze County of Sichuan Province were arrested after more than 60 of its nuns had staged a peaceful protest demonstration with shouting of slogans at the county government seat. During the course of the arrest, the nuns were brutally beaten by the police and the paramilitary People’s Armed Police Force personnel in the middle of the county market area. The nunnery usually had more than 80 resident nuns but was now left with only about 16. Those nuns had gone to perform religious services or for other purposes outside the nunnery that day. There was no information on the whereabouts of those who had already been arrested. However, after the protest demonstration, relevant officials from the township government arrived at the nunnery to carry out a campaign of education in patriotism. But the nuns rejected the campaign and the official were left with no other option than to leave the nunnery.

On 14 May, three Tibetans belonging to Ngulra Chikhog Township in Machu County of Kanlho Prefecture, Gansu Province, were released from detention after being made to pay a fine of 15,000 yuan each.

15 May On 15 May, a 15-year-old boy named Dorje Tashi belonging to Se-ngo Township in Kardze County of Sichuan Province staged a lone protest demonstration with shouting of slogans at the county government seat area. Reports said he was arrested by police as soon as he began shouting slogans.

On 15 May, a prayer service for those who had died or got injured and so on as a result of the recent devastating earthquake in China was held at the Kirti Monastery in Ngaba county of Sichuan Province with permission from the concerned authorities of the Chinese government. Monetary donations were given by the government, the monastery, the monks and the public. An appeal letter was received (in India), asking governments, organizations and others across the world to provide as much care and help as possible for those who had died or got injured during the devastating earthquake, and requesting prayers services for them by the different religious bodies of the world to the greatest possible extent. Here (in India), the letter was posted online through various websites by the concerned persons and offices in Tibetan, English and Chinese languages.

On 15 May, seven monks of Ngulra Gon in Machu County of Gansu Province were released after being made to pay fines of 15,000 yuan each, accused of having been main perpetrators of criminal actions.

16 May In the night of 15 May, the Red Flag of communist China was taken down at Khekor Township in Serta

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County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, and three Tibetan national flags were seen put up there.

Because of that, Chinese officials and soldiers arrived on 16 May and told the local Tibetans that it was an extremely serious matter that such an action had been carried out even when the nation was still suffering from a devastating natural calamity and vowed never to let off those responsible for it.

17 May On 17 May, Thubten, Lunglung Sonam, Yeshe Jigme, Choephel, Bhumo Cho-nga, Pema Yangchen, and another girl staged a protest demonstration and were forthwith arrested by the paramilitary People’s Armed Police Force, according to a report received.

18 May At about 4:00 AM on 18 May, the head lama, Tulku Phurbu Tsering, otherwise known as Lobsang Tenzin Yeshe Trinley, of Bhuramna Nunnery at Tehor Township in Kardze County of Sichuan Province was arrested by the Chinese. Also arrested was the nunnery’s deputy administrative leader, nun Khando. Tulku Phurbu Tsering was not only the head lama looking after the two nunneries of Bhuramna and Yarteng, but had also newly set up a home for the elderly as part of his social service for the benefit of the local Tibetan people. Besides, he had set up two medical clinics. Although he was a highly inspiring figure to the entire local population, the Chinese police carried out his arrest without any clear reason for it, bringing much grievance to them.

On 18 May, a layman named Jampa Dorje and another person were also arrested from near Bhuramna Nunnery in Kardze County. No further information could be obtained about the incident.

At about 10:00 AM on 18 May, Jampa Dorje, Palden Trinley, Kunga Trinley, Tsewog and Jamyang Tsering, all monks of Kardze Monastery at Kardze County in Sichuan Province, staged a protest demonstration with shouting of slogans in the county government seat area. It was reported that they were arrested by the People’s Armed Police Force afterwards.

In the night of 18 May, two Chinese police motor vehicle suddenly arrived at the home of a 49-year-old Tibetan man named Lobsang Dorje at Rongtsa Puemo Wugdrong village in Kardze County of Sichuan Province. They arrested and forcibly took him away. His wife’s name is Yangtso, aged about 45.

19 May One report said that on 19 May, two Tibetan laymen, Dorje Gyaltsen and Tashi Wangyal, both belonging to Tharmey Township in Kardze County of Sichuan Province staged a protest demonstration in the county government seat area. Both were arrested by the People’s Armed Police Force.

On 19 May, during the carrying out of a patriotism education campaign at the Shelkar Choede monastery in Dhingri County of Shigatse Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, the monastery’s monks rejected the demands of the Chinese government officials responsible for it. As a result, the county police at

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once arrested 12 monks, including the monastery’s Democratic Management Committee member monk Khyenrab Tharchin. In addition, the authorities closed the monastery to visiting worshippers and, at the same time, banned the monks from going out of it. All mobile phones were confiscated and giving to the outside world any information about what was happening at the monastery was banned. Living rooms of the monks were also searched. Among the arrested monks, four were being held in detention at the Dhingri county detention centre. Reports said eight other arrested monks had been taken away to the Shigatse Prefectural government seat area. In a related development, the monastery’s Democratic Management Committee member Lobsang Jinpa was accused of having taken part in the protests in Lhasa in March simply because he happened to be in the city at the time and so placed under custodial detention.

Although eventually released in the beginning of May, he was again arrested when the Shelkar Choede monastery protest took place, with the authorities accusing him of being insidiously involved with the monks.

20 May At around 9:00 AM on 20 May, nuns Achoe, Soe Choekyi, and Taga of Nya-gye Nunnery at Tehor Dhargey area in Kardze County of Sichuan Province staged a protest demonstration with shouting of slogans in the Kardze County government headquarters area. These nuns had set out from their nunnery at about 01:00 AM in a peace march and in order to stage a protest demonstration on reaching the Kardze County government seat area. However, as soon as they shouted slogans in the county seat area, troops from the Chinese People’s Armed Police Force arrested them. In another development, at around noon, monks Loyang and Tenzin Ngodup of Tsitshang Gon monastery in Kardze County staged a protest demonstration at the county government seat area. They were instantly arrested by the county police.

Since about two weeks ago, Tibetan passenger transport service providers in Tawu County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan province, had stopped their services as a means to protest and express solidarity with the Tibetans who had suffered due to the violent Chinese suppression of their peaceful protests. So, around 20 May, the concerned Chinese government authorities announced that those who would resume their passenger transport services would be given concessions in terms of road tax. They were also promised substantial monetary rewards if they gave their signatures. But the Tibetans became suspicious about the likely contents of the document they were being asked to sign and so continued their service stoppage and protest movement.

One report said that at around 12:00 noon on about 20 May, a Tibetan girl who had come from a village outside Lhasa city and who was dressed in the traditional Tibetan chuba and wore a scarf on her head was shot dead by a Chinese People’s Armed Police Force personnel by use of a gun affixed with silencer and that the incident took place near about the Shingra gate of the Tsuglakhang temple. The girl was reported to have come to the Tsuglakhang because she needed to see a relative who was inside the temple. She was said to be arguing with a People’s Armed Police Force personnel in order to be able to enter the temple but was suddenly shot dead from behind by another personnel by using a gun attached with silencer. According to a person who personally witnessed the incident, blood was streaming out of the girl’s chest as she fell to the ground. Later on, her body had been taken away by the personnel of the People’s Armed Police Force.

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So many troops of the People’s Armed Police Force had been deployed in Lhasa from outside Tibet.

These troops were extremely hostile toward the Tibetan people, very rude in speaking to them and refused to listen to anything the Tibetans may have to say by way of explanations. They beat the Tibetan people even when there was a slight delay on the latter’s part in responding to orders to produce their personal IDs. Experiences like these have been recounted by so many Tibetans.

Some people said that the girl was from Lhoka Prefecture and had come to the Tsuglakhang to see a brother. But no clear information could be obtained.

22 May On 22 May, a monk named Ogyen Tashi, aged 18 years old and belonging to Tsitshang Gonpa in Kardze County of Sichuan Province staged a protest demonstration with shouting of slogans at the county government seat area, carrying a large portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. One report said he was immediately arrested by the county police.

At about 6:00 PM on 22 May, Tenga, a nun from Nyima Geysey Nunnery, and Rinchen, Jamga Dolma and Pema from Jamatsang Nunnery, both in Kardze County of Sichuan Province, staged a protest demonstration in the county government seat area, shouting slogans such as ‘May His Holiness live for ten thousand years!” “We want freedom in Tibet!” and “Release at once all political prisoners being held by the Chinese government!” They were also reported to have thrown leaflets in the air. One report said Chinese police and People’s Armed Police Force personnel rushed to the spot and arrested the nuns.

23 May On 23 May, Jampa Lhamo and Rigzin Wangdon, two nuns of Hardu Tsun-gon at Dhargye in Kardze County of Sichuan Province staged a protest demonstration in the county government seat area, shouting slogans such as “May His Holiness the Dalai Lama live for ten thousand years!” “Invite His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet!” and “We want freedom in Tibet!” A report said people from the county police and the People’s Armed Police Force subjected the nuns to brutal beating in the course of arresting them.

In the night of 23 May, monks Lobsang Dorje, and Kunga of Kirti Monastery in Ngaba County of Sichuan Province were arrested by the Chinese. One report said they were arrested because they had rejected the Chinese demands made in the course of the conduct of a patriotism education campaign at the monastery.

24 May On 24 May, Paltsel Kyab (Zhikalo), aged 58 and belonging to Nagtsangma in Ngaba Cha Township in Sichuan Province died in the Ngaba county detention centre after being subjected to brutal beatings. He was arrested by Chinese police around 24 April on the charge of being involved in a protest which took place at Ngaba County in March. As his body was being taken to Kirti Monastery where a prayer service

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was being held for him, the authorities not only prevented it from being taken in but also ordered that it be not kept even within visual range of the monks carrying out the prayer service in the monastery.

On 24 May, Zungkyab, a resident of Tse-shul Dewa in Khenleb Township of Serta County in Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, who had got injured after the violent Chinese crackdown on a Tibetan protest at Nyichu area of the county on 20 March was arrested by the county police from Nyitoe area.

Likewise, Rangdol, belonging to Tseshul Dewa, was arrested, accused of being guilty of having put up the Tibetan national flags on the Khekor Township office buildings in the night of 15 May. Elsewhere, the about 30-year-old wife of Drugpo, resident of Shoethel Dewa, was also arrested by the county police. It was being said that the Chinese government had recently issued a circular, saying all Tibetans in Ngaba and Kardze prefectures of Sichuan Province desirous of joining the police force should be recruited. On the other hand, it was also reported that a Tibetan named Droepa, who was the deputy head of the Serta County Public Security Bureau, had been demoted and was currently posted as an ordinary official at Horshul Township.

One report suggested that on 24 May, a Saturday, there was a shouting of slogans calling for Tibet’s independence in the Tromsikhang area of Lhasa. The incident was reported to have taken place in the following manner. In the afternoon of that day, three male Tibetan youths asked a section of Tibetan shopkeepers who had opened their shops at Tromsikhang, “Don’t you have tsampa to eat? Even though we the Tibetan people live in immense suffering, you have put your merchandize on display.” There was some exchange between the two sides, after which the youngsters had even shouted “Tibet is an independent country”.

As they did so, police, paramilitary People’s Armed Police Force personnel, and others, both uniformed and in civilians dresses, who happened to be near around converged on them and a fistfight took place between the two sides. When that happened, all other people who happened to be in the area scampered away. The fighting continued and afterwards explosions were heard, although it was not clear whether these were due to firing of guns or setting off of explosive devices. Immediately after that, all shops in the neighbourhood of the Bharkor square area were closed and the People’s Armed Police Force personnel became more strict in monitory the movements of people in and out of the area.

26 May

On 26 May, three monks of Ramoche Temple in Lhasa, namely Bhuchung, Damdul, and another monk whose birthplace was Maldro, were again arrested by the concerned area authorities. They were among the large number of Ramoche Temple monks who were earlier, on 7 April, arrested en masse. However, at that time, all the arrested monks, except about 5, were released after 17 days. After that, attempts were made to arrest the above three monks on about two occasions. However, each time, other monks of Ramoche protested strongly, with the result that the authorities, fearing the worsening of the situation, considered the circumstances not appropriate to forcibly carry out the arrest. A report said that the main reason for the sudden arrest now of the three monks was stated to be that they had engaged in telephone conversations with people outside the country and were being criticized for it.

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27 May On 27 May, Lodoe Wangpo, otherwise known as Bhoe Zhide Gyatso, a monk of Ragoen monastery in Machu County of Gansu Province was released, but after being required to pay a huge monetary fine of 60,000 yuan. In addition, he was banned from travelling anywhere else but only within Machu County of Kanhlo Prefecture, Gansu Province, over the next three years. During detention he was kept locked in metallic cuffs by both his thumbs and wrists, and was subjected to intense interrogations and beatings without any kind of limit on he level of brutality. Following his arrest, the Zhide Gyatso School set up by him was closed down, and all its students merged with the students of the Machu County junior school.

His title as the deputy head of the school was also eliminated.

28 May At about 10:00 AM on 28 May, Rinchen (Ringden) Lhamo, a 21-year-old daughter of the Tapontsang family, set out on a protest rally from the Tagchu Bridge in Kardze County of Sichuan Province, carrying a Tibetan national flag and shouting slogans, which were also written on leaflets she kept throwing in the air as she proceeded forth. She shouted slogans such as “Tibet is an independent country!” “Invite His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet!” and “Chinese quit Tibet!” She was immediately arrested by the county police. One report said she was also subjected to beating by the police without any sense of restraint or limit on the level of brtuality. Local Tibetans who happened to be near about at the time of her arrest pleaded with the police to let her go, saying it was not proper to arrest her; but they refused. Sound of gun fire was also reported to have been heard from near the site of the arrest, but no information about anyone being hit by a bullet could be obtained.

At about 9:00 AM on 28 May, three nuns of Dragkar Tsun-gon nunnery in Kardze County of Sichuan Province – namely, Sangay Lhamo, Tsewang Khando and Yeshe Lhadon – staged a demonstration in the County government seat area. They also shouted a number of slogans, especially saying “May His Holiness the Dalai Lama live for ten thousand years!” and “Invite His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet!”

They were arrested by the county police at that time.

In the afternoon of 28 May, three monks of Nhubsur Gonpa in Serta County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province – namely, Tulku Gendun, Sazhi, and Yhangchug or Wangchug – staged a protest demonstration with shouting of slogans, saying His Holiness the Dalai Lama must come to Tibet and numerous other things. They also distributed and threw around leaflets containing the slogans. A large number of Chinese soldiers set upon them and arrested them. As they proceeded to take them away by force after subjecting them to a very severe round of beating, they again shouted slogans. Later in the evening, Chinese soldiers and police arrived at the monastery and searched through the rooms of the above three monks. They took away from them pictures of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and a large number of documentary materials.

And they then demolished the residential rooms of the monks, taking away the wooden materials from it to Serta County. Also, a decree was announced, saying that from now on, any monk or nun who stage protests would never be allowed to return and remain at their respective monasteries or nunneries.

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30 May On 30 May, a report emerged saying that Alag Khaso Rinpoche of Rongwo Gonchen monastery in Rebgong County of Malho Prefecture, Qinghai Province, was in serious condition and had been taken to a hospital in Xining city. The eminent Rinpoche earlier needed to be taken to a hospital in Xining city after he was beaten with great brutality during his arrest by the Chinese People’s Armed Police Force personnel from the site of a protest demonstration in the county by the monks of Rongwo Gonchen and the lay Tibetan people on 17 April. At this moment, although his broken leg had healed well, his lungs were damaged and he was said to keep coughing uncontrollably. His eyesight was also reported to be poor and neither was he able to hear well. The report said he had to continue to remain in hospital for treatment as his conditions were very serious. Seven monks of Rebgong Rongwo Gonchen monastery had still not been released. At the monastery, a Work Team of Chinese government officials was continuing to carry on a patriotism education campaign. Reports said the monks were continuing to defy the team’s demands under the education campaign and there was every possibility of a new protest taking place again.

31 May A report said that at about 12:00 noon on 31 May, a girl had again staged a lone protest demonstration at the county government seat area of Kardze County, Sichuan Province, with shouting of slogans, saying “Tibet is an independent country!” It said her name was Jampa Dekyi, that she was the 20-year-old daughter of the Jokhang Nangga Gontsang family, and that she belonged to Thingga Township. Police and People’s Armed Police Force personnel at once came to arrest her. During arrest, they hit her on the head with the result that she was reported to be bleeding profusely from it.

May 2008, dates not clear A report stated that at about the beginning of May 2008, two Tibetan research scholars at the Lanzhou Northwest Nationalities University in Gansu Province, Kathub Tsering and Dolma, were deprived of their university status for having allegedly taken part in a peaceful protest demonstration on an earlier occasion. Kathub Tsering was reported to be from Kanlho Prefecture and Dolma from Ngaba.

According to another report received, Tibetologists sent by the Chinese government were presently visiting higher educational institutions throughout Xian City. They were reported to be intensely publicizing a Chinese scripted history of Tibet and about alleged crimes of the Dalai Lama-led separatists and that no one was being allowed to ask any question or hold discussion on what these so-called experts were saying.

It was reported that Tibetan monks and nuns studying or engaged in other preoccupations in Chinese cities were being forced to dress as laypeople when going out as otherwise they were being taunted and even beaten for being activists for Tibetan independence.

Tibetan performing artist Dabey of Golog Prefecture in Qinghai Province who was arrested on 31 March was reported to have now been released, but after having been imposed a fine of 10,000 yuan. Female

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singer Dolma Kyi, who had also been arrested with her, was still kept in jail. The ordinary people of the area are reported to say she was likely to be given a jail term of several years because she was being criticized for having allowed or made her Nangma singers to sing in praise of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Under Chinese criminal law, police have to inform the family of a person about her arrest if he or she had been in detention for 37 days. However, her family had received no such notice. Dolma Kyi has three children and an elderly mother at her home.

There were reports that during the devastating earthquake in Sichuan Province in May, an old prison in Lunggu (Chinese: Wenchuan) County of Ngaba Prefecture had collapsed. Because of that, Kirti Monastery asked the relevant local government authorities where the monks from various monasteries arrested during recent protest demonstrations had been held. And they were told that the monks were being held in Zungchu (Chinese: Songpan) County prison within the same prefecture. However, when the families of some of the arrested monks went to Zungchu County to enquire about them, they were turned back by the relevant county government authorities who told them that they did not have them in their custody.

Ultimately, there was no knowing where the monks were being held in detention.

At about the beginning of May, Lobsang Jamyang, a 32-year-old monk of Dongkhu at Kirti Monastery, was given a jail sentence of one year and nine months; Soruma monk Drugdra, aged 42, was jailed for one year and four months; and Rebgong Yershong Gon monk Jamyang Choephel, aged 21 years old, was given a jail sentence of one year and three months. However, nothing was clear about the sentencing authorities or the place where they were sentenced.

A report said that with not a single monk remaining in it, the Sey Gonpa in Ngaba County had become totally empty. Earlier, monks of Sey Monastery too had taken part in a demonstration by religious and laypeople alike which took place at Ngaba County on 16 March. Following it, officials from the relevant local government body had come to the monastery, banned the monks from assembling together for any kind of purpose or from travelling, thus turning the religious centre into an effective prison to them. As a result, all the monks eventually left the monastery, leaving it empty.

The Tagtsang Lhamo Kirti Monastery in Dzoege County of Ngaba Prefecture, Sichuan Province, was being severely criticised in the local government-run newspapers and so on for being the initiator of the protest demonstration which had taken place in March at the Ngaba Prefectural government seat area.

A campaign of education in patriotism was launched at the monastery and about 190 of its monks were identified as being among the main leaders of the protest demonstration. The remaining monks were told that they were allowed to take part in prayer assembly services and so on. However, these monks told the cadres of the Chinese Work Team that the monastic community was a community of shared well being in times good and bad and hence rejected the concession. As a result, they refused to hold any kind of prayer service assembly and other kinds of religious gathering.

During the violent repression of the peaceful Tibetan protest demonstrations in Lhasa on 14 March, the Chinese forces had fired their guns indiscriminately. A woman named Sonam had received a bullet injury to her neck on the road by the Ramoche Temple in the evening of that day. She did not die and was hospitalized at the Tibetan medical centre (Mentsikhang). However, after being bed-ridden there for three days, the Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Armed Police Force arrested her, along with most of the other Tibetans who had also received bullet injuries. She was subjected to numerous interrogations and finally release at the end of

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May. However, even as she was hit by a bullet injury, her daughter Choe-la (a graduate from China whose full name was not available) had already been arrested from the same place by the Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Armed Police Force. She was brutally beaten without any kind of limit and finally released at the end of May, after being in detention for more than two months. She was said to be in extremely fragile physical conditions as a result of those savage beatings. Both the mother and daughter were Lhasa born.

At the beginning of May, the area police arrested monk Dragpa of Gyutoe Dratsang at Labrang Tashi Khyil Monastery in Sangchu County of Kanhlo Prefecture, Gansu Province. He was accused of being one of the several monks who in April had sought to explain to a group of foreign journalists the real situation in Tibet during its government-organized visit to the monastery. Afterwards, it was impossible to find out where he was being held in detention.

On 18 March, religious and laypeople of Gyitsang and Mheygya areas, including monks of Thangsar Gonpa in Meyshul Township of Sangchu County, Gansu Province, had staged a protest demonstration.

Afterwards, the Chinese authorities arrested some 23 monks, accusing them of having taken part in the protest, while releasing most of the detainees. However, fines were imposed on a section of the released detainees. In addition, monks of Tsangsar Gonpa were accused of being the main people involved in the protest demonstration and in the destruction of township government properties during the incident.

Relevant officials had hence told the monastery that each of its monks must pay a fine of 2,000 yuan to the township government. It was not clear whether the monks actually had to pay those fines. Both the monastery and the surrounding township continued to remain under tight security clampdown by the Chinese army. As a result, the monastery was reported to be unable to perform even its daily ritual prayer service called Sangdue Duendrub. It was reported that the monastery normally had a strength of about 110 resident monks.

From the beginning of May, a section of the monks of Ganden Choekhor Gon and nuns of Shar Bumpa as well as from other places who had been kept under detention for having taken part in the two continuous days of protest demonstrations in March in Phenpo area of Lhasa City were released. However, the relevant local government authorities tried to prevent those released monks and nuns from rejoining their respective monasteries and nunneries. However, because of strong shows of resolute protest against such action by both the local population and the monks and nuns of the concerned monasteries and nunneries, the authorities were forced to relent. However, they then planned to intensify the patriotism education campaign that was being carried out at the monasteries and the nunneries.

Sometime in May, an about 42-year-old man named Namlang, belonging to Dzongshol Township in Phenpo Lhundup County, Lhasa City, was lying in the county hospital as a result of severe beating he received in the violent Chinese crackdown on the peaceful protest in the county in March. So severe was his injuries that medical treatment did not help and he died. He had a wife and two children, aged eight and 15, as well as an 82-year-old granny at home. A report also said that a man belonging to Phenpo Lopa Toe and another man from Phenpo Ding were also so severely injured during the violent Chinese crackdown on the peaceful demonstration in Phenpo that there was no hope for them to survive.

Rigdag, Menkyab and Ghosoe were among the people notified in a wanted list issued by the relevant authorities for having escaped arrest after having taken part in a peaceful protest demonstration at Phuggu Township in Serta County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, on 18 March. Around 16 May, in

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order to save family members, relatives and friends, as well as public-spirited fellow-Tibetans who had helped them from being harmed and harassed, they decided to surrender to the authorities by availing their promise of leniency. However, when they visited the office of the Kardze Prefectural Public Security Bureau, they were at once arrested and put under detention, entirely ignoring their promise of leniency.

They had since disappeared completely, with their families not being able to obtain any information about them.

In May, Tri Dhondup, a 25-year-old song writer belonging to a place near Dragkar Ghangri in Trika (Chinese: Guide) County of Tsolho Prefecture, Qinghai Province, suddenly died in a hospital in China.

He used provide in all possible ways he could humanitarian assistance to benefit his people and their religious and political causes, giving help to poor college and university-going students, orphans, the physically disabled, and the destitute elderly, as well as supporting educated Tibetans. He was the author of a songbook titled Khujug Ngonmoi Drinlu (Melody of the Blue Cuckoo Bird). All his family, relatives, friends and associates have great doubts about the cause of his death.

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Protests and related events in June 2008

1 June

From 1 June onwards, monks continued to leave Kirti Monastery in Ngaba County of Sichuan Province, unable to remain there due to Chinese harassment and restrictions, with the result that there was a real danger of it becoming empty eventually. Since peaceful protest demonstrations took place across the three traditional provinces of Tibet in March, troops of the Chinese People’s Armed Police Force imposed security clampdown at most of the monasteries there. At Kirti Monastery too, the People’s Armed Police Force not only imposed tight security measures, they also carried out arrests of monks, searches of the monks’ residences and other kinds of clampdown measures. The patriotism education being carried out at the monastery was gradually strengthened and since 20 March, the monks were divided into eight groups for the purpose of carrying out a more effective patriotism education campaign. Each monk was being sought to be coerced to sign a document which denounced the Tibetan government and people in exile in general terms and especially His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The patriotism education campaign measures also called for the hoisting of the Red Flag of communist China on the monastery’s rooftop as an indication of loyalty to the communist ruled China. However, because the monks were opposed to all these actions, and were in no mood to submit to them, none of them attended the patriotism education campaign meetings since 1 June.

Since 1 June, there was a sudden rise in the number of Chinese People’s Armed Police Force troops being deployed in Lhasa city. In addition, counties adjoining Lhasa city strengthened security controls on the Tibetan people in those areas and imposed a blanket ban on them from travelling to the city. The main reason for the increased force deployment and the strengthening of security measures was that on 24 May, when some Tibetans began to open their shops and roadside stalls, many other Tibetans made clear their disapproval of it. Following this development, a large number of posters appeared in a part of Lhasa city, but mainly in the Bharkor area, advising the Tibetan people not to open their shops and stalls or visit the temples because China as going to make improper propaganda use of them to misrepresent the real situation in the city to the outside world. In adddition, on both 1 and 2 June, when some Tibetans made a manifest show of disapproval over the reopening of stalls by some Tibetans in the Bharkor area, the relevant Chinese authorities feared that there might be a recurrence of large-scale protests in the city and so strengthened security measures. Unlike what was only normal in the past, there was, in recent days, a

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new sense of reluctance on the part of the Tibetan people in Lhasa city to visit temples and monasteries, or undertake circumambulation prayer walks. Many Tibetans preferred to stay at home, emphatically commenting that visiting temples and monasteries and undertaking circumambulation prayer walks under the highly intimidating gaze of the Chinese people’s Armed Police Force troops was extremely disconcerting.

2 June From the afternoon of 2 June to around noon the next day, all the monks of Kirti Monastery in Ngaba County of Sichuan Province, except a handful of septuagenarians, fled the monastery to escape from the lurking threats from the Chinese authorities. As a result, the monastery came under real danger of becoming totally empty.

On 2 June, a special unit of the Chinese People’s Armed Police Force arrived at the Kirti Monastery at Gyalrong Tsodun in Barkham County of Ngaba Prefecture, Sichuan Province, and installed in its compound the Red Flag of communist China. However, later in the evening, the monks secretly destroyed the flag. As a result, the monastery had now been kept under siege by Chinese troops, with no one being let in or out of it. Reinforcement People’s Armed Police Force troops had been sent there and it was being explained to the monks that destroying the spot for raising the Red Flag of communist China was a serious criminal conduct. The situation at the monastery was reported to be serious with the troops carrying out an investigation to find out those who were responsible for destroying the flag.

3 June On 3 June, a Tibetan national flag was put over a stone sculpture of a drong (wild yak) placed in a courtyard shopping centre called Chuglung Tashithang in Luchu County of Kanlho Prefecture, Gansu Province. In addition, leaflets demanding independence for Tibet and Sino-Tibetan negotiations were also put up and distributed.

5 June On 5 June, a group of male Tibetan youngsters staged a protest demonstration with display of Tibetan national flags at Draggo County in Sichuan Province, riding on motorbikes. There was no further information about that protest and those involved in it.

On 5 June, China’s official Xinhua news agency said in a report posted on its website that following persistent investigations, the Public Security Bureau of Tibet Autonomous Region was able solve three cases of bomb explosions which had occurred in Chamdo prefecture of Tibet Autonomous Region, leading to the arrest of a total of 16 criminal suspects. The report said that a total of around 10 monks, including monks Choephel and Tenphel of Woeser Monastery in Markham County, and monks Tashi Tsering, Tenpa Gyatso and Jampel Dhondup of Khenpalung Monastery in Kathog area of Markham County, had, over a period of 3 to 15 April 2008, carried out explosions at the Markham County Electric power transformer unit, residential houses, and so on. They were also accused, at the same time, of having tried

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to go to an oil depot, carrying with them homemade explosive devices. The report said that altogether 16 monks were arrested for involvement in those incidents. The Chinese government also claimed that all the monks had confessed to their involvement in the alleged criminal actions. However, the Chinese government said absolutely nothing about the consequences of those alleged explosions and no evidence whatsoever of the alleged explosions

6 June In the morning of 6 June, three monks – Tsewang Dagpa from Jangda in Draggo County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province; Thubten Gyatso from Tawu County in Kardze Prefecture, and Jhangsem Nyima from Zatoe County in Yushu Prefecture, Qinghai Province – were arrested by the Chinese People’s Armed Police Force as they staged a protest demonstration at the Draggo County government seat area with display of Tibetan national flag and distribution of large number of leaflets. These three monks staged their protest not together but one after another in an apparent attempt to prolong it. One monk started a lone protest with shouting of slogans. After he got arrested, a second monk emerged to continue the protest and so on until all three got arrested. The monks had staged their protest by dressing themselves in laypeople’s clothing and distributed two kinds of leaflets. One contained an appeal on ways for the Tibetan people to resist the Chinese repression and the other contained slogans on the current situation in Tibet. During arrest, these monks were beaten with great brutality and monk Tsewang Dragpa was seen as being unlikely to survive.

8 June At about 9:00 AM on 8 June, a nun named Tsering Tso of Kyaratsang belonging to Samtenling (Watag) Nunnery staged a protest demonstration at the county government seat area of Draggo County in Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province. She shouted slogans calling for, among other things, His Holiness the Dalai Lama to be invited to Tibet and enthroned. She also distributed leaflets. The Chinese People’s Armed Police Force beat her severely in the course of arresting her during the protest action.

Following this development, at about 5:00 PM that day, the entire body of nuns of Samtenling Nunnery set out toward Draggo County to stage a protest demonstration there. However, when they reached Gochey Thang ground, located just before the Draggo County government seat area, they were stopped by the Chinese People’s Armed Police Force. Kyaratsang nun Ogyen Lhamo and others were beaten with great severity during the course of their arrest. As a result, some of the nuns suffered such serious injuries that they had to remain in the county hospital to undergo continued medical treatment.

A section of nuns were reported to have been taken to Chengdu (capital of Sichuan Province) ostensibly for purposes of medical treatment.

A nun named Ghuru, belonging to Zhida Township, was beaten on her head with a metallic rod and, with both her arms tied to her back, pushed and pulled into a motor vehicle. She was later pushed out of the motor vehicle, apparently upon reaching the place of detention, with the result that she fell on her head on the concrete floor. For this and other reasons, she had to be taken to the Draggo County hospital where

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no treatment could be given to her and she died.

There was a report saying that later that evening, the local Tibetan people staged a protest demonstration, demanding the release of the detained nuns and shouting other slogans as well. However, no information could be gathered as to whether any and if so how many nuns were released that day.

On 8 June, the Public Security Bureaus of Dzoege County in Ngaba Prefecture in Sichuan Province and Themchen County in Tsonub Prefecture in Qinghai Province carried out a joint operation to arrest a section of members of the Motor Transport Corporation at Thewo Drugkar Tsangpo in Themchen County of Tsonub Prefecture. They claimed to the arrested Tibetans that they had found evidence of incitement by the “Dalai clique” in a list of demands they had made in a petition submitted by them in the past. So saying, they were subjected to intense interrogations and brutal beating. As a result, people like Thewo Lhamo Kyab were seriously injured while others were also left with all sorts of difficult problems.

9 June On 9 June or thereabouts, it was learnt that a section of monks of Dechen Sang-ngag Gonpa in Dechen Township of Tagtse County, Lhasa city, who were arrested in March could not be found in any of the prisons and detention centres in Lhasa and that they had simply disappeared. The detainees included monk Thardoe and a brother of his, monk Choedhar, monk Lhundup, monk Sonam Tashi, monk Chungdak, and layman Dawa Zangpo. They were among the large number of religious and laypeople arrested after taking part in demonstrations in Tagtse County on 14 and 15 March. Despite all efforts to locate them in all the prisons and detention centres throughout out Lhasa, the detainees from those protests could not be found.

On 9 June, monks Jamga Phuntsog, aged 18; Jampa Dorje, aged 18; Yeshe Dorje, aged 32, and others belonging to Kharnang Monastery in Kardze County of Sichuan Province staged a protest demonstration at the county government seat area, carrying a Tibetan national flag, distributing or throwing in the air a large number of leaflets, and shouting slogans. The county police beat them with utmost severity as they arrested them all.

On about 9 June, a woman named Yangchen Khando of Padrong in Kardze County, Sichuan Province, was arrested by police on allegation that she had sent information abroad.

On the same day, Ngawang Lhundup and Kel Nyima, both monks of Kardze Monastery, too were beaten with unrestrained severity by the People’s Armed Police Force as they arrested them while staging a peaceful protest demonstration in the county government seat area.

10 June On 10 June two or so monks were arrested after they staged a protest demonstration at the Kardze County seat area. In addition, the county police arrested a Tibetan woman, accusing her of having communicated

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with people abroad by telephone. Further details could not be obtained.

On 10 June, as the authorities sent in reinforcements of soldiers and Work Team cadres to Drepung Monastery in Lhasa city with a view of intensify an ongoing education in patriotism campaign there, the monks staged a protest. The reason for the protest was that on 11-12 April and on some other dates, many monks had been arrested from the monastery and their whereabouts were still unknown despite efforts to locate them. On 10 June, it was learnt that none of the person in a prepared list, including one named Phuntsog Nyingpo, originally from Toelung Dechen County, and his friends, could be found in any of the prisons and detention centres in and around Lhasa – they had simply disappeared.

11 June At about 11:00 AM on 11 June, Namsey Lhamo, a woman aged 30 years old, a layman named Tenzin Dhargey, aged 32, and a monk – all belonging to Rakha Village in Dado Township of Kardze County –staged a protest demonstration at the County government seat area. They shouted slogans saying His Holiness the Dalai Lama must be immediately invited to Tibet, Tibetans wanted freedom, all political prisoners should be released, Chinese should leave Tibet, and so on. After shouting the slogans, the Chinese People’s Armed Police Force arrived on the scene and beat them with unrestrained fury while arresting them. A sibling of Namsey Lhamo had tried to prevent her from being arrested. As a result of that and other reasons, the People’s Armed Police Force later arrived at their home to arrest him. However, he had managed to flee just in time and now could not return home.

On 11 June, a young man named Palden Wangyal, aged 20, staged a protest demonstration at the Kardze County seat area, carrying with him a Tibetan national flag. The Chinese People’s Armed Police Force at once arrested him.

At about 2:00 PM on 11 June, Lobsang, a 20-year-old youth belonging to his birthplace of Chogri in Draggo County in Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, and his 30-year-old brother Dorje, belonging to Tsagleg Township in the same county, distributed leaflets as well as shouted slogans at the county government seat area, saying, “Tibet belongs to Tibetans!” “Invite His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet!” and so on. The Chinese People’s Armed Police Force clamped down on them with brutal force. They arrested the two brothers even though both were seriously injured and Dorje was, in fact, down with bullet injury on one of his legs.

Following the detention on 11 June of four more of its monks, it had now become impossible for any monk of Sey Monastery in Ngaba County of Sichuan Province, to keep remaining there, save in the case of those who were elderly. What was more saddening was that even the Samten Khangzang meditation chamber at the monastery whose cushions had never been known to have lost their warmth since 1986 was now cold and deserted with all the monks on retreat being gone due to the current tragic development. As a result, the sadness of all the monks, young and old, was immeasurable. In particular, Tulku Kunzang Shenphen Rinpoche, the head of Se monastery and the current holder of its unbroken hereditary lineage, passed away because of sadness over the current tragic situation. Because of such and related developments, the current Chinese brutality has been especially tragic to Sey Monastery.

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13 June According to information received around 13 June, three dra-gyun monks (usually refers to young monks who had come from far away to spend time in one of the great monasteries in Central Tibet, including Lhasa, as part of a long tradition of such visits) who were among those arrested on 10 March from Drepung Monastery had disappeared. Although they were yet to gain enrolment as registered monks at the monastery, they lived and studied there like fulltime students. These monks – named as Pema Tsering, Pema and Samten –had come from their birthplace of Dingkha Village in Chusang Township, Toelung Dechen County. Their families and relative visited all the prisons and detention centres in and around Lhasa city to try to locate them but failed. They had simply disappeared.

In another development, a 45-year old monk named Lobsang Wangchug, born in Lhasa city, was part of a group of about 90 monks of Drepung monastery who were arrested en masse in the middle of April.

In yet another development, Tashi, born in Lhoka and an old-aged-ordained monk at Drepung Monastery at Lhasa and his son Phuntsog Tsewang, also a monk of Drepung Monastery, were arrested from the monastery by the Chinese People’s Armed Police Force on 13 June. Both disappeared after their arrest, with no one being able to find them despite their best efforts.

On 13 June, a layman named Tsewang Rigzin belonging to Chizhar Village of Barzing Township in Tawu County of Sichuan Province and a man from Pangna area of Tawu County were arrested by the county police, accused of having taken part in protest in the county and of having taken pictures of the protest.

No further details could be obtained about that incident.

14 June On 14 June, a monk named Yeshe Palden, belonging to Khangmar Gon Geden Samdupling monastery in Kardze County of Sichuan Province staged a protest demonstration in front of the county Public Security Bureau. He shouted slogans such as “May His Holiness the Dalai Lama live for ten thousand years!” “His Holiness the Dalai Lama should come to Tibet!” “Release all Tibetan political prisoners!” The Chinese police cracked down on him with the use of metallic rods and subjected him to severe, uncontrolled beatings in the course of arresting him. He was 27 years old at that time.

On 14 June, a man named Jampa Tashi, aged 24, belonging to Tsangkha Township in Kardze County of Sichuan Province staged a protest demonstration with shouting of slogans at the county government seat area. A report said he was arrested by the Chinese People’s Armed Police Force.

15 June At 10:00 AM on 15 June, Sonam Wangyal, aged 31; Dorjee Lorig, aged 23, and Rinchen Dhondup, age 24, all belonging to Rakha village in Dado township of Kardze County, Sichuan Province, having vowed to be of one mind, went near the gate of the county Public Security Bureau. Holding a portrait of His Ho-

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liness the Dalai Lama over their heads and throwing in the air many leaflets, they shouted slogans. They said, “Our root precious gems are the duo of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Rinpoche! But His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been exiled and the Panchen Rinpoche remains imprisoned! Invite His Holiness the Dalai Lama back to Tibet! Release the Panchen Rinpoche and all other political prisoners!

Tibet demands independence! Chinese, leave Tibet!” The county police and the Chinese People’s Armed Police Force soon appeared and they beat them with unrestrained brutality in the course of arresting them.

And no one knew where they were taken. The three were all relatives, but not siblings.

On 15 June, a Tibetan again staged a lone protest demonstration with shouting of slogans at the Kardze County government seat area. However, there was no information as to whether the protester was a religious or lay person and so on.

On 15 June, monks Tenzin and Tenzin Gyatso of Tashi Choekhorling Gon at Choepel Zhing (part of Dokhong Township) in Chone County of Kanlho Prefecture, Gansu Province, were given jail sentences of 15 and 13 years respectively. Monk Tenzin was accused of being one of the ringleaders of a protest demonstration in March while monk Tenzin Gyatso was accused of being the person who pulled down the communist Chinese Red Flag from the Dokhog county school and replaced it with a Tibetan national flag. A report said other monks, namely legshey, Tenzin, Woeser Thaye, and Jinpa Gyatso, as well as five laypeople presently under arrest and held at Chone County jail were seen as likely to be tried as soon as possible. It was not clear which court sentenced the above two monks. Another report said a section of the Tibetans arrested from the above place on 17 March were released after being made to pay a monetary fine of 200 yuan each.

On 15 June, the Intermediate People’s Court of Kanlho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture sentenced three Tibetan belonging to Machu County to jail sentences. 1) Lama Kyab, aged 19, belonging to the Dolkyabtsang family in Nurma Ghongma (or Upper Ghongma) was jailed for 15 years; 2) Khechog, aged 36, belonging to Rongchogtsang family was jailed for 13 years, and 3) Konchog, aged 16 (his age was falsely entered at the time of his trial as 20) from Nurma Zhoelma was jailed for 12 years.

The above three persons were among those arrested on 16 April by the county Public Security Bureau for alleged involvement in the protest which took place at Machu County in March this year (2008).

16 June On 15 June, Bhu Khepa, Trinley Dorje, Rinchen Dorje and Bhu Gonpo belonging to Guda Nyagdrog nomadic Unit No. 1, which was part of Tehor Ngagyur Khedrub Norsangling (Mi-nyag Gon) Gonpa in Dado Township, staged a protest demonstration at the Draggo County government seat area of Sichuan Province. They shouted slogans saying “Tibet is a fully independent country!” “May His Holiness the Dalai Lama live for ten thousand years!” They also scattered leaflets all around and then escaped into the nearby mountain. As a result, the relevant forces of the Chinese government could not arrest them at that time.

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17 June On about 17 June, the people’s government of Tibet Autonomous Region sent an internal circular among its offices, requiring that for several days since 20 June, all officials must report for work and that no one was permitted to take any leave of absence. However, the circular, which was already sent out, did not mention any reason for the order.

In the morning of 17 June, Sengdog Lhamo, aged 31; Soetrug Lhamo, aged 35, and Yelu, aged 34, all belonging to Yarteng Tsun-gon nunnery in Kardze County of Sichuan Province, staged a protest demonstration at the county market area. As soon as they began shouting slogans, Chinese police arrived and subjected the nuns to an extremely cruel barrage of beatings while arresting them.

18 June On, 18 June, Tashi Tso, aged 26, and Dhungtso, aged not yet 20, both belonging to Gema Dragwog Tsungon nunnery in Kardze County of Sichuan Province staged a protest demonstration at the county government seat area. But as soon as they started shouting slogans, they were arrested by the police with severe beating. The Gema Drag nunnery normally had a little over 120 resident nuns. In April, two nuns from this nunnery were arrested on suspicion of being involved in some protest action. It was also reported that several days earlier, the telephone connections of some Tibetan families at Kardze County were cut.

Still another report said that nuns from nunneries in Kardze county who had been arrested by the Chinese forces had already been taken to the prefectural seat area of Dartsedo (Chinese: Kangding).

At about 11:00 AM on 18 June, Ngawang Phuntsog, 32-year-old son of Bulshar Ngangpa Tagtsang at Kardze County, staged a protest demonstration in front of the Kardze county Public Security Bureau.

Holding above his head a portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and throwing leaflets all around, he shouted slogans, saying the Chinese authorities dare not blaspheme His Holiness the Dalai Lama, that Tibetans wanted human rights, that His Holiness the Dalai Lama should be invited to Tibet, and so on.

As he kept shouting on top of his voice, the Chinese People’s Armed Police Force beat him with great severity as they arrested him.

About an hour after that, Yangzom, aged 31; Poewang (Pemo), aged 27, and Lhamo, aged 29, all belonging to Yarteng Tsun-gon nunnery staged a protest demonstration with shouting of slogans. Shouting on top of their voices, they demanded that the Chinese authorities release the head of Bhuramna and Yarteng nunneries, Lobsang Tenzin Yeshe Trinley Rinpoche, also known as Bhuramna Rinpoche. But as in the above case, they were brutally beaten by the Chinese People’s Armed Police Force while arresting them.

By that time, about four out of the total of more than 50 nuns of Bhuramna nunnery arrested on 14 May had been released. The remaining nuns were reported to be kept in continuous detention in a prison in the Dartsedo area of Sichuan Province.

On 18 June, Lobsang Geleg, the umzey (prayer leader) of Beri Monastery in Kardze County of Sichuan Province, Thang-nye, former prayer leaders (usur) of Beri, and Lobsang Palden, a monk at the same monastery, staged a protest demonstration in the Kardze county government seat area. As they were being arrested by the police, Palden Yeshe, a 27-year-old Beri layman belonging to the Nyenda Township, also

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shouted slogans. He too was arrested.

At about 5:00 PM on 18 June, Kardze County was hit by a severe thunderstorm. Undaunted by it, a 25year-old woman named Khando staged a peaceful protest demonstration. A report said the public security Bureau beat her with utmost cruelty while arresting her.

On 18 June, a 32-year-old woman named Pasang Dolma, belonging to Yartoe Lamna area of Kardze County in Sichuan Province staged a protest demonstration at the county government seat area. She shouted slogans calling for Tibet’s independence. While going to stage the protest demonstration, she had, in a manner of giving her final testament, told other people: “Through all these many years, our parents had kept hoping and waiting for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s return and for Tibet’s independence and they died in that state. I had promised my parents that I too would make genuine efforts toward the realization of their hopes and dreams. I have therefore no regrets even if I should die in making the efforts.” In another development, on 18 June, a Tibetan man named Palden Nyima, aged 27, belonging to Kardze County, was also arrested after he carried out a protest demonstration at the county government seat area. No further details, such as whether he was alone or with others, was available.

On 18 June, there was a report of guns having been fired in Drepung Monastery, Lhasa. People in the know from the area said it was being suggested that monks of Drepung had staged a protest demonstration on that day and that the Chinese Armed Police Force had fired their guns in the air. However, no clear information about the incident could be obtained.

It was reported that in the evening of 18 June, the Chinese People’s Armed Police Force arrested 12 monks of Sera Monastery. No information could be obtained regarding the reason for the arrest and related matters.

On 18 June, the 15th day of the holy Saga Dawa month, many Tibetans in Nangchen County of Yushu Prefecture, Qinghai Province, gathered in the morning to perform religious incense-burning and other kinds of prayer services. The Tibetans had planned to stage a peaceful protest rally after the religious ceremonies but were stopped by the relevant Chinese government authorities. It was not clear from the reports whether there was any clash or arrest of Tibetans. However, later that night, the Red Flag of communist China was taken down from the Nangchen County government headquarters and replaced by a Tibetan national flag. Besides, said reports, a large number of posters calling for Tibet’s independence were seen posted everywhere in the Nangchen County area. Reports also said that because of this development, all monasteries and nunneries as well as privately run schools across the county were shut down by the authorities, although detailed information about it could not be obtained.

On 18 June, Monk Ngawang Gyalten, aged 42, the abbot and director of the Democratic Management Committee of Tarmo Gon monastery in Diru County of Nagchu Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, and monastic officials, named as monk Ngawang Jampa, aged about 38; monk Ngawang Sangay, aged about 40, and monk Kelsang Lochog, aged about 20, set out on a trip to Lhasa for official purposes. However, upon reaching the Nagchu Prefectural government headquarters area, they were arrested by the area Public Security Bureau. And no one knew where they had been taken away to be held in detention.

The main cause of this development had its origin back in the beginning of March 2008 when the Chinese

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government began massive deployment of soldiers in Sog County, Drachen County and Diru County of Nagchu Prefecture in the so-called Tibet Autonomous Region. They were accompanied by Work Teams of Chinese government officials who set out to carry out intense patriotism education campaigns among the local Tibetans. One such team arrived at Tarmo Gon in Diru County and launched a patriotism education campaign in it. Because the campaign involved forcing the monks to blaspheme His Holiness the Dalai Lama and other related actions, Ngawang Gyalten, the abbot and director of the monastery’s Democratic Management Committee stood up in the meeting and spoke, saying he and the monks were all Buddhists and there was no way they could commit any kind of blasphemy against His Holiness the Dalai Lama who he said was their root teacher. On the contrary, speaking straight into the face of the Work Team members, he called for His Holiness the Dalai Lama to be invited to Tibet and made other similar remarks. Angered by this, the Chinese officials said a Work Team would again visit the monastery on 1 July 2008 to deal specifically with him and his fate would be decided then; other similar threatening comments were also reprote to have been made by the Chinese officials. That was because they did not feel confident about being able to arrest him immediately at that time without causing a major trouble.

Reports said he was now arrested for the ostensible reason that he was going wherever he liked without having taken permission to go out of the monastery.

It was reported that on 18 June, monk Tangma of Mi-nyag Dapa Yangden Monastery in Nyagchu County of Kardze Prefecture in Sichuan Province committed suicide, unable to live with the pressure of being forced to commit blasphemy against His Holiness the Dalai Lama during the patriotism education campaign and the hoisting of the communist Chinese Red Flag over the monastery. When Chinese Work Team officials came to know about it, they issue a dire warning to the monastery’s monks, telling them that anyone who gives out information about such incidents would never be spared. The monastery had a school with about 30 students studying Buddhist Philosophy. That school was ordered to be closed down as part of the patriotism education drive. However, after the news about the above suicide death of the monk became known, the Work Team was said to have been temporarily withdrawn. Report also said the monk’s elderly mother, named Achhe, was warned by the concerned Chinese government authorities, upon pain of dire consequences, never to speak to others about the circumstance of the death of her son.

19 June On 19 June, a Work Team of Chinese officials arrived at Beri Monastery in Kardze County of Sichuan Province to carry a patriotism education campaign. However, because its monks gave indications of strong disapproval of and protest against the campaign, the campaign could not be held, according to a report received.

On 19 June, Lobsang Tsewang, aged 30, belonging to Tsozhi (Tsangzhi) Township staged a protest demonstration with shouting of slogans at the Kardze County government seat areas in Sichuan Province. He was brutally beaten by the Chinese People’s Armed Police Force in the course of arresting him.

At 2:00 PM on 19 June, a monk named Yudrum belonging to Koetsa Dewa staged a protest demonstration at the Serta County government seat area in Sichuan Province, holding a Tibetan national flag and shouting slogans such as “May His holiness the Dalai Lama live for ten thousand years!” and “His Holiness the Dalai Lama should visit Tibet!” At that time, a large number of local Tibetans assembled and as they

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arrived near him, the Chinese police stopped them and placed him under arrest.

20 June From 20 June onwards, Chinese Work Team officials who had previously carried out patriotism education campaign at Kirti Monastery in Ngaba County of Sichuan Province forcibly took the latter’s officials to various places in the course of notifying monks who had gone back to their homes to return to the monastery. However, not a single monk returned. The Chinese authorities then issued a proclamation of warning, saying if the monks fail to return to the monastery by 5 July, army attacks would be carried out on their local areas and at that time everyone would be arrested. In some places, these warnings had actually already been carried out even before the notice and monks who had returned to their mountain villages were brought back to the monastery.

On 20 June, security measures were once again strengthened at the Rongwo Monastery in Rebgong County of Malho Prefecture, Qinghai Province. A report said that the monastery’s Tsogchen Zhelngo (monk officials who maintain discipline at large monasteries during religious gatherings) Jigme Dawa, aged 40, who was previously arrested on 18 April but released recently on a guarantee of good conduct provided by the monastery’s supervisory committee was reported to have been again arrested by the county Public Security Bureau. On a previous occasion too, Jigme Dawa had been placed under prison detention for one year when a patriotism education campaign was carried out at the monastery in 1999.

Presently, it had become impossible to carry out any kind of religious function at the Rongwo Gonchen monastery. In particular, no prayer services or religious classes could be held. Former head of the monastery Alag Khaso Rinpoche did not respond well to Chinese medicine and was now undergoing treatment in Tibetan medicine in Xining city.

21 June On 21 June, the torch for the Beijing Olympic Games 2008 arrived at Tibet’s capital Lhasa and in keeping with it a number of protest actions were reported to have been carried out in Kardze, although there have been no clear information about them. On that day, a 37-year-old young man named Dagu, belonging to Khashul Village of Dado Township, Kardze County, had wrapped his head in a white cloth across which “Tibetan Independence” was written. And he had got a Tibetan national flag painted on each of his cheeks. In such a manner, he staged a protest demonstration through the county market, shouting Tibetan independence slogans. He was arrested by the police who took him away with both his arms and legs bound up. During the protest, the young man was reported to have passed out enormous number of leaflets which set out a nine-point list of demands. The main demands included a call for His Holiness the Dalai Lama to be invited to Tibet, respect for human rights in Tibet and for all political prisoners to be released.

At about 11:00 AM on 21 June, Jampa Choephel, a 25-year-old man belonging to Mi-nyenda Township in Kardze County of Sichuan Province staged a protest demonstration. He carried a Tibetan national flag in his right hand and a banner with “Independent Tibet” written on it in his left hand, and had wrapped his head with a cloth to hold up a portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama over his head. And he shouted

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slogans, saying, “May His Holiness the Dalai Lama live for ten thousand years!” “Tibet is an independent country!” and so on. The Chinese People’s Armed Police Force used utmost brute force in carrying out his arrest.

On 21 June, Nyima Tashi, an 18-year-old boy belonging to Zhiling Township in Kardze County of Sichuan Province staged a protest demonstration with shouting of slogans in the county government seat area. He was reported to have been held and detained, but there were no further, clear information about the incident.

22 June At around 11:00 AM on 22 June, monks Tsering Phuntsog and Tashi of Khangmar Monastery in Kardze County, Sichuan Province, staged a peaceful protest demonstration with shouting of slogans in the county government seat area. Again at about 1:00 PM that day, monks Soega and Yeshe Dhargay of Khangmar monastery again staged a protest demonstration. And later around 3:00 PM on the same day, more than 10 Tibetans, led by a layman belonging to Gyenzang Township in Kardze County, staged a protest demonstration with shouting of slogans in the county government seat area. Still later, sometime after 3:00 PM that day, a group of more than 20 Tibetans staged a peaceful protest demonstration in the same area. The participants included a 17-year-old girl named Pelmo and a 29-year-old man named Karma Wangchuk.

Also on the same day, a 36-year-old man named Sherab Gyaltsen belonging to Zhilingda Township and a 35-year-old man named Nyilu belonging to Gyurga Township were also reported to have staged a protest demonstration at Kardze County government seat area. In each of the above cases, the Chinese People’s Armed Police Force, China’s regular army soldiers and others were reported to have used utmost, unrestrained violence in beating the protesters in the course of carrying out their arrest. In all the above protest demonstrations, the slogans shouted by the protesters were reported to be similar, proclaiming that Tibet was an independent country, that may His Holiness the Dalai Lama live for ten thousand years, that His Holiness the Dalai Lama should be invited to Tibet, and so on.

It was reported on 22 June that Jigme Phuntsog, a monk of Drepung Monastery in Lhasa had died in a prison in Na Gormo (Chinese: Golmud) City, Qinghai Province. He was born at Gyalpo Luchu Dewa in Rebgong County of Malho Prefecture, Qinghai Province. The 21-year-old monk’s father’s name was stated to be Yangpa. Reports said his body was cremated by the authorities rather than being handed over to his family. The monk had been arrested from Drepung Monastery after the protests in March 2008 and taken to Gormo. It was earlier reported on several occasions that, speaking generally, a considerable section of the large number of monks arrested in Lhasa after the protests in March were transported by train to Gormo, Lanzhou and other places. These reports were now turning out to be true.

23 June At 10:30 AM on 23 June, a 25 year-old young man named Ngodup Dorje, belonging to Tsagleg Village in the Phuyul area of Lhopa Township in Kardze County, Sichuan Province, staged a protest demonstration with a very loud shouting of slogans. Soldiers of the paramilitary Chinese People’s Armed Police Force beat him with a metallic rod and subjected him to brutal violence while arresting him.

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From 23 June onwards, Work Teams of Chinese officials from the Kardze County government made a circuit visit to all the villages and townships, including Mi-nyenda Township located near Beri Monastery, to carry out a patriotism education campaign in each of them. During the campaign, the officials were reported to have warned against the holding of any more protest demonstrations, saying, “if one person protests, one would be killed; and if two protest, two would be killed, and so on.”

24 June It was reported that on 24 June, four monks of Beri Monastery in Kardze County of Sichuan Province were arrested by the county Public Security Bureau. Of them, Kelsang Yeshe, aged 27, and Tashi Ngodup, aged 30, were accused of being the ring leaders in the boycott of the patriotism education campaign at the monastery on 13 and 14 June and in the writing of graffiti on the monastery’s walls later on, calling for Tibet’s independence. Their rooms were said to have been searched at the time of their arrest on 24 June.

The other two monks arrested that day were former Gekoe (discipline master) Gatrug Dorje, aged 41, and Wangchug Dorje, aged 39. They were reported to have been arrested for having set fire to a bridge called Beri Bridge across the Zachu River near the monastery even though natural causes were to be blamed for the fire. Following the above development, security clampdown on the monastery was said to have been greatly intensified.

26 June A report said that on 26 June, police and paramilitary People’s Armed Police Force suddenly arrived at Dragkar Tsun-gon nunnery in Kardze County, Sichuan Province and arrested its nun official named Tsering Yangtso. The precise reason for her arrest was not clear.

27 June At around 4:00 PM on 27 June, all the nuns of Samtenling Nunnery in Draggo County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, except the caretakers, were delivered into the custody of their families on the basis of a roll call. They were being forced to return home for having rejected the Chinese government’s demands made during the patriotism education campaign at the nunnery. The course of this incident began on 8 June when a Samtenling nun named Tsering Tso staged a protest demonstration and following her brutal beating and arrest, all the other nuns of the nunnery took out a protest rally but were stopped and later subjected to some 19 days of education in patriotism, but without success. At that time, nun Tsering Tso and her sister Ogyen Lhamo, also a Samtenling nun, continued to be in detention in jail.

On 27 June, Kelsang Lhamo, the mother of Dragkar nun Tsewang Khando, 38, and resident of Dura Township in Kardze County, Sichuan Province, was reported to have died as a result of serious mental breakdown. She was subjected to intense harassment by the authorities following the arrest of her daughter and was also said to be intensely unhappy about the ongoing indiscriminate arrests of Tibetans and related developments. There was no information on the precise circumstance of her death.

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28 June A report said that at about 02:30 PM on 28 June, three monks of Nubzur Monastery in Serta County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, staged a peaceful protest demonstration with shouting of slogans and were arrested. They have been named as Tulku Gendun, Sazhi, and Gyachug Wangchug (Yangchug).

29 June On 29 June, the Chinese authorities arrested four Tibetans, including one named Tsegyal, on suspicion that after the Yartsa Gunbu (cordyceps sinensis or caterpillar fungus) foraging season comes to an end at a place called Genang in Jomda County of Chamdo Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, the Tibetans had planned to stage a protest demonstration. Later on 31 June, when the local Tibetan public appealed to the concerned area Chinese government authorities to release the four Tibetans, 32 more Tibetans were arrested. Eventually, however, all were released, except for a total of seven of them. Those still in detention have been named as Parwartsang Tsegyal, Momotsang Jamyang Tsering, A-nyog, Palchen, Tsering, Chogdrub, and Sonam Dhargay. On what happened thereafter or how it all began, there was no clear information.

On 29 June, a large number of documents were seen thrown into the Public Security Bureau office of Tsa Township of Bathang County in Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, and also at a road intersection nearby, saying Tibet and China were distinct and separate, and did not belong with each other. Largecharacter graffiti were also written in both Chinese and Tibetan languages on the white walls of the Public Security Bureau office, saying “Tibet is an independent country! His Holiness the Dalai Lama should come to Tibet! May His Holiness live for ten thousand years!” These were carried out by a number of Tibetans. However, at that time, nothing happened except for the fact that the police got the graffiti removed.

30 June On about 30 June, two monks of Labrang Monastery in Sangchu County of Gansu Province, namely Tsultrim Gyatso, aged 37, and Chone Khedub, aged about 40, were fired at and captured by the paramilitary People’s Armed Police Force and taken to Lanzhou city. The two had fled into the mountains in a bid to escape capture but were given hot chase and shot at. It was not clear whether either of them had got hit and received bullet or other kinds of injuries.

June 2008, dates not clear In about the middle of June, the Intermediated People’s Court of Lhoka Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, tried and imposed jail sentences on a total of nine monks of Samye Monastery, including resident monks, student monks and others, as given below:

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1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9)

Gyaltsen Tenzing Buchung Nyima Tashi Phuntsok Tenzin Soepa Tenzin Dawa Rigden Gelek Ngawang Tenzin

born in Tsona, Lhoka born in Phenpo County born in Lhokha Gongkar Lhasa Kyirey Lhoka Tsomey Lhoka Drapchi Lhoka Dranang Lhoka Lhodrag Lhoka Nangkartse

Samye monk Langthang monk Samye monk Samye monk Jowo monk Samye monk Samye monk Sangag Choekhor monk Kathog monk

15 years 15 years 13 years 13 years 13 years 2 years 2 years 2 years 2 years

In June, when a series of numerous Tibetan protests took place on a continuous basis at Kardze County and the police kept making arrests, Ngagga and Dorje Tashi, belonging to Gyenzang Township in Kardze County made efforts to prevent the arrests, with the result that they themselves were also arrested. However, no dates and other details were available.

In June, a Tibetan layman was arrested by a concerned Chinese government authority after he staged a protest demonstration with shouting of slogans and pasting of posters at Kyegudo, the seat of the Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture government in Qinghai Province. In the afternoon of the same day, two monks were arrested after they staged a protest demonstration with shouting of slogans in the same area.

No precise dates and other details were available about these two incidents.

From June 2008, the Chinese authorities imposed security clampdown on Gyalgyue Monastery in Palung (Bayan) County of Tsoshar Prefecture, Qinghai Province, with the result that they banned, under a strict order, the holding of the monastery’s annual festival of great religious dance (Gharcham Chenmo) which fell on the 19th day of the fourth Tibetan month. Likwise, the holding of the annual religious dance festivals called Sharteng Cham and Setri Cham by Tag Monastery in Tagzang Township in Palung County were also banned. The relevant Chinese government authorities had also issued strict orders against the holding of the annual festival of great religious dance (Gharcham Chenmo) due on the ninth day of the sixth Tibetan month. Other religious festivals such as those known as Tsentsha Mani, Ditsha Choeme and so on also could not be held. A message from the area Tibetans said it was not that they were lacking in the spirit of acting for the greater good of the Tibetan nation and people nor in having a sense of determination. They have expressed regret that because they were geographically located so close to China, initiating even a small campaign was extremely difficult. But they have hoped for everyone to understand that they were in full solidarity with Tibetans both in and outside Tibet in the common Tibetan struggle.

Again in June (Date not clear), when the so-called education in patriotism was being carried out at Tachogtsang Toema Dewa in Serta County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, a monk named Wanglo belonging to the Dewa (clan community) took photographs. As a result, he was beaten with great severity by the concerned Chinese authorities as they arrested him. His friends had gone to petition for his release, but were told that the price for that would be a fine of 20,000 yuan. Further details about the case were not available.

Also in Serta County, because the security clampdown at a place called Phugu Township was very in-

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tense, some Tibetans went up the nearby mountain, dug up the surface there and filled them with white coloured stones in the shape of the words “Tibetan Independence” which could be clearly made out from afar.

A report said that the body of a former political prisoner who was again arrested in March and had died in prison was handed over to his family. The deceased was named as Ngawang Pelzang (also known as Lo Gonpey Lama), originally from Tagtse County and a monk of Tagtse Lo Gonpa, Lhasa city. He was earlier arrested in 1993 for political reasons and suffered immense ill-treatment in Drapchi Prison for six years. After release, he began studying Tibetan medicine and astrology in Lhasa. Following his arrest by police in March, he was subjected to all manners of beating without any kind of limit and threatened with all kinds of frightening consequences in prison. As a result he suffered from heart attack and died in prison in May. Pasang (Tenzin Namgyal), a monk of Phagmo Gonpa in Tagtse County, Lhasa city, had earlier been arrested and jailed in August 1993 for 6 year at Drapchi Prison due to political reasons. In March 2008, he was arrested by the Public Security Bureau of Lhasa city and subjected to endless beating by both the police and paramilitary People’s Armed Police Force. After being thus rendered permanently weak and crippled, he was released into the care of his family. A report said that his family and relatives were given a stern warning by the relevant Chinese government authorities, saying they would be punished with great severity if any photo or information about the victim was sent out.

A monk of Drepung Monastery who was in 1991 jailed in Drapchi Prison for 13 years after being arrested and tried for political reasons and who during a peaceful protest demonstration in the prison in 1998 received a serious bullet wound after Chinese firing on the protesters was eventually released in about 2004 when he completed his jail term. This monk was again arrested in March after the protests in Lhasa during the month, kept in detention and subjected to interrogation while being severely beaten all the time. A report said he had now been released. In fact, after the peaceful protests in Lhasa in March 2008, most of the former political prisoners who had served jail terms were arrested. Although some were eventually release, there were still many whose whereabouts were unknown and who continued to remain in detention.

Most of the nuns of Shar Bumpa Nunnery in Phenpo Lhundup County of Lhasa were arrested after they took part in two successive days of protest demonstrations at Phenpo County government seat area. Most of the nuns were released recently. And because the nunnery as well as the local Tibetan population were very vigorous in petitioning the concerned authorities, the move to enforce the ban on them from rejoining the nunnery was not sought to be implemented very strongly. However, in this month (ie, June), the concerned county government authorities raised objection to those nuns’ rejoining of their nunnery and it was stated that they had got those released nuns sent back to their homes from the nunnery. Likewise, the nuns of Phende Tse, a nunnery branch of Phenpo Nalanda Monastery, arrested in connection with the same protest demonstrations had been released. However, a monk from Phenpo Nalanda itself whose nickname was Monpa and about two other monks from the same monastery arrested in April were tortured by the People’s Armed Police Force – they were made to kneel down over a ground of crushed stones and garlanded with such heavy objects as tyres of motor vehicles while being beaten with extreme severity. Although there were eventually released recently, they were rendered permanently weak and crippled with ill-health.

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At the end of June, Anu, an over 47-year-old man who resided in the Paljor Rabten Khang building (previously residing near Jowo Uta) in Lhasa, died, having failed to respond to medical treatment. Anu received a bullet injury during the violent Chinese crackdown on the peaceful Tibetan protests in Lhasa in March and had remained at home. When finally examined medically later on, a big chunk of flesh was removed from the affected area, with the doctor saying it had already become useless. No amount of medical treatment helped and he died at home. Both his father, Tashi Rabgey, and mother, Tseten, had predeceased him.

Every year the summer month of June was usually especially eagerly looked forward to by everyone in Rebgong County of Malho Prefecture, Qinghai Province – the general population, people in every kind of occupation and profession, and the children – as it was the month of a grand picnic festival. However, in 2008, the festival was not observed; rather, symbolic mournings and acknowledgements of gratitude to the victims of the utterly barbaric and violent crackdown by the Chinese government on the historic peaceful uprising protests which spread across all the traditional three province of Tibet were held. The sense of solemnity with which the mourning was held in Rebgong County was the same as that seen after the passing away of the previous Panchen Lama and the security measures imposed by the relevant authorities of the Chinese government was especially intense. Nevertheless, people in the know in the local area, officials, a section of students, and so on made it a point to convey the sense that the mourning was not just for the victims of the violent Chinese repression of the peaceful Tibetan protests but also for the Chinese victims of the recent devastating earthquake in Sichuan Province.

In June, additional cadres of Work Teams from Lhasa and Chamdo Prefecture arrived at Woeser Monastery in Markham County of Chamdo Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, with a plan to again launch a campaign of education in patriotism there. In addition, the officials made it clear that should there be any protest by the monks, the abbot and senior monks of the monastery would be held responsible and made to pay. The abbot was subjected to especially close and strict surveillance.

In June, a 19-year-old Tibetan male named Tashi Dorje, belonging to Gangteng Township and Thubten Phuntsog belonging to Phug-yul Nang-drong, both in Nakartse County of Lhoka Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, staged a protest demonstration against the Chinese government at the county government seat area. They were arrested by the local police. There were also other people participating in that protest demonstration, but no information about names and other details could be obtained.

At the beginning of June, a Tibetan named Gyurme Wangdak, who belonged to Gyetsog Drogpa, staged a protest demonstration at Garto Township in Markham County of Chamdo Prefecture, Tibet autonomous Region. And he shouted slogans, saying “Tibet is an independent country!” May His Holiness the Dalai Lama live for ten thousand years!” and so on. Both were arrested by the concerned local government officials as well as the police. It was stated that they were initially held at the county detention centre and later taken to the Chamdo prefecture detention centre. No information about their situation and whereabouts could be obtained afterwards.

It was reported that sometime in mid-June, a relevant court of Lhasa city had tried and passed jail sentences on a section of Tibetans who had taken part in the 15 and 16 March peaceful Tibetan protests at the Phenpo Lhundup County government seat area. Among them was Bhumo Tenzin Lhamo, who belonged to Ugyen Mey Village in Ganden Choekhor Township of Phenpo County, Lhasa city; she was given a 10-

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year jail sentenced for having taken part in the 16 March peaceful protest demonstration. Also, Samdup, a man from the same place, was said to have been given a jail sentence of 13 years.

One report said that three persons, including one name Kalden, belonging to Dedrong Village in Jhangkha Township in Phenpo Lhundup County had been given separate jail sentences of 20, 17 and 12 years.

It was not clear what the jail sentence of Kalden was and neither could any further information be obtained.

Yet another report said that a man named Lobsang Dawa, who was born in Chushur County of Lhasa City but later came to live in Phenpo Lhundup County as a bridegroom, was arrested in March in Phenpo Lhundup County on allegation that he had taken part in the 14 March peaceful protest demonstrations in Lhasa. Tendhar, a younger brother of his, and a monk at Ratoe Monastery, was also arrested by a unit of the Public Security Bureau in Lhasa. Both the brothers now could not be found in any of the prisons and detention centres in and around Lhasa; they had simple disappeared. Worse, some people were reported to have resigned themselves to the belief that Tender was already dead.

Although most of the about 53 nuns of Shar Bumpa Nunney in Phenpo Lhundup County, Lhasa City, who were arrested after they took part in a protest demonstration at the county in March had been released recently, they were not allowed to rejoin their nunnery; rather, they were all sent back to their homes.

One report said these nuns were, in addition, forced to pay fines ranging from 2,000 yuan to 5,000 yuan each before being released. Besides, five of the nuns were still not released; rather, they were said to have been taken to Lhasa to be held in continuous detention there. A nun named Lobsang Choezin was said to have been beaten with such great brutality throughout the period of her detention. She was said to have been taken from jail to the county hospital. Although given medical treatment, she was said to be in very fragile condition.

In June, Ngawang Tashi, or Ngagga, aged 18 and belonging to Jesangda Township in Kardze County of Sichuan Province, was reported to have staged a lone protest demonstration and was arrested by the People’s Armed Police Force.

At the end of June, Godoen Sangay, aged 30, belonging to Ruchen 2 and arrested from the nomadic area of Me’u Ruma in Ngaba County of Sichuan Province was sentenced to a jail term of two years. Shedrub, aged 23, and the bridegroom of the Magso family, both arrested with him and belonging to the same area, were given jail sentences of 1 and four years, respectively. Futher details were not available.

In the beginning of June, some monks of Se Monastery in Ngaba County of Sichuan Province attached a Tibetan national flag atop the lamp post standing by the side of the highway located just behind the monastery. Inside the monastery, a Tibetan national flag was attached to the top of the long prayer flag pole standing in front of the temple containing mausoleums of the lineages of the Khartul Rinpoche. Leaflets were put up or scattered everywhere in and around the monastery, and by the streets, demanding religious freedom in Tibet, asking for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s visit to Tibet, and praying for His Holiness the Dalai Lama to live for ten thousand years, and so on. Following these developments, reinforcement police and People’s Armed Police Force personnel were sent to the monastery. For days they continued to search the rooms of the monks. They stole or robbed from the monks’ rooms whatever objects they liked to keep for themselves. In particular, computers and electronic gadgets were not only snatched away but also considered as evidence of criminal actions.

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Protests and related events in July 2008

1 July On 1 July, as more than 70 monks of the Khangmar Gon, Geden Samdubling, had gathered for a traditional annual religious ceremony of the monastery, relevant Chinese government officials, police and People’s Armed Police Force personnel arrived. They proceeded to carry out a search in the living quarters of five monks who had been arrested on 14 and 22 June. However, at that time, the monks objected to the move strongly, saying this was harassment and bullying. As a result the search operation was withdrawn for the time being. However, all the monks, young and old alike, at the monastery made clear their resolute opposition to indiscriminate intrusions and searches in the monastery by Chinese security forces.

3 July It was reported that on 3 July, Lobsang Tsultrim, an about 16-year-old monk at Kirti Dongri Monastery, originally from the Me’u Ruma area in Ngaba County of Sichuan Province, father’s name Pelkho, had been compelled to commit suicide. On an occasion before his suicide, the young monk was reported to have said, “The Chinese leaders have again arrived at the monastery and they are ordering us to attend a meeting. We are once again being harassed.” About 15 minutes after he had gone out of his bedroom, his elder brother also came out, only to find Lobsang Tsultrim, with his neck tied with a rope and dangling by it in their firewood storeroom. And he was already dead.

In the evening of 3 July, Kyara Palden Nyendag, the not-yet-60-year-old father of nuns Tsering Tso and Ogyen Lhamo at Watag Tsun-gon Samtenling nunnery in Draggo County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, died suddenly. The main cause of it was that after the above two nuns were arrested on 8 June due to political reasons, police chided him for having failed to give proper advice to his daughters and so kept harassing and torturing him mentally after repeatedly summoning him to police station. As a result, he found his life extremely unbearable and he died suddenly. He appeared to have gone to the market on 2 July but it was not clear exactly where. He left behind at home a boy with a broken leg joined by a metallic rod and the family was now reported to be in a rather big problem.

4 July Around 4 July, an internal meeting was held, attended by the county party secretary, the county governor, the county police chief and other relevant top level officials of Lithang County in Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province. The meeting talked about the need to hold the 1 August annual horse-racing festival

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and about the welcoming of a large number of Chinese soldiers arriving in the county. There were earlier suggestions that as a result of the large-scale peaceful protests that took place during the previous yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s horse-racing festival, the event may be banned in 2008. The relevant Chinese leaders were reported to have argued that banning the festival may be taken as victory by the separatist forces. Rather, they were reported to have said, the horse-racing festival could be used as a propaganda tool to show to the outside world how much Tibet had progressed while a massive deployment of security forces could be made to prevent trouble from occurring. And so the Chinese leaders were reported to have confirmed a decision to hold the horse-racing festival.

5 July In the afternoon of 5 July, the eve of His Holiness the Dalai Lamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s birthday, the Chinese government reinforced its troop deployment in Lithang County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province. A special security clampdown was carried out, with the local Tibetans being given an order that for three days from 8:00 PM on 5 July, going into the market and travelling between places was banned, and that anyone who may walk out of his or her home as he or she liked would be fired upon. In the neighbouring counties of Nyagchu, Bathang and Nyarong too, strict orders had been issued, banning all Tibetans there from visiting Lithang for several days. Orders were also issued saying that the traditional annual horse-racing and picnic festival was banned from being held that years. The deployment of security forces was so massive that in order to make that less obvious, some of the troops were reported to have been made to dress in Tibetan costumes.

On 5 July, corresponding to the third day of the fifth Tibetan month, the monks of Bazin Gon Dechen Choeling went up the hill to enjoy their annual summer picnic and, at the same time, to observe the ceremony to mark His Holiness the Dalai Lamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s birthday on the following day. The tradition was for the summer picnic to be held on the 10th day of the 5th Tibetan month every year. But now it was agreed that from next year the date would be shifted to the birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

6 July On 6 July, Jampel Gyatso, an about 70-year-old Geshe at Kirti Monastery in Ngaba County of Sichuan Province, died due to blood pressure. The main reason for it had its origin in the fact that after so many monks of Kirti Monastery had returned to their homes, because they could not bear to live there with the Chinese government torments, the relevant authorities had issued an ultimatum. The ultimatum ordered all the monks to return to the monastery by 5 July, that soldiers would be sent to arrest those who fail to obey the order and observe the deadline. When the Geshe heard about the ultimatum, his blood pressure worsened considerably.

8 July A report said that on 8 July, three monks of Larung Ngarig Nangten Lobling academy in Serta County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, were arrested by police while they were visiting the provincial capital Chengdu. They were named as Taphun, aged 44; Ngagchung, aged 37, and gudrag. Of them, Taphun had studied at the academy for more than 20 years and had even earned a Khenpo degree. The other two monks had held various official posts at the monastic academy. They were in Chengdu to purchases

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goods for the academy when they were arrested by police in civilian dresses. Nothing has since been announced about the reason for their detention or arrest.

9 July Over the past several days, Chinese army was stationed in Tongkhor area of Kardze County, Sichuan Province, and soldiers had been checked IDs of every Tibetan travelling in, out and about the place. They also searched the Tibetans’ belongings and robbed them of whatever items the soldiers liked to keep for themselves. Tibetans who refused to surrender such items were harassed, including by being detained, on various false pretexts and made to suffer.

10 July On 10 July, the public Security Bureau of Lhasa City suddenly arrested from his home a man named Thubten, who was originally from a place near Dhargey Gonpa in Kardze County, Sichuan Province, but now lived permanently in Lhasa with his family. He was suspected to be carrying out political activities.

He had since disappeared. Thubten-la was running a shop in Lhasa city for his occupation and was aged around 40.

12 July From 12 July onwards, additional troops of the People’s Armed Police Force arrived at Ogden Monastery in Ngaba County of Sichuan Province and began carrying out a security clampdown. It was reported that on the pretext of laying electric wiring, the paramilitary People’s Armed Police Force personnel installed spy cameras in the monastery’s main prayer assembly hall and elsewhere to closely monitor the movement of the monks. It was also reported that while strengthening security controls, a decree was issued requiring all monks who had left the monastery to come back by 15 July. The whereabouts of two of the monks of the monastery, namely Lama Kyab and Thrinkho, arrested in March, never became known despite efforts made to locate them. The report said security restrictions had been strengthened at monasteries and nunneries throughout Ngaba County.

Around 12 July, report emerged that two monks of Dege Gonchen in Dege County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, had died. The story behind the deaths had their origin in March 2008 when following large-scale peaceful protest throughout Tibet, tight security measures were imposed at monasteries where also a campaign of education in patriotism was launched. At Dege Gonchen too, the patriotism education was launched and under it the monks were ordered to blaspheme His Holiness the Dalai Lama and to put up the Red Flag of communist China over the monastery. But both the officials and the general body of monks at the monastery refused to comply with such orders. At a little past noon on about 12 July, a loud bang was heard from within the monastery, which could be due to either shooting from a gun or from the setting off of an explosive device. Whatever be the case, it killed a monk named Deylog, aged around 40, and another monk named Gyaltsen, aged in his 20s. Reports also said that four other monks, including one named Pasang, were seriously injured. Following this incident, the Chinese authorities greatly strengthened security controls in and around the monastery. Under it, an order was issued prohibiting

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gatherings of more than two people. Strongly fearful that news about the incident may be leaked outside, tight controls were imposed on all types of communication systems. As a result, detailed information about that incident still has not been received. But it was certain that the incident involved firing from a gun or bursting of an explosive device.

On 13 July, the Public Security Bureau at Tsa Township in Bathang County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan province, forcibly took away to their office an elderly monk who did not wish to be named and a nun.

Subjecting them to intense intimidation, the Chinese police told them that if they could not restrict themselves to their own personal affairs, they were no better than the prisoners in jail. So saying, they ordered the duo that they could not return to their respectively monastery and nunnery but should return home with effect from that day itself. But betraying no feeling of any fear, the elderly monk answered back, “No matter how much pressure and intimidation you may bring to bear on me, you will never manage to make me change my mind. Apart from that fact, you can do with me whatever you may like to.”

14 July On 14 July, the relevant people’s court of Dartsedo (Chinese: Kangding) County, the government seat of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, imposed a jail sentence of five years on Atrug Kelgyam, a nephew of Runggye Adag who was arrested from Lithang county in the same prefecture on 1 August 2007. The story behind Kelgyam’s arrest had its origin in the 1 August 2007 incident, when during the ceremony for the inauguration of the annual horse-racing festival at Lithang County, Runggye Adag went up on the stage and shouted protests and slogans, leading to his immediate arrest. Following that incident, the Chinese government launched an intense education in patriotism at all the monasteries and nunneries as well as for the Tibetan public throughout Lithang County. And during the conduct of the patriotism education at Kharshul Dewa (or clan community), Kelgyam stood up from among the crowd, spoke out his mind and made it clear that he could never accept the demands being imposed under the patriotism education campaign. For staging that protest, the relevant authorities of the Chinese government arrested him at the beginning of September 2007. He had since then remained under detention.

15 July On 15 July, the Tibet autonomous Region unit of the Communist Party of China Discipline Inspection Commission and the Tibet autonomous Region government Discipline Inspection Committee jointly issued an announcement, saying a detailed draft regulation providing for penalties against Communist Party of China members and government employees who had sent their children to study in schools (including monasteries) in foreign countries run by the ‘Dalai Clique’ would be implemented in a short while.

On 15 July, monk Kunsang Tsering, aged 22, of Dhargey Langna Gon monastery in Kardze County of Sichuan Province staged a protest demonstration near the gate of the county Public Security Bureau. The People’s Armed Police Force was reported to have fired at him while carrying out his arrest, leaving him injured.

A report said that on 15 July, a layman named Lhagyal belonging to Gochog Dewa in Serta County of

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Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, was arrested by the concerned county government authorities for his alleged involvement in a demonstration in March. Likewise, on 5 July, a person named Tendhar belonging to Kyilru Gowa in the same county was also arrested likewise. And on 5 or 6 July, a man named Soelo (Solo) belonging to Kangtsa Dewa in the same county too was arrested alike for the same reason.

On 15 July, Dhungkar, son of the Choegyamtsang family in Tseshul Dewa of Serta County in Kardze County of Sichuan Province, was reported to have been arrested by the relevant county government authorities on suspicion that he was involved in a peaceful protest demonstration in the county in March.

On 15 July, a Work Team of five Tibetan nationality cadres and six Chinese nationality cadres arrived at Dulwa Village in Tsa Township of Bathang County. They had brought with them a document which would commit those who sign it to steadfastly adhere to the path set out for China by the Communist Party of China and never to follow the Dalai Clique or a small number of other evil persons. They tried to entice the Tibetan people to sign that document by promising them that after doing so they will be entitled to a 50 percent discount on medical treatments and that there would be so many other benefits as well.

However, the Chinese officials were entirely unsuccessful in that attempt at deception. The local Tibetans were warned against giving out information about that failure of the Chinese government.

On 15 July, Konchog, belonging to Nurma Township of Machu County in Kanlho Prefecture, Gansu Province, was released after being imposed a very hefty fine of 60,000 yuan.

17 July On 17 July, nun Yonten Tso belonging to Dhargey Yetsag Nang village in Kardze County, Sichuan Province, aged 19, staged a peaceful protest demonstration at the County government seat area. The Chinese Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Armed Police Force beat her with immense severity in the course of arresting her.

18 July A report emerged that on 18 July, there was a clash between monks and Chinese soldiers at Dzogchen Monastery in Dege County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province. The story had its beginning in March when an extremely large number of Chinese soldiers arrived at the monastery. At that time, Chinese soldiers dressed themselves in Tibetan clothing and took to hunting in the thick forest of the Dhamlung Mountain, considered by both the monastery and local Tibetans as highly sacred. They also considered sacred the large herds of wild lives and beasts of prey inhabiting the thick sacred mountain forest. A lama who was in meditation explained to the Chinese soldiers about the traditional ban on hunting in that sacred mountain forest. The Chinese soldiers, however, responded by beating him with great severity. At about 3:00 PM of that day, when monks at the monastery came to learn about it, they visited the Township government office and lodged a complaint about it. However, the concerned leaders there did not pay any attention to them. As a result, there was a clash between the monks and Chinese soldiers. Reports said some of the monks had received bullet injuries. Later some senior lamas intervened and mediated an end to the clash. A detailed information about the incident could not be obtained.

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19 July On 19 July, it was reported that 18 Tibetans belonging to Ngamey Lota Township in Ngaba County of Sichuan Province who had been arrested in March could not be found anywhere. Likewise, five Tibetans of Ngamey Akham (or Akhyam) Township who had also been arrested in March were reported to have disappeared as they could not be found anywhere.

20 July On 20 July, it was reported that relevant authorities of the Chinese government had demolished more than 10 meditation huts built by a Tibetan monk by spending more than 100,000 Chinese yuan and that the ten religious statues and the ten sacred Thangka paintings installed in them were also forcibly taken away by them. A Chinese monk who was the caretaker of those meditation huts was reported to have been expelled on 19 July.

26 July On 26 July, officials at all levels of government as well as the public in Nangchen County of Yushu Prefecture, Sichuan Province, took part in a grand picnic festival to welcome the Olympic Games to be held in Beijing in August. However, at that time, four Tibetans belonging to Dogshog Township came and shouted slogans, saying, â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is not a year to enjoy a summer picnic. Rather, it is a time of mourning for the savage repression the Chinese government had carried out against the Tibetan people,â&#x20AC;? and so on.

They also threw up a large number of leaflets and pleaded with the Tibetan public to return to their homes.

The Tibetan public at the picnic readily agreed with them and proceeded at once to pack up their belongings and pull down their tents. Thus, in a burst of whirlwind actions, the Tibetan public left the picnic spot and returned home. Later that evening, the four youths were reported to have been arrested and kept under detention by the county police.

A notice for preparations for holding the grand picnic festival was first issued in May, with the county government ordering all the township and other subordinate government bodies and officials to spare no efforts to make a success of the event, especially by learning and practicing songs and dances to be presented on the occasion. These were supervised by official of the concerned government levels who expunged and banned all the song lyrics which praised His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Gyalwa Karmapa. Warning was also issued that those who fail to attend the Olympic Games welcoming picnic festival would have to pay a fine of 1,000 yuan per individual. The scheduled plan was for the festival to continue for five days, beginning from 29 July. However, it did not at all take place after all.

31 July On 31 July, the Chinese government fabricated structures resembling Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and shops on the pastureland immediately behind Trotsig Monastery in Ngaba County of Sichuan Province. It

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then carried out a video filming in which Chinese soldiers dressed as Tibetan Buddhist monks and nuns, carrying Tibetan national flags, engaged in acts of "beating, smashing, looting, burning" and Chinese soldiers responded to this make-believe riot.

July 2008, dates not clear A report suggested that on a date about the beginning of July 2008, the relevant Chinese government authorities used coercion to expel Ngodup Phuntsog from his position as the Discipline Master (Gekoe) of Kardze Monastery in Kardze County of Sichuan Province even though his tenure was far from over. The reason for the Chinese government action was that it was during his term on that post that Kardze Monastery held special prayers for the hundreds of Tibetans killed or injured as a result of China’s brutally violent crackdown on the recent Tibetan protest demonstrations. He had not only specifically asked the monastery’s monks to pray for the Tibetan victims of the violent armed repression by China but also opposed the Chinese Work Team’s move to put up the Red Flag of communist China over the Monastery.

The information about the death of Jigme Phuntsog, a monk of Zongkar monastery in Rebgong County of Qinghai Province who happened to be studying at Drepung Monastery during the Tibetan protest demonstrations in Lhasa in March and was arrested from there, has already been referred to. Later in July, it was learnt that his friend, named as Lobsang and who was also from Zongka Monastery and studying at Drepung Monastery in March, was also arrested and transported to Golmud City in Qinghai Province where he was still being subjected to severe beatings.

At about the beginning of July 2008, Palden Choedak and Nyidor, two laymen belonging to Nyinmo Township of Pelbar County in Chamdo Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, were reported to have been arrested by the local Chinese police. The report said that they were arrested after they had remarked to Chinese officials and police officers that there were too many Chinese people in Tibet and that the local Tibetans needed to be given jobs. It was not clear whether there were other reasons as well for their arrest. In another incident in July, about which also the exact date was not clear, monk Lobsang Choejor (of Driru Gyalshoe Bhenkar Monastery), originally from Nyinma Township in Pelbar County, and his brother, a layman named Dorje Tashi, were arrested in a sudden raid by the county police on allegation of having sent information abroad. There have been no further reports about them.

It was learnt in July that about 10 monks said to belong to a monastery in Kardze County of Sichuan Province had been transferred to the Sangyip Detention Centre in northern Lhasa. Among them, names were known of Tenzin Zoepa, Nyima Tashi and Geleg. No information was available about the date and circumstances of their arrest and the exact date of their transfer to Sangyip. (NOTE: It was being suggested by some that these monks belonged to Kathog Monastery. This would seem to mean that they belonged to the Kathog Monastery in Pelyul County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, although enough details were not available to enable one to arrive at a firm conclusion.)

The Tibetan communities of Ba Lingkhashoe and the neighbouring Gangri areas in Bathang County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, had a simmering dispute over land for long in the past. However, recently, some three or four days before the incident below, Jampa Gyaltsen, the leader of the Ghemo Tibetan community, an influential local civil society figure, had mediated an amicable settlement be-

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tween the two sides. However, came two carloads of Bathang County Public Security Bureau officers and county government officials, and said only the Chinese government had the power to settle a land dispute. With that, they awarded the land at the centre of the dispute to the Lingkhashoe community. This greatly incensed the Gangri area people who shouted to the Chinese officials: “Your decision is not fair.

You are deliberately instigating Tibetans against each other. This being the case, we cannot listen to you; please go away.” The Chinese responded by intimidating the Tibetans by pointing to their guns. This only managed to anger the Tibetans more and they shouted, “Tibet belongs to Tibetans! May His Holiness the Dalai Lama live for ten thousand years! Tibet is a fully independent country!” Now it was the Chinese police and government officials’ turn to get frightened and they took to their heels. Later on, the county governor arrived at the place with utmost haste, accompanied by two truckloads of soldiers and a Work Team of government officials to carry out a violent repression. However, by then all the men of Gangri area had fled into the nearby mountain where they remained in hiding. Currently, the report said, Chinese police and soldiers were camped in the mountain and had sent out an order, demanding that everyone who had fled come back and surrender themselves. The report added that so far none had complied with the order. The Gangri area normally had a little over 100 Tibetan families.

At the beginning of July, the Chinese government at Draggo County in Kardze Prefecture of Sichuan Province divided a group consisting of more than 120 people, which included the abbot and head of Draggo Monastery and county and Township government officials, into several groups of equal numerical strength to intensify an ongoing education in patriotism at the monastery. In particular, the Chinese authorities were to carrying out a rectification campaign to find out whether the monks had previously been involved in any separatist campaign. Spy cameras and related gadgets were to be installed everywhere, including at shops in the nearby market, to carry out a close surveillance. Communication lines with the outside, including the telephone and the internet, were already under very tight bans. Nevertheless, the monks and officials of the monastery remained adamant in their defiance of the Chinese government officials. And so the Chinese government was reported to be continuing to have a very tough time trying to give out decisions with regard to the protest demonstration which had taken place at Draggo County on 25 March and in which the general body of monks of Draggo Monastery had taken part.

At about the end of July 2008, Lhamo Kyab, aged a little over 40 and a female teacher at the junior school at Nagchu County in Tibet Autonomous Region, was arrested by the Chinese police and it remains unknown where she had been taken.

Recently, at the end of July, Aten, aged around 20, was arrested by Chinese police, accused of having taken part in a protest demonstration. This followed the arrest earlier on of his elder brother Dhungkar, resident of Tsheshul Dewa in Serta County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province. In another incident, Tendhar, a layman belonging to Kyil Rugo Township in Serta County, who was under arrest from an earlier occasion, had been released recently after being made to pay a hefty fine of 5,000 yuan. Savage beating during detention had rendered him chronically enfeebled.

Around 3 July, most of the monks of Kirti Monastery at Ngaba County of Sichuan Province had returned to their monastery. At that time, the Chinese government made it clear that until the end of the Olympic Games (to be held in Beijing in August 2008) no monk could go outside the monastery; and so the monks were all kept under detention there. Even when one needed to visit the nearby market, permission had to be taken. In particular, the more than 300 monks who had earlier been arrested were especially focused

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on and targeted for harassment.

Around 10 July, the Intermediate People’s Court of Ngaba Prefecture imposed a sentence of life imprisonment on Karma (Kelba), aged about 23, of the Kherkhangtsang family in Ngamey (ie, Lower Ngaba) Lota Township in Ngaba County of Sichuan Province. It, likewise, sentenced 25-year-old Terzoe of Dongtoetsang family to a jail term of 15 years, and Tshekho of Ghongmatsang family, aged 27, to 13 years in jail. In addition, 18 other Tibetans belonging to Lota Township continued to be kept under detention without being tried. Their names and related details could not be obtained. The Chinese government had sent additional forces to Akham Dewa and Lota Dewa, saying that within Ngaba County, although they were small townships, their crimes were the greatest.

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Protests and related events in August 2008

1 August

On 1 August, as the start of the Olympic Games in China’s capital Beijing approached near, leaflets were seen scattered or pasted everywhere in front of the Public Security Bureau office at Tsa Township of Bathang County in Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, saying “Tibet is a fully independent country!

His Holiness the Dalai Lama should come to Tibet! We are opposed to the Olympic Games!” It was on suspicion of involvement in this incident that the Chinese police summoned the elderly monk, who did not wish to be named, and the nun mentioned in the previous report here. The police photographed and interrogated them while detaining them at the police station over many days.

3 August

In the morning of 3 August, two women belonging to Ling Lhagon Township in Rongpatsa Qu in Kardze County in Sichuan Province, Dechen Wangmo, aged 38, and Tseten Wangmo, aged 25, staged a protest demonstration at the county government seat area. They shouted slogans saying “Tibet is an independent country!” “Invite His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet!” and so on while also scattering around leaflets.

When the Chinese police and the paramilitary People’s Armed Force arrived to arrest them, they shouted their slogans louder and resisted arrest. Following this development, the Chinese police fired on them many times with bullets designed to stun them while also keeping on beating them in the course of arresting them. Earlier, on 2 August, these two women had applied to the relevant Rongpatsa Qu office for permission to travel to Kardze County but were refused. Undaunted by it and despite the very high level of security that night, these two women had secretly set out from their village and arrived at the county government seat area around mid-night; they kept themselves in hiding until the break of morning.

8 August On 8 August, a Tibetan national flag was seen strung on a telephone wire pole while a large number of leaflets calling for Tibet’s independence were scattered everywhere near about it at Phuggu Township, or Nyitoe Township, in Serta County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province. A monk named Tenphel, belonging to Kyilrugo Township was arrested the next day on suspicion of having carried out the protest action.

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9 August A report said that just after 04:30 PM on 9 August, Chinese soldiers had fired their guns on two Tibetan women. The spot where the incident took place was reported to be near a shack of metallic sheets being run as a mobile telephone recharging shop at the junction of three central roads at Ngaba County of Sichuan Province. The victims were named as Sonam Wangmo, aged 22, belonging to Ngamey (ie, Lower Ngaba) Sezo, and Zhang Yeying, aged 28 and belonging to Gyalrong. One was hit on her arm while the other was hit on her leg. It was not clear why the Chinese soldiers fired at them. However, like in the case of the situation throughout Tibet, in Ngaba too, in particular, the security situation was extremely tight.

There were constant streams of reports about Tibetans being indiscriminately arrested and beaten, and being subjected to searches. From 8 August, Tibetans at Ngaba County took to reciting the Tibetan Buddhists’ prayer mantra, making butter lamp offerings, and so on and used them as means to actually pray for the victims of the violent Chinese repression on peaceful Tibetan protests.

10 August At about 10 AM on 10 August, nun Dolma Yangzom, aged 34, of Tapontsang family in Lhopa Township of Kardze County, Sichuan Province, held a peaceful protest at the County government seat area. She had only just started her protest when Chinese soldiers and police rushed to the spot in their motor vehicles.

Not only was she hit on her leg by one of the motor vehicles but also she was subjected to severe beatings.

However, because she continued shouting slogans on top of her voice, they shot her with a stun gun to silence her and to carry out her arrest.

The troubles at the Dzogchen Gonpa in Dege County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, has already been referred on. The monastery previously had more than 300 resident monks. However, after the outbreak of trouble, it became extremely difficult for them to continue to remain at the Dzogchen Sri-seng religious school, with the result that most of them returned to their villages. The monastery had now become almost empty.

On 10 August, a government body at Draggo County of Kardze County in Sichuan Province called the bureau for the maintenance of stability organized security drills along the streets in Tibetan residential areas with a view to intimidate the Tibetan people. Participating in these exercises were the paramilitary People’s Armed Police Force, the Chinese army, officials of the political and legal department, and so on. Likewise, six counties in Tsolho Prefecture of Qinghai Province also carried out war exercises. The exercises were claimed to be aimed at countering terrorism and pre-empting the escape of prisoners. They were held on 6 August with the real purpose of intimidating the Tibetan people with a show of force.

And in Shigatse city of Tibet Autonomous Region, duties were assigned, with the assumption of full responsibilities for failures, to many committees set up at all areas with large populations, monasteries and nunneries, and important units to ensure that there would not be any trouble for the duration of the Olympic Games in Beijing. Many people were sent on intelligence gathering duties armed with relevant secret communication gadgets. All these and related activities were carried out under what was called a 14-point plan finalized for the purpose.

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11 August In the night of 11 August, Jampel, the elder son of the Tar-ringtsang family, younger son Lama, along with Jigme, son of Ge-nyugtsang family, belonging to the Cha Ruwa community in Ngaba County of Sichuan Province were arrested by the county police on suspicion of being involved in the peaceful Tibetan protest in the county in March.

13 August On 13 August, on allegation of being guilty of leaking national secrets by sending out information about peaceful Tibetan protests, the Chinese police arrested Sanga, a monk at the Yungdrung Bon monastery of Togden Mindrol Tashi Khyil in Ngaba County of Sichuan Province. On 14 August, soldiers and police surrounded his family home. They then ordered out his elderly mother and carried out a search operation there. They were reported to have taken away a number of items from his home. However, it was not clear what those items were. Earlier, in 2001, he had put up posters and before losar, the Tibetan New Year, he had distributes some 1,000 copies of a leaflet containing a picture of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and a writing beneath it which said: “The dance of manifestation as Lotus-holder, the sole god, / Who is mighty in politics and religion, / Tenzin Gyatso, he who overcomes the three realms, / May I wish that he subdue the four continents.” He was at that time arrested and later jailed for three years.

15 August 15 August was a day of festival for praising the mountains and crops, which is celebrated jointly by both the monastery and the town people. But as the monks and the local laypeople gathered in the temple at the monastery for the propitiation of the local spirits, Chinese soldiers outnumbering them arrived and imposed a tight security clampdown and intimidated the Tibetan people.

16 August On 16 August, 16 monks of Bazin Monastery held a religious incense-burning ceremony to propitiate the local deities Ghangkar Zeyden and Rang Sanggo of Ringpo Township. During the ceremony, they also recited the prayer “Words of Truth” one hundred times and also uttered prayers for His Holiness the Dalai Lama to live for ten thousand years and for the just cause of the Tibetan people to bear fruit. They also held discussion about the possibility for making this an annual event. Because of that, on 20 August, the Township police ordered all the monks of the monastery to report to them. But save for an elderly monk, no one complied.

27 August On 27 August, about 25 monks of Kirti Monastery who had been arrested in Lhasa after the 10th March Tibetan National Uprising Day were brought to Ngaba County. Before that, they had been held in detention in Golmud city of Qinghai Province. Now they were reported to be held at the school in Ruchen (Unit) No. 3 of Trotsig Township in Ngaba County, Sichuan Province. In fact, most of the monks from Kham and Amdo who were visitor-students at the great monastic seats of learning in Lhasa city and were

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arrested in March were initially taken to Golmud city where they were kept in detention. Some were taken to other border areas of Tibet. After that, they were gradually handed over to the local authorities of their home villages or townships through the concerned Prefectural and County authorities for purposes of continued detention. Many were in the process of being released after being made to pay fines or of being dealt with in other manners.

August 2008, dates not clear On 2 and 4 August, the Chinese held large-scale anti-terrorist war exercises in Lhasa city. On 5 August, a meeting was held to discuss the stability situation in the Tibet Autonomous Region. A central Chinese government order was announced, saying that from that day till 20 September 2008, in keeping with the stability situation in the Tibet Autonomous Region, a state of readiness for war situation should be maintained. Similar war exercises were held in every other part of Tibet, including in Kham Dartsedo.

From the end of August 2008, the police in Malho Prefecture of Qinghai Province carried out over several days a special scrutiny of Tibetans who had come from Tibet Autonomous Region, Sichuan Province, Gansu Province, and so on. After that, all those who did not have a guarantor of good conduct were expelled. Likewise, all the Townships in Kham Drachen County of Nagchu Prefecture, Tibet autonomous Region, also recorded lists of all Tibetans who had come from outside the local areas and subjected them to inquiries. Checkposts were set up on all the important streets. All the motor vehicles were also checked. Their reports on these checks had to be submitted to the higher authorities on a daily basis.

Even those who had already been working in the concerned local areas but had come from other places were also checked and all those who did not have the permit to stay in the concerned township or failed to provide guarantees for their good conduct were expelled. And except in the case of those who had a special permission to go out for urgent medical treatment elsewhere, Tibetans in places such a Mar-ru Township were banned from going out. For 15 days, a section of the people were especially isolated and subjected to education in patriotism and to legal education and were held under extremely tight security restrictions.

Two monks of Palyul Township in Chigdril County of Golog Prefecture, Qinghai Province – Thubten Nyima, aged 30, and Tshulkho, aged 36 – were imposed astronomical fines of 30,000 yuan each and also jailed for 6 years each for allegedly being the main organizers of Tibetan campaigns in the township.

There was no clear information regarding other details about this case.

In the same month, Sherab, a 26-year-old man belonging to Minthang Township in Chigdril County of Golog Prefecture, Qinghai Province, was accused of being the main person responsible for pulling down the Red Flag of Communist China from Minthang Township government building; he was imposed a fine of 20,000 yuan and also given a three-year jail term. Further information about the case could not be obtained.

From 2 August, a series of tough security measures were introduced and implemented in Golog Prefecture of Qinghai Province for the duration of the Beijing Olympic Games and of the Paralympics being also held in China. All the monasteries were banned from holding any kind of religious gathering; all the major public shows and performances were to be stopped; all the Work Teams from both the prefecture

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and the counties were required to permanently reside at the monasteries and nunneries where they had been assigned; government officials were required to take day and night turns to exercise close supervision over monks and nuns at their respective monasteries and nunneries and over the Tibetan masses; many spying agents were required to be dispatched to find out and gather information; the paramilitary Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Armed Police Force and the army were required to hold drills on methods to pre-empt sudden, unexpected incidents and thereby also raising the level of intimidation of the Tibetan people.

A list came to light of 242 Tibetans arrested from 16 March to August in Machu County of Kanlho Prefecture, Gansu Province. Among them, 167 had been released after being imposed fines totaling 4.1 million yuan. Around 70 Tibetans continued to remain in detention. Three Tibetans belonging to Tshenur Township had been tried and sentenced. Reports further said 70 other Tibetans had evaded arrest by running away.

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Protests and related events in September 2008

8 September In the night of 8 September, the power unit supplying electricity to the Markham County television station was disabled after a bomb placed there by three persons, namely Ngawang Tenzin, aged 20; Tenzin Norbu, aged 19, and Tenzin Rinchen, age 17, exploded. As a result, no television programmes could be relayed over the entire county for four days. Reports said that the trio felt driven to this desperate action after television programmes from the period toward the end of August into the early part of September continued to denigrate His Holiness the Dalai Lama and accused the Tibetans in exile of carrying out activities to split the country.

11 September In the night of 11 September, Whelshul Rangjung, father’s name Yonten and mother’s name Drubkyi and belonging to Phuggu Township in Serta County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, was taken into custody by officials from a high-level intelligence department. He had graduated from Serta County Lower Middle School in 1998 and thereafter completed his course from the Kardze Prefecture Teacher Training College. At the time of detention he was a journalist with the Serta County broadcast service station and a Chinese government official. He had written many articles and also produced a CD album titled “Tsenpoi Bhoe” featuring Tibetan lute play. He was a youngster aged anywhere between 25 and 30.

13 September There was a report saying that on 13 September, the people’s court of Markham County in Chamdo Prefecture of Tibet Autonomous Region tried and sentenced four monks of Khenpa Lungpa Monastery whom the Chinese government had arrested sometime ago. Of them, Jhamdub was given a four-year jail term; the rest – Tenpa Gyaltsen, Jamyang Lodoe and Kun-yang – were jailed for three years each.

On 13 September, Sangta (Sangay Tashi) of Nyinma Township in Machu County of Kanlho Prefecture, Gansu Province, was arrested in a sudden swoop by the county police and placed under detention. Following his arrest, the Chinese police pressured his family to surrender the outfits by Tibetans during their

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protest at the county on 16 March. The family had no choice but to comply. Sangta was one of the main organizers of the county protest and because of it he had fled to a number of different places. But ultimately there was no escape and he was captured and arrested.

23 September On 23 September, the Intermediate People’s Court of Chamdo Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, tried and sentenced the following eight out of nine monks arrested from Thangkya Monastery in Gonjo County: 1) Gyurmey Dhondup, aged 28, life sentence; 2) Shedra Kyorpon Dorje Wangyal, aged 31, 15-year jail term; 3) Kunsang Tenzin, aged 20, 15-year jail term; 4) Kunga Phuntsog, aged 19, 10-year jail term; 5) Tsewang Yeshe, aged 20, 9-year jail term; 6) Tsering Nyima, aged 17, 10-year jail term; 7) Trinley Wangyal, aged 21, 5-year jail term; 8) Rinchen Gyaltsen, aged 28, 10-year jail term, and 9) Tseten, aged 30. At that time he was being held in detention at Gonjo County but there were no suggestions yet that he had been tried and sentenced.

It was said that they were tried for being allegedly involved in a bomb explosion which ripped an empty building at midnight on 22 February. During detention, the monks were subjected to all manners of inhuman and unimaginable ill-treatments, both by physical beatings and with use of torture gadgets. A number of other monks arrested with the above monks were released over a period of time. When the families of the nine remaining monks asked the authorities why they had been detained, the police were reported to have replied that they were destroyers of national unity and unity of nationalities. The families were also told that the monks were also under detention for opposing the holding of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and that they would be released once the Games were over. However, what really happened was far from what the Chinese officials said at that time. Trials were held without even a pretence at fairness or justice and on the basis of proper evidences and their examinations. So, in the end, the monks were tried and sentenced despite the Chinese government’s assurance otherwise.

On 23 September, a layman named Damdul, aged about 42 years old and belonging to Thangkor Kawarmey Dewa in Dzoege County of Ngaba Prefecture, Sichuan Province, was imposed a fine of 10,000 yuan.

Likewise, Lobsang Nyima, a monk of Sogtsang Gonpo monastery and originally from Thangkor Tsangwa Dewa, was also imposed a fine of 5,000 yuan.

24 September In the evening of 24 September, Lobsang Jinpa Lecha, a monk of Kirti Monastery in Ngaba County of Sichuan Province, went to the westernmost area of the monastery’s compound in order to use the toilet there. However, soldiers standing guard around the monastery in that area there warned him that crossing the line drawn inside near the monastery’s outer limit was prohibited and so told him to stop. This at-

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tracted the attention of a number of important religious figures in the monastery and they tried to explain matters. However, a number of additional troops arrived at the scene. Using all sorts of crude weapons, they attacked the about 37 monks with great show of violence. Police later acknowledged that the monks were blameless; however, nothing was done to the attacking soldiers, including in terms of punishing them. What is more, in the morning of that day, when some monks were washing their clothes on the bank of a river located in the northwest corner of the monastery, soldiers posted nearby fired in the air to frighten and chase the monks back into the monastery. Such incidents kept occurring on a daily basis. The soldiers were camped at nine spots at the monastery and exercised tight controls, including preventing movements of the monks. The monks had been repeatedly referring to the actual situation at the monastery and urging people concerned with reporting news about Tibet to explain and beseech with passionate zeal to the outside world, wherever there may be an audience for it, the great difficulty with which life at the monastery goes on under such circumstances.

25 September On 25 September, the People’s Court of Lhasa City sentenced a Tibetan man named Tenchoe (Tenzin Chodak) to a jail term of 15 years and also imposed a fine of 10,000 yuan on him. During interrogation, the Chinese authorities had accused him of having behaved with activist zeal during the protest in Lhasa in March. They also alleged to him that his father, Khedup, had taken part in various kinds of protest campaigns in Tibet over a long period time and eventually turned his back on the country by fleeing abroad. These were only some of the charges and claims they made against him. Cheodak was 20 years old and lived in Lhasa city, where he was born. He usually lived in northern Lhasa Gyabumgang under the jurisdiction of the street party committee there. He had earlier studied at the Tibetan Children’s Village school in India and then returned to Tibet in 2005. After return, he had worked in a Red Cross Society unit in Lhasa city. He was arrested by the Public Security Bureau of Lhasa City on 13 April 2008 for having taken part in the protests which took place in the city since 10 March, the anniversary of the Tibetan national uprising of 1959. There is no clear information about the place of his imprisonment after the sentencing.

28 September On 28 September, Asang, a 34-year-old Tibetan man belonging to Thangkor Dewa in Dzoege County in Ngaba Prefecture, Sichuan Province, was arrested and taken to the county government seat area for his alleged connection with the Tibetan protests which had taken place after the 10th March uprising anniversary. There he was held under detention. Over the past several years, he had also worked as a translator for aid agencies working in Tibet as well as for a few foreign investors in joint school projects in China.

He used to extend whatever help he could to hospitals and schools near around his place.

30 September On 30 September, four monks of Tagtsang Lhamo Kirti Monastery in Dzoege County of Sichuan Province – namely Konchog Jigme, originally from Kachukhapa; Konchog Dhargey, originally from Tsongru;

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Konchog Samten, originally from Thamakha, and Konchog Yarphel, originally from Dringwa – were released from detention after being made to pay fines of 5,000 yuan each.

September 2008, dates not clear Around 6 September, two monks of Kirti Monastery in Ngaba County of Sichuan Province – Dorje, aged 23, and Kunga, also aged 23 – were sentenced to jail terms of two years each and were taken to a place called Mengyang in Chengdu City to serve their sentences. The two monks had been arrested in the night of 23 May for opposing the “love your nation, love your religion” campaign of the Chinese government and had been held in detention ever since.

Around 14 September, a report was received saying two nuns of Samtenling Nunnery in Draggo County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province – Kyaratsang Tsering Tso, aged 27, and Ogyen Lhamo, aged 34, both siblings – had been given jail sentences of two years each by the Kardze Prefecture Intermediate People’s Court on alleged charges of separatism. The report lacked details about dates and other information. Their father passed away in an untimely death while they remained in detention.

At about the end of September, Dorje, employed by the Chinese government as a supervisor of timber transport work at Markham County in Chamdo Prefecture of Tibet Autonomous Region, and a Tibetan colleague of his stopped a group of Chinese workers as they tried to transport timber without having the requisite license to do so. Later in the night, these Chinese workers brought along with them a group of Chinese soldiers from a nearby army camp and subjected the two Tibetans to severe beatings. The condition of Dorje, in particular, became serious because he was stabbed as well. He died on the way while being taken to Ba Hospital.

In September, Bhakula, belonging to Unit No. 2 of Thangkor Township in Dzoege County of Ngaba County in Sichuan Province, was sentenced to a term of one year and two months. Following it, he was, on 24 September, taken to a re-education through labour camp in the direction of Chengdu city. Details about the date of the sentence, and so on were not available.

From the 10 March anniversary of 2008 onwards, a total of 15 monks belonging to Bumsar Monastery in Zachukha but studying as visiting students at Sera and Drepung monasteries in Lhasa had been arrested. It was reported that 13 of them had recently been released, expelled and taken back to Zachukha. However, two of the monks, Konchog Dhondup and Thubten Namgyal, were still not released. And all their families and relative continued to be worried sick since there was absolutely no information on their whereabouts and so on. A report said one of the released monks, named as Mhatrug, was suffering from heart ailment as a result of the very poor food during detention.

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Protests and related events in October 2008

15 October On 15 October, Jigme Lotsa, originally from Togtsa Dewa in Ragtam Township of Serta County in Sichuan Province and a monk of Labrang Monastery in Sangchu County of Gansu Province was temporarily released from a prison in a place called Kachu. When he arrived at the monastery, he was welcomed by the general body of monks with ceremonial greeting scarves and in other ways. He showed to the monks the scars and bruises he had on his body as a result of beatings during his detention by the Chinese government. The reason why his release was termed as temporary was because the Chinese government still had him under surveillance and travel restrictions by the army. He had assisted Dhondup Wangchen from Bayan County in Tsoshar Prefecture, Qinghai Province, in shooting for the documentary film “Jigdrel” (Leaving Fear Behind) which captures the real situation in Tibet today. The film recorded interviews with ordinary Tibetans from different walks of life. He was arrested on 23 March and jailed, tortured and interrogated with great severity.

On 15 October, Sarpatsang Lodroe, a monk at Tshendrog Monastery in Meyma Township of Machu County, Gansu Province, was sentenced to a jail term of 12 years, accused of being a ringleader of the Tibetan protest demonstration at Meyma Township. Likewise, Poejintsang Konchog of Tshendrog Thawa in Meyma Township was sentenced to a jail term of 10 years. He was arrested from Meyma Township itself.

16 October On 16 October, Gonpo Tshekho, a 28-year-old Tibetan man belonging to Meykhor Village in Machu Tsheruma Township in Machu County of Gansu Province was sentenced to a jail term of 14 years, having been held guilty of being the ringleader of the large-scale peaceful Tibetan protest which had taken place in the area. Likewise, Tshekho of the Tsatsatsang family at Mahkhug Tara was sentenced to a five-year jail term. And Dorje of Lochoetsang family at Meyma Township was jailed for four years. They were all held guilty of having caused heavy economic losses to the nation and people.

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18 October At about 4:00 PM on 18 October, a 17-year-old student named Lhundup of the Chentsa County Higher Middle School in Malho Prefecture, Qinghai Province, was driven to sacrifice his life as an offering of proof of the absence of freedom in Tibet. He was originally from Yuhlung Dewa in Kangtsa County of Tsojang Prefecture, Qinghai Province, and his father’s name was Tashi Namgyal. He was well known as being good in his studies, personal conduct, and in all other ways. He was the boy who pulled down the Red Flag of communist China at the Chentsa County Middle School and Chentsa County Junior School in March. It was stated that the reason why he ended his own life was to present to the people throughout the outside world a proof of the depth of his frustration at the absence of freedom and human rights in Tibet, and not for any personal reason.

27 October On 27 October, the Intermediate People’s Court of Lhasa City delivered sentences on the following list of Tibetan people: 1) Wangdu, life in jail, also deprived of political rights for life; 2) Migmar Dhondup, 14 years in jail and deprived of political rights for 5 years; 3) Phuntsog Dorje, 9 years in jail and deprived of political rights for 5 years; 4) Tsewang Dorje, 8 years in jail and deprived of political rights for 5 years; and 5) Sonam Dhagpa, 10 years in jail and deprived of political rights for 5 years.

On 27 October, the Intermediate People’s Court of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, sentenced a Tibetan man named Loten Yag to a jail term of five years, with deprivation of political rights for 3 years.

Along with some friends, he had, on 20 March, distributed in and around Dege County’s Gonsar Monastery, including by the streets outside, a large number of leaflets on which it was written, “Tibet has already won its independence!” and “Tibet is an independent country!” The web site of Kardze Daily, the local party newspaper, reported these on 7 November, including the fact that the accused person was arrested by the Dege County police on 27 April.

28 October On 28 October, the Intermediate People’s Court of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, sentenced Jigme Trinley, a 24-year-old monk originally from Serta County, to a jail term of 10 years, with deprivation of political rights for 4 years. He had, on 18 March, shouted slogans on the Kardze County Square, calling for Tibet’s independence.

On 28 October, the Intermediate People’s Court at Barkham County, the location of the government headquarters of Ngaba County, passed sentences on four monks of Achog Tsen-nyi Gon monastery in Ngaba County, Sichuan Province. Of them, Kyorpon Ludrub Phuntsog, aged 23, belonging to the Zhelkartsang family at Achog Chugle in Kakhog County in Ngaba Prefecture and the editor of a periodical titled "Mahseng Zhedra" at Achok Tsen-nyi Monastery was sentenced to a jail term of 13 years. Monk Ludrub

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Yeshi, aged 33, belonging to the Tsering Tashitsang family at Achogma in Kakhog County was jailed for 13 years and 6 months. Kyorpon Tsultrim Gyatso, aged 42, belonging to Dawatsang in Me’u Ruma Township in Ngaba County was sentenced to a jail term of 9 years. And Kyorpon Ludrub Tendhar, age 43, belonging to the Sherabtsang family at Achog Thawa was sentenced to a jail term of 7 years. A public meeting was proclaimed for the purpose of reading out the judgment and sentences against these monks.

The main charges against them included carrying out separatist activities and following orders from the reactionary Dalai clique. They were also accused of having carried out other allegedly vicious criminal activities that violated the nation’s constitution. However, in the very short time they were given to speak, Ludrub Yeshe said he had never engaged in any separatist activity before, that he also did not have any wish to do so in future. “However, whatever we have said are absolutely true, are facts, and in conformity with the reality,” he was quoted as saying. Although the convicted Tibetans were given three days to appeal their sentences, if they were dissatisfied with them, everyone knew that success after taking recourse to it was impossible.

29 October On 29 October, the web site of the people’s government of Lhasa City, citing Lhasa Evening News, said that investigation into seven cases relating to the recent 3.14 serious violent incidents of "beating, smashing, looting, burning" were completed and the findings thereon publicly announced. The newspaper was cited as saying that the Lhundup County people’s court, Lhasa City, had sentenced Lobsang Tsemey (also known as pasang) and Do-lag to a jail term of 15 years and deprivation of political rights for 5 years; they were also fined 2,000 yuan each. The report further said that Tenzin Yeshe and Kelsang Choedak (also known as Kelden), Lhagdon, Tenpa Dhondup, Lobsang Khechog (also known as Tashi Norbu), Dorje Dolma, and Tashi Namgyal were sentenced to jail terms ranging from 5 to 14 years.

The report continued that the Lhasa Chenguanqu People’s Court had sentenced Phuntsog Tenpa to a jail term of 3 years and 9 months; Phuntsog to 2 years and 9 months; and Phuntsog Traden to 2 years and 6 months.

The report also said that the people’s court of Chushur County, Lhasa City, had sentenced a Tibetan man named Lobsang Tsephel to a jail term of 9 years with deprivation of political rights for 2 years; that it also sentenced another Tibetan man named Tsenam to a jail term of five years. The report did not mention the dates of the trials and sentences.

On 29 October, the Kardze Prefectural Intermediate People’s Court sentenced Sherab Zangpo, a monk of Dongthog Gon monastery and studying at Kardze Buddhist school at that time, to a jail term of 6 years with deprivation of political rights for 2 years. This 25-year-old man had on 28 March staged a protest with shouting of slogans at Dartsedo, the Prefectural Seat of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province. He was reported to have staged a protest-run over a distance of some 280 metres, carrying with him a Tibetan national flag written on an about 9-feet long fabric. During trial he was asked why he staged the protest demonstration and what he now felt about it. He had replied, “I am just a monk. Right from childhood I had nothing in my mind except His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Even now and throughout my life in the future, this will remain unchanged.”

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30 October On 30 October, the Intermediate People’s Court at Dartsedo, the main centre of Kardze Prefecture in Sichuan Province, sentenced Ngoega (Ngodub Phuntsog), a 53-year-old man belonging to Serchuteng in Kardze County, to a jail term of 8 years, with deprivation of political rights for 4 years. It also sentenced Norbu Tsering, a 49-year-old man who had previously arrived at Kardze Drubkhangteng as a bridegroom, to a jail term of 7 years, with deprivation of political rights for 3 years. When these two Tibetans were brought into the court at about 9:00 AM, it appeared that a total of more than 20 officials were clustered together, apparently discussing their cases. Apart from one Tibetan who was the translator, almost everyone else was Chinese. And when they asked the two Tibetans what their reason was for staging the national separatist protest demonstration at Kardze County, Ngoega was reported to have replied, “We wanted the young Panchen Lama reincarnation to be released; His Holiness the Dalai Lama to be invited to Tibet; and not only the Tibetan people but also all living beings in Tibet to be given peace and freedom. It was to demand these that we staged a peaceful protest demonstration, and also distributed leaflets concerned with the core of the Tibet issue. Apart from that, we never set out to commit arson, destroy the social order and so on and we are not guilty of having carried out any such things. But because of having been cracked down on with inhuman violent beatings and repression, I could not sense, for a very long time while in prison, whether I was alive or dead.” Norbu Tsering too had spoken up likewise.

At that time the area outside the court building was filled with Chinese soldiers who exercised tight security controls. At 12:00 noon, the court’s final decisions were announced. During the trial the accused Tibetans had no opportunity to say anything to explain the truth; rather, they had to listen to whatever accusations and orders were read down to them. Ngoega was a person trusted and looked up to by everyone in Kardze County and a person of high moral character. He was a person of steadfast faith in and loyalty to His Holiness the Dalai Lama through 24 hours of each day. During the peaceful protest at Kardze County on 18 March, he was among the leaders and had distributed leaflets concerned with the core issue of Tibet. He had also received injuries at that time.

Norbu Tsering too was among those who led the peaceful Tibetan protest demonstration on 18 March at Kardze County. After the sentences were read out, both of them were told that if they were not satisfied with the fairness of the outcome, they could submit appeals within 10 days. Earlier, when they were in detention, their families and close relatives were never given any opportunity to explain the truth. They therefore did not believe that any useful purpose will be served by again seeking to explain the truth.

31 October On 31 August, an 81-year-old elderly Tibetan man named Paljor Norbu was arrested by the Chinese authorities and placed under detention. He was the owner of a reprinting shop near the Bharkor in Lhasa city. A short while before his arrest, the Chinese authorities had forced him to close his shop. The reason for his current arrest was stated to be that he had reprinted documents and so on concerned with the peaceful protests in Tibet.

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October 2008, dates not clear At the beginning of October, all the Township officials of a section of counties near Lhasa city of the socalled Tibet Autonomous Region were summoned to an internal meeting at which the concerned authorities of the county governments made an internal order, saying that all Township government leaders and officials having relatives, children, including monks and nuns, abroad should resign from their posts and jobs. It also emerged that a major political rectification campaign had been launched across Lhasa city and the neighbouring counties. Under it, officials from the concerned county governments visited each Tibetan home from which members had escaped to India and other countries after they had been arrested and imprisoned for political reasons and had been released afterwards but could not continue to remain in Tibet, or families which still had children in prison, to again take down detailed statements about such matters.

At the end of October, the police in Markham County of Chamdo Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, took away to Chamdo 3 Tibetans who had had been arrested over a period of time for having caused on 8 September the burning and destruction of the electric power supply to the local television station after having subjected them to sever beatings. Some of the parents and close relatives of these three Tibetans were also arrested and subjected to immense pressure.

In October 2008, about 150 Tibetans belonging to Nangchen County in Yushu Prefecture, Qinghai Province, had staged a peaceful protest demonstration outside the gate of the People’s Hall (the meeting hall for the People’s Congress of Yushu Prefecture) of Yushu Prefecture at Kyegudo over several days. The exact reason for staging the protest demonstrations could not be obtained.

According to information received in October, Lama Adrel Rinpoche, a lama from Whonpo Monastery in Sershul County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, arrested by the Lhasa city police on 16 March, and, likewise, a group of monks of Drepung Monastery at Lhasa arrested on about 12 April were all being held in detention in the Lhasa City Public Security Bureau Detention Centre located in front of the Lhasa City Prison Unit No. 5 in Northern Lhasa. The report said that Adrel Rinpoche was being interrogated the most because the Chinese had managed to get hold of his mobile phone handset. The report also said that in that secret detention centre, a monk of Drepung monastery who was originally from Kyegudo in Yushu Prefecture of Qinghai Province had been beaten with such brutal severity that he was vomiting blood every day. As regards Adrel Rinpoche, the Chinese authorities had arrested him as soon as he landed at Lhasa from his native place. Because most of the monks who were arrested on 10 March from the first peaceful protest demonstration at that time and which took place on the Tsuglakhang Square in Lhasa were visiting students at Drepung Monastery belonging to Whonpo Monastery, they suspected that he was involved with them.

According to reliable information received, 3 monks of Tagtsang Lhamo Kirti Monastery were tried and sentenced after 25 October. On 15 March, the monks of Tagtsang Lhamo Kirti Monastery had staged a forcefully driven peaceful protest demonstration against the Chinese government. Over a period of time since 29 March, about 25 monks of this monastery were taken into detention. Of them, Zaru Tenpa Gyatso, aged 27 and belonging to the monastery’s Menpa Dratsang, was given a jail sentence of 5 years.

Kachu Khapa Konchog Tsultrim, aged 23, belonging to the monastery’s Gyuepa Dratsang and Zaru Konchog Dragpa, age 24, belonging to the monastery’s Thoesam Lingpa section, were each given a jail sentence of 4 years.

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In October, the situation at Tagtsang Lhamo Kirti monastery was such that it was teeming with police personnel, soldiers and intelligence officers both in and outside and they were keeping close watch on everything. More than 10 video cameras were newly installed all across the monastery so that the authorities were able to closely monitor everything that was going on within or outside the monastery. Monks who had returned after visiting India were especially targeted for scrutiny and interrogation. Although lack of even a slight bit of freedom of movement was now a fact of life, a new set of regulations was finalized and began to be implemented by which monks who return home after visiting India were banned from remaining at the monastery.

According to new information received in October 2008, a detention centre in Kakhog (or Hung-yon) County in Ngaba Prefecture, Sichuan Province, sentence Rabten, aged 18 years old; Thubpa Kyab, aged 20 years old; Tshephul, aged 26 years old; Tsultrim, aged 26 years old; and Tenzin Tshepo, aged 20 years old, all monks of Ngaba Trotsig Monastery, to a jail term of one year and 9 months each to be served at a re-education through labour camp. Kel-tson, aged 23 years old, was accused of having pulled down the Red Flag of communist China from the township government building during the peaceful protest and of being the main leader of the protest, was given two years of re-education through labour sentence. The report lacked information about the date of the sentencing and other details.

According to information received at about the beginning of October 2008, 3 persons, namely Gonpo Tsering, aged 23 years old and belonging to the Gabmatsang family at Mugu Dewa; Lobsang of Zhepotsang family, also aged 23 years old, and Lobsang of Khanggentsang family at Rong Tsog-nyi Dewa, all part of Rongwam Township in Ngaba County of Sichuan Province, were given jail sentences of 1 year and 8 months each. Lobsang had to undergo surgery during his detention, although the reason for it was not clear.

According to information received at about the end of October, Yeshe Zangmo, a 26-year-old nun at Me’u Ruma Nunnery in Ngaba and nun Lhakyi Dolma, aged 28 years old, of the Tsekho Khalugtsang family were each given a jail sentence of 1 year and 6 months. And nun Tsultrim Zangmo, aged 24 years old and belonging to the Jhangdontsang family at the Me’u Ruma Unit No. 1, was jailed for one year and nine months.

At about the end of October, monks Khedrub Gyatso and Tsultrim Gyatso, both belonging to Tsang Monastery in Thunte (or Gepasumdo County) in Tsolho Prefecture, Qinghai Province and originally from Sogdzong in Rebgong County of Malho Prefecture, same Province, were sentenced to a jail term of 10 years each. Monk Chogtrin Gyatso was, on the other hand, given a jail sentence of 9 years. All three were convicted for being separatists, being guilty of communicating information to the outside world, and so on. It was not clear which court tried and sentenced them.

On 29 or 30 October, a man named Loga, belonging to Kardze County, was sentenced by the Draggo County People’s Court to a jail term of 3 years.

In other information, because of tight security restrictions being imposed by the Chinese government, it was considered not possible to hold the annual Jhang Gunchoe annual winter religious gathering and the Ghang-gyen Monlam annual prayer festival in Dokham Zachukha.

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Protests and related events in November 2008

3 November On 3 November, a court in Barkham County of Ngaba Prefecture, Sichuan Province, sentenced Whelsa Norzin Wangmo of Kakhog County in the same prefecture to a jail term of 5 years, convicted for communicating information to the outside world through the internet and telephone. She had been arrested in March and continued to be kept under detention for more than 7 months. She was reported to have a son named Dhondup Dorje.

4 November At 2:00 PM on 4 November, the People’s Court of Ngaba County in Sichuan Province, under accusations of the crimes of "beating, smashing, looting, burning", imposed a jail sentence of 5 years on 26-year-old Dhargey (Rheytho) belonging to Ra Ruwa in Cha Township. Likewise, it sentenced 35-year-old Zamba and 36 year-old Lhundup of the Godotsang family, both belonging to Nagtshangma in Cha Township, to a jail term of four years each. A total of 61 people were reported to have attended their trial. Apart from one member from the families of each of the three accused Tibetans, the rest were all officials designated by the Chinese government. At the trial, the three accused Tibetans were allowed to say only few words; and that too was only for show as the matter was already decided beforehand. No right was given to the Tibetans to hire legal representatives of their own choice. The four had been held around 24 May 2008.

At around noon on 4 November, a large number of Chinese police personnel arrived at Labrang Tashikhyil Monastery and again took into custody monk Jigme Gyatso (nickname Goril, or bald-headed) of Phugde from the monastery’s Gyutoe Dratsang section. He had earlier been arrested by the Chinese authorities in March 2008. After being released later on, he posted online over Tibetan internet news services detailed information on how the Chinese government, for no reason at all, beat and torture Tibetan detainees on the basis of his own personal experiences during detention. In particular, on 3 September, he explained it all over the Tibetan language television broadcast service of the Voice of America, with the result that it reached a very wide audience across the world. Earlier, he had served as the head of the Labrang Tashikhyil monastic school, and as deputy-head of the monastery’s supervisory committee. Over a period of time it was not clear where he had gone or whether he was in hiding to avoid arrest. Anyhow, on that day he was arrested from his living quarter in the monastery.

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5 November On 5 November, the Intermediate People’s Court of Kardze Prefecture at Dartsedo in Sichuan Province sentenced monk Tsewang Dragpa from Draggo County to a jail term of 5 years for having taken part in the peaceful protest demonstration which had taken place at the county on 6 June. Likewise, monk Thubten Gyatso, belonging to Tawu County in the same prefecture, was jailed for 4 years; and monk Jhangsem Nyima (Karma Tsephel) belonging to Dzatoe County in Yushu Prefecture, Sichuan Province, was given a jail sentence of 3 years.

In the evening of 5 November, Choephel, aged 33, of the Burjamtsang family at Unit No. 2 of Me’u Ruma Township in Ngaba County, was sentenced to a jail term of 4 years. Tsedag of the Ra-tsang family, aged 31 years old, was jailed for 6 years. And Sangay (Tagho) of Ra Ruwa in Cha County in Ngaba County, aged 25 years old, was jailed for 4 years. During the very brief moment he was given to speak during the trial, Tsedag had said, “if the nation has suffered yuan losses, that is not a great deal. Tibet, on the other hand, suffered so many losses of its people.” For having spoken up thus, his jail sentence was increased by 2 more years.

On 5 November, a group of police personnel from Dzoege County of Ngaba Prefecture, Sichuan Province, intruded into Sogtshang Monastery in Thangkor Township. They interrogated the 16 monks who had recently been released and later took a group photo with them. The monastery continued to be under tight security controls with even a residence being under construction to house county Public Security Bureau officers and other officials for their continued stay.

6 November In the night of 6 November, three truckloads of pilgrims and visiting monk students from eastern Tibet were seen rounded up in Lhasa and taken away in the western direction of the city. No one knew whether they were arrested and jailed or being returned to their homes. However, many people townspeople in Lhasa were greatly worried over the matter.

Recently, the security clampdown throughout Tibet had been intensified. In particular, the security situation in different parts of Lhasa city, including the Bharkor area, was tight. All Tibetan residential homes were being searched. All guests and others who had come from outside the city and did not have their ID or registered residence in the city were being rounded up and sent back where they had originally come from. Security measures were especially and very openly strict against visiting monks from Dotoe and Domey and the pilgrims. Searches were being carried out with great strictness everywhere – on the streets, at people’s homes, monasteries, in the markets, and so on. Anyone found to be without a Lhasa personal ID or Lhasa residential permit were arrested and kept in detention under an enhanced security clampdown. In that atmosphere of great increase in the number of people under detention, the feeling of harassment among the city residents was so strong as to make them wonder whether at all there would be an end to the days and nights of unbearable sense of torment.

On 4 November, some 14 Tibetan pilgrims from Kham Za area of Sershul County, Sichuan Province, were arrested by the Bharkor area Public Security Bureau from near the Tsuglakhang and put under de-

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tention in the Bharkor police observation centre. The oldest among them was 75 years old and most of them were monks and nuns. Over recent days, monks and nuns had especially been banned from entering or leaving the city or going about within it. Anyone seen violating this ban was arrested at once. As a result, monks and nuns had become an extremely rare sight in the city.

On 6 November, the relevant people’s court at Dartsedo County, Sichuan Province, sentenced Lhatrug (or Lhagpa Choezom) of Kardze County and belonging to Kardze Dragkar Nunnery, aged 24, and Pema Choetso (Peypey), daughter of Rinchen Dorje of Bhandegang to jail terms of 4 years each. The two were also deprived of political rights for two years.

On 6 November, the people’s court of Ngaba County in Sichuan Province sentenced 36-year-old man named Rinchen (Nangrin) of Nagtsangma in Cha Township to a prison term of 11 years, convicting him for being the main person who pulled down and burned the Red Flag of communist China from the Township government building. And Namsey of Rong Mugu Dewa, aged 38 years old, was given a jail sentence of 4 years, convicted for being involved in “smashing, destruction, looting and arson” during protest. Like in all the other cases, they were not given opportunities such as being defended by lawyers of their choice.

7 November On 7 November, the Intermediate People’s Court of Lhasa City imposed a sentence of 15 years in jail on Yeshe Choedon, with deprivation of political rights for 5 years. And Sonam Tseten was given a jail sentence of 10 years, with deprivation of political rights for 5 years.

On 7 November, the Intermediate People’s Court at Dartsedo in Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, sentence nun Ngotshatshang Sonam Lhamo of Kardze Dragkar Nunnery to a prison term of 3 years.

Likewise, it sentenced nun Thubten Dolma from Dongra Drukha to a jail term of 4 years. The two nuns had staged a peaceful protest demonstration at Kardze County on 11 April.

10 November In the morning of 10 November, the Intermediate People’s Court of Kardze Prefecture at Dartsedo sentenced nun Lhamo Choetsho, aged 33 years old, of Kardze Dragkar Nunnery to a jail term of 4 years, and Sonam Dekyi, aged 30 years old, from the same nunnery to a jail term of 3 years. They were accused of campaigning for Tibet’s independence and of carrying out a separatist movement against the nation.

During trial, the two nuns had defiantly told the court that they struggle for Tibet’s independence because so long as that goal is not achieved the Tibetans did not have it in their fate to see His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

On 10 November, Jamyang Kyi, a Tibetan language presenter at the Qinghai Provincial television station, a famous singer and author was again arrested. No further details were given in the available reports.

However, after being in detention for a period of time, she was temporarily released in April this year after being made to pay a monetary fine. On 1 September, she put out online in Tibetan notes on the severe

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persecution and ill-treatment she had been put through during her detention. In addition, she also made online postings about the sentencing of Whelsa Norzin Wangmo some days before as well as about the re-arrest of monk Jigme of Phugde from Labrang Monastery in Sangchu County of Kanlho Prefecture, Gansu Province.

11 November On 11 November, 3 monks – Tsultrim Gyatso, Tsultrim Jungney, and Thubten, also known as Lobsang Thubten belonging to Thangkor Sogtsang Monastery in Dzoege County of Ngaba Prefecture, Sichuan Province – were sentenced to jail terms of 2 years each, and it was decided that they should be taken to a place called Meiyang within Sichuan Province. The three had been arrested during a peaceful protest in March.

14 November At 9:30 AM on 14 November, the Intermediate People’s Court of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, sentence monk Palden Trinley, aged 20, of Kardze Monastery to a jail term of 7 years, convicted for having shouted slogans calling for Tibet’s independence and protesting against the Chinese government.

Along with four friends, he had, on 18 May, gone to Kardze county market carrying with them a large bag filled with leaflet and managing somehow to enter the market. Having done so, they shouted slogans and distributed or scattered the leaflets. During the course of it, Chinese soldiers arrived and beat them with great severity with the butts of their guns and in other ways. They then dumped them into an army truck, barely alive, and took them away to be held in detention.

On 14 November, about 15 monks of Ngoe Tsenshab Gyatsoling, located in Palbar County of Chamdo Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, were released. These monks had been visiting students at the Ghungru Khangtsen in Drepung monastery, Lhasa, for nearly a year when they took part in the protests in the city in March. They were eventually arrested on 18 March, subjected to severe beatings, and held in detention in prison for about 5 months in Lhasa. They were then jailed in Chamdo for one month before being taken to Pelbar County on 14 November. At Pelbar County, the township leaders and officials of the monastery were summoned to be told that not only were the monks henceforth prohibited from carrying out any kind of separatist activities but also they were to be kept under round the clock surveillance.

They were also prohibited from rejoining their monastery. With these and a truly large number of other conditions, the monks were temporarily released. The main reason for their release was that they were all yet to reach 18 years of age, according to the Chinese government order.

17 November On 17 November, the Intermediate People's Court of Kardze Prefecture at Dartsedo imposed a jail sentence of four years, with deprivation of political rights thereafter for 2 years, on 32-year-old monk Yeshe Dorje of Kharnang Gon monastery in Kardze County, Sichuan Province. China’s official media had reported that he had staged a protest demonstration and distributed leaflets at the county government seat area on 12 June.

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19 November On 19 November, the Intermediate People's Court of Kardze Prefecture at Dartsedo sentenced Dorje Khando, a nun at Ganden Choeling Nunnery, to a prison term of 7 years. She was among those who had taken part in a peaceful protest demonstration at Kardze County on 14 May. On 19 November (the 22nd day of 10th month by traditional Tibetan calendar), the court of Luchu County in Kanlho Prefecture, Gansu Province, sentenced monk Choedak Gyatso (aged 26) of Shitsang Garsar Gonpa and held in detention in Tsoe City to a prison term of 8 years. It also sentenced monk Jamyang Tenpa, aged 25, to a jail term of 7 years, and laymen Bhowu Rhi, aged 60, and Dhargey, aged 19, to a jail term of 2 years and six months each. Laymen Bhowu Rhi, mentioned in this case, was subjected to inhuman atrocities, including with beating and pouring of hot water into his mouth, after he shouted slogans in prison.

20 November At around 5:00 PM on 20 November, a young man in his 20s had shouted slogans in support of Tibetan independence in the Bharkor area of Lhasa city. At that time, he was seized by police and other security personnel and severely beaten while being arrested. It was not possible to obtain further information about the case.

24 November On 20 September, the people’s court of Sangchu County in Kanlho Prefecture, Gansu Province, sentenced monk Lobsang, aged 36, of the Geden Chophel Ling Monastery at Tsayue Township to a lengthy prison term of 21 year. It also sentenced Konchog Jinpa, aged 33-34, and from the same monastery, to a prison term of 12 years. These two monks had taken part in a peaceful protest demonstration on18 March and were among 26 monks arrested for it on 23 March.

26 November On 26 November, a Work Team of Chinese officials arrived at Dechen Choeling monastery in Bazin Township and issued an order saying only 40 monks were allowed to remain as resident monks there. The decree was announced in a highly intimidating manner laced with threats. “In July this year, you refused an order to fly the Red Flag of communist China over the monastery or to allow a video shooting of this order being carried out. Now, you must work out as soon as possible the 40 monks who are to remain in this monastery, whether you do that by lot drawing, seniority, or whatever.”

On 26 November, Jampa Gyaltsen, the abbot of Woeser Monastery in Markham County of Chamdo Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, was arrested from the monastery by the relevant unit of the county police. His whereabouts were reported to have remained unknown ever since.

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November 2008, dates not clear More names were newly learnt about Tibetans who had died in connection with the peaceful protest demonstrations in March.

Sonam Phuntsog, born at Meypa De, Chagso Tengpa in Markham County of Chamdo Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region. For having taken part in the 14 March protest demonstrations, Chinese police, army and others arrived at his home in the night of 16 March and subjected him to brutal beatings in the course of arresting him. His wife pleaded with the security personnel not to beat her husband and kept clinging to them. The Chinese security forces knocked her unconscious with a vicious cane blow on her head. After the Chinese forces took away Sonam Phuntsog, his blind wife passed away.

Later on 18 March, Sonam Phuntsog, along with a number of other Tibetans, shouted slogans in prison, saying Tibet was an independent country and prayed for His Holiness the Dalai Lama to live for ten thousand years. Prison guards severely beat the prisoners, especially targeting Sonam Phuntsog for even more vicious treatment, including by being hit on his head with electric baton. Reports said he died in prison because of it. Reports suggested that at that time other Tibetan detainees had also died.

The couple was known by everyone in Lhasa, for they had, for the past more than 20 years, earned their living by begging for alms by the gate of the Ramoche Temple. One place where they usually lived was in the Karma Gonsar area. The couple had two sons who were aged 9 and 7. Both were left without anyone to look after them.

Jampa Lhamo, aged about 45, born in Khyungpo Tengchen area of Chamdo Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, and a permanent resident of Lhasa Ramoche area. She was arrested on 29 March and kept on being beaten brutally during detention. When finally released she was in such debilitated condition as to be beyond recovery despite medical care being given and she died in November.

Tenzin Norbu, born in Maldrogungkar County of Lhasa City. He was arrested in connection with the protest demonstrations which took place in Lhasa and Phenpo County in March. He was subjected to savage beatings during detention in Phenpo area and the relevant county government authorities eventually delivered his dead body to his family. The report was not clear about the exact places of his arrest or detention and other details. He had a wife and three children, aged 1 to 7 years old.

Ngawang Tsering, born at Meypa De in Markham County of Chamdo Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region. He had gone to the People’s Hospital in Lhasa city on 13 March after being in grave illness.

Doctors there told him that he needed blood transfusion. On the following day, when there were massive peaceful Tibetan protest demonstrations in the city, followed by bloodshed by the Chinese security forces in reprisal actions, order was issued not to give any blood transfusion to any Tibetan patient as all stocks of blood should be held in reserve for possible requirement for Chinese security forces. As a result, all the numerous pleas for the blood transfusion to be carried out fell on deaf ears and he died in the hospital.

(It was not clear whether the hospital in question was the Tibet Autonomous Region People’s Hospital or the Lhasa city People’s Hospital.)

In November 2008, 81-year-old Paljor Norbu, who was earlier arrested in Lhasa on 31 October, was

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given a jail sentence of 7 years.

Of the about 20 monks from Sog County in Nagchu Prefecture arrested from Sera Monastery in March, three monks belonging to Sog Tsenden Monastery – namely Choeying Nyinda, Choeying Kunga and another monk – were released at the beginning of November. However, all were banned from rejoining Sera Monastery and sent back to their homes. At that’s time, 49 days had just been completed since monk Choeying Nyinda’s father had died. And he became an orphan, with neither of his parents being alive.

Information emerged that in November a monk at Samye Monastery had been driven to commit suicide during the period tourists and others were under a ban from visiting the monastery. The monk had been born in Nyemo County of Lhasa City and his name was Namdrol Kha-khyab. He was a monk of Dorje Drag Monastery in Lhokha and aged anywhere from 20 to 30 years old. He was regularly attending religious class at Samye Monastery. He had left behind a note just before his death, saying no one else at the monastery was guilty, that he alone was responsible. The suicide took place in his living room.

In November, Monk Trinley (Trintse) of Ngaba Kirti Monastery, aged 29 years old, was imposed a jail sentence of 9 years by a court at Barkham County, the main centre of Ngaba Prefecture. He was among the monks arrested during a search operation carried out by the Chinese security forces at Kirti Ngaba Monastery on 28 March.

Likewise, monk Jamyang Nyima, aged 30 and belonging to Ngaba Kirti Dongri Gon, was sentenced by the Ngaba County Court to a jail term of 2 years. He was arrested on 30 March and thereafter held at various detention centres before being finally tried and sentenced.

It was reported that in March, there was a strong protest demonstration in Ngamey (ie, Lower Ngaba) Akhyam Township of Ngaba County too, leading to many local Tibetans being arrested after it. Among them, a man named Pelgye was given a jail sentence of 13 years, Phagpa was given 12 years, and Woeden was given 9 years. In addition, 7 other Tibetans were given a 2 year jail term each. However, information about their names and the date(s) of the sentences were not available.

In November, the Intermediate People’s Court of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, sentenced Trizur Tagya (Tashi Gyatso), former head of Tehor Dza Gonsar monastery in Dege County of Kardze Prefecture to a prison term of 3 years. It also sentenced Gen Lo-Dhonyoe to a jail term of 6 years and layman Lhagpa Tsering to 7 years. All three had been arrested on 27 April for refusing to sign a document in connection with the Chinese “Love your nation, love your religion” campaign. Umzey (religious chant leader) Samphel was released after about 5 months.

Again in November, Tsering Phuntsog, a 42-year-old monk of Khangmar Monastery in Kardze County of Sichuan Province was sentenced to a jail term of 2 and half years; 27-year-old monk Yeshi Dhargey to 3 years; 37-year-old monk Soega to 1 year and 9 months; and 36-year-old monk Sherab to 3 years. The sentences were not publicly announced. They had been arrested after the peaceful protest demonstration at Kardze County on 22 June. Also, a layman named Palden Wangyal, aged 20 years old and belonging to Wozang Village in Kardze County, was sentenced to a jail term of 2 years. He had participated in a protest demonstration at Kardze County on 11 June.

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When the Chinese authorities again prepared to launch a “Love your nation, love your religion” political education and other campaigns at Tongkhor Nyikhog Dhargyeling Monastery in Kardze County, all the lamas and monks took a collective pledge not to accede to them. In fact, they had even planned to carry out a resolute protest were such campaigns carried out at the monastery.

In another development, monks Lobsang Ngodup and Thubten Ngodup of Nyikhog Dhargyeling Monastery in Kardze County and Tulku Lobsang Kalden of Bum Choegon, all studying at Sera Monastery in Lhasa at that time, had been arrested on 14 April for having shouted slogans on the Bharkor and so on while taking part in the protest demonstrations in Lhasa at that time. For nearly 7 months since then, ie, till 11 November, they were detained in prison and subjected to all manners of persecution and torture. At that time, like in all other parts of Tibet, at Nyikhog too, the communist Chinese government deployed armed troops to intimidate the Tibetan public and also called many meetings with a view to prevent in every way the Tibetan people from ever rising again and there were many reports about them. Within the area of Nyikhog, the Chinese government, like in all other parts of Tibet, banned the Tibetan people from travelling and all communications, including by telephone, with people outside the area. Again, on a date which was not clear, a Tibetan man named Dorje Tsering had tried to stage a protest demonstration in front of the Chinese government offices at Nyikhog, only to be severely beaten and arrested. However, later he had managed to win his release after being made to pay a monetary fine.

In April 2008, the Chinese government had tried to arrest Tashi Wangchuk, aged 38 (born in the year of Pig), father’s name late Nyichen and mother’s name Norsey, and his friend Nyima Dagpa, both belonging to Chongzhi village in Mazi township of Tawu County, Sichuan Province, for having allegedly sent out information to foreign countries. However, both managed to give police the slip and fled into the mountains. In November, both of them disappeared.

Information was received saying Dorje Tashi, an 18-year-old son of the Nubchogtsang family and whose father’s name was Phuntsog Palden and mother’s name Lhamo and who belonged to Bandegang in Kardze County of Sichuan Province, as well as 22-year old Tbubten Palden, father’s name Deden and mother’s name Deyga, had been arrested. They were said to be still held in detention, although there was no information regarding the date of their arrest and so on.

Recently, a court in Dartsedo County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, had sentenced a man named Bumga belonging to Gonjo County in Chamdo Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, to a jail term of 6 years. He had taken part in a peaceful protest demonstration at Serta County of Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, in May.

A report said that a man named Tashi Woeser from Chamdo was given a jail sentence of one year after a policeman overheard him asking a contact in Lhasa over mobile phone whether Tibet will get its independence.

Of the around 40 Tibetans arrested from the Dege Jomda County area of Chamdo Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, in connection with the protests during the recent Tibetan uprising, 5 had disappeared.

In November, the people’s court of Chamdo County sentenced 45-year-old Jamyang Tsering and 40-yearold A-nyog to a prison term of 2 years. The others were released.

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Protests and related events in December 2008

1 December On 1 December, many people in Kardze County of Sichuan Province, being greatly saddened by a recent order from the relevant authorities of the county government, wrote letters and appeals to the government on their own, asking that the order be not implemented. The order was to shut down a school and a clinic being run by Khangsar Kyabgon Tulku and a clinic and the Kardze County Tibetan language middle school being run by Lamdag Tulku. At the moment of ordering the school to shut down, the Chinese government greatly strengthened the deployment of troops and their frequent surprise patrolling. In addition, since recently, most of the monasteries, including Kardze Monastery, were called to meetings, at which all sorts of lectures were given, with design to prevent further protests. For example, the monasteries were told that if they needed their old prayer assembly halls to be renovated, or if they needed to build new stupas, the national Government would take care of everything. At the same time, however, they warned the monks and nuns against creating further disturbances. Order was issued for the monks and nuns to be issued new identity cards. Another order which was strongly stressed by the officials was that the many privately operated schools in the Domey region of Tibet should now be merged with government-run schools.

3 December On 3 December, the people’s court of Serta County sentenced Menkyab to a prison term of 2 and half years, Ghosoe to 2 years, and Rigdag of Tshabtsha to 1 year. On 1 December, some of the family members of these three Tibetans were summoned to Serta County to not only learn that they had been imposed monetary fines totaling 100,000 yuan but also to see them unrecognizable because of all the brutal beatings they had been subjected to. In particular, Rigdag of Tshabtsha was so ill that soldiers had to carry him to the place where the punishment was read out. Nevertheless, he had never been given any medical care.

9 December On 9 December, Sangga, aged 33, a former political prisoner who was a monk of the Bon monastery of Togden and who belonged to Hortsang family at Unit No. 2 of Thewu Town in Ngaba County, Sichuan Province, was given a jail term of 8 years. The Intermediate People’s Court of Ngaba Prefecture con-

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victed him for leaking information which were state secrets outside and so on. He was earlier arrested from Ngaba County by the Public Security Bureau of Ngaba Prefecture on 13 August 2008 and taken to Chengdu city, the government seat of Sichuan Province. Some 3 months later, he was taken to Barkham, the location of the government seat of Ngaba Prefecture, where he was kept on a starvation diet for about 3 months while being tormented with all manners of beating and torture. As a result, he was reported to be in an extremely weak physical condition. These facts became known to the people who knew him only after he was tried and sentenced. Following that development, his parents and close relatives rushed to see him, where only the parents and one sibling were allowed only a brief moment of meeting. None of the other relatives and friends was permitted to see him. He was to be taken to a Chinese place called Meinyang in Sichuan Province to serve his jail sentence.

18 December On 18 December, a Work Team of Chinese government cadres summoned a meeting of the Tibetan public of Ringpo Unit 5 in Zongtsa Township, Bathang County, at a place called Dulwa Village. At the meeting, the Chinese officials explained the nature of the relationship between China and the “Dalai clique”, saying the two were enemies and rivals, and locked in a life and death struggle. It was, therefore, strictly forbidden for anyone to maintain any sort of connection with the “Dalai clique”. They announced that those who voluntarily surrender pictures of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, video CDs from the “Dalai clique”, and CD’s of Geshe examinations from India will be rewarded. Then, with a glare of great menace, they said that if that requirement is not complied with and such incriminating materials are found during a door-to-door search of each home to be carried out, the punishment would be very severe. Concerned leaders of the Tibetan public then responded by saying if that was just an announcement, they would abide by it; however, if they were really going to carry out door-to-door searches, then it was beyond their power to guarantee anything. The Chinese officials did not give any specific answer and left in a huff. And the people were left in a state of uncertainty, with fear and anxiety gnawing at their hearts.

21 December At 8:30 PM on 21 December, all the students of the Tibetan Language Department of Beijing Nationalities University of China lighted butter lamps and said prayers in their school compound to observe the Tibetan Buddhist festival of Ganden Ngamchoe. High level officials and teachers of the university stopped them by saying it was not allowed. The students were then reported to have continued to observe the festival in their own dormitories.

23 December On 23 December, a news conference was called in Lhasa at which it was announced by the deputy director of the Lhasa City Public Security Bureau, Mr. Xin Yuanming, that after the 4-13 incident of “beating, smashing, looting, and burning”, some miscreants had deliberately spread false rumours under the influence of the plots and instigations of the Dalai separatist clique, creating enmity between nationalities and thereby disturbing the security situation of the country and among people. Because of it, the Lhasa City Public Security Bureau especially constituted a leading committee in a timely manner to deal with the

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situation and found out 49 cases, leading to the arrest of 59 people involved in them. The creating and spreading of false rumours had severely affected the image of the party and government, and the people’s sense of security. On the basis of the stand adopted by the Tibet Autonomous Regional committee of the Communist Party of China, the Tibet Autonomous Region Government, as well as the Lhasa city committee of the Communist Party of China and the Lhasa city government, the Public Security Bureau of Lhasa City especially set up in a timely manner a leading committee to launch a crackdown on the fabrication of rumours and spreading of rumours. For this purpose 108 police personnel were especially deputed and they were divided into 14 groups of Work Teams to especially crackdown on the fabrication of rumours and spreading of rumours.

He also said that recently, a minority of criminal violators in Lhasa city had illegally downloaded from the internet reactionary songs and also, using CDs, MP3s, MP4, and other electronic devices, sold them to the general public in an attempt to make improper profits and also violated and destroyed the political and social stability in Lhasa city. And he said that since 4 December this year, 5 criminal suspects had been arrested by the Lhasa city Public Security Bureau from the Nyiwoe Island wholesale market for miscellaneous goods, the Thanhai night market and other places in Lhasa city for trying to make illegal profits by trying to use the internet and other communication devices to transmit reactionary contents. In the case of those criminal suspects who had already been arrested previously by the Lhasa City Public Security Bureau in connection with matters pertaining to such cases as the present, investigation and persecution were being carried out with even greater seriousness. He further said that the Lhasa city Public Security Bureau would continue to pursue with special seriousness the crackdown on the criminal misconduct of fabricating rumours and spreading rumours.

29 December On 29 December, Konchog Dolma, the about 29-year-old young daughter of father Tsewang Gonpo and mother Lhamo Yangkyi belonging to Kardze Khungdo Village, staged a protest demonstration at Tagchuda, a spot in Kardze Town known for its large gathering of people. She shouted slogans calling for Tibet’s independence and distributed or threw in the air hundreds of leaflets. Within minutes, a Chinese army motor vehicle and more than 10 Chinese police turned up and subjected her to severe beating as they carried out her arrest. However, even as she was being taken away by force, she was heard to keep shouting, “May Gyalwa Tenzin Gyatso live for ten thousand years!” Less than an hour after that, a large number of Chinese soldiers were deployed at the Kardze County town area where the security clampdown was greatly intensified. This was the last call for Tibet’s independence known to have been raised from throughout Tibet in the year 2008.

December 2008, dates not clear In December 2008, Sonam Yarphel, 28-year-old son of Loga (father) belonging to Chogri Dhilyul Village in Tehor Township of Kardze County, Sichuan Province, was tried and convicted by the Intermediate People’s Court of Kardze Prefecture for communicating abroad information about the peaceful protests which had taken place in the Chogri area and sentenced him to a jail term of 12 years. Following conviction, he was taken to a place called Tianjin to serve his prison sentence. He had been arrested by the Chinese authorities on 2 April 2008 and was accused of having communicated abroad information about

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the Tibetan protests which had taken place in the Chogri area on 24 and 25 March 2008.

Four Tibetans had been convicted and sentenced by the Kardze Intermediate People’s Court to a prison term of 3 years each for being the leaders of the peaceful protest which had taken place at Kardze County on 18 March. They were, 1) Pema Dechen of the Kardze Ta-gyug Tengtsang family, 2) Wozang Tashi Palden, 3) Goga (Gonpo Gyaltsen), and 4) Tsangkhatsang Sangpo. It was not clear in which month and on what date the sentencing took place. Initially the four were kept under detention at Kardze County. Later they were taken to Nyarong County but later brought back to Kardze County where they were detained for one more month. They were to be taken to a place in China after their sentencing.

Also, the Kardze Intermediate People’s Court had already tried and sentenced two monks of Tsitshang Monastery – Tenzin Ngodup and Ogyen Tashi – to a jail term of 3 years each. Tenzin Ngodup had staged a peaceful protest demonstration a Kardze County on 20 May 2008. And Ogyen Tashi had staged a peaceful protest demonstration at Kardze County on 22 May. According to a new information received in December 2008, Lobsang Sherab, an about 26-year-old monk of Ngaba Kirti Monastery who was previously arrested in Lhasa in March along with several other monks of Kirti Monastery, had been sentenced to a jail term of 1 year and 2 months and was now in a prison in Lhasa. He was among the first group of monks who had in 2007 begun carrying out whitewashing work at Drepung Monastery when the US Congress announced the award of its Gold Medal to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He managed to escape arrest at that time.

Choepe, the younger son of the woman named Nechung who belonged to Cha Township in Ngaba County of Sichuan Province and who had died after her arrest during the large-scale peaceful protest demonstrations in Lhasa, was released on medical parole after being made to pay a fine of 15,000 yuan. And her elder son, Takho, just about managed to secure his release, but only after being made to pay a mammoth fine of 50,000 yuan.

According to information received in December 2008, Choepa Thar of Luchu County, Gansu Province, was imposed a jail sentence of 3 years after being charged with being one of the ringleaders of the peaceful protest which occurred during the year in Rebgong County of Malho Prefecture, Qinghai Province, and held guilty for destroying social stability. Along with him, Tashi Gyal of Rebgong County, Dong-nge Namkha Tsering, Ngomo Tashi Gyal, Gyalwo Gang Choeden, and Hornag Shawo Rinchen were given a jail sentence of 2 years each. And Dong-nge Shawo Tashi and monk Jinpa of Rongwo Monastery were sentenced to a jail term of 1 year and 6 month each. Finally, Kelgyam of Kowu-de was jailed for 1 year.

No further details about these cases could be obtained.

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Protests and related events in January 2009

2 January 2009 On 2 January 2009, Guru Dorje, belonging to Drukhangteng in Kadrag Township, located near Kardze County, Sichuan Province, had to be released on medical parole on a guarantee of good conduct given through the concerned authorities of the county government. He was one of the participants in the peaceful protest which took place at Kardze County on 18 March 2008. On 28 March he was arrested by the concerned authorities of Kardze County and subjected to beatings and torture of unimaginable brutality and violence. Recently the People’s Court at Kardze County had sentenced him to a jail term of 3 years.

Following his arrest, his wife, Sherab Yangtso, aged in her 40s, was plunged to such scale of sorrow that she lost her sanity. As a result, she refused to stay at home but kept wandering about and on 19 April died in that state of affair. Guru Dorje was a father of four and had two of his children still saying at home; they were too young to understand anything or to even look after themelves. As a result, it was some fellow villagers who went to hospital to bring him home on his release on medical parole. However, before his release into their care, the Public Security Bureau of the Chinese government made it clear that he was not supposed to engage in protest and other related actions if he was to recover from his current state of illness and so required his fellow villagers to given an undertaking on that by signing their names. It also became clear that while being taken to hospital for medical treatment, Guru Dorje needed to be supported on both his right and left sides by two people, for there was absolutely no way he could walk on his own.

From this it should become obvious to all of us Tibetans in exile to have a sense of solidarity with and a feeling of appreciation for the courage of those in Tibet and so should not waste even a minute of our time while holding our heads high, thumping our chests and going hand-in-hand, shoulder-to-shoulder with the aspiration of those in Tibet.

On 2 January, Yangkyi, a 28-year-old Dragkar nun who was the daughter of Late Mr Tha Tsering and late Mrs Tenchoe Kyi and who originally belonged to Village Number Four of Serchuteng Township in Kardze County, Sichuan Province, was sentenced to a jail term of 1 year and 9 months. She was among a group of nuns who had taken out a peaceful protest demonstration at Kardze County on 12 May 2008.

5 January On 5 January, a 32-year-old layman named Ngawang Sonam who belonged to Horpo Dewa in Tsogo Township of Kardze County, Sichuan Province, staged a protest demonstration in front of the county Public Security Bureau office, shouting slogans for Tibetan independence and scattering large number of leaflets in the shape and size of wind horse paper prayer pieces. A group of policemen came and fired

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some tear gas shells at him. They then beat him and took him away in their motor vehicle. This was among the first protests for Tibet’s independence to take place in the year 2009.

At 01:00 AM on 5 January, there were two bomb explosions at the Choekhor Township government building located near Den Choekhor Monastery in Jomda County of Chamdo Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region. Two motor vehicles belonging to the township government were destroyed. The building was also reported to have suffered extensive damage, although there were no reports of any human casualty.

A group constituted from both Chamdo Prefecture and Jomda County, consisting of top Public Security Bureau officials, county governor and so on, investigated the incident but was reported to have failed to solve it. About two months earlier, many posters were seen put up in the area and many telephone calls made to the Township government office from unknown sources demanding that the practicing of song and dance performances in the area in preparation for sending a troupe to stage a presentation in Lhasa be stopped. The posters and the telephone calls also, likewise, called for Tibet’s independence. The practicing of song and dance performances were said to be taking place on orders from officials of the Tibet Autonomous Region and was said by some to be meant for celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the launch of “democratic reforms” in Tibet and by others as being meant for celebrations marking the 30th anniversary of the reform and opening up of Tibet. Whatever be the case, while the investigation into the bomb explosions was going on, three large trucks and two smaller motor vehicles had arrived in the area to transport the area’s performing artists to Lhasa.

7 January On 7 January, a young Tibetan man named Namkha Sonam staged a protest demonstration at Kardze County town, shouting slogans such as “May the Gyalwa Tenzin Gyatso live for ten thousand years!” and so on. He also threw leaflets into the air. Less than 15 minutes after he began his protest, county police arrived on the scene and kept beating him severely as they arrested him. Namkha Sonam is 27 years old and belongs to the Zongetsang family in Serchuteng Township in Kardze County, Sichuan Province. A day after his arrest, his father, elder brother and others went to the County Public Security Bureau to appeal for his release. But it proved futile and he continued to remain under detention.

8 January On 8 January, Vice Minister of the Central United Front Work Department of the Communist Party of China Mr Zhu Weiqun met with the members of the Chinese government-appointed Work Team and Democratic Management Committee of Drepung Monastery in Lhasa and said that it was undoubtedly owing to the combined efforts of these two bodies that the normal religious order and routine could be restored at the monastery. In addition, he gave clear direction for the successful completion of the process for the restoration of stability at the monastery and for strengthening the education in patriotism there.

However, quite to the contrary, since 10 March 2008, not only was there no occasion for any normal conduct of religious activities at the monastery, but this great seat of religious learning in Central Tibet was, like in the case of others, shut down for a long time. The reality was that, save only in the use of the term, the situation was as if the Cultural Revolution had been revived in Tibet again. In addition, one very unfortunate aspect about the situation there that we would like to point out is that to the Chinese government, the use of the word “stability” is just like holding up a banner. The fact of the matter was that the Chinese have put an end to the thousands of years of practice prevalent across the three traditional prov-

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inces of Tibet by which monks from Dotoe and Domey regions visited the great seats of religious learning in Central Tibet as resident visiting students by turning back such students. Even religious scripture tutor Amdo Konchog Nyima was not allowed to remain at his own monastery; rather, he was forced to return to his native place. Gendun Lobsang Wangchuk of Lhasa was beaten without any kind of restraint or limit, with the result that he became blind; still, this innocent person continues to be imprisoned in a dark cell.

Likewise, there is among those still in detention a monk named Ngawang Dhondham who is a former Gekoe (Discipline Master) at the monastery and who was originally from Toelung. This totally innocent man was beaten with such great severity that he is now unable even to hold his eating bowl. Under the banner of stability being held up by the Chinese government, 42 monks of Drepung Monastery were arrested, of them a section was tried and given jail sentences ranging from 2 to 15 years. Among them was a monk named Ngawang Choenyi of Lhasa who was given a jail sentence or 15 years.

10 January From around 5:00 PM on 10 January, more than 200 monks of Den Choekhor Monastery led a crowd of more than 300 people to the Den Choekhor Qu (sub-district) government office and told the authorities there: “Speaking as a Tibetan people, we feel that holding the song and dance celebrations in Lhasa is not at all right. As the old Tibetan saying goes, it will be like beating the drum of victory over the killing of one’s father; and killing a dong (ie, wild yak) and putting a flag of its tail over it. It will therefore never do to take the Tibetan singers and dancers, both men and women, to Lhasa. The reason for this is absolutely clear to you all. Since the first bloodshed in Lhasa on 14 March 2008, Tibetans throughout Dotoe, Domey and U-Tsang have staged peaceful protest demonstrations in their pursuit of their struggle for their just cause. Because of that, they are now suffering the hell of the dead on this earth, the land of the living.

Holding celebrations with singing and dancing is absolutely unthinkable in such a circumstance.” And so they protested, with great show of indignation. At that time, the officials present in the office sought to intimidate them with a show of great anger by saying, “What you have done this time is an extremely serious matter. Very soon soldiers, paramilitary People’s Armed Police Force personnel and others will come to your place from Chamdo, Jomda and other places. The consequences of what you have done now will surely become very clear then.” Nevertheless, the monks and the laypeople remained defiant in their protest, undeterred by the threats and determined to get their way. From about 5:00 PM to 12:00 midnight, they kept pushing their demands while continuing to be strong in their protests. Their main contention was that in such an extremely dark month and year as the present, being coerced to perform songs and dances is surely an extreme form of denigration, contempt, and bullying of the Tibetan people.

They also criticized the Chinese government for speaking about guarantees of freedom of religious belief and worship but not implementing it in practice. The Tibetan protesters also told the officials with feelings of great indignity that during the year so many helpless Tibetans throughout Tibet who had appealed for truth and justice had been charged with all kinds of criminal offences and were still being persecuted with all manners of unimaginable beating and torture. They demanded that the evidences for the alleged criminal wrongdoings be presented before the international community as well as the nations and peoples of the world who love truth and justice.

13 January On 13 January, four truckloads of Chinese People’s Armed Police Force and soldiers arrived near the gate of Den Choekhor Monastery and staged a highly intimidating war exercise. Because of the strength

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of determination shown by the local Tibetan people, the decision to send local Tibetan cultural song and dance performers to Lhasa was put off. However, the authorities now became very hostile to the local Tibetan people on whom they have since been carrying out a “love your nation, love your religion” political campaign with great viciousness and there was no knowing what it will lead to.

14 January In the evening of 14 January, a large number of posters were seen posted everywhere along the streets of Rongwo Gonchen monastery, announcing a decision not to celebrate the coming Tibetan New Year with festivities in Rebgong County of Malho Prefecture, Qinghai Province. In addition, the month before, several monks had phoned the depons (clan community leaders) of the Depas (ie, clan communities) in the county, explaining the reason for the boycott call.

15 January A report suggested that sometime between 5 and 6 PM on 15 January, Lobsang Kirti, a monk of Kirti Monastery and son of the Yanglitsang family in Ruchen No. 1 and resident of Meruma Township was arrested from a photocopying shop by the Public Security Bureau of Ngaba County in Sichuan Province on suspicion of having distributed posters. Lobsang Kirti had earlier studied at the Buddhist dialectics school for the youth at Kirti Monastery and had also written several articles in magazines, newspapers, and so on. He was also an editorial board member of Ghangtsey Metog (Snow mountaintop Flower).

16 January On 16 January, Jamshe-la, the Umzey (religious chant master) of Den choekhor Monastery in Jomda County of Chamdo Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, was arrested and it was not clear where he was taken away eventually. Initially he was taken to Jomda County on the pretext of having to attend a meeting there as the authorities otherwise feared protest by the Tibetan public. However, on arriving at the county, he was put in another motor vehicle and driven away.

17 January At10:00 AM on 17 January, a young man named Wanglo, son of Lobsang Palden (father) and Khando (mother), and belonging to Phusum Village in Rongtsha Township of Kardze County, Sichuan Province, distributed as well as threw in the air in front of the county post office leaflet calling for Tibetan independence. He also shouted slogans calling for Tibet’s independence. The Chinese police while arresting him beat him with great severity with sticks and the butts of their guns.

18 January On 18 January, the Chinese government launched a 42-day winter Strike Hard campaign in Tibet’s capital Lhasa with a view to prevent political protests and to maintain stability. In connection with this, an office of social stability was set up and its officials raided homes of the Tibetan people in Lhasa as well as restaurants and guesthouses. Reports said further actions of the Chinese authorities included the interrogation of 5,766 Tibetan people considered as suspects on various grounds.

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20 January At about 3:40 PM on 20 January, three Tibetan youths – Pema Tsepag, aged 24 years old (mother’s name Dolkar Tsomo) and belonging to Dzogang Punda Township in Dzogang County of Chamdo Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region; Trinley, aged 24 years old (mother’s name Pelzom) and belonging to Chinda Village in Wuyag Township, and Yang Dhargey, aged 23 years old (father’s name Choeden Nyima and mother’s name Sonam Dolma) and also belonging to Chinda Village – staged a protest demonstration through the Dzogang County market. Carrying a Tibetan national flag, they shouted slogans such as “May Tibet’s independence and His Holiness the Dalai Lama live for ten thousand years!” “Invite His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet at the earliest!” “Tibet wants freedom of religious belief and human rights!”

“All the Tibetan people of the Three Cholkhas, don’t celebrate Losar this year!” “Please observe this year as a year of mourning!” “All the tsampa eating Tibetans, rise up!” “Insect eating Chinese people, go back!” These slogans were also written on a stretch banner the protesters carried as they marched from the beginning to the end of the county market area, lasting for a period of 40 minutes or so. They then continued their march toward the office of the county Public Security Bureau. However, as they arrived close to the place, about 40 policemen arrived and arrested them at once. They beat them with greatest of severity until it became difficult to know whether they were alive or dead. Others who got arrested the trio included Dechen Dolma, a 19-year-old girl whose mother’s name was Lo Lhadon and who belonged to Punda Township in Dzogang County; Trinley Gyatso, a 44-yar-old man whose father’s name was Tsultrim Dragpa and who belonged to Ukar Village; Lumeytsang Norbu Tashi, a 9-year-old man belonging to Uyag Township, and Lo Lhatso, a 27-year-old woman whose mother’s name was Godo Tsomo and who belonged to Chinda Village in Uyag Township. Their arrests took place at different times.

On 20 January, monk Lotse belonging to Lithang Yoenru and monk Tangma Dhondup belonging to Lithang Othog, were arrested by the Chinese army from the border between Nepal and Tibet and placed under detention. They two had recently gone to India and Nepal for pilgrimage on passports issued by the Chinese government and were returning home after completing their religious trips. The reason for their arrest appeared to be that during a search of their belongings Chinese soldiers reportedly found pictures of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, a video CD of long-life offering to His Holiness the Dalai Lama made by the people of Lithang the year before, and a copy of the Memorandum on Genuine Autonomy for the Tibetan People presented recently by the Tibetan government in exile to the Chinese government.

21 January On 21 January, a large number of women and children from the around 50 Tibetan families at Ukar Village in Punda Township of Tsawa Dzogang County proceeded toward the county government seat with a view to appeal for the release of their men folks who were arrested the day before. However police stopped them at the township border and did not allow them to continue to the county government seat area.

23 January On 23 January, sad news emerged of the hospital death of Pema Tsepag of Dzogang Punda Township in Dzogang County of Chamdo Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, who had taken part in the protest

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demonstration at Dzogang County market on 20 January. Because he was subjected to savage beating by the Chinese security forces, Pema Tsepag had sustained serious injuries to his intestine and kidneys, he had to be taken to the Dzogang County hospital. However, the hospital could not treat him and he had to be taken to the Chamdo Prefectural hospital. However, there too, he did not get any better and he died there. After his death, the authorities did not hand over his body to his family for the purposes of performing the last rites; rather, the concerned local authorities used coercion to get it burned. Besides, the seriously injured boys Yang Dhargey and Trinley Ngodup were locked up in Chamdo County prison while Norbu Tashi was jailed in Dzogang County jail. The others were reported to have been released over a period of time.

24 January On 24 January, 7 monks of Den Choekhor Monastery – namely, the serving Umzey (religious chant master) Nyima Tsering, Gekoe (discipline master) Lhundup, Ex-Gekoe Nyichey, Ex-Gekoe Tsering Palden, former storekeeper Ngawang Tashi, Tado, Tashi Dawa – were arrested and held under detention at Jomda County jail. They were not allowed any meeting with friends, relatives and so on of any kind. Besides, the monastery’s serving abbot, Tenzin Gyaltsen, too had been under detention and his whereabouts still remained unknown. Besides, two other monks – Tseten Sonam and Choekyong – had been arrested several times and beaten so brutally each time that they were now barely able to walk.

27 January In the night of 27 January, instructions were given by the concerned local authorities in the Dege Gonchen area of Dege County in Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province, ordering the holding of celebrations during the upcoming Tibetan New Year. In particular, when Chinese officials enjoyed themselves by singing and dancing in their merry-making, the local Tibetan public staged a protest against it. And around 09:00 PM, when monks of Dege Gonchen and others continued to protest, the local police and other forces fired on them, according to a report received. However, so far no reports have been received on the question whether anyone was injured or had died as a result of it. However, among those arrested, names have been confirmed of the Dege Gonchen monks Tsering Wangchug, Chuga, Tashi Dorje, Sonam Norbu, Choejor, Palden, and Dongthog Tashi. Because of the exceptionally tight security restrictions being imposed in the local area, it was not possible to know the number of people who had died or who had been injured, nor the exact number of people who had been arrested or the precise sequence of events, especially from the very beginning, which had led to the firing.

On 27 January, although it was Losar (Tibetan New Year) in the Domey Tibetan region, none in any part of it displayed any mood of festive gaiety. In fact, leaflets and electronic messages reflecting the sense of mourning and the true feelings of the Tibetan people were put out everywhere.

29 January Around 8:00 PM on 29 January, Tashi Phuntsog, a 16-year-old monk belonging to Puyul Khatoe Village in Bhoemang Township in Pashoe County of Chamdo Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, and 21year-old monk Lobsang Gyaltsen, belonging to Shepa Village in Bhoemang Township, staged a protest demonstration. Holding up a mirror, they shouted numerous slogans, such as “Tibet is a fully independent

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country!” “All the Tibetans people rise up!” “May His Holiness the Dalai Lama live for ten thousand years!” “We demand religious freedom in Tibet!” “End the so-called ‘love your nation, love your religion’ education campaign!” and “Give human rights to the Tibetan people!” Not long after, Chinese police arrived on the scene and arrested them, subjecting them to severe beatings as they did not, and took them to the Pashoe County jail. Both were monks of Tsatoe Nehra Gonsar monastery. As a result, the members of the monastery’s democratic Management Committee were brought over to the office of the Public Security Bureau. And they were told that Nehra Gonsar monastery had caused many troubles in the past, that if it continues to cause trouble in future as well, the monastery will be shut down. With that grim warning the monastery was placed under round-the-clock observation by security forces.

January 2009, dates not clear Recently, Choephel, aged around 24 years old, belonging to Ka-nyag Dewa of Trotsig County in Ngaba Prefecture, Sichuan Province, got involved in a motor vehicle incident near Me’u Ruma and was, as a result, shot at 5 times by the Chinese police. One of the bullets pierced his kidney and seriously injured him. He had to be taken to a hospital in Sichuan’s capital Chengdu. According to knowledgeable sources, there was a standing legal order issued after the so-called 3-14 incident by which security forces were free to shoot at and kill Tibetans indiscriminately and that this had been implemented in Choephel’s case.

During the month of January, a proclamation was being issued in the name of the government of Ngaba and Qiang Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan Province and read out in every monastery and township. This proclamation said that all monasteries within the prefecture were under a uniform ban from observing any religious festival or gatherings such as the Monlam festivals. Likwise, it stated that in every township, festive gatherings must be organized, including with holding of song and dance performances, during the Losar (Tibetan New Year). That, at that time, firecrackers, eatable items and so on would be provided free of cost. Besides, the proclamation continued, those who would lit up many firework displays from the Pelri Dhungkyong mountain in front of Kirti Monastery in the direction of the county government seat area would be rewarded with 50,000 yuan each. Many such ridiculously laughable actions were being announced. All the monasteries in Ngaba Prefecture were ordered to pre-pone their festivals and religious gatherings such as Monlam and Losar; but many of them did not bother at all to comply with it.

Around 15 January, three nuns of Yarteng Tsun-gon nunnery – Poewang (Peymo), 27 year-old daughter of Choewang Gyatso (father) and Rigga (mother) belonging to Kardze Yarkhag Village; Yangzom, 31year-old daughter of Kunga Choegyen (father) and Marmar (mother), belonging to Kardze Yarkhag Village, and Lhamo, 29-year-old daughter of Nhakey (father), belonging to Kardze Thamey Village – were sentenced to a jail term of 2 years and 6 months each. They were all taken to a jail at a place where the cost of a one-way bus journey from Chengdu was about 60 yuan, to serve their prison sentence. They were arrested for taking part in a demonstration at Kardze County on 18 June 2008.

Around 20 January, Ngawang Phuntsog, a 32-year-old man, father’s name Ngawang Kunga and mother’s name Palden Choetso, and belonging to Kardze Burshul Village, was sentenced to a jail term of 3 years.

He was taken to a prison located some 70 kilometres from Chengdu city to serve his sentence. He too was among the participants in the 18 June 2008 protest demonstration at Kardze County.

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In late January, Lunglung Sonam, father’s name Samdag and mother’s name Pamo, and belonging to Kardze thamey Village, was sentenced to a jail term of 3 years. He had participated in a demonstration at Kardze County on 17 May 2008.

Tashi Tso, 26-year-old daughter of Lobsang Tsondu (father) and Yeshe Wangmo (mother), belonging to Lamghong Village in Thingkha Township, Kardze County, was given a jail sentence of 2 and half years.

Dhungtso, aged about 20-year-old, daughter of Dronyang (mother), belonging to the Drug-nyeltsang family in Thingkha Township, was sentenced to a 2-year jail term. The two were nuns of Kardze Gema Dragwog nunnery. On 18 June 2008, when extremely tight restrictions had been imposed at their nunnery, with no one being let in or out, these two nuns took leave for the purpose of going for medical treatment but went to Kardze County where they staged a protest demonstration. They were arrested at that time.

It was learnt that Jampa Dekyi, a 20-year-old girl belonging to Jokhang Nangdrong village in Kardze Thingkha Township, and arrested on 31 May 2008 while staging a protest demonstration at Kardze County, was sentenced to a jail term of 2 years. Her father’s name was Ngoega. The above sentenced Tibetans were reported to be serving their jail terms in the Chengdu city region.

Yega, a 27-year-old man originally belonging to Kardze Rongtsha but residing at Lhasa Karma (Gonsar) Kunsang, had disappeared since 14 March 2008 and as of the end of January 2009, none of his relatives, acquaintances and others could find him and they did not know whether he was still alive or dead.

His mother’s name was Tsering Khando.

Monk Palden Tsultrim, father’s name Choegyal Dawa and belonging to Kardze Serchu Teng was jailed for 4 years. Monk Lobsang Tenpa, aged 17-years-old, belonging to Bumkhyil Village in Serchu Teng Township, Kardze County, was jailed for 5 years. Monk Lobsang Choegyen, aged 18 years old, father’s name Jamyang Gonpo and mother’s name Dolma Lhamo, and belonging to Lamghong Village in Kardze Thingkha Township, was also given a jail sentence of 5 years. All of them were monks of Kardze Monastery. They were arrested while carrying out a protest demonstration at Kardze County on 13 May 2008, distributing or throwing in the air two bags filled with leaflets and shouting slogans. For about 4 months since arrest, he simply disappeared. However, information was received in January 2009 saying that they were being held in a prison at a place called Meiyang and had already been sentenced. Reports also say some 19 Tibetans from Kardze were being held in the prison where they were being held.

It was also learnt recently that in January 2009, a 25-year-old nun named Choetso Dolma (or Choetso) had been sentenced to a jail term of 1 and half years and had been taken to a prison near around Chengdu city. She was among the 7 nuns of Kardze Ganden Choeling nunnery and one layperson who staged a protest demonstration at Kardze County on 14 May 2008 and were arrested while doing so.

In January, Ngawang Lhundup, a 29-year-old monk of Kardze Monastery, father’s name Sangay Wangchuk (late) and mother’s name Yarkong, and belonging originally to Dado Village in Dado Township, Kardze County, Sichuan Province, was sentenced to a jail term of 4 years. And Pema Lhamo, a nun at Kardze Ganden Choeling Nunnery, originally belonging to Serkhar Dragkha Village in Kardze County, was sentenced to a jail term of 3 years. She had already been taken to the Chengdu city area to serve her jail sentence. Monk Ngawang Lhundup had, with monk Kel Nyima, staged a protest demonstration on 9 June

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2008. And Pema Lhamo had, with 6 other nuns and 1 layperson, staged a protest demonstration at Kardze County on 14 May 2008.

In January, 35-year-old Soe Lhatso, former head of Pangrina Nunnery, fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name Yeshe Gyaltsen and originally belonging to Kardze Gechung Village, was sentenced to a jail term of 10 years.

According to another report, the Chinese government was recently said to be distributing 500 yan to each person in the Kardze area, ostensibly to enable them to enjoy Losar (Tibetan New Year). However, this amount was said to be denied to those Tibetans any of whose family member had taken part in any of the recent peaceful protests. In addition, in was being said that the annual monetary compensation the Chinese government had been paying to local Tibetan farmers over the past several years for growing thorns in place of crops on their land was to be denied to those Tibetans who had taken part in the recent peaceful protest demonstrations.

More than a month has gone by since expert reparteer and musician Sogtrug Sherab, belonging to Yulgan County in Malho Prefecture of Qinghai Province, was arrested and his whereabouts were still unknown.

Sogtrug Sherab is also a young singer of the Domey region. He had previously performed at nigh talent shows and the like organized by Qinghai Radio and others. He was about 35 years old.

Finally, on behalf of Tibetans both in Tibet and in exile, we would like to express gratitude to everyone concerned who refused to be put off by difficulties and hardship and remained steadfast in their faith in this project by providing us a steady stream of information and updates during the course of the compilation of this report.

The Political Section Standing Committee of Tibetan Parliament-in-exile 20 February 2009

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Tibetan Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Peaceful Movement in 2008 and the Chinese Governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Suppresive Policy

The Prayer of the Words of Truth Buddhas, bodhisattvas and disciples throughout time ŕąźŕ˛&#x2019;ಧŕ˛&#x161;ŕ˛&#x;ŕ˛&#x2DC; ಢಌŕ˛&#x2019;ŕ˛?ŕ˛&#x161;಼ŕ˛&#x161;ŕ˛&#x2013;ತ ŕ˛&#x161;ŕ˛&#x;ŕ˛&#x2014;ŕ˛&#x161;ŕ˛&#x;ŕ˛&#x161;಼ŕ˛&#x2013; ŕ˛&#x2019;ತ ಼ŕ˛&#x2122;ŕ˛&#x2013; ŕ˛&#x2013;ŕ˛&#x;ŕ˛&#x2022;ŕ˛?ŕ˛&#x2013;ತತ ಠŕ˛&#x201D;ŕ˛&#x2013;ŕ˛&#x2019;ŕ˛&#x; ŕ˛&#x2021;ŕ˛&#x2013;ŕ˛&#x2013;ŕ˛&#x161;ŕ˛&#x;ŕ˛&#x2DC; ŕ˛&#x2013;ŕ˛&#x2019;ŕ˛&#x201D;ŕ˛&#x2122; ŕ˛?ŕ˛&#x161;ಧŕ˛&#x161;ŕ˛&#x;ŕ˛&#x2DC; ŕ˛&#x201C;ŕ˛&#x2013;ŕ˛&#x161;ŕ˛&#x;ŕ˛&#x2DC; ŕ˛&#x2019;ತ ಪಠಌಣ ಠŕ˛&#x;ŕ˛?ಪ ŕ˛&#x201D;ŕ˛&#x2122;ŕ˛&#x161;ŕ˛?ŕ˛&#x2022; Please heed my true and anguished cries.

Buddhaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s teachingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dispel the pain of existence and denial.

Spread happiness and prosperity throughout this world.

May the learned and accomplished holders of the Dharma Cause the ten fold virtuous practice to prevail, Sentient beings tormented by suffering without cease, Trapped by endless negative deeds, May their unbearable fears of disease,famine and war Be relieved by an ocean of bliss.Especially the peaple of the land of Snows, Mercilessly Conquered by barbaric forces of evil, May their rivers of blood and tears Be swiftly halted by the power of compassion!

Those who are driven mad by the demons of negative emotions, Bringing ruin to all by their reckless actions: May such beings learn what to embrace and what to abandon, And finally meet with true and loving friends!

May the object of my most heartfelt yearning, Complete freedom for all Tibet be soon realized.

And may life be swiftly granted the good fortune to enjoy The joyous celebration of spiritual with temporal rule.

O Protector, Chenresig, care for them.

All who have suffered terribly, Sacrificing their wealth, their bodies and their precious lives For the nation, the people and the Dharma.

May all the vast prayers of aspiration The lord Chenresig made for the land of Tibet.

Before the Buddhas and the Bodhisattvas Swiftly come to positive fulfillment here and now.

Through the profound of interdependence of appearance and emptiness, Through the power of the compassionate Three Jewels and the Words of Truth, And through the strength of the infallible law of cause and effect, May this, our prayer of truth, be unhindered and swiftly fulfilled.

169

Ngawang Choenyi

Jigme Damdul

Jampa

Ngawang Choewang

Phuntsog Lamchung

Ngawang Woepel

Ngawang Tenpa

Ngawang Kunsel

Phuntsog Sarnying

Ngawang Choeden

Ngawang Deleg

Jampel Wangchug

Ngawang Wangchen

Phuntsog Legtsog

Jampa Choglang

Ngawang Woepel

Phuntsog Dhueden

Phuntsog Tsensang

Ngawang Trinley

Ngawang Rabga

Phuntsog Nyingpo

Lobsang Wangchug

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

Name

1

S. No.

Age

170 Lhasa

Toelung

Toelung

Phenpo

Yardrog

Toelung

Phenpo

Kongpo

Phenpo

Damshung

Phenpo

Lhokha

Toelung

Lhokha

Toelung

Toelung

Nechung

Toelung

Toelung

Toelung

Toelung

Lhasa

Birthplace

Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery

Residence or Workplace

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Date of arrest

Anywhere from 2 to 15 years,

Anywhere from 2 to 15 years

Anywhere from 2 to 15 years

Anywhere from 2 to 15 years

Anywhere from 2 to 15 years

Anywhere from 2 to 15 years

Anywhere from 2 to 15 years

Anywhere from 2 to 15 years

Anywhere from 2 to 15 years

Anywhere from 2 to 15 years

Discipline Master

Anywhere from 2 to 15 years,

Anywhere from 2 to 15 years

Anywhere from 2 to 15 years

Anywhere from 2 to 15 years

Anywhere from 2 to 15 years

Anywhere from 2 to 15 years

Anywhere from 2 to 15 years

Anywhere from 2 to 15 years

Anywhere from 2 to 15 years

Anywhere from 2 to 15 years

Anywhere from 2 to 15 years

15 years, scripture teacher

Sentence and Remark

The list of the people across the three provinces of Tibet who were arrested and sentenced by the Chinese government for taking part in peaceful protest demonstrations. Names have been received of the following Tibetans with their corresponding personal details and prison terms: ALL TIBETANS AS A COMMUNITY OF ONE THROUGH TIMES GOOD AND BAD

Lobsang Jampa

Gyaltsen Lungtog

Ngawang Yonten

Ngawang Tsondue

Choephel Wangpo

Choephel Kunkhyen

Choephel Konchog

Choephel Dadag

Phuntsog Rigjey

Ngawang Dhargay

Choephel Kelsang

Ngawang Choejor

Phuntsog Norjin

Pasang

Choephel Tharchin

Lhagpa Wangdue

Tsewang

Deyang Da’olo

Ngawang Serchen

Phuntsog Wangphel

Wangdue, Ngawang Songtsen

Migmar Dhondup

Tsewang Dorje

Sonam Dagpa

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

171

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

46

Lhasa

Lhasa

Dhingri

Taktse

Yardrog

Phenpo

Yardrog

Phenpo

Phenpo

Lhokha

Toelung

Phenpo

Kham

Toelung

Chushur

Toelung

Damshung

Toelung

Shigatse

Phenpo

Toelung

Toelung

Maldrogungkar

Maldrogungkar

Thangka artist

Ex-TCV student

Ex-Tsuglakhang monk

Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery

15 Mar 2008

15 Mar 2008

15 Mar 2008

15 Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Jailed for 10 years by Lhasa Intermediate People’s Court on 27 Oct 2008

8 years, former political prisoner

Jailed for 14 years by Lhasa Intermediate People’s Court on 27 Oct 2008

Jailed for life by Lhasa Intermediate People’s Court on 27 Oct 2008

Anywhere from 2 to 15 years

Anywhere from 2 to 15 years

Anywhere from 2 to 15 years

Anywhere from 2 to 15 years

Anywhere from 2 to 15 years

Anywhere from 2 to 15 years

Anywhere from 2 to 15 years

Anywhere from 2 to 15 years

Anywhere from 2 to 15 years

Anywhere from 2 to 15 years

Anywhere from 2 to 15 years

Anywhere from 2 to 15 years

Anywhere from 2 to 15 years

Anywhere from 2 to 15 years

Anywhere from 2 to 15 years

Anywhere from 2 to 15 years

Anywhere from 2 to 15 years

Anywhere from 2 to 15 years

Anywhere from 2 to 15 years

Anywhere from 2 to 15 years

Blinded in jail

Tibetan People’s Peaceful Movement in 2008 and the Chinese Government’s Suppresive Policy

172 Lhasa Toelung

Toelung Toelung

Phuntsog

Phunsog Thraden

Ngawang Yig-nyen, Pasang

Jigme

Nyima, Ngawang Choeyang

58

59

60

61

62

Lhasa

Lhasa

Phenpo

Phenpo

Phuntsog Tenpa

Phenpo

Phenpo

57

Tenpa Dhondup

53

Phenpo

Dorje Dolma

Kelsang Choedag, Kelden

52

Phenpo

56

Tenzin Yeshe

51

Phenpo

Lhagdon

Tashi Namgyal

50

Phenpo

55

Lobsang Tsemey, Pasang

49

Phenpo

Lobsang Khechog, Tashi Norbu

Do-lag

48

Lhasa

54

Sonam Tseten

47

Dingkha Monastery

Dingkha Monastery

Dingkha Monastery

not clear

not clear

not clear

Ganden Choekhor Monastery

Kharlung Monastery

17 Mar 2008

17 Mar 2008

17 Mar 2008

14 Mar 2008

14 Mar 2008

14 Mar 2008

15 Mar 2008

15 Mar 2008

15 Mar 2008

15 Mar 2008

15 Mar 2008

14 Mar 2008

14 Mar 2008

15 Mar 2008

15 Mar 2008

15 Mar 2008

Jailed for 2 yrs, 9 months by Lhasa people’s court in Sep’08 Given life sentence by Lhasa Intermediate People’s Court on 29 Apr2009 Jailed for more than 15 yrs by Lhasa Intermediate People’s Court on 29 Apr2009 Jailed for more than 15 yrs by Lhasa Intermediate People’s Court on 29 Apr2009, son of pekhog

Jailed for 3 yrs, 9 months by Lhasa people’s court in Sep’08

Jailed for 3 yrs, 9 months by Lhasa people’s court in Sep’08

Jailed for 14 years by Phenpo people’s court in Sep’08 Jailed for 14 years by Phenpo people’s court in Sep’08

Jailed for 14 years by Phenpo people’s court in Sep’08

Jailed for 14 years by Phenpo people’s court in Sep’08

Jailed for 14 years by Phenpo people’s court in Sep’08

Jailed for 14 years by Phenpo people’s court in Sep’08

Jailed for 14 years by Phenpo people’s court in Sep’08

Jailed for 15 years by Phenpo people’s court in Sep’08

Jailed for 15 years by Phenpo people’s court in Sep’08

Jailed for 8 years by Lhasa Intermediate People’s Court on 7 Nov 2008

ALL TIBETANS AS A COMMUNITY OF ONE THROUGH TIMES GOOD AND BAD

Toelung

Choephel alias Choephel Tashi

Yargay

Ngawang

Dorje alias Dorje Dhargay

Kelsang Bhagdo

Karma Dawa

Bhagdo

Kelsang Tsering

Migmar

Sonam Tsering

64

65

66

67

68

69

70

71

72

73

173 Not clear

Sonam Tsering

Lobsang (Kelsang) Samten

Tseten

Phunsang (Phelsam) Tashi

Lhagpa Tsering Senior

Lobsang Tashi

Lhagpa Tsering

Tharchin

Thubten Gyatso

Tashi Gyatso

Kelsang Dhondup

Tenzin Gyaltsen

75

76

77

78

79

80

81

82

83

84

85

86

Not clear

Not clear

Not clear

Not clear

Not clear

Not clear

Not clear

Not clear

Not clear

Not clear

Not clear

Tsering

74

Not clear

Phenpo

Toelung

Toelung

Toelung

Damshung

Toelung

Toelung

Toelung

Toelung

Toelung

Migmar

63

Lhasa resident

Lhasa resident

Lhasa resident

Lhasa resident

Lhasa resident

Lhasa resident

Lhasa resident

Lhasa resident

Lhasa resident

Lhasa resident

Lhasa resident

Lhasa resident

Lhasa resident

Lhasa resident

Dingkha Monastery

Chubsang, layperson

Dingkha Monastery

Dingkha Monastery

Dingkha Monastery

Dingkha Monastery

Dingkha Monastery

Dingkha Monastery

Dingkha Monastery

Dingkha Monastery

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

14 Apr 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

17 Mar 2008

17 Mar 2008

17 Mar 2008

17 Mar 2008

17 Mar 2008

17 Mar 2008

17 Mar 2008

17 Mar 2008

Jailed for 3 or 14 yrs on 29 Apr 2008

Jailed for 3 or 14 yrs on 29 Apr 2008

Jailed for 3 or 14 yrs on 29 Apr 2008

Jailed for 3 or 14 yrs on 29 Apr 2008

Jailed for 3 or 14 yrs on 29 Apr 2008

Jailed for 3 or 14 yrs on 29 Apr 2008

Jailed for 3 or 14 yrs on 29 Apr 2008

Jailed for 3 or 14 yrs on 29 Apr 2008

Jailed for 3 or 14 yrs on 29 Apr 2008

Jailed for 3 or 14 yrs on 29 Apr 2008

Jailed for 3 or 14 yrs on 29 Apr 2008

Jailed for 3 or 14 yrs on 29 Apr 2008

Jailed for life on 29 Apr 2008

Jailed for life on 29 Apr 2008

Jailed for 3 or 14 yrs on 29 Apr 2008

Jailed for 3 or 14 yrs on 29 Apr 2008

Jailed for over 15 yrs on 29 Apr 2008

Jailed for over 15 yrs on 29 Apr 2008

Jailed for over 15 yrs on 29 Apr 2008

Jailed for 3 or 14 yrs on 29 Apr 2008

Jailed for 3 or 14 yrs on 29 Apr 2008

Jailed for 3 or 14 yrs on 29 Apr 2008

Jailed for 3 or 14 yrs on 29 Apr 2008

Jailed for more than 15 yrs by Lhasa Intermediate People’s Court on 29 Apr2009

Tibetan People’s Peaceful Movement in 2008 and the Chinese Government’s Suppresive Policy

Karma Gyaltsen

Ngodup Phuntsog alias Ngoega

Loga

Guru Dorje

Nun Sonam Dekyi

91

92

93

94

95

174 Kardze County Kardze County

LobsangChoegyen

Palden Tsultrim

Lobsang Tenpa

Ngotsatsang Sonam Lhamo

Dongra Drukha Thubten Dolma

Yangkyi

Dorje Khando

Pema Lhamo

Choetso Dolma, Choetso

98

99

100

101

102

103

104

105

106

27

17

18

Peypey, Pema Choetso

97

Kardze County

Kardze County

Kardze County

Kardze County

Kardze County

Kardze County

Kardze County

Kardze County

Lhatrug, Lhagpa Choetso

Kardze County

Kardze County

Kardze

Kardze

Phenpo

Phenpo

96

24

30

48

33

Kardze

Bhagdo

90

53

Kham Riwoche

Tobjor, Chog Halog

89

Not clear

Yeshe

88

Not clear

Kelsang Nyima

87

14 Mar 2008

Dedrong Village, Gachoe Township

14 May 2008

14 May 2008

14 May 2008

Ganden Choekhor Nunnery Ganden Choekhor Nunnery Ganden Choekhor Nunnery

12 May 2008

11 May 2008

11 May 2008

13 May 2008

13 May 2008

13 May 2008

7 May 2008

7 May 2008

23 Apr 2008

Dragkar Nunnery

Dragkar Nunnery

Dragkar Nunnery

KardzeMonastery

Dragkar Nunnery

Dragkar Nunnery

Dragkar Nunnery

Dragkar Nunnery

Dragkar Nunnery

28 Mar 2008

20 Mar 2008

Son of businessman Tsewang Gonpo Kadrag Township

18 Mar 2008

Business owner at Drukhang

20 Mar 2008

14 Mar 2008

Dedrong Village, Gachoe Township

Arrested from Lhasa

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Lhasa resident

Lhasa resident

Jailed for 1 and half years in Jan 2009

Ailed for 3 years in Jan 2009

Jailed for 7 years on 19 Nov 2008

Jailed for 1 year, 9 months on 2 Jan 2009

Jailed for 4 yrs by Kardze Intermediate People’s Court, on 7 Nov 2008

Jailed for 3 yrs by Kardze Intermediate People’s Court, on 7 Nov 2008

5 years, belongs to Bumkhyil

4 years, belongs to Serchuteng

5 years, belongs to Lhopa Qu

Jailed for 4 yrs by Kardze Intermediate People’s Court, on 6 Nov 2008

Jailed for 4 yrs by Kardze Intermediate People’s Court, on 6 Nov 2008

Jailed for 2 yrs by Kardze Intermediate People’s Court, on 10 Nov 2008

Jailed for 3 yrs by Kardze Intermediate People’s Court, on 30 Oct 2008 3 years, lying in Dartsedo hospital on 2 Jan 2009

Jailed for 8 yrs by Kardze Intermediate People’s Court, on 30 Oct 2008

3 years, held in Trisam Prison

15 years

20 years

Jailed for 12 yrs on 29 Apr 2008

Jailed for 3 or 14 yrs on 29 Apr 2008

ALL TIBETANS AS A COMMUNITY OF ONE THROUGH TIMES GOOD AND BAD

175

Kyaratsang Ogyen Lhamo

Tsewang Dagpa

Thubten Gyatso

124

125

Kunsang Dorje or Kelsang Dorje Kyara Tsering Tso or Tsomo

123

122

121

Choedon

120

Khando Lhamo

115

Deyang

Nun Sonam Choedon

114

119

Jampa Dekyi

113

Yebug

Pema

112

118

Ten-ga

111

Dolma Yangtso

Palden Trinley

110

117

Lunglung Sonam

109

Wamo

Soe Lhamo

108

116

Yeshe Choeso

107

22

34

27

28

20

20

35

Tawu County

Draggo County

Draggo County

Draggo County

Draggo County

Draggo County

Draggo County

Draggo County

Draggo County

Draggo County

Draggo County

Draggo County

Kardze County

Kardze County

Kardze County

Kardze County

Kardze County

Kardze County

Kardze County

Monk

Monk

Samtenling Nunnery

Samtenling Nunnery

Tehor Township

Nganggong Nunnery

Nganggong Nunnery

Nganggong Nunnery

Nganggong Nunnery

Ngangong Nunnery

6 Jun 2008

6 Jun 2008

8 Jun 2008

8 Jun 2008

24 Mar 2008

24 Mar 2008

24 Mar 2008

24 Mar 2008

24 Mar 2008

24 Mar 2008

24 Mar 2008

24 Mar 2008

31 May 2008

Jokhang in Thingkha Township Ngangong Nunnery

22 May 2008

22 May 2008

18 May 2008

17 May 2008

14 May 2008

14 May 2008

Nyinmo Gesey Monastery

Nyinmo Gesey Monastery

Kardze Monastery

Tharmey Township

Bhuramna Nunnery

Ganden Choekhor Nunnery

Jailed for 4 yrs by Kardze Intermediate People’s Court, on 5 Nov 2008

Jailed for 5 yrs by Kardze Intermediate People’s Court, on 5 Nov 2008

Jailed for 2 yrs in Sep 2008

Jailed for 2 yrs in Sep 2008

Jailed for 3 yrs in Apr 2008

Jailed for 7 yrs in Apr 2008, belongs to Kharsar Village Jailed for 7 yrs in Apr 2008, belongs to Sayul Village Jailed for 3 yrs in Apr 2008, belongs to Dhilyul Village Jailed for 3 yrs in Apr 2008, belongs to Tsogo Village Jailed for 3 yrs in Apr 2008, belongs to Soggon Village

Jailed for 7 yrs in Apr 2008, belongs to Dragchu Village

Jailed for 3 yrs in Apr 2008

2 years, held in the Chengdu City area.

Jailed for 2 yrs on 8 Nov 2008

Jailed for 2 yrs on 8 Nov 2008

Jailed for 7 yrs by Dartsedo Intermediate People’s Court on 14 Nov 2008

Jailed for 3 years in Jan 2009

Jailed for 9 or 10 years, belongs to Gechung Village

Jailed for 2 and half years.

Tibetan People’s Peaceful Movement in 2008 and the Chinese Government’s Suppresive Policy

Tsewang Yeshe

Tsering Nyima

Trinley Wangyal

Lerab

Jamyang Lodoe

Jamtrug, Jamdrub

Tenpa Gyatsa or Gyaltsen

137

138

139

140

141

142

Rinchen Gyaltsen

133

136

Dorje Wangyal

132

Kunga Phuntsog

Gyurmey Dhondup

131

135

Lobsang Dhonyoe, Lo Dhonyoe

130

Kunsang Tenzin

Dege

Lhagpa Tsering

129

134

Dege

Khensur Tashi Gyaltsen

176 21

21

17

20

19

20

28

31

28

Markham County

Markham County

Khenlung Gon

Khenlung Gon

Khenlung Gon

Ruzhoe Donggo Drogpa

Markham Numatsang Markham County

Thangka Monastery

Thangka Monastery

Thangka Monastery

Thangka Monastery

Thangka Monastery

Thangka Monastery

Thangka Monastery

Thangka Monastery

Dza Gonsar

Dzakhog Phochug Village

Dza Gonsar

Serta county

Monk

Gonjo County

Gonjo County

Gonjo County

Gonjo County

Gonjo County

Gonjo County

Gonjo County

Gonjo County

Dege

Gonjo County

128

22

Bumga, Bhuga

Dzatoe County

127

22

Jangsem Nyima, Kari Karma Tsephel

126

12 May 2008

12 May 2008

12 May 2008

20 Mar 2008

3 Apr2008

Apr 2008

3 Apr 2008

3 Apr 2008

1 Apr 2008

1 Apr 2008

1 Apr 2008

1 Apr 2008

27 Apr 2008

27 Apr 2008

27 Apr 2008

14 May 2008

6 Jun 2008

Jailed for 3 yrs by county people’s court on 13 Sep 2008

Jailed for 3 yrs by county people’s court on 13 Sep 2008

Jailed for 4 yrs by county people’s court on 13 Sep 2008

Jailed for 10 yrs by Chamdo Intermediate People’s Court on 23 Sep 2008 Jailed for 15 yrs by Chamdo Intermediate People’s Court on 23 Sep 2008 Jailed for 10 yrs by Chamdo Intermediate People’s Court on 23 Sep 2008 Jailed for 9 yr by Chamdo Intermediate People’s Court on 23 Sep 2008 Jailed for 10 yrs by Chamdo Intermediate People’s Court on 23 Sep 2008 Jailed for 5 yrs by Chamdo Intermediate People’s Court on 23 Sep 2008 Jailed for 13 yrs, father’s name choedak

Jailed for 15 yrs by Chamdo Intermediate People’s Court on 23 Sep 2008

Jailed for life by Chamdo Intermediate People’s Court on 23 Sep 2008

Jailed for 6 yrs by Kardze Intermediate People’s Court, on 27 Oct 2008

Jailed for 7 yrs in Nov 2008

Jailed for 3 yrs in Nov 2008

Jailed for 6 yrs by Kardze Intermediate People’s Court, on 5 Nov 2008

Jailed for 3 yrs by Kardze Intermediate People’s Court, on 5 Nov 2008

ALL TIBETANS AS A COMMUNITY OF ONE THROUGH TIMES GOOD AND BAD

Kunyang

Jigme Trinley

Lama Kyab

Khechog

Konchog

Choephel, Burchoe

Namsey

Monk Drugda

Monk Lobsang Jamyang

Jamyang Nyima

Lobsang Dorje

Kunga

Kelba (Kama)

Terzoe

Tshekho

Monk Rabten

Thubpa Kyab

Tsephul

Tsultrim

Tenzin Tsepo

Keltsoen

143

144

145

146

147

148

149

150

151

152

153

177

154

155

156

157

158

159

160

161

162

163

23

20

26

26

20

18

27

25

23

20

23

30

32

42

38

33

16

36

19

24

Kakhog County

Kakhog County

Kakhog County

Kakhog County

Kakhog County

Kakhog County

Ngaba County

Ngaba County

Ngaba County

Ngaba County

Ngaba County

Ngaba County

Soruma, Ngaba County Dongkhu, Ngaba County

Ngaba County

Ngaba County

Machu County

Machu County

Machu County

Serta County

Markham County

11 Apr 2008

Nurma Ghongma Dolkyabtang

Trotsig Gon

Trotsig Gon

Trotsig Gon

Trotsig Gon

Trotsig Gon

Trotsig Gon

Ngamey Lota Township

Ngamey Lota Township

Ngamey Lota Township

Kirti Monastery

Kirti Monastery

Ngamey Dongri Gon

Kirti Monastery

Kirti Monastery

Jigtrintsang

Meruma Ruchen No. 2

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

16 Mar 2008

16 Mar 2008

16 Mar 2008

23 May 2008

23 May 2008

30 Mar 2008

28 Mar 2008

28 Mar 2008

Mar 2008

17 Mar 2008

11 Apr 2008

11 Apr 2008

Nurma Ghongma Dolkyabtang

Nurma Zholma

18 Mar 2008

12 May 2008

Drapa

Khenlung Gon

Jailed for 2 yrs

Jailed for 1 yr, 9 months

Jailed for 1 yr, 9 months

Jailed for 1 yr, 9 months

Jailed for 1 yr, 9 months

Jailed for 1 yr, 9 months

Jailed for 13 years in Jul 2008

Jailed for 15 years in Jul 2008

Jailed for life in Jul 2008

Jailed for 2 yrs by county people’s court on 27 Oct 2008 Jailed for 2 yrs by county people’s court on 27 Oct 2008

Jailed for 2 yrs by county people’s court on 27 Oct 2008

Jailed for 1 yr in Sep 2008

Jailed for 1 yr, 4 months in May 2008

Jailed for 4 yrs by county people’s court on 5 Nov 2008 Jailed for 4 yrs by county people’s court on 6 Nov 2008

Jailed for 12 yrs by Kanlho Intermediate People’s Court, on 15 Jun 2008

Jailed for 13 yrs by Kanlho Intermediate People’s Court, on 15 Jun 2008

Jailed for 15 yrs by Kanlho Intermediate People’s Court, on 15 Jun 2008

Jailed for 10 yrs by Kardze Intermediate People’s Court, on 28 Oct 2008

Jailed for 3 yrs by county people’s court on 13 Sep 2008

Tibetan People’s Peaceful Movement in 2008 and the Chinese Government’s Suppresive Policy

Chagthar Gyal

Khedrub Gyatso

Chogtrul (Choetrin) Gyatso

Tsulsang (Tsultrim) Gyatso

Yeshe Choedon

LobsangTsephel

Tsenam

Tenchoe

178

179

180

181

182

183

184

Yqru Thaye

173

177

Zaru Tenpa Gyatso

172

Talo alias Takho

Kachukhawa Konchog Tsultrim

171

176

Konchog Sangpo

170

Choepa

Zaru Konchog Zoepa

169

175

Zaru Konchog Dragpa

168

Jamyang Choephel

23

Tsultrim Jungney

167

174

17

Bakula

166

178 20

52

17

19

20

21

17

27

16

24

29

35

Monk Tsultrim Gyatso

165

35

Monk Lobsang Thubten, Thubten

164

Lhasa

Lhokha

Chushur County

Lhasa

Yugang County

Yugang County

Yugang County

Rebgong County

Rebgong County

Rebgong County

Rebgong County

Dzoege County

Dzoege County

Dzoege County

Dzoege County

Dzoege County

Dzoege County

Dzoege County

Dzoege County

Dzoege County

Dzoege County

16 Apr 2008 13 Apr 2008

Northern Neighbourhood Committee

16 Apr 2008

Mar 2008

Apr 2008

Apr 2008

Apr 2008

22 Mar 2008

22 Mar 2008

22 Mar 2008

Mar 2008

19 Apr 2008

29 Mar 2008

29 Mar 2008

29 Mar 2008

29 Mar 2008

29 Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Ratoe Gon

Ratoe Gon

Ramoche

Tsang Monastery

Tsang Monastery

Tsang Monastery

Dowa Drog

Dowa Drog

Dowa Drog

Yershong Gon

Dingwa Sumdo Gon

Tagtsang Lhamo Gon

Tagtsang Lhamo Gon

Tagtsang Lhamo Gon

Tagtsang Lhamo Gon

Tagtsang Lhamo Gon

Sogtsang Gon

Thangkor Sogtsang Gon

Thangkor Sogtsang Gon

Thangkor Sogtsang Gon

Jailed for 9 yrs by Chushur County people’s court in Sep 2008 Jailed for 5 yrs by Chushur County people’s court in Sep 2008 Jailed for 15 yrs by Lhasa City Intermediate People’s Court on 25 Sep 2008

Jailed for 9 yrs by Xining City Intermediate People’s Court on 29 Oct 2008 Jailed for 10 yrs by Xining City Intermediate People’s Court on 29 Oct 2008 Jailed for 15 yrs by Lhasa City Intermediate People’s Court on 7 Nov 2008

Jailed for 9 yrs by Xining City Intermediate People’s Court on 29 Oct 2008

Jailed for 2 yrs on 24 Mar 2008

Jailed for 1 yr, 9 months on 24 Mar 2008 Jailed for 9 months on 24 Mar 2008

Jailed for 1 yr, 3 months in May 2008

Jailed for 1 yr, 6 months as he was not yet 18 yrs old

Jailed for 5 yrs after 25 Oct 2008

Jailed for 4 yrs after 25 Oct 2008

Jailed for 1 yr, 6 months

Jailed for 1 yr, 6 months, Upper Khadog class student

Jailed for 4 yrs on 25 Oct 2008

Jailed for 2 yrs on 11 Nov 2008

Jailed for 1 yr, 2 months

Jailed for 2 yrs on 11 Nov 2008

Jailed for 2 yrs on 11 Nov 2008

ALL TIBETANS AS A COMMUNITY OF ONE THROUGH TIMES GOOD AND BAD

Monk Sherab Sangpo

Norbu Tsering

Tenzin Lhamo

Samdup

Nun Dolma Yangtso

Sangga

Whelsa Norzin Wangmo

201

202

203

204

205

206

207

Tenzin

195

Lhamo

Yeshe Dhargay

194

200

Serga, Soega

193

Poewang, Pema

Tashi Sherab, Sherab

192

199

Tsering Phuntsog

191

Yangzom

Palden Wangyal

190

198

Ngawang Lhundup

189

Ngawang Phuntsog

Yeshe Dorje

188

197

Dhungtso

187

Tenzin Gyatso

Tashi Tso

186

196

Phuntsog Dorje

185

179 30

33

34

Male

49

26

29

27

31

32

24

44

27

37

36

42

20

29

32

20

26

Togden Gon Judicial department officer

Ngaba Khyungchu Dzong

Ganden Choekhor Township Ganden Choekhor Township Serta Lrung Gon

Kardze Drukhang Teng

Kardze Dongthog Gon

Yarteng Gon

Yarteng Gon

Yarteng Gon

Bulshur Ngangpa

Tashi Choekhor Ling

Tashi Choekhor Ling

Khangmar Gon monk

Khangmar Gon monk

Khangmar Gon monk

Khangmar Gon monk

Wozang Village

Kardze Gon

Kharnang Gon

Gema Dragwog Nunnery

Gema Dragwog Nunnery

Worker at Tibet holiday Inn

Ngaba County

Kardze

Phenpo

Phenpo

Dzapa

Kardze County

Kardze County

Kardze County

Kardze County

Kardze County

Chone County

Chone County

Kardze County

Kardze County

Kardze County

Kardze County

Kardze County

Kardze County

Kardze County

Kardze County

Kardze County

Lhasa

Mar 2008

13 Aug 2008

10 Aug 2008

16 Mar 2008

16 Mar 2008

18 Mar 2008

27 Mar 2008

18 Jun 2008

18 Jun 2008

18 Jun 2008

18 Jun 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

22 Jun 2008

22 Jun 2008

22 Jun 2008

22 Jun 2008

11 Jun 2008

9 Jun 2008

12 Jun 2008

19 Jun 2008

18 Jun 2008

Mar 2008

Jailed for 5 yrs on 3 Nov 2008

Jailed for 8 yrs by Ngaba Intermediate People’s Court on 9 Dec 2008

Jailed for 2 yrs before 25 Dec 2008

Jailed for 13 yrs

Jailed for 10 yrs

Jailed for 7 yrs on 30 Oct 2008

Jailed for 6 yrs by Kardze Intermediate People’s Court on 29 Oct 2008

Jailed for 2 and half yrs in Jan 2009

Jailed for 2 and half yrs in Jan 2009

Jailed for 2 and half yrs in Jan 2009

Jailed for 3 yrs around 20 Jan 2009

Jailed for 13 yrs on 15 Jun 2008

Jailed for 15 yrs on 15 Jun 2008

Jailed for 3 yrs in Nov 2008

Jailed for 1 yr, 9 months in Nov 2008

Jailed for 4 yrs in Jan 2009 Jailed for 3 yrs in the beginning of Nov 2008 Jailed for 3 yrs in the beginning of Nov 2008 Jailed for 3 yrs in Nov 2008

Jailed for 4 yrs by Kardze Intermediate People’s Court on 17 Nov 2008

2 and half yrs

2 and half yrs

Jailed for 9 yrs by Lhasa City Intermediate People’s Court on 7 Oct 2008

Tibetan People’s Peaceful Movement in 2008 and the Chinese Government’s Suppresive Policy

Gonpo Tashi, Tashi Gyatso

Norbu Tsering

Tenzin

Ngawang Chogpel

Paljor Norbu

Godon Sangay

Shedrub

Bridegroom of the Magsotsang family

221

222

223

224

225

226

227

228

Talho, Talo

216

Penpa Tsering

Dhargay

215

220

Bhowu Rhi

214

Sonam Lhundup

Jamyang Tenpa

213

219

Choedak Gyatso

212

Lobsang Sherab

Ludrub Tendhar

211

218

Tsultrim Gyatso

210

Nyingchag Gyal

Lodrub Yeshe

209

217

Ludrub Phuntsog

208

180 23

30

81

18

20

26

40

29

19

60

25

26

43

42

33

23

Ngaba County

Ngaba County

Ngaba County

Lhasa

Bayan County

Bayan County

Tsolho area

Labrang area

Lhasa

Lhasa

Sangchu County

Sangchu County

Luchu County

Luchu County

Luchu County

Luchu County

Ngaba County

Ngaba County

Ngaba County

Ngaba County

Ngaba County

Me’u Ruma

Me’u Ruma

Me’u Ruma

Lhasa Bharkor

Drepung Gomang

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

31 Nov 2008

Mar or Apr 2008 Mar or Apr 2008

Jul 2008

Said to run a cybercafé in Lhasa Drepung Gomang

Apr 2008

Mar 2008

2008

Mar 2008

17-18 Mar 2008 17-18 Mar 2008

17 Mar 2008

17 Mar 2008

24 Mar 2008

24 Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Lhasa transport worker

Arshao student

Ramoche, student

Drepung Monastery

Thangkarnang Township

Thangkarnang Township

Shitsang Ponkor Dewa

Shitsang Ponkor Dewa

Shitsang Garsar Gon

Shitsang Garsar Gon

Achog Tsen-nyi Gbn

Achog Tsen-nyi Gbn

Achog Tsen-nyi Gbn

Achog Tsen-nyi Gbn

Jailed for 1 yr, 4 months about end of Jun 2008

Jailed for 2 yrs about end of Jun 2008

Sentenced in Lhasa for 7 yrs in Nov 2008 Jailed for 2 yrs about end of Jun 2008

Jailed for 9 yrs

Jailed for 7 yrs

Sentence, though passed, not known, ex-Suja school student.

Jailed for 3 yrs, mother’s name Phurbu, father deceased.

Jailed for 2 yrs, other’s name Tsamchoe, stepfather Penpa Jailed for 13 yrs in Nov 2008

Jailed for 2 and half yrs

Jailed for 6 yrs in Nov 2008

Jailed for 10 yrs in Nov 2008

Jailed for 7 yrs on 19 Nov 2008 Jailed for 2 and half yrs on 19 Nov 2008 Jailed for 2 and half yrs on 19 Nov 2008

Jailed for 8 yrs by Luchu county people’s court on 19 Nov 2008

Jailed for 9 yrs by Ngaba Intermediate People’s Court on 28 Oct 2008 Jailed for 3 yrs by Ngaba Intermediate People’s Court on 28 Oct 2008

Jailed for 13 yrs by Ngaba Intermediate People’s Court on 28 Oct 2008

Jailed for 13 yrs by Ngaba Intermediate People’s Court on 28 Oct 2008

ALL TIBETANS AS A COMMUNITY OF ONE THROUGH TIMES GOOD AND BAD

Godotsang Lhundup

Tsedag of Ratsang

Sangay (Tagho)

Rinchen (Nangrin)

Nun Lhamo Choetso

245

246

247

248

249

Khanggentsang Lobang

239

Zamba

Zhepotsang Lobsang

238

244

Gonpo Tsering

237

Dhargay (Rhetho)

Lochoetsang Dorje

236

243

Tsatsatsang Tsekho

235

Nun Tsultrim Sangmo

Gonpo Tsekho

234

242

Poejintsang Konchog

233

Nun Lhakyi Dolma

Sarpatsang Lodoe

232

241

Monk Sherab

231

Nun Yeshe Sangmo

Monk Tsulkho

230

240

Monk Thubten Nyima

229

181 33

36

25

31

36

35

26

24

28

26

23

23

28

26

36

30

Kardze County

Ngaba County

Ngaba County

Ngaba County

Ngaba County

Ngaba County

Ngaba County

Ngaba County

Ngaba County

Ngaba County

Ngaba County

Ngaba County

Ngaba County

Machu County

Machu County

Machu County

Machu County

Machu County

Chigdril County

Chigdril County

Chigdril County

Mar 2008 Mar 2008 Mar 2008

Nagtshangma Village, Cha Township Nagtshangma Village, Cha Township Ruchen No. 2 of Me’u Ruma

Dragkar Nunnery

23 Apr 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Ra Ruwa village, Cha Township

Ra Ruwa village, Cha Township Nagtshangma Village, Cha Township

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Me’u Ruma Nunnery

Me’u Ruma Nunnery

Me’u Ruma Nunnery

Rongwam Township

Rongwam Township

Rongwam Township

Meyma Township

Makhug Tara

Tsheruma Township

Tshendrog Gon

Tshendrog Gon

Minthang Township

Pelyul Township

Pelyul Township

Jailed for 4 yrs by the county court on 5 Nov 2008 Jailed by the county court for 11 yrs on 6 Nov 2008.

Jailed for 4 yrs by the Kardze Intermediate People’s Court on 10 Nov 2008

Jailed for 6 yrs by the county court on 5 Nov 2008

Jailed for 4 yrs by the county court on 4 Nov 2008

Jailed for 4 yrs by the county court on 4 Nov 2008

Jailed for 1 yr, 8 months in the beginning of Oct 2008 Jailed for 1 yr, 6 months in the beginning of Oct 2008 Jailed for 1 yr, 6 months in the beginning of Oct 2008 Jailed for 1 yr, 9 months in the beginning of Oct 2008 Jailed for 5 yrs by the county court on 4 Nov 2008

Jailed for 1 yr, 8 months in the beginning of Oct 2008

Jailed for 4 yrs on 16 Oct 2008 Jailed for 1 yr, 8 months in the beginning of Oct 2008

Jailed for 5 yrs on 16 Oct 2008

Jailed for 14 yrs on 16 Oct 2008

Jailed for 10 yrs on 15 Oct 2008

Jailed for 12 yrs on 15 Oct 2008

Jailed for 3 yrs in Aug 2008

Jailed for 6 yrs in Aug 2008

Jailed for 6 yrs in Aug 2008

Tibetan People’s Peaceful Movement in 2008 and the Chinese Government’s Suppresive Policy

Wosang Tashi Palden

Gonpo Gyaltsen (Gonga)

Sangpo

Monk Tenzin Ngodup

Monk Ogyen Tashi

Choepa Thar of Luchu

Tashi Gyaltsen

262

263

264

265

266

267

Ghosoe

257

261

Menkyab

256

Pema Dechen

Woeden

255

260

Phagpa

254

Sonam Yarphel

Pelgyey

253

259

Trinley (Trintse)

252

Rigdag of Tsabtsa

Monk Konchog Jinpa

251

258

Monk Lobsang

250

28

29

34

36

182 Rebgong County

Not clear

Kardze County

Kardze County

Kardze County

Kardze County

Kardze County

Kardze County

Draggo County

Serta County

Serta County

Serta County

Ngaba County

Ngaba County

Ngaba County

Ngaba County

Sangchu County

Sangchu County

Mar 2008 Mar 2008

Ngamey Akhyam Township Ngamey Akhyam Township

Rebgong

Rebgong Jheydi

Rebgong

Tsitshang Gon

Tsangkhatsang

Drukhang Teng

Wosang Village

Ta-gyug Tengtsang

Tehor Chogri

Phuggu Township

Rogsa Dewa

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

22 May 2008

20 May 2008

18 Mar 2008

18 Mar 2008

18 Mar 2008

18 Mar 2008

2 Apr 2008

May 2008

May 2008

May 2008

Mar 2008

Ngamey Akhyam Township

Phuggu Township

28Mar 2008

24 Mar2008

23 Mar 2008

Kirti Monastery

Tsayue Gon

Tsayue Gon

Jailed for 2 yrs in Nov or Dec 2008

Jailed for 3 yrs in Nov or Dec 2008

Jailed for 3 yrs by Kardze Intermediate People’s Courtin Dec 2008

Jailed for 3 yrs by Kardze Intermediate People’s Court in Dec 2008

Jailed for 3 yrs by Kardze Intermediate People’s Court

Jailed for 3 yrs by Kardze Intermediate People’s Court

Jailed for 3 yrs by Kardze Intermediate People’s Court

Jailed for 1 yrs on 3 Dec 2008 Jailed for 12 yrs by Kardze Intermediate People’s Court in Dec 2008 Jailed for 3 yrs by Kardze Intermediate People’s Court

Jailed for 2 yrs on 3 Dec 2008

Jailed for 2 yrs by county people’s court on 3 yrs 3 Dec 2008

Jailed for 9 yrs in Nov 2008

Jailed for 12 yrs in Nov 2008

Jailed for 13 yrs in Nov 2008

Jailed for 21 yrs by the county court on 24 Nov 2008 Jailed for 12 yrs y the county court on 24 Nov 2008 Jailed for 9 yrs by the Ngaba Intermediate People’s Court in Nov 2008

ALL TIBETANS AS A COMMUNITY OF ONE THROUGH TIMES GOOD AND BAD

Monk Rigden

Monk Geleg

Monk Ngawang Tenzin

Jamyang Tsering

Anyog

283

284

285

286

Monk Tenzin Bhuchung

277

282

Monk Gyaltsen

276

Monk Tenzin Dawa

Loten Yag

275

281

Kelgyam of Kowude

274

Monk Tenzin Soepa

Monk Jinpa

273

280

Dong-nge Shawo Tashi

272

Monk Phuntsog

Hornag Shawo Rinchen

271

279

Gyalpogang Choeden

270

Monk Nyima Tashi

Ngomo Tashi Gyaltsen

269

278

Dong-nge Namkha Tsering

268

183 40

45

Jomda County

Not clear

Not clear

Lhokha Nangkartse Jomda County

Kathog Gon

Sang-ngag Choekhor

Samye Gon

Samye Gon

Jowo Gon

Samye Gon

Samye Gon

Langthang Gon

Samye Gon

Dege

Rebgong

Rongwo Gonchen

Rebgong

Rebgong

Rebgong

Rebgong

Lhokha Lhodrag

Lhokha Dranang

Lhokha Drapchi

Lhokha Tsomey

Lhasa Kyirey

Lhokha Gongkar

Phenpo

Lhokha Tsona

Dege County

Not clear

Rebgong County

Not clear

Not clear

Not clear

Not clear

Not clear

2008

2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

27 Apr 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Mar 2008

Jailed for 2 yrs by Lhokha Intermediate People’s Court in Jun 2008 Jailed for 2 yrs by Chamdo Intermediate People’s Court in Nov 2008 Jailed for 2 yrs by Chamdo Intermediate People’s Court in Nov 2008

Jailed for 2 yrs by Lhokha Intermediate People’s Court in Jun 2008

Jailed for 2 yrs by Lhokha Intermediate People’s Court in Jun 2008

Jailed for 2 yrs in Nov or Dec 2008 Jailed for 1 and half yrs in Nov or Dec 2008 Jailed for 1 and half yrs in Nov or Dec 2008 Jailed for 1 and half yrs in Nov or Dec 2008 Jailed for 5 yrs by Kardze Intermediate People’s Court on 12 Oct 2008 Jailed for 15 yrs by Lhokha Intermediate People’s Court in Jun 2008 Jailed for 15 yrs by Lhokha Intermediate People’s Court in Jun 2008 Jailed for 13 yrs by Lhokha Intermediate People’s Court in Jun 2008 Jailed for 13 yrs by Lhokha Intermediate People’s Court in Jun 2008 Jailed for 13 yrs by Lhokha Intermediate People’s Court in Jun 2008 Jailed for 2 yrs by Lhokha Intermediate People’s Court in Jun 2008

Jailed for 2 yrs in Nov or Dec 2008

Jailed for 2 yrs in Nov or Dec 2008

Jailed for 2 yrs in Nov or Dec 2008

Tibetan People’s Peaceful Movement in 2008 and the Chinese Government’s Suppresive Policy

Name

Phurbu

Sonam Norbu

Azin

Sonam Lhamo

Wangdu Dhargay

Konchog Samphel

Lhagpa Tsering

Thupten Tsering

Tenzin Samdup

Rigzin Choekyi

Lobsang Choephel

Ngodup, Tenzin Ngodup

Lobsang Dolma

Ngawang Thegchen

Dhondup Dolma

Dechen Dolma

S. No.

1

2

3

4

5

6

184

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

57

19

20

23

28

31

26

39

24

21

21

20

21

About 30

27

37

Age

Lhasa Drapchi

Lhasa, student

Taglungdrag Gon

Garu Nunnery

Tibet University, Chamdo Ghungru

Toelung, non-registered monk at Sera

Shugseb Nunnery

Lhasa

Died during 14 Mar 2008 protest in Lhasa

Died during 14 Mar 2008 protest in Lhasa

Died during 14 Mar 2008 protest in Lhasa

Died during 14 Mar 2008 protest in Lhasa

Died during 14 Mar 2008 protest in Lhasa

Died during 14 Mar 2008 protest in Lhasa

Died during 14 Mar 2008 protest in Lhasa

Died during 14 Mar 2008 protest in Lhasa

Died during 14 Mar 2008 protest in Lhasa

Died after being shot in Lhasa on 14 Mar 2008.

Toelung, resident at Toelung Lugug, auto driver Lhasa

Died in Lhasa on 14 Mar 2008, exact cause not clear

Among 7 people shot dead on southern Bharkor street in Lhasa on 14 Mar 2008

Dragtsengtsang, Nyingdrong Township, Damshung County Damshung

Died after being hit by bullet in front of Tsuglakhang, Lhasa, on 14 Mar 2008

Died after being hit by bullet in front of Tsuglakhang, Lhasa, on 14 Mar 2008

Died from bullet injury on chest during 14 Mar 2008 protest in Lhasa

Died during 14 Mar 2008 protest in Lhasa

Place of death, remark

Palyul, Kongpo resident

Palyul, Kongpo resident

Dege, Jomda County

Lhasa

Residence or birthplace

Names and other details about some of the Tibetans who were killed or who suffered untimely death during or after the Chinese governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s violent suppression of the peaceful Tibetan protests:

ALL TIBETANS AS A COMMUNITY OF ONE THROUGH TIMES GOOD AND BAD

Penpa

Kelsang Yeshe

Penpa, Dugda Lama

Tenzin Dolkar

Dechung, Dachung

29

30

31

32

Dawa Tsering

24

28

Pema

23

Tendhar

Yardo Mardo (nickname)

22

27

Tenzin Lobsang

21

Dolma

Yeshe

20

26

Tashi Tsering

19

Yangzom

Tashi Dorje

18

25

Phurbu Tsamchoe

17

185 24

21

29

25

29

25

22

20

Nyemo Phusum Teyshoetsang

Toelung Gurum

Toelung Neynang Gon

Died during 14 Mar 2008 protest in Lhasa

Died after being hit by bullet in front of Tsuglakhang, Lhasa, on 14 Mar 2008

Died after being hit by bullet on 14 Mar 2008 in Lhasa, one of the 8 corpses lying in the Kunsangtse courtyard

Died in the peaceful protest in Lhasa on 14 Mar 2008, exact circumstance not clear

Died in the peaceful protest in Lhasa on 14 Mar 2008

Phenpo, former monk of Drepung Monastery Markham

Died in the middle of Jun 2008 after bullet injury on 14 Mar

Lhasa, staff at Telegraph office

Died after being hit by bullet on 14 Mar 2008, exact circumstance not clear

Died after being hit by bullet on 14 Mar 2008, exact circumstance not clear

Draggo Kaling, Lhasa Lingkor Lholam Phenpo Lhundup County

Died after being hit by bullet on 14 Mar 2008, exact circumstance not clear

Body identified at the eastern gate of Gaden Khangsar on 14 Mar 2008 with bullet mark

died after being hit by bullet on 14 Mar 2008, exact circumstance not clear

Tailor, died after being hit by bullet on 14 Mar 2008

Died during 14 Mar 2008 protest in Lhasa, where he lived doing business

Died during 14 Mar 2008 protest in Lhasa

Died during 14 Mar 2008 protest in Lhasa

Died during 14 Mar 2008 protest in Lhasa

Phenpo Lhundup County

Phenpo, taxi driver

Phenpo, tourist motor vehicle driver

Tenant behind Lhasa Gorkha

Bathang County, Serlinglung

Bathang County, Serlinglung

Nagchu, student

Lhasa

Tibetan Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Peaceful Movement in 2008 and the Chinese Governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Suppresive Policy

Tsomo

Lobsang Tenzin

Monk Gyaltsen Yarphel, Lobsang Tsering

Monk Ngawang Sherab, Migmar

Jinpa or Jigpa

Lobsang Jinpa, Nawang Tsondue

Monk Lobsang Thogmey

Nun Tsering Dolkar

LobsangTsomo

Monk Tsedrub

Tashi Wangchuk

Gegyam of Soruma

Gephen Thaglo

Norbu

Lotse

Ngodup Tso, Lhundup Tso

Atisha

Dotsang Tsezin

Gonpo Lhagon

Pelkho

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

186

45

46

47

48

49

50

51

52

Female

about 30

34

16

25

17

64

40

27

25

32

38

28

31

43

24

27

Died on way to Zilling after being shot during 14 Mar 2008 protest in Lhasa

Dhardo Minyak, former monk of Drepung Monastery

Killed at Ngaba County on 16 Mar 2008

Amdo Ngaba, Zhinglung Khagabtsang

Reported killed on 16 Mar 2008, exact circumstance of death not clear Died 22 Mar 2008 due to lack of proper medical care after injury

Amdo Ngaba Ngatoe Gomang Thawey Kyachungtsang

Former monk of Nhangshig Gon

Amdo Ngaba Ngoshul

Amdo Ngaba Ngoshul

Killed at Ngaba County on 16 Mar 2008 Hit by bullet at Ngaba County on 16 Mar 2008 and died Killed by Ngaba County police near their office gate Shot dead during protest on 16 Mar 2008

Killed at Ngaba County on 16 Mar 2008

Amdo Ngaba Asug Ponkor Khyinyertsang

Amdo Ngaba, Lhamotsang of Soruma

Killed at Ngaba County on 16 Mar 2008

Killed at Ngaba County on 16 Mar 2008

Amdo Ngaba

Ngaba County, Lhade Ghongma

Amdo Ngaba, Kirti Monastery

Maldrogungkar Choekhor Gon

Maldrogungkar Choekhor Gon

Died in the night of 23 Mar 2008 at Ramoche Temple due to starvation Said to have died in Mar 2008during Maldro protest Reported to have committed suicide on 12 Apr 2008 Shot dead at Ngaba County on 16 Mar 2008

Killed with a shot on forehead at Phenpo on 14 Mar 2008

Phemnpo Dagpo Village, Trelpa Sarpa

Gyantse Chakrishar

Died during 14 Mar 2008 protest in Lhasa

Died during 14 Mar 2008 protest in Lhasa

Died in hospital after being hit by bullet during 14 Mar 2008 protest in Lhasa

Was among the many corpses cremated in the Toelung area on 28 Mar 2008

Maldrogungkar, Ganden Monastery

Maldrogungkar, Ganden Monastery

Lhokha Gungkar County, tailor

Shigatse Namling

ALL TIBETANS AS A COMMUNITY OF ONE THROUGH TIMES GOOD AND BAD

187

Monk Lhun-gho

Bhubhu Deleg

Tsering Dhondup

Tsering Dhondup (Senior)

Kunsang Choedon

65

66

67

68

Umzey Thubten Zangden

60

64

Monk Tsering Kalden

59

Gekoe Tsewang Rigzin

Tsewang Kyi (female)

58

63

Dawa, Dawa Gyaltsen

57

Monk Lobsang Rinchen

Gyalpo

56

62

Kyari (Ngodup)

55

Monk Konchog Sherab

Monk Kunga

54

61

Zati (Rinchen)

53

43

30

35

38

25

30

27

27

22

31

30

37

21

Beaten to death on 26 Mar 2008 after taking part in Phenpo protest Died on 26 Mar 2008 in hospital after the Phenpo protest of 15 Mar Died after being shot on 3 Apr 2008.

Said to have died after being shot on 3 Apr 2008. Belonged to Bala-da Village.

Died after being shot on 3 Apr 2008.

Belonged to Tsugra Village.

Died after being shot on 3 Apr 2008.

Belonged to Khasung Village.

Died after being shot on 3 Apr 2008.

Belonged to Nyatri Village.

Died after being shot on 3 Apr 2008.

Belonged to Jhuru-da Village.

Died after being shot on 3 Apr 2008.

Belonged to Bala-da Village.

Died after being shot on 3 Apr 2008.

Died after being shot on 3 Apr 2008.

Died after being shot on 3 Apr 2008.

Died after being shot on 3 Apr 2008.

Dedrong Village in Jhangkha Township in Phenpo Tsa-ngoe Village in Tongkhor Township of Kardze County Tongkhor Township of Kardze County Tongkhor Township of Kardze County Tongkhor Township of Kardze County Tongkhor Township of Kardze County Tongkhor Township of Kardze County Tongkhor Township of Kardze County Sothog Da Village in Tongkhor Township, Kardze County Kharsung Village in Tongkhor Township, Kardze County Druyag Village of Tongkhor Township, Kardze County Mhogren Village in Tongkhor Township, Kardze County

Son of Lanag Khampa. Shot dead at Serta County on 20 Mar 2008

Tseshul Dewa, Kekhor Township, Serta County Monk of Phenpo Ganden Choekhor

Shot dead on 24 Mar 2008

Beaten to death at Machu County on 20 or 21 Mar 2008

Draggo County, Tehor Chagri Gon

Amdo Ngaba

Tibetan People’s Peaceful Movement in 2008 and the Chinese Government’s Suppresive Policy

Duglo Tso

Tenlam (Female)

Sonam Tsultrim

Monk Lobsang Jinpa

Monk Legtsog

Monk Gesang, Tsesoetsang

Monk Thoesam

Monk Choeden or Choetop

Ti Lhamo (Tuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;u Lhamo)

Nechung

Kunga

Patsel Kyab, Zhikalo

Monk Jigme Phuntsog

Ngawang Pelsang

Tenzin Sangpo

69

70

71

72

73

74

75

76

188

77

78

79

80

81

82

83

23

22

58

Over 60

38

27

29

32

75

32

32

34

Died after being shot on 3 Apr 2008.

Committed suicide on 27 Mar 2008, leaving behind a note saying he could not endure the violent repression and so on Committed suicide in the night of 30 Mar 2008, unable to endure Chinese beating

Ghugra Village in Tongkhor Township, Kardze County Ngasib Ka-nyag Dewa, Kirti Monastery, Ngaba County Ngatoe Kezhi, Gomang Gon, Ngaba County

Died in May 2008 after release from prison, was a former political prisoner Died on 14 Mar 2008 after being shot near Ani Tsamkhung nunnery, Lhasa

Lhasa, student (not clear which school)

Died in Golmud city prison on 22 June 2008

Died in prison. His body was hand over to his family on 25 May 2008

Lama of Lo Gonpa, Tagtse County

Drepung monk, Rebgong County

Nagtsangma Village, Cha Township, Ngaba County

Maldrogungkar County

Huram Dewa of Cha Ruwa, Ngaba County

Near Wonpo Gon, Sershul County

Shot dead by police on 28 Apr 2008

Ponkor Toema Township, Dharlag County

Committed suicide on 28 Apr 2008, strangling himself with a rope, under violent repression and feeling of intense sorrow.

Died on 17 Apr 2008 after release due to torture in jail and lack of medical care Died in Apr 2008, 3 days after release from jail

Committed suicide in the night of 16 Apr 2008. Had weak eyesight, Meruma

Ngaba Kirti Gon, Uma class

Killed by police in front of the public by beating on 3 Apr 2008

Died after being shot on 3 Apr 2008.

Ghugra Village in Tongkhor Township, Kardze County

Namtso Gon in Ngaba Meâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;u Ruma

Died after being shot on 3 Apr 2008.

Ghugra Village in Tongkhor Township, Kardze County

ALL TIBETANS AS A COMMUNITY OF ONE THROUGH TIMES GOOD AND BAD

Monk Tangma

Monk Jampel Gyatso

Monk Lobsang Tsultrim

ANu ( male)

Namlang (male)

Monk Delog

Monk Gyaltsen

Akar Tashi

Kyara Palden Nyendag

Kelsang Lhamo

Sherab Yangtso

Tulku Kunsang Zhenphen

Sheshey

Bande Tsering

Lhundup

A girl

84

85

86

87

88

89

90

91

92

189

93

94

95

96

97

98

99

17

45

About 40

60

About 40

About 60

About 38

Over 20

40s

42

47

16

About 70

Committed suicide on 18 Oct 2008 at Chentsa Nationalities Middle School

Kangtsa County in Malho Prefecture, Qinghai Province

Shot dead on 20 May near the gate of Tsuglakhang, Lhasa

Beaten to death by Chinese police in the morning of 26 Mar 2008

Lukyil Dewa in Ala Township, Luchu County

Said to be from Lhokha

Died with 5 bullet wounds, was in Lhasa on pilgrimage with mother Bathil in Bathang County

Died in the night of 17 Jun 2008 reportedly due to intense rage

Died on 19 Apr 2008 after she became insane due to the arrest of her husband

Dukhang Teng in Kadag Township, Kardze County Sey Gonpa, Ngaba County

Died on 27 Jun 2008 after nun daughter Tsewang Khando arrested and jailed.

Died on 3 Jul 2008 after both his nun daughters arrested

Shot dead by Chinese police on 4 May 2008

Said to have died in a bomb explosion on 12 Jul 2008

Said to have died in a bomb explosion on 12 Jul 2008

Driven to commit suicide on 3 Jul 2008 Died in Jun 2008 due to rotting of flesh caused by lack of medical care after bullet injury.

Died in May 2008 in hospital due to beating after the protest at Phenpo county

Died on 6 Jul 2008 due to high blood pressure greatly worsened by unimaginable repression at monastery

Committed suicide on 18 June, circumstance of death not clear

Dungra Village, Kardze County

Draggo County

Lhathog, Chamdo County

Dege Gonchen

Dege Gonchen

Zhol Village, Phenpo County

Lhasa, previously resident at Paljor Rabten

Ngaba Kirti Dongri Gon

Ngaba Kirti Gon

Mi-nyag Dapa Yangden Gon, Nyagchu County

Tibetan Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Peaceful Movement in 2008 and the Chinese Governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Suppresive Policy

Tenzin Norbu

Ngawang Tsering

104

105

Pema Tsepag

Jampa Lhamo

103

107

Husband of the above

102

Namdol Khakhyab

Sonam Phuntsog

101

106

Guru

100

24

45

190

Punda Village, Tsawa Zogang County

Dorjedrag Gon, Lhokha

Meypa De, Markham

Maldrogungkar County

Khyungpo Tengchen, resident in the Ramoche area

Beaten to death on 23 Jan 2009 after arrest on 20 Jan 2009

Died on 14 Mar 2008 due to denial of blood transfusion at Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hospital in Lhasa.

Committed suicide at Samye Monastery after Mar 2008

Died in Mar 2008 due to beating during detention in the Phenpo area

Beaten to death in the night of 16 Mar 2008 after husbandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s arrest; she was visually handicapped Died in Nov 2008 after arrest on 19 Mar 2008 due to severe beatings during arrest and detention

Beaten to death in prison in Lhasa on 18 Mar 1008

Chagso Teng in Namling Township, Markham County From Lhorong area of Chamdo

Died on 9 Jun 2008 in Draggo County hospital due to beating by police after arrest

Samtenling Gon, Draggo County

ALL TIBETANS AS A COMMUNITY OF ONE THROUGH TIMES GOOD AND BAD