Update for Monday, 7 April 2008

7 April 2008

Tawu (Ch: Daofu) County, Karze "Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture," Sichuan Province - Tight restrictions at Ratroe nunnery

Due to the protests by the nuns from Ratroe nunnery on April 2, armed forces continue to impose tight restrictions at the nunnery and, in addition, have announced that "patriotic re-education" classes would be started soon.

5 April 2008

Tawu (Ch: Daofu) County, Karze "Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture,"- Sichuan Province - Massive Protest by monks and lay people.

Around a thousand people (monks and lay people) gathered at Nya-tso monastery for the annual Tor-kyak ritual (held to ward off evil forces). While they were on their prayer-march towards the Tawu County Governmental Headquarters, the laypeople were specifically blocked by the armed forces from moving ahead while the monks were let go. The lay people started to protest against the suppression and shouted slogans such as, "more human rights in Tibet" and "long live His Holiness the Dalai Lama."

During the protest, the armed forces opened fire at the crowd injuring many. Three names, from the many injured can be confirmed. They are:

1) Tsewang Gyaltsen/Tsewang Gyatso   (from Pang-nang village)
2) Mabhu Gyaltsen/Gyatso   ( from Rehu village)
3) Yapshi Dhondup

Some of the other injured were in critical condition. They could not be treated at the local County Hospital and had to be taken to a bigger hospital in China.

Additional details for deaths, arrests and injured cannot be confirmed at the moment.

Karze (Ch: Ganzi) County, Karze "Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture," Sichuan Province -Situation at Tongkor monastery reminiscent of times during the Cultural Revolution.

The armed forces carried out an aggressive search at Tongkor monastery on April 5. Windows at the residence of the spiritual head of the monastery was shattered and statues in the prayer hall were dismantled. Since Tongkor monastery houses many ancient artifacts and religious objects, it is a matter of great concern that during another possible search more damage may result. The current situation at Tongkor monastery is reminiscent of the times during the Cultural Revolution.

3 April 2008

Karze (Ch: Ganzi) County, Karze "Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture," Sichuan Province - Two names confirmed from those killed during protests at Tongkor Township.

As reported earlier, there were protests by the monks of Tongkor monastery and local lay people in Karze County on April 2 and 3. During the protest, a few Tibetans were shot and killed by armed forces. Two names* can be confirmed. They are:

S. No.	NAME	AGE	SEX	PLACE OF RESIDENCE/BIRTH	DETAILS
53	Tsewang Rigzin(Monk)	38	M	Tongkor monastery, Tongkor Township, Karze County, Karze (Ch: Ganzi) "Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture," Sichuan Province	Shot and killed on April 3, during the demonstration
54	Sonam Tsultrim	22	M	Nya-tri village, Tongkor Township, Karze County, Karze (Ch: Ganzi) "Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture," Sichuan Province	Shot and killed on April 3, during the demonstration

* In addition to the already released 40 plus 4, plus 8 names and details of Tibetans killed during the recent demonstrations, here we are releasing 2 more names (with details) from current death toll list which stands well over 140.

Among those injured during the protest, one more name can be confirmed. He is Yeshi Sangpo.

14 March 2008

As reported earlier, there were massive demonstrations in Lhasa during which numerous people were killed. An additional name* and detail can be confirmed.

S. No.	NAME	AGE	SEX	PLACE OF RESIDENCE/BIRTH	DETAILS
55	Lobsang Jinpa(religious name:Ngawang Tsundue	38	M	Dartsedo (Ch:Kangding) County, Karze (Ch: Ganzi) "Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture," Sichuan Province	Shot and killed on March 14, during the demonstrations in Lhasa

* In addition to the already released 54 total names and details of Tibetans killed during the recent demonstrations, here we are releasing 1 more name (with details) from current death toll list which stands well over 140.

No Specific Date

Sershul (Ch: Shiqu) County, Karze "Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture," Sichuan Province -Searches continue in monasteries

At Voenpo monastery, Sershul (Ch: Shiqu) County, few arrests of monks and lay people were made (towards end of March). A huge contingent of armed forces arrived and conducted thorough searches of all the monk-quarters. Some monks were beaten for having the Tibetan flag and other items (deemed "unpatriotic" by the Chinese Government) in their possession. Numerous statues and computers owned by the monastery were confiscated.

Currently, the monastery remains under extremely tight restrictions.