Update for Monday, 14 April 2008

30 April 2008

Lhasa-Military presence to increase in upcoming weeks; Public Security Personnel (Ch: Baoan) to loose jobs

After April 30, local Public Security Personnel in the Lhasa municipality will be losing their jobs since it has been announced internally that the military would be deployed in the areas that the Public Security Personnel are normally responsible for.

Most of the local Public Security Personnel are Tibetans so it is quite evident that Chinese authorities are making this move due to their obvious lack of trust in them.

14 April 2008

Markham (Ch: Mangkang) County, Chamdo Prefecture,"Tibet Autonomous Region"-Protest held

There was protest held this morning at the County Office. No further details available.

A few days ago at Woser monastery, Chinese authorities were conducting "patriotic re-education" classes in which monks were forced to denounce His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Few of the monks decided to resign from the monastery because they did not want to denounce His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

11-12 April 2008

Drepung monastery (Lhasa) -Monks protest against "patriotic re-education classes."

Since the evening of April 10, additional Armed Forces have been brought in at Drepung monastery for further suppression. In addition, more "work-teams" have been brought in to forcefully conduct "patriotic re-education" classes.

The monks held a protest to show their discontent over the "patriotic re-education classes." Many monks were arrested following the protest.

4 April 2008

Chentsa (Ch:Jianza) County, Malho "Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture," Qinghai province -Over 30 people arrested

On April 4, over 30 people were arrested in Chentsa County. These people were arrested for alleged involvement in the peaceful protest on March 22-23. As Chinese police continue their search for those protestors, more people continue to be arrested.

At the Chentsa County Nationalities Middle School, 4-5 students who were involved in bringing down and burning the Chinese flag and replacing it with the Tibetan flag on March 20, have been suspended from school.

April beginning(No Specific Date)

Since the beginning of April, Public Security Bureau (PSB) officials are visiting each household in Lhasa and taking attendance for each of the family members. The PSB are noting down the addresses and phone numbers of family members who are not present.

Non-residents of Lhasa such as those who are there for pilgrimage or business are being arrested and handed over to their respective County Police.

No Specific Date

In many areas including Lhasa, groups of Chinese people are instigating ethnic tension between Tibetans and Chinese. For example, some Chinese vegetable-sellers are demanding higher prices from Tibetans as opposed to Chinese people.

Recently a fight broke out between Tibetan students and Chinese students at Lhasa middle school. Even towards the end of last year, there were reports of groups of Chinese students beating up Tibetan students in Lhasa No. 2 Middle School.

There are earlier traces of fights between Tibetan students and Chinese students. In one instance, after a fight between a Tibetan and a Chinese student, the parents of the Chinese student beat the Tibetan student up. Due to the unjust decisions by authorities that took place following the incident, there was a bigger clash between a group of Tibetan people and Chinese people, which has to be stopped by the armed police.

Students from various schools in Lhasa have started fund-raising activities with the goal of helping those who suffered losses during the recent demonstrations. Funds are also being raised from fellow students.

Ngaba (Ch: Aba) County, Ngaba "Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture," Sichuan province -Arbitrary arrests continue

In March, many Tibetans were arrested during the protests that took place in each of the three traditional provinces of Tibet. In particular, former-political prisoners (even those without any involvement in the recent protests) are being arrested on baseless grounds.

Tenzin and Lobsang Choedher/Kunchok, monks from Kirti monastery and both former political prisoners, were injured and arrested during the protest in Ngaba County. The two are being subjected to harsh treatment under the authorities.

A group of people including Lobsang Jinpa, Koenpae and Lobsang Phuntsok, monks from Kirti monastery have been put on a wanted-list that has been circulated and announced and harsh sentencing would follow upon their arrests.

Jamyang Tsultrim, a nun from Mama nunnery, Ngaba County, who remains imprisoned was told to stomp on the portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. She refused and as a result was beaten severely. Jamyang Tsultrim is from A-jong village. Currently the status of her well-being is unknown.

A boy from Tsongdu County after being injured was taken to a hospital in Barkham (Ch: Ma’erkang) County by an aide. Their whereabouts are completely unknown.