Updates on Tibet, 25 April 2008

24 April 2008

Dingri (Ch: Dingri) County, Shigatse Prefecture, "Tibet Autonomous Region," -3,000 armed forces deployed in Shelkar town

Around 3,000 armed forces have been deployed in Shelkar town, Dingri County.

A few days back, sizeable group of armed forces were deployed in Drakmar village, Shelkar town. They stayed at a nearby local hotel.

On 24 April, sizeable group armed forces were deployed on Ghung-la mountain, SoluKhumbu. The yak herdsmen of Choe-loong monastery, Dingri County, were forced to be porters carrying items for the armed forces.

23 April 2008

Karze (Ch: Ganzi) County, Karze "Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture," Sichuan province-Two nuns hold protest in Karze County market

On April 23, around 1 pm (local time), two nuns, Sonam Dekyi, age 30, from Serchu village, Karze Town and Lagha, age 32 from Dzongpa village, both nuns from Drakkar nunnery, held a peaceful protest at the Karze County market.

All around the market the two nuns threw hundreds of small pieces of paper which read among other things, "Tibet is an independent country," and "long live His Holiness the Dalai Lama." The nuns continued to do this for a considerable amount of time. They were arrested by the armed forces.

Currently we have no information on where these two nuns are being detained.

22 April 2008

Dartsedo (Ch: Kangding) County, Karze "Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture," Sichuan province-Pro-independence posters distributed among public

Many posters reading "Tibet is an independent country," "His Holiness must be welcomed back to Tibet," and "Tibetans want freedom," were distributed in Mi-nyak Lha-ghang village, Dartsedo County.

Currently, the police are investigating the person(s) responsible for distributing the posters.

Tawu, (Ch: Daofu) County, "Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture," Sichuan province-Tibetan farmers being harassed by County officials

Tibetans farmers from Mi-nyak Garthar have stopped their farming practices since April 22. The County officials have demanded that the farmers immediately start farming again. The farmers continue to be harassed by the officials.

April Beginning

Dingri (Ch: Dingri) County, Shigatse Prefecture, "Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture,"- Seven Tibetans arrested for reasons unknown

From the seven businessmen who were returning from SoluKhumbu, five were arrested by the armed forces in Drakmar village, Dingri County. The other two were arrested by their local police authorities after arriving at their homes.

The families of those arrested attempted to find out where they were being detained. Those arrested are not being detained in their local prisons and their whereabouts remain unknown. Families have not been told why the seven men were arrested.

March end

Gyalthang (Ch: Zhongdian) County, Dechen "Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture," Yunnan province-Four young Tibetans arrested for suspicion of contact with the outside world

Around four young Tibetan tourist guides were arrested in Gyalthang County by local police. The four have been arrested allegedly for their involvement in having passing on information to the outside world through the internet.

The four boys are from Amdo province. Additional information cannot be confirmed at the moment.

No Specific Date

Drakgo (Ch: Luhuo) County, Karze "Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture," Sichuan province-Man severely beaten during signature campaign to vilify His Holiness the Dalai Lama

The monks from Drakgo monastery, Drakgo County, and the lay people of Drakgo County continue to face very tight restrictions by the Chinese government.

A signature campaign to vilify His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been launched amongst Tibetans nomads and farmers in Drakgo County. Tashi Sangpo a young farmer from Gephen Li-khokma village, Drakgo County, loudly refused to give his signature thus turning the campaign into a failure.

Tashi Sangpo was severely beaten and had to be taken to the hospital. He continues to be detained for his alleged participation during the earlier protest in Dragko County.