12 April 2008 : Dartsedo (Ch: Kangding), Karze “Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture,” Sichuan province – China has no plans to slow down “patriotic re-education” campaign
All County officials and monastery heads from Karze “TAP” were called for a meeting held in Dartsedo (the location for Karze “TAP” Headquarters). The purpose of the meeting was mainly to enforce guidance for conducting “patriotic re-education” classes.
In various Counties of Karze “TAP,” including Sershul, many monasteries had rejected the “patriotic-re-education” classes that were being conducted in March. In some monasteries, monks called for dialogue between the China and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. At the meeting in Dartsedo, Chinese authorities demanded the heads of monasteries to acknowledge that such demands were a big mistake.
Also during the meeting, announcements were made to each of the monastery heads demanding that they host the Chinese flag on the monastery rooftop. Announcements were also made such that the monks and laypeople of Sershul County will have to acknowledge that His Holiness the Dalai Lama was responsible for inciting the recent demonstrations, and were made to promise that they would protest against the “Dalai clique.”
The implementation of the announcements made during the meeting was a failure since it was met with much resentment from the Tibetan people.
Due to the failed outcome of this last meeting, another meeting has already been scheduled by the Chinese authorities.
8 April 2008
Ngaba (Ch: Aba) County, Ngaba “Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture,” Sichuan province – School shut down
The school of Tak-tsang Lhamo Kirti monastery has been closed down by the concerned office of the Chinese Government. The school was shut down after the students allegedly joined the protest by the monks of Tak-tsang Lhamo Kirti monastery on March 15.
For monks (below the age of 18) and local children, the school is the main institution to learn the Tibetan language and study the cultural sciences.
The school was started in 1986 and presently has around 504 students. The school has been in great service to the monastery as well as the local community.
3 April 2008
Ngaba (Ch: Aba) County, Ngaba “Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture,” Sichuan province – Details of monk beaten to death on April 3
As reported earlier, on April 3, a monk was beaten to death by Armed Police in Ngaba County. We can now confirm his name and details. The name of the monk killed was Gesang from Tse-soe family, Mehu-ru-ma Thoe-shey village. He was around 32 years of age.
2 April 2008
Tsegor Thang (Ch:Xinghai) County, Tsolho “Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture,” Qinghai province -Portraits of His Holiness the Dalai Lama continues to be banned
A notice has been issued in Tsoshar, Tsegor Thang County, demanding people not to hang portraits of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in their homes. The notice also said that if those people who are “law-breakers” follow the “right path,” they will be exempt from [punishment].
The house in which His Holiness the Dalai Lama was born and raised for the first few years of his life has been locked down by Chinese authorities.
No Specific Date
Tibetan prisoners being starved
A colossal number of Tibetans have been arrested and detained by the Chinese. Those arrested are undergoing extremely harsh treatment and with many being deprived of regular food.
On March 16-17, six to seven Tibetans from Gonjo (Ch: Gongjue) County, Chamdo Prefecture, were arrested and detained in the Lhasa Prison. After fining them 600 yuan they were released at a later date, since their offences were considered relatively minor. The following information is based on the eye-witness accounts of the Tibetans that were arrested and imprisoned for a few days. After being arrested, the above prisoners were taken to an over-crowded prison which held around 800 Tibetans.
At the prison, the detainees are being starved as they are expected to survive on a piece of bread and a cup of tea, which they are given only every four days. There are also reports of prisoners being starved in Ngaba “TAP,” Sichuan province.
Similar harsh situations were also faced by Tibetans who were arrested and detained during the 1989 Lhasa uprising. In March, 1989, many Tibetans were arrested and detained in the Lhasa Prison. There were over 500 Tibetans detained in this prison alone. The prisoners were fed minimally. A few of the prisoners including Penpa (monk from Tsug-lag-khang Temple, currently deceased) started to protest against the lack of food provided by the prison authorities. The protest grew in size and intensity after all the other prisoners joined the protest. Those who started the protest were severely beaten by the prison guards