21 June 2008: Karze (Ch: Ganzi) County, Karze “TAP”, Kham (incorporated into Chinese province of Sichuan) – Protests carried out in Karze when Olympic torch reached Lhasa
Many protests seemed to have carried out in Karze county when the Olympic torch reached Lhasa on 21 June. Detailed information is not available.
On that day, Draghu, a youth from Khashul village in Dhado township, Karze county, staged a pro-independence protest at the county market. His forehead was tied with a white band reading “independence for Tibet”, and both of his cheeks were painted with Tibetan flags. While protesting, he distributed so many pamphlets containing 9-point demand mainly seeking that “His Holiness the Dalai Lama must be welcomed to Tibet”, “human rights in Tibet”, “release all the political prisoners”, etc. The Public Security Bureau (PSB) arrested him by tying his legs and arms.
It is also reported that around 4 youths staged a peaceful protest in Karze county on the same day. No details are available. Additional People’s Armed Police (PAP) has been deployed in Karze county.
18 June 2008
Karze (Ch: Ganzi) County, Karze “TAP”, Kham (incorporated into Chinese province of Sichuan) – Three monks from Beri monastery arrested for staging a peaceful protest at Karze county government office
Lobsang Gelek (a chant master), Thang-nye (a former chant master), and Lobsang Palden, all three monks from Beri monastery in Karze county, were immediately arrested by the PSB when they staged a peaceful protest in front of the county government office.
The next day on 19 June, the Chinese authorities sent their “work teams” to provide “patriotic re-education” to the monks of Beri monastery. However, the so-called patriotic re-education couldn’t be conducted due to opposition from the monks.