Tibetan Information Office (TIO) is based in Canberra.

Update on Tibet Demonstrations, 3 April 2008

April 2, 2008: Tawu (Ch: Daofu) County, Karze “Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture,” Sichuan Province- Protest held

Monks from Nyatso monastery and laypeople (all from Tawu County) held a protest. No further details available.

March 30, 2008

Chabcha (Ch: Gonghe) Township, Tsolho “Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture,” Qinghai province – Students hold protest

Students from a Teachers Training School held a peaceful demonstration around 11:00 PM. No further details available.

March 29, 2008

Jomda (Ch: Jiangda) County, Chamdo Prefecture “Tibet Autonomous Region,” – Messages being passed through posters

On street areas and walls near the Zigar monastery, many posters were pasted. Among many other things, some of the demands in the posters were calling for a Free Tibet and China to leave Tibet.

When news of the posters got to Chinese authorities, the military arrived at Zigar monastery to place restrictions.

Sog (Ch: Sou) County, Nagchu Prefecture (Ch: Naqu Shen), “Tibet Autonomous Region” -Monks arrested for protesting against “Patriotic re-education” classes

5 monks from Nyimaling monastery, Gyalchen Township, Sog County, who protested against Chinese “work-teams” giving “patriotic re-education” classes were arrested by the local police.

March 28, 2008

Pasho (Ch: Basu) County, Chamdo Prefecture, “Tibet Autonomous Region,” – Monk uses posters to express conditions in Tibet

Tsewang Dorjee, monk from Nera monastery, Pasho (Ch: Basu) County, posted many posters at multiple locations including the Pasho County governmental headquarters and also on big rocks (near Nera monastery).

On the posters, among many other things, he demanded more religious freedom in Tibet, Free Tibet and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet.

Tsewang Dorjee was arrested after he returned to the monastery.

No Specific Date

Sog (Ch: Sou) County, Nagchu Prefecture (Ch: Naqu Shen), “Tibet Autonomous Region,”- “Patriotic re-education” campaign continues

Chinese “work-teams” are forcefully giving Patriotic re-education classes in all monasteries and nunneries in Sog County.

Monks and nuns have been restricted from leaving their living quarters. Specifically in Sok Tsenden monastery and Ripung nunnery (both located in Sog County), very tight restrictions have been placed.

Around 16th and 17th March, business people, parents of students, and those seeking jobs in Lhasa and Nagchu County, were forcefully returned to their hometowns. For instance, in Yakla Town, Sog County, around 200 people were returned as a result.

The concerned offices in Sog County gave orders to the people that they cannot leave the county and participation in “patriotic re-education” classes would be mandatory. If the people leave outside their counties, then the benefits (such as household, land and agricultural) they receive from the government would be stopped.

Gyalthang (Ch: Zhongdian), Dechen “Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture,” Yunnan province – Huge military deployments continue

Starting from mid-March, over 10,000 Chinese military have been deployed in Gyalthang County, and tight restrictions continue to be imposed.

In Rongpa-Nyishar Township, Gyalthang County, around a thousand military personnel have been deployed. Local Tibetans distributed and pasted posters asking all Tibetans to unite and resist policies of the Chinese government and also demanded the immediate return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.