Tibetan Information Office (TIO) is based in Canberra.

Update on Tibet Demonstrations, 5 April 2008

5 April, 2008: Tongkor Township, Karze (Ch: Ganzi) County, Karze “Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture,” Sichuan Province – At least 8 killed and 3 critically injured by police during peaceful demonstration

During a peaceful demonstration by the monks of Tonkgor monastery, the Armed Police fired on a crowd of several hundred killing at least 8 Tibetans. The names of those eight people* killed can be confirmed.

They are:

[TABLE=6]

* In addition to the already released 40 plus four names and details of Tibetans killed during the recent demonstrations, here we are releasing eight more names (with details) from current death toll list which stands well over 140.

Three monks, Kyalpo, Nyima and Thupten Gelek were critically injured when they were shot by the Armed Police during the same demonstration.

Currently, we cannot confirm any further details on other people that may also have been killed or injured during the protest.

Ngaba (Ch: Aba) County, Ngaba “Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture,” Sichuan province- Tibetan monk beaten to death in front of public by Chinese security forces

A monk from Ngaba-Namtso monastery was reportedly beaten to death in front of the public. Additional details are yet to be ascertained.

30 March 2008

Nyarong (Ch: Xinlong) County, Karze “Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture,” Sichuan Province- Tight restrictions at Shiwa Lhathim monastery

Monks from Shiwa Lhathim monastery (in Raloong Township, Nyarong County) were on a protest march towards the County Governmental Headquarters. On their way, they were stopped by Chinese security forces and sent back to their monastery.

Shiwa Lhathim monastery remains surrounded by Chinese security forces. The local Tibetan people have sent a letter to the concerned office warning them that if the suppression is continued at Shiwa Lhathim monastery, then, the people would hold a massive demonstration.

27 March 2008

Two monks commit suicide

Lobsang Jinpa (monk from Kirti monastery, hometown in Ngasib Ka-nyak village, Ngaba County), who commited suicide on March 27 wrote on his signed suicide note, “I do not want to live under Chinese oppression even for a minute, leave aside living for a day.”

Legtsok (75 years of age, from Ngaba Gomang monastery), was the other monk to commit suicide. A few days ago when he was on his way to perform some prayer rituals for a Tibetan family, he was encountered by a contingent of large Chinese forces who beat him severely. He was then detained for a few days and later returned to his monastery. Before he committed suicide, he told his two students that he could not bear living under such oppression by the Chinese.

25 and 26, March

Nyagchu (Ch: Yajiang) County, Karze “Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture,” Sichuan province – Tibetans express their frustrations on Chinese currency

At Mi-nyak Town, Nyagchu County, Tibetans wrote slogans such as “Tibet is an independent country” on Chinese currency and threw them all over.