Monk protest scuppers controlled media tour of Tibet

Times Online
March 27, 2008

Tibetan monks staged a daring protest against Chinese rule, disrupted an official government tour for foreign journalists with screams that the Dalai Lama was not to blame for violence and demands for religious freedom.

The astonishing outburst by about 30 monks came as the first group of journalists to visit Lhasa since the violent March 14 riot was being shown around the Jokhang temple, the holiest shrine in the Tibetan canon. (more…)

Reports from Tibet on March 26th

Local Chinese authorities have reportedly expelled a large number of monks from Chokri Monastery and arrested some nuns of Nanggong (Tib translit: nganga sgong) Nunnery, in Drango County (Ch: Luhuo xian), Kardze TAP, Sichuan Province. There are also reports of disappearances of many lay people from the area.

Under the pretext of a meeting with the authorities, two former abbots of Chokri Monastery, Geshe Namgyal Tsering and Geshe Sonam Gyurmey, were detained in the County Public Security Bureau (PSB) Detention Centre.

In an apparent measure to bring Tibetans in the county under control, the authorities called for a meeting in neighboring Getse Township, during which the residents were ordered to denounce and criticize the Dalai Lama and the “separatist” forces. An elderly woman, Ama Tsanglo, steadfastedly refused to abide by the order and on the contrary called for the fast “return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet”. The Township Party Secretary attacked the woman, beating her brutally, while she shouted, “I will never denounce the Dalai Lama. Even if you kill me today I won’t have any regrets.” The woman’s son emerged from the crowd and in turn began beating the Party Secretary. At the time of TCHRD’s release on these incidents, both the Party Secretary and Tsanglo had been hospitalized. The whereabouts of the son is still unknown.

The first group of foreign journalists allowed in Tibet since the uprising, arrived in Lhasa today, escorted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Tibet is not Free! Tibet is not free!

BREAKING NEWS:
Tibet Monks Disrupt Tour by Journalists

By CHARLES HUTZLER, AP

LHASA, China (AP) — A group of Tibetan monks disrupted a tour by foreign reporters to Lhasa Thursday, complaining that there is no religious freedom and that the Dalai Lama is not to blame for recent violence.

About 30 monks surged into a carefully stage-managed visit to the sacred Jokang Temple in Lhasa by foreign reporters. They yelled “Tibet is not free. Tibet is not free.”

They also said their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, had nothing to do with recent anti-government riots by Tibetans in Lhasa, where buildings were torched and ethnic Han Chinese were attacked. Government handlers tried to pull the journalists away when the monks protested. (more…)

New danger for Tibetan monks: starvation in besieged monasteries

As the Chinese government continues its inhumane siege of major monasteries in and around Lhasa, a new danger is emerging for Tibetan monks: death by starvation.

Chinese military forces have surrounded the monasteries, cut off electricity, and are refusing to let Tibetans bring food and medicine to the monks.

The major monasteries of Sera, Drepung, and Ganden are cut off, and unconfirmed sources in Lhasa report near-starvation among the monks. Tibet.net, the website of the Tibetan government in exile, is reporting that at least one monk has starved to death at the smaller Ramoche Monastery in central Lhasa. 

Because the Chinese government is refusing independent access to Tibet by journalists, aid agencies, or diplomats, these reports are impossible to confirm.  They could be true, they could be exaggeration.  We have no way of knowing right now.  Of course, if the Chinese government had nothing to hide, it would allow access.   

If these reports are true, China’s inhumane collective punishment against Tibet’s monks cannot be allowed to stand.  This tactic is particularly barbaric, and yet historically appropriate for the Chinese Communist Party, which has a long history of massive collective punishment as a way of maintaining its control.

Does this sound like proper conduct for an Olympic host? Does this sound like proper conduct for any civilized country? Or does this sound like something out of the Middle Ages?  We cannot jump to conclusions until the reports are confirmed.  But they are troubling, to say the least.

(Click on this map for a larger image showing locations of the major monasteries in Lhasa)

Day 17 – Update from the March

The March reached Chandigarh today where the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress members extended a hearty welcome to all. The marchers stayed in Shahatpur Gurdwara for the night. The Gurdwara kindly donated 50 kilograms of flour and 30 kilograms of rice which will go towards feeding the 200 people involved in the March. Additionally, they offered their kitchen facilities for free, as well as housing free of cost. The Organizing Committee and marchers are highly appreciative of their generosity and support of the March and the Tibetan cause.

 

Mr. Arvin Thakur, Chairman of Global Human Rights Council, organized an evening program at the Gurdwara and invited many prominent members of the local community. Mr. Thakur expressed his wish to meet us all in front of the Potala when Tibet is free. Mr. Tara Singh, Administrator of the Shahatpur Gurdwara, told the marchers, “I am very grateful for giving us this chance to serve you. We hope to fulfill all your needs here, and we also hope that you’ll be able to return to your homeland soon”.

 

The marchers from the first group who were detained in Yatri Niwas have been released over the past few days, and they joined the second group today in Chandigarh. The marchers spent the evening catching up and getting to know each other.