Student Protests Continue to Sweep Across Tibet
Late in the afternoon on July 10th, 2011, three students arrived at the main market of Kardze County. The students began distributing pamphlets and shouting slogans calling for “unity amongst Tibetans, the return of the Dalai Lama, and the independence of Tibet.” Almost immediately the Public Security Bureau officers arrived and began beating the students. The three students are Lobsang Phuntsok, Samphel and Lobsang Lhundup.
Again on July 29th, only in his mid 20s, Lobsang Ngodup staged a dramatic protest on the main road of Kardze County. He unveiled a portrait of the Dalai Lama and began chanting slogans. Eyewitnesses reported that he “continued to raise slogans for Tibet’s independence even while Chinese security personnel beat him severely.”
 Lobsang Phuntsok, 17 |
 Lobsang Ngodup |
Similarly, in north eastern Tibet (Amdo), over 400 students from “Golog Senior Tibetan High School” demonstrated against destructive mining in the region. In late July, the students set out on a 60 kilometer march to the site of a copper mine in Dawu, Golog. The students later staged a sit-in at the county government offices. Police forced the students to disperse although no arrests were made.
News of the protest was reported by the Tibet Times and Voice of Tibet Radio. A photo of the protest was sent from Golog to sources in exile and later posted on Chinese social networking websites. Although promptly taken down, the photo attracted dozens of supportive comments.
Students in Golog stage sit-in at government offices.
Photo posted on Chinese social networking website www.renren.com.
One user who shared the photo commented:
“Forward this article if you are inspired by the sacrifice of our brave Tibetan brothers who are rising across Tibet.”
In 2010, a wave of student protests spread across Tibet and culminated with widespread protests for language freedom in late October. Students both in and outside Tibet are utilizing the power of nonviolent resistance and continue to be at the forefront of the Tibetan freedom struggle.
DAY OF ACTION | REFUTING THE “PEACEFUL LIBERATION”
On July 13th, while Washington D.C. is abuzz with Kalachakra fever, over 50 Tibetans and Tibet supporters staged a protest in front of the Chinese consulate.
Daily protests continue in Kardze—Eastern Tibet—while the Chinese government is commemorating 60 years since the “peaceful liberation” of Tibet. Students for a Free Tibet called for a Global Day of Action to highlight the true reality of 60 years of failed Chinese policies in Tibet.
Watch AFP’s video coverage of the protest here: http://youtu.be/9wblX_aN3Es
The protest included speeches by former political prisoners Ngawang Sandrol and Phuntsok Nyidron, Amnesty International’s T. Kumar, Dorjee of RTYC, Ngawang Tashi, and Alim Seytoff of the Uyghur American Association.
The International Tibet Network’s “17 Points of Disagreement: 60 Years of China’s Failed Policies in Tibet” pamphlets were distributed.
View, download, and share the pamphlet here: http://www.chinasfailedtibetpolicies.org/
The protest was covered by AFP, and included quotes from SFT’s Executive Director Tenzin Dorjee.
Click here to read the article: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j8JeRJKXvv23NDgu6i6W0RuZH0KA?docId=CNG.561caa8da42ba25c5ee1f3158a926c28.da1
Did you stage a Day of Action for Tibet on July 13th? Send us your stories, photos, and videos for us to post on our blog or website! info[at]studentsforafreetibet.org
NEW PHOTOS, NEW PROTESTS, AND A NEW GENERATION
Last week photos of a brave protest in Ngagrong County in Kham from April 2010 were released by the Central Tibetan Administration.
Especially for those of us who have walked the streets of Tibet, the images of the 3 monks throwing handfuls of pamphlets in the air and waving homemade Tibetan national flags, are both inspiring and chilling.
What’s probably most inspiring about the photos and video is the age of the young monks. All under 23, they risked everything to send a message to the Chinese government that Tibetans are not happy under Chinese rule, that Tibetans want the return of the Dalai Lama, and that Tibet’s new generation will take action.
The fate of the four monks, Khu Tashi 22, Tsering Gyaltsen 19, Tsering Wangchuk 22, and Ringzin Dorjee is unknown. The prison where they are being held, their condition, and their harrowing story may never be heard. But their courage, sacrifice, and message was. To Khu, Tsering, Rinzin, and Tsering, we heard your brave cries.
Similarly last week in Kardze, Eastern Tibet, up to 20 monks and nuns staged protests. Like the 4 monks from Ngagrong, their brave sacrifice was heard.
All 17 monks and nuns from Kardze, like the monks from Ngagrong, are part of Tibet’s new generation, a generation of brave, brilliant, and restless youth who feel the “temptation of freedom.”
It Was Not a Good Day to be a Chinese Official
In the early morning hours on Monday, May 9th, a group of us drove from New York to Washington D.C., to raise our voices at the U.S. China Strategic and Economic Dialogue. When our van pulled up in D.C., Tibetans were already confronting four full buses of Chinese officials and military personal.
SFT board member, Tenzing Barshee, unveiled a Tibetan flag in the face of Deputy Chief of the People’s Liberation Army, General Ma Xiaotian. Tibetan palas and amalas placed flags over the windows of their buses as activists confronted the Chinese officials.
As Tibetans in Ngaba, Eastern Tibet continue to experience repression from Beijing, Tibetans in D.C., brought their voices straight to the Chinese leadership.
By 1:00 PM, we gathered in front of the State Department. As 20 of us began to raise our bull horns, voices, and flags, we were joined by the 8 Ngaba Peace Marchers. During the previous 7 days, the marchers had epically walked from New York to Washington D.C., and insisted on walking the distance from Capitol Hill, where they lobbied their congressional representatives, to the State Department.
For the next 3 hours, we had unprecedented access to limousines and buses full of Chinese officials. We hounded them.
It was reported,”…protesters chanted “Shame on China!” and held signs outside the building that read “China — Stop Military Crackdown in Ngaba, Tibet! (Huffington Post)” and “Tibetan protesters demanded that China ensure the freedom of monks at the Kirti monastery (AFP).”
Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton responded to the Dialogue by saying, the Chinese leadership “is trying to stop history, which is a fool’s errand” and called Beijing’s human rights record “deplorable.”
That night, back in New York, as I walked home, exhausted, my face burned by the sun, and my voice lost, I thought of the 8 marchers who tirelessly walked from New York to Washington D.C. I thought of the hundreds of monks, students, and lay Tibetans in Ngaba whose calls for human rights and freedom we delivered to the Chinese leadership.
It indeed was not a good day to be a Chinese official.
Click here to view photos from the protest.
A Reason to Hope: My Interaction with His Holiness in Los Angeles
On May 4th, Amnesty International honored His Holiness the Dalai Lama at its 50th anniversary event in Los Angeles. During the presentation, I had the opportunity to represent SFT and ask a question on stage.
As His Holiness exited with his entourage, he stopped to speak with a few of us. I held out a khata (traditional greeting scarf) and as I greeted him, he held my hands and said, “Don’t give up; you all must continue your work. Never lose hope, because change is definitely coming.”
He went on to say that in light of the increasing pace of change in China, it is important to work with the Chinese people – writers, intellectuals, artists, the opinion-makers of society.
The previous day, I had spoken at a conference bringing together Chinese dissidents, Tibetan activists, Mongolians, Uyghurs, and Taiwanese to discuss opportunities and develop strategies for advancing our respective struggles for freedom, democracy, and human rights.
I explained to His Holiness that our global network was engaging in strategic Chinese outreach by connecting with key democracy advocates, writers, artists, students, lawyers and intellectuals. He assured me our efforts will make a difference and that change is imminent.
In that moment, I felt the immensity of the work ahead of us, but also had the distinct feeling that victory was inevitable.
With your help we can bring about freedom in Tibet. Please donate today to support SFT’s work.
http://sft.convio.net/site/Donation2?df_id=1345&1345.donation=form1
As we build new and strategic alliances, we must continue to challenge China’s abuses in Tibet at every turn. I was reminded of this minutes after His Holiness left, when I joined Lobsang, the official videographer for the award ceremony.
Lobsang is from Ngaba, the county in Amdo, Tibet that is under attack by Chinese security forces. His 15-year-old cousin, Norbu, was shot dead by China’s armed police on March 16th, 2008 for taking part in a peaceful protest for Tibetan freedom.
Three years after the day Norbu was shot, Phuntsok Jarutsang, a 20-year-old monk, lit himself on fire in an act of protest against China’s repression, and troops have since laid siege on Kirti monastery.
Right now, U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, are meeting with Chinese officials in Washington, DC. Urge the U.S. Administration to raise Tibet and human rights during this week’s U.S.-China Strategic & Economic Dialogue.
Together, we can ensure that one day soon, people like Lobsang – and all Tibetans – are united with their families and homeland.
Please support SFT today: http://sft.convio.net/site/Donation2?df_id=1345&1345.donation=form1
Thank you for all you do for Tibet,
Tenzin Dorjee (Tendor)
Executive Director
A Clear Case of Lies, China’s Propaganda on Ngaba
On March 16th, 2011 when Phuntsok Jarutsang, a 21 year-old Tibetan monk from Kirti Monastery, doused his robes in petrol and set himself ablaze, he sent a spark through the Tibetan world.
Following Phuntsok’s death, over a thousand brave Tibetans in Ngaba (Ch: Aba County), took to the streets. Their protest was swiftly quelled by Chinese security forces. In the ensuing days, Chinese forces arrested dozens of Tibetans and laid siege to Kirti Monastery.
Tensions mounted on April 12th, fearing Chinese security forces plans to take away monks, Tibetans blocked the entrance of Kirti Monastery. Chinese soldiers tried to break through the Tibetans’ blockade by beating and setting dogs on the crowd. The Tibetans stood their ground.
Nine days later, police in Ngaba again attacked unarmed Tibetans and arrested over 350 monks from Kirti Monastery. Around 200 lay Tibetans formed a human chain attempting to stop the monks from being taken away. Two elderly Tibetans were killed as police beat their way through the human chain.
How did China respond to the siege at Kirti? A Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson acknowledged Phuntsok’s death but blamed it on “epilepsy treatment delays.” (China Daily) Nothing could be more insulting than to blame Phuntsok’s brave and tragic act on epilepsy.
A spokesman for China’s foreign ministry denied that security forces were blockading the monastery and added that Beijing’s policies in the Ngaba were “well received by local people” (BBC)
If this was so, then why did thousands of Tibetans pour into the streets after Phuntsok’s death? Why did thousands of Tibetans attend Phuntsok’s funeral to pay homage to Phuntsok? Photos and video received by Free Tibet campaign clearly show the blockade at Kirti and a massive police and military build up in Ngaba. Beijing’s policies have clearly not been “well received.”
The spark ignited by Phuntsok reached far beyond the streets of Ngaba. Tibetans and supporters across the world have held protests, vigils, and lobbied in support of Tibetans in Ngaba. Every day for the past 3 weeks, Tibetans in New York have staged daily protests and on April 25th, the Tibetan Youth Congress in India launched an Indefinite Hunger Strike in New Delhi.
Tibetans in Ngaba have not only exposed the Chinese government’s brutality, but also the blatant lies they have told to cover up their actions.
Stand-off in Ngaba: Tibetan monks need your help
Tibetan monks at Kirti monastery in eastern Tibet are in danger – and need your help.
As Beijing intensifies its sweeping crackdown on dissent, Chinese troops in Tibet are on the verge of “disappearing” hundreds of monks.
Tibetan monks in Dharamsala, India have received an urgent call for help from Ngaba County (Chinese: Aba County). They are reporting that Chinese troops attempted to storm Kirti monastery this morning. According to reliable sources, residents fear Chinese authorities are planning to forcibly remove all monks between the ages 18 and 40.
Local Tibetans, being alerted to the troops’ arrival, rushed to block the monastery entrance. The armed police and soldiers tried to break through the crowd by beating the Tibetans and setting police dogs on them. In spite of the violent attacks, the Tibetans stood their ground and the troops failed to enter the monastery’s inner gates. As of now, the standoff continues.
Tibetans fear Chinese authorities are planning to transfer the monks from the monastery into local prisons where they will be subjected to China’s repressive political “reeducation”.
Tension in Ngaba has been high since the self-immolation of Phuntsok Jarutsang (pictured right), a 20-year monk from Kirti Monastery, on March 16, 2011. Chinese forces have been stationed around Kirti Monastery for weeks and more than a dozen monks have been arbitrarily arrested.
According to the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights & Democracy as of yesterday, troops had completely sealed off the monastery. The monks’ dwindling food supplies are prompting fears of starvation in the monastery. The lives of many Tibetans are at stake.
Take Action: Let the Chinese authorities know the world is watching
- Sign the petition and demand an end to the siege.
- Organize a solidarity rally at the Chinese consulate nearest you or at a public landmark in your community. Find details of protests here. Send information about your protest to grassroots@studentsforafreetibet.org so we can alert others.
- Spread the word. Forward this email to friends & family. Update your Facebook and Twitter status to “I stand with Tibetans in Ngaba”.
For more ways to take action, visit: http://www.studentsforafreetibet.org/ngaba
Let’s work together to end the siege at Kirti monastery, and to protect the monks and local Tibetans who are defending the monastery.
For more information, read the reports & articles below:
Chinese armed police cordon Ngaba Kirti Monastery, 2500 monks face food shortage (TCHRD)
http://www.tchrd.org/press/2011/pr20110411.html
Security step-up in Kirti monastery likely to starve monks (Phayul News):
http://is.gd/iaQ7tN
Ngaba Kirti Monastery Under Lockdown (Voice of America):
http://www.voanews.com/tibetan-english/news/Ngaba-Kirti-Monastery-under-Lockdown-119696874.html
More information about the incident on March 16th self-immolation:
http://www.studentsforafreetibet.org/article.php?id=2306
Photos from Art of Resistance: 3-Day Training for Tibet in Boston
From March 25th – March 27th, SFT’s “The Art of Resistance: 3-Day Activist Training for Tibet” is being held at the University of Massachusetts in Boston. Participants from across the North-East are learning skills to become the next generation of leaders in the struggle for Tibet’s freedom.
More photos and updates to come…
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on “Ngapo Ngawang Jigme: The Death of an Historical Figure” by Woeser
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