Film: Little Tibet Sun, 4th Mar 2012

Wiltshire’s Global Village Film Festival Presents

DATE: Sun, 4th March 2012   TIME 5.30pm 
VENUE:  Hartham Park
Corsham
Wiltshire
SN13 0RP
PRICE
Standard: £5.00
Concessions: £4.50
Known as Little Tibet, Ladakh borders Tibet and sits on the roof of the world in northern India. Sonam is a Tibetan who can no longer return to his own country and is in search of Tibet outside of Tibet. Sharing much of Tibet's culture, language and landscape could Ladakh be that place? Follow his journey through rain, snow and desert where he discovers the beauty of his culture preserved in this remote, high altitude land.
Meet the director - a post film discussion with Nawang N. Anja-Tsang
With support from White Horse Pictures
Tickets  from Pound Arts Centre Box office Corsham Tel. 01249  701 628
See Pound Arts for details on Booking tickets

Another self-immolation days ahead of Losar

Phayul[Sunday, February 19, 2012 16:27]

By Tendar Tsering

DHARAMSHALA, February 19: Amidst the ongoing self-immolations, another teenaged Tibetan in Tibet set himself on fire and is reportedly dead.

The 18 year old teenaged Tibetan, Nangdrol set himself on fire today in the afternoon in Amdo Ngaba, the nerve centre of almost all the Tibetan self-immolations in the recent months.

"Nangdrol set himself on fire and died on the spot. Right now his body is with the Ngaba Dzomthum monastery," Tsayang Gyaltso, an exiled Tibetan told Phayul citing his contacts in Tibet.The monastery in the region took the charred body of Nangdrol and performed religious services.

"Nangdrol has also left his testament," Tsayang Gyaltso said.

The fiery wave of self-immolations that has gripped Tibet for the last 11 months has, off late, witnessed an alarming increase in the rate at which Tibetans are willing to torch their bodies.

Tibetans in exile fear that there will be more loss of Tibetan lives and bloodshed in the coming days coinciding with the Tibetan New Year which falls on 22nd February and on the Anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising in March.

So far more than two dozen Tibetans in Tibet have torched their bodies and a dozen others died under the Chinese open fire calling for freedom in Tibet and return of the Dalai Lama from exile.

Fire rages on in Tibet – Another Tibetan burns to death

Phayul[Friday, February 17, 2012 18:51]

DHARAMSHALA, February 17: Yet another Tibetan has died in the continuing wave of self-immolation in Tibet.

Dhamchoe Sangpo, a monk from Bongthak Ewam Tare Shedrup Dhargey Ling monastery in the Tsongon region of Amdo, eastern Tibet set his body on fire at around 6 am local time in an apparent protest against the Chinese government.

The Dharamshala based Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, in a release today said that Dhamchoe Sangpo, 38, passed away soon after his self-immolation protest.
Dhamchoe Sangpo was the youngest of ten siblings.

Following earlier protest by a monk identified as Kalsang from the Bongthak monastery against a planned silver mining project in the region, the monastery had been facing severe repression from local Chinese government authorities.

“Off late, Chinese armed forces had surrounded the monastery with military vehicles, hindering the monastery’s prayer ceremonies and warning the monks of sealing the monastery if they failed to behave,” the release said.

Although there are no further details available on Dhamchoe Sangpo’s self-immolation, Chinese government officials and armed forces are currently carrying out door to door searches at the monastery.

“The monastery is under a military lockdown and the situation there is very tense,” the Tibetan Parliament said.

Since Tapey's self-immolation in 2009, 24 Tibetans have set their bodies on fire demanding the return of Tibetan spiritual His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile and protesting China's continued occupation of Tibet.

The exile Tibetan leadership and rights groups have expressed fear of more self-immolations and further bloodshed in Tibet following an undeclared martial law in many Tibetan areas and the violent crackdown over peaceful protests in recent weeks.

The Tibetan Parliament, in an open letter addressed to the president of the People’s Republic of China, Hu Jintao, had urged him to withdraw the large military reinforcements from Tibetan areas and take measure to give due consideration to the aspirations of the Tibetan people.

The letter also urged President Hu to “stop policies and programmes aimed at destroying the identity of the Tibetan people” while calling for the resumption of “dialogue with the Tibetans with the commitment and conviction to seek a lasting solution to the issue of Tibet.”

Another teenage Tibetan self immolates

Watch the report and read the article from Guardiam journalist  Jonathan Watts in Ngaba here

Phayul[Monday, February 13, 2012 23:12]

A file photo of Losang Gyatso, 19 who self-immolated shouting slogans of protest against the Chinese government in Ngaba, eastern Tibet on February 13, 2012. (Photo/Kirti monastery)

DHARAMSHALA, February 13: Yet another teenage Tibetan monk has set his body on fire protesting against the Chinese government today.

The Tibetan has been identified as Losang Gyatso, age 19, a monk at the Kirti monastery in the beleaguered region of Ngaba, eastern Tibet.

The exile base of Kirti monastery in Dharamshala, in a release late today, confirmed the information.

“At about 2.30 pm on February 13th, Kirti monk Losang Gyatso, age 19, of the Badzritsang house in Naktsangma of Cha township, set himself on fire at the top of the main street of Ngaba town,” the release said.

“Losang Gyatso was shouting slogans of protest against the Chinese government,” eyewitnesses in the region have told sources in exile.

Special police forces arrived at the scene and extinguished the fire. According to the eyewitnesses the Chinese security personnel were beating Losang Gyatso as they took him away to an undisclosed location.

At the time of reporting there is no information on his condition or whereabouts.

Losang Gyatso is the eldest of his four siblings and is being described as “one of the best and brightest students in his class”.

At the scene of Losang Gyatso’s self-immolation, two unidentified Tibetan youths were severely beaten by Chinese security personnel.

“One managed to get away with help from the public onlookers, but the other was led away by two policemen,” Kirti monastery said in its release. “Witnesses said he was bleeding profusely from the head and arm”.

Locals report that extra security personnel have been deployed at checkpoints around Ngaba town and that people are being searched.

Reporting from Ngaba, a British journalist who was recently able to sneak into the ‘cut-off’ area, reported that being in Ngaba reminded him of the conflict zones in Iraq and Northern Ireland at the height of their trouble.

"There are police maybe every 30 or 40 metres and, in some cases, 30 or 40 police sitting together in riot police uniform with shields, with batons and something I'd never seen anywhere else before - some of those batons had spikes coming out of them. It looked totally medieval," the Guardian newspaper journalist reported.

The fiery wave of self-immolations that has gripped Tibet for the last 11 months, has, off late witnessed an alarming increase in the rate at which Tibetans are ready to torch their bodies. Just in the last 13 days, six Tibetans have set their bodies on fire demanding the return of exiled Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama and protesting China’s continued occupation of Tibet.

Since Tapey’s self-immolation in 2009, 23 Tibetans have set themselves ablaze.

The Tibetan leadership in exile and rights groups have expressed fear of more self-immolations and bloodshed as many parts of Tibet continue to remain under an undeclared martial law with Chinese security personnel gunning down unarmed Tibetan protesters in recent weeks.

Group Raises cases of disappearances of Tibetan monk

From SaveTibet.org
GENEVA, February 9, 2012 - According to a report of the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance (WGEID) submitted to the 19th session of the UN Human Rights Council, the government of the People’s Republic of China continues to maintain, nearly 17 years after his enforced disappearance, that Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama of Tibet, is not "under house arrest."  Official Chinese claims notwithstanding, the Panchen Lama has not been seen since he was taken from his home in May 1995, nor have numerous appeals by the international community for specific information about his welfare and whereabouts been satisfied.

"He and his family are currently leading normal lives in Tibet, and he is receiving an excellent education. They have on numerous occasions said that they do not wish to have their normal lives disrupted in any way, and we should fully respect their wishes" the Chinese authorities claimed in the communication with the Expert Group dated September 4, 2009.

The Working Group had issued an earlier statement on April 8, 2011, expressing concern about the Panchen Lama, “a case going back 16 years…He disappeared in 1995 when he was six years old. While the Chinese authorities have admitted taking him, they have continually refused to divulge any information about him or his whereabouts, making his case an enforced disappearance. A number of human rights mechanisms including the UN Committee against Torture, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, as well as Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, have all called for his whereabouts to be revealed, to no avail."

The new WGEID report also reveals that it had raised concern about the disappearances of 54 Tibetans who were detained in the aftermath of protests in the Kardze region of eastern Tibet June and July of 2011. At the time, Chinese authorities arrested “mainly nuns and monks calling for ’freedom of religion in Tibet.’”

Another major case the WGEID transmitted to China on May 23, 2011 concerned the disappearances of "approximately 300 monks" from Kirti Monastery in Ngaba on the night of April 21, 2011, who "were allegedly arrested and taken to unknown destinations in ten military trucks by agents from the People’s Armed Police, Public Security Bureau and People’s Liberation Army." Thereafter, in a public statement the WGEID again raised "its serious concern and urged the Chinese authorities to disclose the fate and whereabouts of all those who have been subject to enforced disappearances in China, including a group of Tibetan monks whose fate or whereabouts still remain unknown."

“We call on the authorities to provide full information on the fate and the whereabouts of the persons who have disappeared,” said the Working Group, noting that it is reported that some of the monks have been released. “We encourage the authorities to undertake full investigations into the on-going practice of enforced disappearances and ensure that those responsible are prosecuted and receive sentences appropriate to the gravity of the crime.”

On  November 1, 2011, WGEID together with five UN human rights experts issued a joint statement warning of "severe human rights restrictions on Tibetan Buddhist monasteries" while citing the situation in Ngaba. The statement said: "A group of United Nations independent experts voiced grave concern over reports of heavy security measures, in and around the area of the Tibetan Buddhist Kirti monastery - which houses some 2,500 monks- and other monasteries in Ngaba (Chinese: Aba) County, an area of Sichuan province with many ethnic Tibetans in south-west China."

“Any enforced disappearance is unacceptable and such practices are in violation of international law,” said Mr. Jeremy Sarkin, the Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, expressing further concern that a proposed revision to the Chinese Criminal Procedure Law would legalize enforced disappearances in the country. “This heinous practice is not permitted under any circumstances. No exceptional circumstances whatsoever may be invoked to justify an enforced disappearance.”

China was also alerted by the WGEID on August 30, 2011 jointly with three other special procedures mechanisms, about the concerns about the welfare of "Buddhist monk Mr. Jigme Guri (also known as Akhu Jigme and Lama Jigme), who was allegedly arrested by police and security forces on August 20, 2011, in the hotel ‘Z-hong Yan’ in Hezou, Kanlho prefecture."

On October 6, 2011, after receiving information about the self-immolations by Kirti Monastery monks, Lobsang Kelsang and Lobsang Kunchok, the WGEID transmitted the case of their disappearances to the Chinese government. The intervention stated that the Working Group and other experts were "concerned the alleged continued harassment and repression of the monastic community in and around the Ngaba Kirti Monastery and the self-immolation of two young monks, Mr. Lobsang Kelsang Harutsang and Mr. Lobsang Kunchok, on 26 September 2011.” The Working Group stated its concern that “Chinese security forces and the police extinguished the fire and the two monks were taken away to an unknown location. It has also been alleged that one monk has died following the self-immolation."

This latest WGEID report to the Human Rights Council, whose 19th session will begin on February 27, 2012, also referred to cases of enforced disappearance in China, Eastern Turkestan and Inner Mongolia. The report is scheduled for a debate on March 5, 2012, with NGOs expected to react on these alarming developments of disappearances.

The full WGEID report is available for download at www2.ohchr.org.

A teenage nun self-immolates

Phayul[Saturday, February 11, 2012 23:47]

Tenzin Choedron, 18, a nun from the Mamae nunnery in Ngaba, eastern Tibet, set her body on fire protesting the Chinese governemnt on February 11, 2012. (Photo/Kirti Monastery)

DHARAMSHALA, February 11: In confirmed reports coming out of Tibet, a teenage Tibetan nun set her body on fire raising slogans against the Chinese government in Ngaba, eastern Tibet today.

The exile base of Kirti monastery in Dharamshala, in a release today identified the nun as Tenzin Choedron, 18, from the Mamae Dechen Choekhorling nunnery.

“At 6 pm on February 11, Tenzin Choedron, age 18, a nun at the Mamae nunnery in Ngaba, set herself on fire while shouting slogans of protest against the Chinese government,” the release said.

Eyewitnesses have told sources in exile that Tenzin Choedron did not die on the spot and was immediately taken away by Chinese security personnel towards Barkham region.

Following the self-immolation, Chinese armed forces surrounded the nunnery and sealed it off. At the time of reporting, no further information is available.

Born to Lopay and Tsepo, Tenzin Choedron is the eldest of her four siblings.

On October 17 last year, nun Tenzin Wangmo, around 20 years of age, from Mamae nunnery had set herself on fire demanding the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile. Tenzin Wangmo passed away immediately.

The Dechen Choekorling nunnery, located at a distance of around 3 kms from Ngaba town is the largest nunnery in the region with more than 350 nuns.

During the pan-Tibet uprisings of 2008, the Mamae nuns staged a protest march, carrying a portrait of the Dalai Lama, following which many nuns were arrested and detained.

The entire Ngaba region, which alone has witnessed 14 instances of self-immolations, continues to remain tense following the self-immolation of a 19-year old Tibetan Rigzin Droje on Febraury 8.

In Tibet, 22 Tibetans have set their bodies on fire demanding the return of exiled Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama and protesting China’s continued occupation of Tibet. Just this month, six self-immolations have already occurred.

Many parts of Tibet remain cut off from outside world with a prevailing situation of undeclared martial law following mass protests in recent weeks in which at least a dozen Tibetans are feared dead in police firings.

The Tibetan exile leadership and rights groups have expressed fear of further bloodshed and self-immolations in Tibet.

Chalk Tibet in Bath 11th Feb 2012

A ' Chalk Tibet' event was held in Bath this morning (11th Feb 2012) around the Abbey.  The event was designed to highlight what has been happening recently in Tibetan areas of China: the immolations and shooting dead of Tibet and protesters by Chinese forces.  The event create  much interest including some from the Chinese community who were shocked that these event were going on in China.

   

Motion tabled in UK parliament condemns China's use of force in Tibet

Phayul[Saturday, February 11, 2012 16:22]

The British House of Commons. DHARAMSHALA, February 11: An Early Day Motion (EDM) condemning the Chinese security forces’ “unwarranted use” of force on unarmed Tibetan protesters and calling on Prime Minister David Cameron to make a public statement of concern on the “deteriorating human rights situation in Tibet” was tabled on February 8 in the British Parliament. The motion expressed the Parliament’s great sadness on the loss of life both of Tibetans who were “shot and killed” in peaceful demonstrations and the instances where Tibetans have resorted to self-immolation in an effort to draw attention to the ongoing repression by the Chinese authorities. Sponsoring the motion, Fabian Hamilton MP and chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Tibet conveyed the Parliament’s alarm at the imposition of “de facto martial law” in Tibetan regions, the restriction of movement for Tibetans and the “complete ban on foreign media.” Urging its government to put pressure on China to “ease tensions” by withdrawing its armed forces from Tibetan areas, the motion called on Beijing to give foreign journalists, humanitarian agencies and independent observers “full and unfettered” access to Tibetan areas to ascertain the current situation. The motion further called on the British Government to work with other governments in safeguarding Tibetans’ rights and instigating a “multilateral approach whereby international governments together urge the Chinese government to enter into immediate and unconditional negotiations with representatives of the Tibetan people in order to resolve the Tibetans' underlying grievances”. The motion was tabled, coinciding with the global vigil on February 8, called in solidarity with Tibetans inside Tibet by the exile Tibetan leadership. Although EDMs are formal motions submitted for debate in the British House of Commons, however, very few EDMs are actually debated upon, with most of them used at demonstrating the extent of parliamentary support for a particular cause or point of view. Ahead of the 53rd anniversary of the March 10 Tibetan National Uprising Day, Tibetans and supporters in the UK are planning a series of campaigns which include a mass lobby of Parliament and a Tibetan freedom March outside the Chinese Embassy in London. The Details of the EDM are below - check the following link to see if your MP has signed it. DETERIORATING HUMAN RIGHTS IN TIBET Session: 2010-12 Date tabled: 08.02.2012 Primary sponsor: Hamilton, Fabian Sponsors:  Corbyn, Jeremy   George, Andrew That this House strongly condemns the Chinese security forces' unwarranted use of force including opening fire on unarmed demonstrators to quash peaceful protests in Tibet; is greatly saddened by the loss of life both of Tibetans who were shot and killed whilst protesting and the instances where Tibetans have resorted to self-immolation in an effort to draw attention to the ongoing repression by the Chinese authorities; is alarmed by the imposition of de facto martial law in Tibetan regions, the restriction of movement for Tibetans and the complete ban on foreign media; calls on the Prime Minister to make a public statement of concern on the deteriorating human rights situation in Tibet; further calls on the Government to urge the Chinese government to ease tensions by withdrawing its armed forces from Tibetan areas, to release full details of all incidents involving its forces opening fire upon civilians and to give foreign journalists, humanitarian agencies and independent observers full and unfettered access to Tibetan areas to ascertain the current situation; and further calls on the Government to work with other governments to safeguard Tibetans' rights and interests and instigate a multilateral approach whereby international governments together urge the Chinese government to enter into immediate and unconditional negotiations with representatives of the Tibetan people in order to resolve the Tibetans' underlying grievances.

TIBETAN LAMA URGES UNITY, NATIONHOOD BEFORE SELF-IMMOLATING

Final Words of Lama Soepa Recorded in Audio Message to Tibetans

Listen to the audio message recorded by Lama Soepa

New York - An audio recording with the final words of a Tibetan lama who set himself on fire in Tibet on January 8, 2012, in protest of Chinese rule has surfaced from sources in Tibet. Lama Soepa, a spiritual teacher and community leader from Golok in the Kham region of eastern Tibet (Ch: Guoluo Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province), urges Tibetans to "unite and work together to build a strong and prosperous Tibetan nation…" in an audio message recorded before his final act of protest. His message addresses Tibetans living inside Tibet and in exile, calling for unity and strength amongst all Tibetans and the preservation of language and culture.



"Lama Soepa's deeply moving message is the most definitive and eloquent articulation of the demands of the 17 Tibetans who have self-immolated for the cause of the Tibetan nation," said Tenzin Dorjee, Executive Director of Students for a Free Tibet. "Lama Soepa clearly explains that his motivation in carrying out this act is to ease the suffering of his fellow Tibetans. His words communicate strength, determination, and a sense of hope for a future in which Tibetans will live free from Chinese rule."



"Contrary to Chinese government claims, Tibetans who have set themselves on fire in protest were exemplary community members and even widely respected Tibetan leaders who displayed courage and integrity in their final acts of defiance -- qualities of character far beyond the reach of the Chinese bureaucrats and officials who attempt to demonize them from Beijing," he added.



The complete translation of Lama Soepa's message is included below.

 Listen to the audio recording of Lama Soepa's message.

TRANSLATION OF LAMA SOEPA’S AUDIO STATEMENT RECORDED BEFORE HIS SELF-IMMOLATION



To all the six million Tibetans, including those living exile -- I am grateful to Pawo Thupten Ngodup and all other Tibetan heroes, who have sacrificed their lives for Tibet and for the reunification of the Tibetan people; though I am in my forties, until now I have not had the courage like them. But I have tried my best to teach all traditional fields of knowledge to others, including Buddhism.



This is the twenty-first century, and this is the year in which so many Tibetan heroes have died. I am sacrificing my body both to stand in solidarity with them in flesh and blood, and to seek repentance through this highest tantric honor of offering one’s body. This is not to seek personal fame or glory.

I am giving away my body as an offering of light to chase away the darkness, to free all beings from suffering, and to lead them – each of whom has been our mother in the past and yet has been led by ignorance to commit immoral acts – to the Amitabha, the Buddha of infinite light. My offering of light is for all living beings, even as insignificant as lice and nits, to dispel their pain and to guide them to the state of enlightenment. I offer this sacrifice as a token of long-life offering to our root guru His Holiness the Dalai Lama and all other spiritual teachers and lamas.



[Lama Soepa recites the prayer of the Mandala Offering]

/The universal ground purified with blessed water spread, / This magnificent continent adorned with the sun and moon. / I offer them with pure realm of the enlightened in mind, / May all sentient beings enjoy this pure land! / My mind, body, speech, all my possessions and merits, / And this precious Mandala and all other offerings, / I offer all these to the Three Jewels with my fervent prayers, / Compassionately accept these and bless me and all other sentient beings. / I send forth this bejeweled Mandala to you, precious teacher!/



I am taking this action neither for myself nor to fulfill a personal desire nor to earn an honor. I am sacrificing my body with the firm conviction and a pure heart just as the Buddha bravely gave his body to a hungry tigress (to stop her from eating her cubs). All the Tibetan heroes too have sacrificed their lives with similar principles. But in practical terms, their lives may have ended with some sort of anger. Therefore, to guide their souls on the path to enlightenment, I offer prayers that may lead all of them to Buddhahood.

May all spiritual teachers and lamas inside Tibet and in exile live long. Especially, I pray that His Holiness the Dalai Lama will return to Tibet and remain as Tibet’s temporal and spiritual leader.

[Lama Soepa recites the Long-life Prayer for the Dalai Lama.]

/Circled by ramparts of snow-mountains, this sacred realm, / This wellspring of all sustenance and happiness. / Tenzin Gyatso, bodhisattva of compassion. / May his reign endure till the end of existence. / May his great deeds spread across the space. All those who have forms and are formless, / Those who bear hostility towards the Buddha dharma, / May all of them be found and defeated, / By the Three Jewels and the power of truth./

[Lama Soepa recites additional prayers.]

To all my spiritual brothers and sisters, and the faithful ones living elsewhere: You must unite and work together to build a strong and prosperous Tibetan nation in the future. This is the sole wish of all the Tibetan heroes. Therefore, you must avoid any quarreling amongst yourselves whether it is land disputes or water disputes. You must maintain unity and strength. Give love and education to the children, who should study hard to master all the traditional fields of studies. The elders should carry out spiritual practice as well as maintain and protect Tibetan language and culture by using all your resources and by involving your body, speech and mind. It is extremely important to genuinely practice Buddhist principles in order to benefit the Tibetan cause and also to lead all sentient beings towards the path of enlightenment. Tashi Delek.

To all my close friends, relatives, students, everyone from my native home and especially xx [name not clear in the audio]; I have not accumulated any wealth in my life. Whatever I had, I spent it on teaching and in pursuit of spiritual matters. This will leave no doubt or talks about having left behind huge sums of money. Thus, my siblings, relatives and patrons from different places should bear this in mind. As for my personal belongings and other items, I hope they will be given away to needy people or offered to spiritual teachers and lamas.



May all the merits that I have accumulated benefit all sentient beings, especially those who are suffering in lower realms such as hell. I offer these prayers for them to attain higher rebirth.

[Lama Soepa recites additional prayers.]

Translation by Bhuchung D. Sonam in Dharamsala, India

Tibet continues to burn: Another self-immolation reported

Phayul[Friday, February 10, 2012 02:17]

DHARAMSHALA, February 10: There are reports of yet another self-immolation that took place yesterday in the Keygudo (Ch: Yushu) region of eastern Tibet. Although initial reports are scare, the Tibetan is being described as a monk in his thirties from the La Monastery in Tridu, Keygudo. “A monk in his 30s set fire to himself on the main road of La Township, Tridu County, Keygudo Autonomous Prefecture (Ch: Chenduo County, Yushu Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai) yesterday, 8 February, between 1 and 2pm local time,” a release by the London based campaign group Free Tibet said. Eyewitnesses report that the monk was alive but in a serious condition when he was taken away by Chinese security personnel. The fiery wave of self-immolations is now spreading to other areas of Tibet with yesterday’s self-immolation being the first reported from the Keygudo region. The rate at which Tibetans are setting themselves ablaze has also seen an alarming increase. On February 8, just a day earlier, Rigzin Dorze, 19, set himself on fire in Me’uruma township of Ngaba. Eyewitnesses said his condition was very serious and it is not yet known whether he is dead or alive. Just this year, nine Tibetans have set themselves ablaze demanding the return of exiled Tibetan leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Since Tapey’s self immolation in 2009, now 21 Tibetans have torched their bodies protesting China’s continued occupation of Tibet. On February 8, coinciding with the call for a global solidarity vigil for Tibetans inside Tibet made by the exile Tibetan leadership, around 400 monks from the Dzil Kar monastery in Tridu began a protest march to Dza Toe town at 10 am local time. The monks carrying banners demanding the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile and respect for Tibetan lives were confronted by a large number of armed Chinese security personnel at a bridge leading to the town and were apprehended from moving further. However, there were no reports of arrest following the protest. In another protest on February 4 Saturday, four Tibetans were arrested by Chinese security personnel for carrying out a peaceful protest in front of a Chinese police station at Dza Toe town again in Tridu region of Keygudo. The four Tibetans; Tsering Palden, Tsering Sangpo, Tsering Tashi and Dorjee raised slogans calling for Tibet’s independence and the return of the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The current whereabouts of the Tibetans remain unknown.