Chinese official letter warns countries to no met Tibetan MPs

Phayul[Monday, February 06, 2012 04:38]

DHARAMSHALA, February 6: The Chinese Embassy in the India capital warned of adverse effect to bilateral relations if representatives of the various Diplomatic Missions in New Delhi met with a visiting delegation of Tibetans parliamentarians.

The Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile (TPiE), in a press release on January 28 had announced that a four-member parliamentary delegation, headed by MP Karma Chophel would be visiting New Delhi to call on representatives of Diplomatic Missions and the United Nations, following the recent surge in mass demonstrations and the growing instances of self-immolations in Tibet.

The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in India responded by writing a letter addressed to “all Diplomatic Missions and Offices of the Specialised Agencies of the United Nations,” urging them not to receive the Tibetan parliamentarians.

“[T]he Embassy of the People’s Republic of China sincerely hope that the Diplomatic Missions and Offices of the Specialised Agencies of the United Nations in New Delhi will not receive the so called “representatives” of Dalai clique and refrain from having any contact with them, so as not to send out wrong signal which may be misused by Dalai clique and cause adversely effect to the mutually cherished bilateral relations,” the letter said.

Terming “Tibet-related issue” as an “internal matter” of China concerning the country’s “sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the letter dated January 30, went on to call the Tibetan parliamentary delegation, a “part of their plot to fabricate rumours and distort the truth to discredit the Chinese Government.”

However, China’s muscle flexing went largely ignored as a host of Ambassadors and representatives of Diplomatic Missions met with the Tibetan parliamentary delegation.

Ambassadors from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Switzerland, Sweden, and Denmark personally met with the Tibetan MPs, while deputy heads and political officers from the United States, British, Canada, Germany, France, Taiwan embassies, and the European Union among others, received the Tibetan delegation.

The TPiE, 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.”

“We express the above sentiments with hope in our hearts that positive sense will prevail over you and your colleagues and immediately respond to the legitimate concerns, failing which you and your government will be held solely responsible for any adverse consequences if the matter are not addressed in a humane way,” the letter read.

Kalon Tripa request for 8th Feb vigil

The Kalon Tripa (Tibetan Prime Minister in exile), Dr Lobsang Sangay, has called for global vigils to be held on 8 February to show solidarity with Tibetans in Tibet following the recent killing of Tibetan protestors by Chinese security forces.
In his statement, Dr Sangay said, "To demonstrate our solidarity with Tibetans in Tibet, I urge Tibetans and our friends around the world, to participate in a worldwide vigil on Wednesday, February 8, 2012. Let’s send a loud and clear message to the Chinese government that violence and killing of innocent Tibetans is unacceptable!"

China steps up security in Tibet following protests

A senior Chinese official has ordered tighter security in Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and on main roads following deadly protests in Sichuan province.

Lhasa Communist Party Secretary Qi Zhala also warned of a crackdown on those involved in "separatist, destructive and criminal" activities.

The move came after protesters clashed with security forces in parts of Sichuan province last week.

At least three people are reported to have died, with dozens more injured.

Sichuan province borders Tibet and several areas have large ethnic Tibetan communities.

'Strike hard'
Mr Qi called on police to step up security at monasteries to prevent further unrest.

"We must strike hard at all the separatist, destructive and criminal activities of the Dalai clique and make efforts to realise our goal of not letting any incident, big or small, occur," he said in a speech published on the Lhasa government website.

He was referring to Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.


The BBC's Martin Patience says these comments highlight Beijing's growing concern that the recent unrest could spread.

Observers say the recent violence is the most serious outbreak of anti-government protest among Tibetans in nearly four years.

Tibetan areas of Sichuan are said to remain extremely tense. Since March 2011, at least 16 Tibetans have set themselves on fire in apparent protest against Beijing's rule.

Last week three violent protests were reported in the province.

China said that one protester was killed on 23 January in a confrontation with security forces in Draggo county, known as Luhuo in Chinese.


China also confirmed that a Tibetan was shot dead by security forces in Seda county on 25 January, the second incident of unrest that week.

And just last week, a man in Aba prefecture was also reportedly shot dead during a protest.

Tibetan campaign groups, however, say that the number of Tibetans shot dead is higher than the Chinese government's count. The figures are hard to verify because foreign journalists are not allowed to enter areas of unrest in Sichuan.

The Chinese government claims that protesters in Draggo and Seda attacked police stations. But rights groups said that the marches were peaceful protests.

The groups say the protests are a sign of rising frustration among Tibetans because of growing religious repression and harsh security measures adopted by China.

A Young student killed protecting his friend – A round up of events

Phayul[Saturday, January 28, 2012 08:22]

By Tendar Tsering Tharpa seen here in an undated photo. (Photo/Phayul) DHARAMSHALA, January 28: The Tibetan shot in yesterday’s police violence in Ngaba Bharma Shang has been identified as a young school student. Urgyen, a 20-year old student was shot dead while he, along with a group of local Tibetans tried to protect his friend and school mate Tharpa from being arrested by Chinese police. At around 12 noon local time on Thursday, Tharpa put up signed flyers in the locality, declaring that until the demands of the Tibetans who have self-immolated are met, Tibetans will never abandon their struggle and continue to organise more campaigns. Two hours later, Chinese security personnel arrived at Tharpa’s house to arrest him when a crowd of Tibetans obstructed the police from taking his away. In the confrontation, Chinese police opened fire on the unarmed crowd killing Urgyen and injuring many more. The situation in Bharma Shang is being described as very tense with thousands of Tibetans reportedly converging from the nearby areas. This was the third case in a week when Chinese police opened fire on Tibetans, killing at least a dozen protesters. Earlier protests occurred in the neighbouring regions of Drango and Serthar. According to the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), around 1000 Tibetans at Dzumenda township in Dzamtang region of Ngaba Tibet, held a candlelight march on January 23. "The leaders of the march addressed the crowd saying this New Year should be dedicated to those martyrs who gave their lives to protest against the Chinese government. And in solidarity with those martyrs, on New Year days people should mourn the death of the martyrs and that there should be no celebration. A speech listing the names and deeds of all the self-immolation protesters was also delivered," said the TCHRD in a release today. Tibetans burn Chinese flag In other reports, Tibetans in Amdo Golok Pema district took down the Chinese national flag from a local Chinese office building and burned it. After pulling down the Chinese flag, the Tibetans hoisted the Tibetan flag along with a photo of the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama. A large number of Chinese security personnel arrived at the scene and started beating the gathered Tibetans. Many were reportedly arrested.  Another source from the region told Tibetans in exile that a monk was arrested by Chinese police while he was trying to set himself on the fire in the same region. Tibetans block road, stop military convoy  Upon seeing a convoy of Chinese military trucks speeding towards Drango, Tibetans in Tawu poured on to the roads and stopped the armed Chinese soldiers from their onwards journey.  Chinese security personnel shot down at least six Tibetans on Monday in Drango for carrying out a peaceful protest calling for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile and protesting China’s continued occupation of Tibet. The military convoy of around 40 trucks were reinforcements for Chinese troops in Drango. Tibetans in Tawu also laid down road blocks along the road. A confrontation between the police and local Tibetans followed, after which a tight security cauldron has been thrown around Tawu.

Another Tibetan killed in fresh protests

Phayul[Thursday, January 26, 2012 23:59]

DHARAMSHALA, January 26: In reports coming out of Tibet, another Tibetan was killed and several others seriously injured in police firings in eastern Tibet earlier today. This is the third bloody incident this week when unarmed Tibetan demonstrators have been fired upon by Chinese security personnel.

At around 12 noon local time, a Tibetan man named Tharpa put up signed flyers around Zu To Bharma Shang, declaring that until the demands of the Tibetans who have self-immolated are met, Tibetans will never abandon their struggle and continue to organise more campaigns.

Since March 2011, 16 Tibetans have set their bodies on fire demanding the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile and protesting China’s continued occupation of Tibet.

In a release today, the exile base of Kirti monastery said that Tharpa had himself gone around the town putting up the flyers with his name clearly signed on it.

“You, Communist Chinese, come and arrest me,” Tharpa had challenged.

Following the wave of self-immolations, numerous flyers and pamphlets have been reportedly cited in Ngaba and Drango areas, stating that many more Tibetans were ready to set their bodies on fire.

Two hours later, at around 2 pm local time, Chinese security personnel surrounded Tharpa’s home and arrested him. A crowd of gathered Tibetans outside the house stopped the Chinese police from taking him away saying that “all local Tibetans will rise up in protest” if Tharpa is arrested.

Following the confrontation, the Chinese security personnel resorted to violent force.

“The Chinese security personnel used fire arms, killing one Tibetan on the spot and injuring many more,” the release said citing sources in the region.
Over ten thousand Tibetans from the nearby regions of Zu Toe and Zu Mey (upper and lower Zu) have reportedly arrived at Bharma Shang as the situation continues to remain very tense.

Earlier this week, at least a dozen Tibetans were killed after Chinese security personnel fired indiscriminately at unarmed Tibetan demonstrators in two separate incidents in Drango and Serthar.

Amnesty International, in a release yesterday had urged China to allow independent monitors into areas of protest, saying that it was “worried about further violence and bloodshed" in Tibetan areas.

Kalon Tripa calls for wordwide vigil on Feb. 8

Phayul[Thursday, January 26, 2012 17:37]

By Tendar Tsering

Kalon Tripa Dr Lobsang Sangay.(Phayul archive/Norbu Wangyal)

DHARAMSHALA, January 26: In his first official statement on the recent killings of Tibetans in Tibet, Kalon Tripa Dr Lobsang Sangay urged Tibetans and Tibet supporters all over the world to take part in a global vigil on Wednesday, February 8.

“To demonstrate our solidarity with Tibetans in Tibet, I urge Tibetans and our friends around the world, to participate in a worldwide vigil on Wednesday, February 8, 2012,” Kalon Tripa said.

“Let’s send a loud and clear message to the Chinese government that violence and killing of innocent Tibetans is unacceptable!”

In two separate incidents, earlier this week, hundreds of Tibetans took out demonstrations calling for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and demanding freedom in Tibet.

Protests in Drango county, flared up on Monday after local Chinese Public Security Bureau officials arbitrarily arrested Tibetans on suspicion of their involvement in the appearance of leaflets and posters around the town following the wave of self-immolations in the region. The posters had warned of more Tibetan self-immolations if the Chinese government did not listen to Tibetan concerns.

Eyewitnesses in the region have confirmed the death of six Tibetans in police firings.

A day later, at least five Tibetans suffered fatal bullet injuries in police firings in Serthar, where over 600 Chinese security personnel brutally suppressed a peaceful demonstration by Tibetans calling for Tibet’s independence.

Referring to the recent police firings, Dr Sangay noted that China’s “gruesome acts” and “systematic repression of Tibetans” has led to the growth of “resentment and anger” amongst Tibetans against the Chinese government since the massive uprising of 2008."

“Basic human rights are being denied to Tibetans, the fragile environment is being destroyed, Tibetan language and culture is being assimilated, portraits of His Holiness the Dalai Lama are banned, and Tibetans are being economically marginalised,” the de facto Tibetan Prime Minister said.

“Tibet is in virtual lockdown. Foreigners have been barred from travelling to Tibet now and the entire region is essentially under undeclared martial law.”
Addressing Tibetans in Tibet, Dr Sangay promised that their sacrifices will not go in vain.

"We hear your cries loud and clear. We urge you not to despair and refrain from extreme measures. We feel your pain and will not allow the sacrifices you have made go in vain. You all are in our heart and prayers each and every day," Dr Sangay said.

While appealing to the international community to show solidarity and raise their voices in support of the fundamental rights of the Tibetan people at this “critical time,” Dr Sangay reminded the Beijing government that violence will never address the genuine grievances of Tibetans and restore stability in Tibet.

“The only way to resolve the Tibet issue and bring about lasting peace is by respecting the rights of the Tibetan people and through dialogue,” Dr Sangay said. “As someone deeply committed to peaceful dialogue, the use of violence against Tibetans is unacceptable and must be strongly condemned by all people in China and around the world”.

In his statement, Kalon Tripa Dr Lobsang Sangay also urged Tibetans to forego celebrations during the coming Tibetan New Year, calling for only the basic customary religious rituals to be observed.

Since March 2011, 16 Tibetans have set their bodies on fire demanding the return of the Dalai Lama from exile and protesting China's continued occupation of Tibet.

Protests in Dharamshala as China sends additional forces to Tibet

Phayul[Thursday, January 26, 2012 16:25]

By Tendar Tsering

Tibetans and supporters in Dharamshala held a candle light protest calling for international intervention to stop the ongoing bloodshed in Tibet on January 25, 2012. (Phayul photo/Norbu Wangyal)

DHARAMSHALA, January 26: Tibetans in Dharamshala held a candle light protest yesterday evening calling for international help to end the bloodshed in Tibet, even as reports of additional military build up in Tibetan areas are coming in.

As many as a dozen Tibetans are feared dead after Chinese security personnel opened fire on unarmed Tibetans demonstrating in Drango and Serthar earlier this week.

Tibetans carrying the ‘banned’ Tibetan national flag had called for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile and demanded freedom in Tibet.

Speaking at the candle light protest, Ghang Lhamo, member of Tibetan Parliament and General Secretary of the Gu-Chu-Sum Former Political Prisoner’s Movement said the world should be ashamed for allowing China carry on the brutal oppression of Tibetans.

“It is a shame that in this 21st century our world leaders chose to remain mute spectators when Chinese police are openly firing on peaceful crowds, shooting Tibetans in broad daylight,” Ghang Lhamo said. “It is high time world leaders echo the true aspirations of the Tibetan people in their non-violent struggle for justice and freedom”.

A user of Chinese microblogging site Sina Weibo posted a photo, he said, showing armed police vehicles headed for the Serthar region of eastern Tibet.

Net users around the area of protests in eastern Tibet on Wednesday posted pictures indicating additional Chinese security forces being deployed in the region. The photographs showed Chinese army trucks speeding across a highway headed for the troubled region.

Serthar and Drango were under virtual martial law following the police firings. Thousands of Chinese security personnel were reportedly manning the streets, restricting the movement of Tibetans and imposing new stricter regulations in the region. Earlier reports had said that due to the lock down, Tibetans suffering serious injuries after the protests were unable to receive medical attention.

"The situation in Drango is very tense as police are not only manning the streets but also keeping an aerial vigil with helicopters flying over the region," said Palden, the Dharamshala based spokesperson of a network group keeping close contacts with people in Drango.

"People in the region are under constant fear," Palden added.

The reports of increasing Chinese brutality in Tibet have spurred heated online debates and discussions in the exile Tibetan community, especially amongst the youngsters.

"Without any fear, Tibetans in Tibet are setting themselves on fire and calling for freedom in Tibet at gun point. Let us join them, let us do a Tsampa Revolution," Kelsang Tashi wrote on a social networking site.

Another Tibetan, Lobsang Kunchok questioned the reactions of various Tibetan groups in exile to the ongoing crisis inside Tibet.

“Press releases and more press releases. I wonder what our leaders are waiting for before they actually decide to organise mass campaigns and global protests which does not involve sitting and saying prayers,” Kunchok wrote.

Amnesty expresses fear over further bloodshed in Tibet

Phayul[Wednesday, January 25, 2012 22:54]

DHARAMSHALA, January 25: The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) held a solidarity prayer service for the many Tibetans who have died due to Chinese police firings over the last two days in Tibet.

The prayer service held earlier today at Tsug-la Khang was led by Kalon Tripa Dr Lobsang Sangay.

The Dr Sangay on Tuesday had urged the international community to intervene to prevent further bloodshed in Tibet.

“Silence from the world community sends a clear message to China that its repressive and violent measures to handle tensions in Tibetan areas are acceptable,” Dr Sangay said. “As a nation aspiring to become a world economic and political power, the People’s Republic of China cannot be permitted to behave in such immoral and violent manner."

At least a dozen Tibetans have died after Chinese security personnel fired indiscriminately at unarmed Tibetan demonstrators in two separate incidents in Drango and Serthar, both in eastern Tibet.

Meanwhile, Amnesty International in a release yesterday said “China must avoid using excessive force in response to protests and allow independent monitors into areas of protest.”

"The Chinese authorities are responding only with repression and a security crackdown to an already volatile situation, instead of addressing long-standing human rights grievances on the part of Tibetans,” said Sam Zarifi, Amnesty International’s Asia-Pacific director.

"The situation has not improved in Tibetan areas since 2008 when tensions exploded into violence. Grievances regarding restrictions on religious and cultural freedoms have gotten worse, not better."

Keeping in view Chinese government’s “increasingly repressive behaviour,” Amnesty International renewed its call for independent monitors, for instance the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, to be allowed into the country.

The global rights group said that it was “worried about further violence and bloodshed" in Tibetan areas.

In the past 11 months, 16 Tibetans have set their bodies on fire demanding the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile and protesting China’s continued occupation of Tibet.

‘Exercise restraint, Allow observers in Tibet,’ US tells China

Phayul[Wednesday, January 25, 2012 22:52]

By Tendar Tsering

US Special Coordinator for Tibet, Under Secretary Maria Otero

DHARAMSHALA, January 25: Angered by the indiscriminate police firings on unarmed Tibetans in eastern Tibet over the last two days, the US government on Tuesday renewed its call for an end to the critical situation inside Tibet.

US Special Coordinator for Tibet, Under Secretary Maria Otero said US was “gravely concerned by reports of violence and continuing heightened tensions” in Tibet.

At least a dozen Tibetans have been killed in Chinese police firings in two separate incidents in Drongo and Serthar over the last two days. The Tibetans, protesting the repressive Chinese government policies in Tibet had called for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile and demanded independence for Tibet.

"The US Government repeatedly has urged the Chinese government to address the counterproductive policies in Tibetan areas that have created tensions and that threaten the distinct religious, cultural and linguistic identity of the Tibetan people," the US Special Coordinator for Tibet said.

President Obama’s point woman for Tibet went on to list a few of the “counterproductive policies” as the Chinese government’s “dramatic expansion” of controls on religious life and practice; ongoing “patriotic education” campaigns requiring the denunciation of the Dalai Lama; the permanent placement of Chinese officials in monasteries; increasingly intensive surveillance, arbitrary detentions and disappearances of Tibetans.

Under Secretary Otero also noted that the US Government has “consistently and directly” raised the issue of Tibetan self-immolations with the Chinese government while criticising Beijing for placing restrictions on and imprisoning families and friends of the self-immolators.

Just in the past 11 months, 16 Tibetans in Tibet have set their bodies on fire demanding the return of the Dalai Lama from exile and protesting China’s continued occupation of Tibet.

"We urge Chinese security forces to exercise restraint, and we renew our call to allow access to Tibetan areas of China for journalists, diplomats and other observers," the US Special Coordinator for Tibet said.

“We call on the Chinese government to resume substantive, results-oriented dialogue with the Dalai Lama or his representatives to address the underlying grievances of China’s Tibetan population."

Exile groups condemn China’s brutality

Phayul[Tuesday, January 24, 2012 20:55]

Young Tibetan monks at the candle light vigil in Dharamshala to protest ongoing police brutalities in Tibet, January 24, 2012. (Phayul photo/Norbu Wangyal)
DHARAMSHALA, January 24: Tibetans in the exile seat of Dharamshala, north India carried out a candle light vigil to protest police firing over the last two days in Tibet which has left at least 11 dead.

In two separate incidents, hundreds of Tibetans took out demonstrations calling for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and demanding freedom in Tibet.

Protests in Drango county, Kandze flared up yesterday after local Chinese Public Security Bureau officials began to arbitrarily arrest Tibetans on suspicion of their involvement in the appearance of leaflets and posters around the town following the wave of self-immolations in the region. The posters had warned of more Tibetan self-immolations if the Chinese government did not listen to Tibetan concerns.

Earlier reports had indicated that one Tibetan was shot dead in Drango but now reports are confirming the death of six Tibetans in yesterday’s firings.

In reports today, at least five Tibetans have been confirmed dead in police firings in Serthar, eastern Tibet today.

Over 600 Chinese security personnel arrived at a scene of peaceful demonstrations in the central town of Serthar where gathered Tibetans raised slogans calling for Tibet’s independence.

Chinese security personnel began firing indiscriminately at the crowd, killing at least five and wounding many more. Sources say Serthar is under virtual martial law with injured Tibetans left with no access to medical treatment.

In a release at the candle light vigil, the Dharamshala regional chapter of the Tibetan Youth Congress, the largest pro-democracy group in exile said the ongoing police brutalities in Tibet were signs of Chinese government’s “insecurity” and “failure” of their policies in Tibet.

“As we lead this candle light vigil in Dharamshala to protest police firing in Kham Drango yesterday and Serthar this morning, we say prayers for the martyrs and mark our solidarity with our people in Tibet,” the youth organisaton said.

“We request the Indian government and its people, and the international community to ask the Chinese government to respect human rights in Tibet and immediately withdraw their security crackdown in Tibet”.

The International Tibet Network, a global movement of 185 Tibet advocacy organisations condemned China's “escalating crackdown” after police firings in Tibet.
The group also vowed to intensify efforts for multilateral pressure on China in a release yesterday.

“We vow to intensify our efforts in support of Tibetans inside Tibet and call on world governments, international institutions, and the global community to pressure China to address Tibetan grievances before more lives are lost,” the organisations declared.

In the past 11 months, 16 Tibetans have set their bodies on fire demanding the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile and protesting China’s continued occupation of Tibet.

“The scale of this crisis and China's unwillingness to acknowledge international concern warrants a strong international response,” said the International Tibet Network while urging all governments to “publicly condemn China’s use of force against unarmed Tibetan protestors.”

“The worldwide membership of the International Tibet Network condemns China’s flagrant disregard for fundamental human rights and its cruel and systematic assault on the Tibetan people,” the release said.