The Secret Tibet (The Forbidden world)

Dharamshala: 25-May-The Tibet Post-According to a resource from Tibet, at 11am, 24 May, 2009, Tibetan residents of Tao county and Nyagchu county eastern Tibet congregated to stand against relocation, the confrontation ended in a deadly clash with the Chinese police.  Chinese armed paramilitaries shot into the unarmed crowd and critically wounded six Tibetan women, their whereabouts and the health status is unknown. 

In 2008 Chinese authorities demanded that residence of Tao county uproot their homes and move elsewhere to make room for a new, Chinese owned and operated, power station.  They began enforcing this population transfer in 2009.  Residence have been peacefully resisting the authorities efforts and have remained in their homes.

5 May 2009 armed military force asserted themselves in the region and systematically destroyed the family houses of the Ati Gyatso family, and the Chegopezi family.  The local Chinese authorities channeled medieval monarchs and  constructed a stone pillar declaring that if the people do not obey the laws there will be serious consequences.

Lhamo lived in Waramato village her entire life, and she at age 70 refuses to move and lead the protest she shouted, “the land belongs to us and we are not moving anywhere.” As Lhamo protest gained momentum and a following they proceeded to the village center and overturned the stone pillar.  19 days after the armed police began destroying family homes, the military force multiplied.

Tension increased as the villagers stayed in their homes, culminating in a catastrophic confrontation that left six Tibetan women seriously injured by Chinese firearms.  The six women are, Tsering Lhamo, Rigzin Dolma, Dolma, Kelsang, Dolkar, and Khayang.

The six injured women were taken away by Chinese police forces and it is still unknown if the six women are alive or not. Edited by YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: 22-May-The Tibet Post-My name is Madhu Gonpo. I was born in 1968, son of Gelu and Lobsang Tso in Kadhok Village of the Se-ngo Township in Karze County, eastern Tibet. When I was 19 years old I married Dolma Lhatso in Madhu Village and we had one son and two daughters: Nyima Dakpa, Tsewang Dolma and Tenzin Dolkar. They are currently completing their studies in Karze County, eastern Tibet. I am a businessman and as a Buddhist, I take refuge in the three jewels: Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. I am servant of the Buddhist religion, and am active in politics and social work. In 2001 I organized a discourse in my village in hopes of alleviating the obstacles faced by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and performed Buddhist rituals to prolong his endurance. Chinese authorities arrested and slaughtered a number of respected Tibetan scholars and religious figures on grounds which remain uncertain.

When I first heard about the case of Geshe Sonam Phuntsok’s arbitrary confinement in 1999, I spread the news on my motorcycle. Several of my friends consequently served sentences of 2 or 3 years. On the 10th, March 2008, at 1:40 pm, a peaceful protest transpired in Karze County. It was led by Ngoe-ga, myself, and 10 additional Tibetans.

Armed Chinese military troops opened fire on the 3,000 Tibetan protesters and utilized electric shock apparatus, turning the gathering into a bloodbath. A number of injured protesters succeeded in avoiding immediate arrest, but on the 7th of May 2008 the security departments of Karze Prefecture, Karze County, Drakgo County and Serta County released a warrant for the arrest of 36 of the aforementioned Tibetan demonstrators on the charges of jeopardizing national security and political stability, violating social security regulations, and damaging citizens’ livelihoods and property.

Of the 36 specified protesters, the ones who originate from Karze County are: Madhu Gonpo (myself), Tsering Jurme, Tsering Nadme, Bhumoshou Menmen, Tsetan Phuntsok, Tashi Namgyal and Kalsang. On the 18th of March 2009 the security department of Karze County publicized a second warrant for the arrest of Tsetan Phuntsok from Karze Monastery as well as Tsering Jurme, Bhumoshou Menmen and I from Karze Tsitsang Monastery. A reward of 15-20,000 yen was posted and advertised through the media for information leading to our capture.

When we realized that our lives were in danger, we went into hiding in the mountains and sought refuge in the homes of nomadic families. While in hiding we learned that, despite the intensive torture and suppression they endured, the people of my hometown had refused to celebrate the Tibetan New Year (‘Losar’) and were upholding a boycott on farming. In response, Chinese military forces were dispatched in Karze County, each consisting of 300 trucks full of soldiers; Tibetan villagers of Karze County were abused and arrested. My friend Noge-ga was sentenced to 8 years in prison. Lhapa Tsering of Dzakhog Village was given a 7-year sentence; Apha Jamyang of Chokri Village, Pema Dechen of Tsoshi Village, Loyang of Arura Village, Chime Gonpo of Drukhang Village,  Sangpo of Tsangkha Village, Tashi Palden of Wosang Village, Loga of Tachudha Village and Gonpo Gyaltsen of Drukhang Village received sentences of 3 years in prison. 

Former demonstrators Jamdho and Tenpa had been in hiding for over a year, since the 18th of March 2008. But they were finally apprehended in Karze County in April 2009. No information relating to their present situation or the circumstances of their capture is currently available. Dhonden, BhumoshouMenmen, Tsering Dorjee, Nangsal Wangden, Namgyal among others fled the area on the news of the arrest. In March 2009 I left my hometown and arrived in Lhasa, our capital where I hired a guide for 13,000 yen who enabled my escape into India. On the 11th of March 2009 I reached the Tibetan Refugee Reception Center in Nepal.

The slogans that the peaceful protesters chanted were: “Tibet lacks Human Rights,” “Tibet deserves independence,” “Bring His Holiness back to the Land of Snow,” “Release Panchen Rinpoche and Tibetan political prisoners Immediately” and  “Long live the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama.” On the 18th of March 2008, at 1:40 PM, a peaceful protest against the Chinese government occurred in Karze County. The demonstrators distributed fliers on which “Free Tibet” was written. At around 1:50 PM, armed Chinese military troops surrounded the crowd of supporters. The authorities documented the leading demonstrators on film and video, and then took measures to contain the protest. They even opened fire. Among the wounded were Ngoe-ga, Jamyang, Pema Dechen and Tsetan Phuntsok. Luckily several of my friends and I managed to avoid arrest. 

To conclude, I pray for the longevity of the Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama. I hope that the Tibetan issue is soon resolved, and that His Holiness will be allowed to return to his rightful abode, the Potala Palace, in this lifetime.

Edited by YC. Dhardhowa, editor for The Tibet Post International

Dharamshala: 21-May-The Tibet Post-I was born on the 5th of October 1985, son of Dawa Dhondup and Pal Dekyi in Phukyulnang Village of the Lhopa Township in Karze County, Eastern Tibet. I am one of ten children, three of who are monks. At age 10 I was enrolled in primary school in my village, and at age 16 I joined the Tsitsang Monastery to pursue higher monastic studies. On the 18th of March 2008 a monk named Ngoega from Serchu village in Karze county led a pro-Tibet demonstration and recruited ten Tibetans including myself. During the protest,  armed Chinese military surrounded the demonstrators and opened fire.

I believe that it was due to His Holiness’ blessings and prayers that not one of us was injured or incarcerated. I was dedicated to maintaining good health. I felt a strong hatred toward the Chinese authorities who torture innocent people, including Tibetan scholars and religious figures, force Tibetans to denounce His Holiness the Dalia Lama and the Tibetan government in Exile, and loot precious artifacts from Tibetan monasteries. Monks residing in monasteries are obligated to reject the separatist movement and, should they refuse, they are either forced to relinquish their status within the monastery or detained without evidence of wrongdoing.

Harboring resentment and inflamed by desperation, we demonstrated against the Chinese government on the main street in Karze County at 1:40 P.M. on the 18th of March 2008. We shouted our slogans at the tops of our voices: “Long Live His Holiness,” “Allow His Holiness to Lead Tibet,” “Free Tibet,” “Tibetans Deserve Human Rights, Religious Freedom and Freedom of Speech,” “Release Panchen Ringpoche and All Political Prisoners!” Several days prior to the demonstration, I transcribed the words “Free Tibet, Long Live His Holiness” on five hundred sheets of paper in my room and delivered them to Karze county.

On the 7th of March 2008 I was sitting in a restaurant in Karze County and overheard a woman proclaim that an anti-Chinese protest would occur the next day. As I was thirty kilometers from my have, I did not have time to return for the papers. The next morning I brought them to Karze County and heard two laymen speaking of the upcoming demonstration in the transport vehicle. After arriving in Karze County I waited until Ngoega began to shout slogans in front of a gathering of thousands. He hollered, “Lhagyal-lo!” (“Victory to the God!”) “Today is the day the men of the Karze region prove their courage! Tibet is a pure and independent entity!” As soon as the slogans broke out, I released my five hundred pages into the air. The number of protesters slowly augmented. As if on a metaphorical liberation highway, the demonstrators marched toward the police station and congregated in front of the compound. When the trespassers were perceived, the armed Chinese military force opened fire, threw tear gas into the crowd, and tortured the protesters mercilessly with electric shock apparatus. The crowd dispersed and there were no immediate casualties.

Later I learned that Ngoe-ga from Serchu village had been sentenced to eight years in prison, and Lhakpa Tsering from Dzakhok village to seven. Jamyang from Chokri village, Tashi Palden from Wosang, Loga from Tachudha, Chimed Gonpo from Drukha, Sangpo from Tsangkha village, Pema Dechen from Tsoshi, Loyang from family called Karze Arura, and Gonpo Gyaltsen from Drukha village, Karze county eastern Tibet had all been sentenced to three. Plenty of fellow protesters went missing, and no information is available pertaining to their condition or whereabouts. Like in all other parts of Tibet, the farmers in Tehor region, eastern Tibet, my native region, continue to boycott cultivating farmland due to the intensive oppression of the Chinese government. Take me for instance. I value my health greatly.

During the protest, I was not injured and succeeded in avoiding arrest. On the 7th of May 2008 the security department of Kanze Prefecture and Kanze District as well as those of Drakgo and Serta areas jointly released an arrest warrant announcing the names of thirty-six people who allegedly posed a threat to national security and political stability, violated of the rules pertaining to social security, and participated in the destruction of livelihood and property. My name was among the listed. The five perpetrators from Kanze County were Mandhu Gonpo, myself Tsering Jurmed, Tsering Nadmed Shawo, Tsetan Phuntsok and Tashi Namgyal, and Kalsang,  On the 18th of March 2008 the security department of Kanze County publicized via the media in order to ensure the capture of the aforementioned demonstrators, posting a reward of 15-20,000 yen.

The Chinese authorities released arrest warrants for Sonam Nyima and his relative Tsering Jigme, age 26, who are currently in hiding, because of their involvement in the March 2008 violent protests in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. Sonam Nyima’s brother, Tenzin Ngoedup, age 24, was sentenced to three years in prison for his involvement in the protest which occurred on the 20th of May 2008 in Kanze County. My brother Tenzin Ngoedup and one of his friends partook in the peaceful protest in Kanze County and are currently serving a three year prison sentence. My uncle Sonam Nyima, age 43, was also arrested on various charges but was released after several days. As it is very dangerous in Tibet, I left my hometown and fled to Lhasa in March 2009. There I hired a guide for 30,000 yen to help me cross the border into India. On the 11th of May 2009, I arrived safely at the Tibetan Refugee Reception Center in Nepal. Edited by YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post International

Dharamsala: 21-May-The Tibet Post-Chinese authorities arrested eleven Tibetan villagers from Rongsum Village of the Rongsum Township in Dayke Jodha County, eastern Tibet. Among the incarcerated were Rinchen Dorjee and Choesang, who were transported to Chamdho Town on account of their alleged involvement in a serious crime.

The remaining detainees were imprisoned in Jodha County for ceasing all farming efforts in the village as a show of solidarity with the peaceful protesters called 'earth mouse and ox year's peaceful march' and escaping to the hills on the pretext of collecting a medicinal plant called ‘cordyceps sinnensis.” The Chinese authorites attempted to force the villagers into submission but they refused to abide by their demands.

Tensions mounted between the village authorities and the residents. When the Chinese authorities endeavored to deface the holy mountain Ami Chung, the villagers protested, declaring that this would threaten the sanctity of the site. The powers that be in turn arrested eleven people, namely Joru, Dorjee, Miyang, Tashi Tsega, Nyidon, Choekyong, Gondho, Sonam Tashi, Norbu Tashi, Rinchen Dorjee and Choesang.

The Chinese demanded a fine of 2,000 yen to ensure the villagers’ release but, due to the poor standards of livelihood in the region, they could not afford to post bail. Out of desperation, the Chinese authorities have attempted to plow the fields that the villagers have deserted.

The news report was provided by Ven. Beri Jimgme, a member of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile.

Last Updated ( Thursday, 21 May 2009 18:17 )