TCHRD obtains fresh pictures of the protest in Lhasa on 14 March 2008. The pictures depict the large scale crackdown by the Chinese Government during and after the protest by deploying large numbers of Public Security Bureau (PSB) personnel and army convoy in Lhasa.
View them all on the TCHRD website
New protests in Lhasa via RFA:
Witnesses in the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, say fresh protests erupted there Saturday afternoon despite a massive Chinese police and paramilitary presence.
Witnesses told RFA’s Tibetan service that several hundred Tibetans rallied around 2 p.m. on March 29, beginning in the area near Center Beijing Road. Shops near the central post office on Lhasa Youth Road were closed, as security forces surrounded the Tibetan residential areas in Barkhor, Kama Kunsang, Ramoche, and the Jokhang temple.
“People were running in every direction,” one witness said. “It was a huge protest, and people were shouting.”
Another source who declined to be identified reported seeing “fistfights” but she didn’t give details. The protest continued for several hours but no further details were immediately available.
“The local government is now sending mass text messages using local cell phone companies to spread the word that the situation is now under control and people shouldn’t be influenced by divisive-sounding news and gossip,” another source said.
The March 29 protest coincided with a day-long visit to Lhasa by foreign diplomats, who came at the invitation of Chinese authorities. It also follows a closely scripted visit to Lhasa by foreign reporters.
No comment was available from Chinese authorities, and details of how Chinese police and paramilitary forces responded were unavailable.
Additional information on the ICT website.
Over hundred of monks arrested after a raid in Ngaba Kirti Monastery via TCHRD
Earlier this morning, hundreds of PAP and PSB came to Ngaba Kirti Monastery, dispersed people, mostly devotees, visitors gathered around the monastery compound and ordered surrounding shops to shut down.
At around 12 noon (Beijing Standard time), PAP and PSB forces stormed into Ngaba Kirti Monastery, in Ngaba County (Ch: Aba Xian), Ngaba “TAP” Sichuan Province. At first the PAP and PSB forces barred the monks of Ngaba Kirti Monastery from venturing out of their rooms, followed by a sudden raid carried out in each and every monk’s room, ransacking any portraits of the Dalai Lama and looking for any incriminating documents. At around 5:00 PM (Beijing Standard Time) at least a hundred monks were known to have been forcibly taken away by the armed forces to Ngaba County PSB Detention Centre after the raid. The current atmosphere inside the Kirti Monastery is known to be very tense and volatile.
According to the latest information from Tibet, sandbag barricades were erected by People’s Armed Police (PAP) around the Kirti Monastery and surroundings area to curb the fresh outbreak of protest by the local residents of Ngaba County.
Monks protest at the Jokhang in Lhasa in front of Western media:
A video grab shows Tibetan monks weeping as they disrupt an official news briefing at the Jokhang Temple, the most sacred temple in Tibet and a top tourist stop in central Lhasa, March 27, 2008. (TVB via Reuters TV/Reuters)
Tibetan Buddhist monks cry as they surround foreign journalists at the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa March 27, 2008. (The Central News Agency/Reuters)
A video grab shows a Tibetan monk talking to the media as he and fellow monks disrupt an official news briefing at the Jokhang Temple, the most sacred temple in Tibet and a top tourist stop in central Lhasa, March 27, 2008. (TVB via Reuters TV/Reuters)
Tibet monks storm shrine visit in daring protest over Chinese ‘lies’
An Associated Press reporter, Charles Hutzler, said one young monk among the group yelled: “Tibet is not free! Tibet is not free!” and then burst into tears. He described how the monks shattered plans to show the return of peace to Lhasa after deadly riots on March 14 in which 22 people died and hundreds of shops and offices were set on fire.
The monks rushed over to stop reporters from being taken into the inner sanctum of the Jokhang temple, the holiest shrine in Tibetan Buddhism in the heart of the capital, Lhasa. They were upset that a government administrator from the temple was recounting how Tibet had been a part of China for centuries.
The monks, most of them young, were agitated and seemed particularly anxious to convey that the Dalai Lama was in no way to blame for the recent violence. One said: “They want us to crush the Dalai Lama and that is not right.” Another added: “This has nothing to do with the Dalai Lama.”
Lhadon Tethong from Beijing Wide Open on what the issue really is. As usual, she nails it.
Latest map of protests by the International Campaign for Tibet:
Click to enlarge
The incident that sparked the riots? Maybe.
In scenes that were no doubt reminiscent of the infamous Tank Man of Tiananmen Square, 37-year old Barchog Lopoe of Lithang stopped a convoy of military vehicles:
When the protest spread to other parts of Tibet in the recent few days, the Chinese authorities in a precautionary measure, sent reinforcement into Lithang County as the place witnessed mass protests last August spearheaded by Ronggye A’drak. On 15 March 2008, Barchog Lopoe, a 37 years-old teacher cum manager of Lithang Nyingma Monastery (one of the 113 branches of Lithang Gonchen Monastery) in Lithang County, Kardze “TAP” stopped a convoy of military trucks from marching forward by standing in the middle of the road. Barchog Lopoe shouted slogans calling for free Tibet and Dalai Lama’s long life, which was later joined by bystanders. Barchog Lopoe was arrested soon after his act by the Public Security Bureau (PSB)officials and took away to the County PSB Detention Centre. The bystanders and local public followed him towards the detention centre and demanded his release. Sensing more protest by the public, the PSB officials released Barchong Lopoe the same evening. Currently he is under constant vigilance and people of Lithang county fear that he might get re-arrested anytime.
As news comes in of further protests and arrests in Kanhlo (in Gansu prov.) and Tolung Dechen (near Lhasa), Phayul reports that 18 Tibetans died and scores were injured when the authorities ‘opened fire’ at a protest Machu county (in Gansu) on Sunday.
A police car is set on fire in front of the Machu County police station
Chinese Government buildings were set on fire during the protests in Machu County.
