Updates on Tibet Demonstrations - 29 March Saturday, 29 March 2008, 6:13 p.m. Update for Saturday, March 29, 2008, last updated 2pm (IST) Re: Tibet demonstrations 29th March, 2008 Lhasa - Massive protests erupt again after many days of suppression. Around 2 PM (local time) in the afternoon, Tibetans gathered for a protest in front of Ramoche Monastery, Lhasa. Also, nearby, in front of Tsuglag-khang (Jokhang) temple and Beijing East road, protests were started, and thousands joined into the protests within no time. These protests are happening after many days of intense suppression, where we witnessed Chinese armoured vehicles and tanks being brought in to forcefully stop the protests. Massive "Patriotic-re-education" campaign started Chinese authorities have stepped up the "Patriotic re-education" classes in regions beyond the "Tibetan Autonomous Region" ("TAR"). Particularly in monasteries all over Tibet, "Patriotic re-education," has been strictly implemented. Over 100 senior officials have been sent to various prefectures and counties to lead the "patriotic re-education" campaign. Due to lack of officials needed for the massive "patriotic re-education" campaign, retired members of Public Security Bureau (PSB), People’s Liberation Army (PLA), and People’s Armed Police (PAP) have been called upon to assist. The former PSB, PLA and PAP members were told to dress in monk-robes and assist the "work teams" for "patriotic re-education" classes in monasteries. They were told that their pension and other benefits would be increased for the services rendered. However, the former PSB, PLA and PAP members declined the offer, and were especially reluctant to deceitfully dress up as monks, as confirmed by a reliable source. 28 March, 2008 Nyarong (Ch: Xinlong) County, Karze "Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture," Sichuan Province- More arrests After two County governmental buildings were set on fire on March 27, a group of Tibetans (living close to where the incident occurred) were taken into custody and beaten while being interrogated. 27th March, 2008 China calls on ex-Communist Party Members to help portray a calm and stable image of Lhasa. An order has been issued on March 26 by the concerned departments asking retired communist party members and officials to visit the Potala palace and Tsuglag-khang (Jokhang) temple and other holy sites in the Lhasa area. It is obvious that such a move was made by Chinese authorities in order to portray a peaceful and stable image of Lhasa, especially given the mounting international pressure and condemnation of their handling of the recent demonstrations. Nagchu Prefecture (Ch: Naqu Chen), "Tibet Autonomous Region" - 30 arrested during peaceful demonstration In Zhejiang market (one of the busiest markets in Nagchu Prefecture), over 30 people held a protest in which they demanded for more freedom in Tibet. Public Security Bureau (PSB) arrived soon after the start of the protest, and each of the 30 protestors was arrested. Even after the protest was completely suppressed, the People’s Armed Police (PAP) arrived at the scene and wrongfully arrested a group of students from the same market area. The students were released the next day. Nagchu Prefecture remains under strict restrictions. Currently, we cannot confirm the names of the 30 arrestees. Even before March 10, a sizable military deployment was made in Nagchu Prefecture. No Specific Date Driru (Ch: Biru) County, Nagchu Prefecture (Ch: Naqu Chen), "Tibet Autonomous Region" - "Patriotic re-education" classes being forced on Tibetans Chinese governmental "Work Teams" arrived in Tarma monastery, Driru (Ch: Biru) County to give "patriotic re-education" classes. During the class, the head of the monastery, Ngawang Gyaltan, called on the Tibetans to unite and called for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He also rejected the "patriotic re-education" classes being forced by the Chinese authorities. Ngawang Gyaltan, received much support from the other monks of the monastery (and other laypeople too). The "patriotic re-education" classes proved to be a failure and Tarma monastery remains under tight restrictions. Bhekar monastery, Driru (Ch: Biru) County, Nagchu Prefecture (Ch: Naqu Chen), "Tibet Autonomous Region" In Bhekar monastery, Driru (Ch: Biru) County, the monks demanded that unless the five monks who were arrested in December 2007 were released, they would not accept the "patriotic re-education" classes. So far, the "patriotic re-education" attempt has proved a failure. There are around 300 monks at Bhekar monastery. Shapten monastery, Driru (Ch: Biru) County, Nagchu Prefecture (Ch: Naqu Chen), "Tibet Autonomous Region" In Shapten monastery, Nagchu County, Nagchu Prefecture, Chinese governmental "Work Teams" arrived to conduct "patriotic re-education" classes. Soon after, a huge number of military arrived. The classes lasted until 2AM on March 28. In Nagchu Prefecture, non-residents are being forced to leave. (www.tibet.net is the official website of the Central Tibetan Administration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.)
Jokhang-Kloster in Lhasa

 Angaben der tibetischen Exilregierung in Indien zufolge fanden gestern in Tibet erneut Massendemonstrationen statt, die von den Klöstern in Lhasa ausgingen. Demzufolge sollen sich am Samstag gegen 14 Uhr (Ortszeit Tibet) in der Nähe des Ramoqê-Tempels und des Jokhang-Klosters in der Altstadt von Lhasa Menschen versammelt haben, die dann zu einer Demonstration aufbrachen. Innerhalb kürzester Zeit sollen sich dann tausende (nach anderen Quellen mehrere hundert) Menschen dem Zug angeschlossen haben. Anderen Berichten zufolge sollen die genannten Klöster sowie Teile der Altstadt Lhasas danach von Polizeikräften abgeriegelt worden sein.

Journalisten haben zurzeit große Schwierigkeiten, an neutrale Informationen über die Situation in Tibet zu gelangen, weil die chinesische Regierung eine Berichterstattung aus der Region durch die Sperrung der gesamten Region für Ausländer erschwert. Die vorhandenen Quellen von Exil-Tibetern sind nur schwer oder gar nicht nachprüfbar.

Am 29. März wurde der Presseagentur UPI zufolge einer Gruppe von ausländischen Diplomaten in Begleitung chinesischer Behördenvertreter erlaubt, Tibet zu bereisen. Am 27. März war ausgewählten Journalisten auch eine geführte Besichtigung von Lhasa erlaubt worden. Dabei war es einer Gruppe von 30 Mönchen gelungen, zu den Journalisten vorzudringen. Sie beklagten sich über die Unterdrückung ihrer Religion. Die chinesischen Behörden wollten, so die Internationale Kampagne zur Rettung Tibets, durch diese Besichtigung Lhasas nachweisen, dass die Lage unter Kontrolle sei. Den Angaben der Organisation zufolge sollen einige Klöster buddhistischer Mönche im Zentrum Lhasas von der Versorgung mit Wasser und Nahrungsmitteln abgeschnitten sein.

Das religiöse Oberhaupt der Tibeter, der im Exil lebende Dalai Lama, klagte die chinesische Regierung gestern erneut des „kulturellen Völkermords“ an. Durch die gezielte Ansiedlung von Chinesen in Tibet sollten die Tibeter in ihrem eigenen Land zur Minderheit gemacht werden. In der tibetischen Hauptstadt Lhasa lebten seinen Angaben zufolge zurzeit 100.000 Tibeter, aber doppelt so viele Chinesen. Für die Zeit nach den Olympischen Sommerspielen in Peking erwarte er eine Umsiedlung von einer weiteren Million Chinesen nach Tibet.