Date: March 24, 2008
Nepal - At 10 AM, Chithue Yundgrung Gyaltsen la, Chithue Gyalnor Tsewang la, Chithue Dolma Tsomo la and Delthue Kungo Theley Gyatso la addressed a gathering of representatives of 17 Gonpas (monasteries and nunnery). They were informed about the Tibetan Solidarity Committee and its objectives so that the same could be conveyed to the monks and nuns of their respective gonpas. A similar meeting followed at 5PM with representatives of 11 school alumni associations. In addition, representatives from the Snow Lion Foundation and Principals of the four Tibetan schools were also invited. Guidelines and urgent circulars from the Tibetan Solidarity Committee and that of Kashag were read out.
In addition, there was a mass prayer. The Shabrim committee has reported that the following numbers of prayers were accumulated yesterday, 23 March 2008:
a. Dolma (Gyepa) 138,364
b. Dolma (Dueypa) 273,548
c. Dolma (Zung-ngag) 152,248
d. Mani 2, 198,965
e. Benza Guru 72,9811
f. Tamdin Zung 20,3848
Also during today's protest, Nepal police arrested a total of more than 500 Tibetans from peaceful demonstrations carried out at two different venues. About 5-6 bus loads of peaceful Tibetan demonstrators poured in at the UNDP office from this morning demanding UN's intervention in order to stop the killings in Tibet and to send a monitoring group to Tibet. By the end of the day, 252 Tibetans had been forcefully detained at the Patan Jail. Two Tibetans were badly injured in the “lathi charge” from the police.
At around 2PM, in another peaceful demonstration organized by Amnesty International Nepal, 13 Nepalis including the organizers were taken away by police on the start of the protest. Despite the strict barring of any Tibetans from leaving the Boudha area from morning, as many as 250 Tibetans had arrived at the venue in Maitigarh from different parts of the city. Press releases and statements were widely distributed to the press and media present. Not too long before Tibetans sat peacefully to chant, “Jangchup semchog rinpoche,” the police started arresting the Tibetans. 125 Tibetans including a German lady (a TSG member from Germany) were detained at the Kalimati Police Chowk. Another 120 Tibetans were taken to Mahendra Police Club. It was also learnt that one bus load of Tibetans who had come from Swayambhu was directed to Swayambhu Police Headquaters before it could even reach Maitigarh.
All detainees and injured have been taken care of by the concerned subcommittees of the Nepal Tibetan Solidarity Committee and have been released by night time.
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Dharamsala - At 10AM, local U-tsang Association coordinated a protest from Tsuklakhang to Mcloed with 200 participants.
At 6:30 PM, Dharamsala Tibetan Solidarity Sub-Committee led a candle light vigil from Mcload to Tsuklagang with 4, 000 participants.
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Activities in South India:
Bylakuppe - The Tibetan Solidarity Sub-committee in South India headed by the two members from the Tibetan Parliament in Exile, Ven Trulku Ugyen Topgyal and Mrs. Tsering Youdon developed the following actions at the first meeting:
Time: 11:00 AM
Date: 24th March 2008
Venue: Khenyen Dratsang, Sera Jey Guest House
Activities in South India:
(Objectives)
- As directed by the executive members of the Tibetan Solidarity Committee, the sub-committee and the local Tibetans in South India unanimously resolved to organize activities, based on the principle of non-violence and peace laid by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government in Exile. Their activities will represent the suppressed voiced inside Tibet, and moreover express their solidarity with Tibetans inside Tibet and engage in campaigns to stop current crisis that unfurled since the 49th anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising day in Tibet.
- The members of the Tibetan Solidarity sub-committee along with local Tibetans and led by the Indo-Tibet Friendship Society resolved to organize the following activities at different times:
- 26th March 2008 (10:30 AM): To observe peaceful rally or march towards Mysore around 10:30 AM
- 26th March 2008 (5:30 pm): To observe candle light vigil
- 26th March 2008: Hunger strike at Bangalore by Drepung Trulku, Mundgod
The schedule of hunger strike activities to be observed by the Tibetans in South Indian Settlement:
Sl. no Date Observers/ Participants
1. 29/March...5/12/19/April Monks of Namdroling Monastery
2. 30/March....6/13/20/April Tibetans at Lugsum Samdrupling Settlement
3. 31/March...7/14/21/April Dekyi Lharso Tibetan Settlement
4. 1/8/15/22/ April Monks from Sera Monastery
5. 2/9/16/23/April Tibetans from Kollegal Settlement
6. 3/10/17/24/April Hunsur Tibetan Settlement
7. 4/11/18/24/April Tibetans at Bangalore
- Approximately 200 monks from South Indian Tibetan Buddhist monasteries will conduct a peace march from Mysore to Bangalore from 2nd April 2008 to 10th April 2008. Local Tibetan from South India will also organize a peace march from 11th April 2008 to 19th April 2008.
- Students of the Tibetan Day School and Tibetan Children's Village, Bylakuppee to observe a candle light vigil from 6th April 2008. Students of Kollegal and Hunsur settlements to observe the same activity on 13th April 2008. Monks of the South Indian Buddhist monastery to observe the same activity on 5th April 2008
- In order to sustain and immediately build up our activities till the end of the crisis, the members of the Tibetan Solidarity sub-committee request generous monetary donations from local Tibetans, Tibet Supporters and monks. For additional financial assistance, we will request from our Tibet Government in Exile.
(Implementation)
- As directed by the Tibetan Solidarity Committee nearly 5000 Tibetans from Bylakuppee Hunsur and Kollegal gathered in an assembly in which dignitaries of Mysore State Tibetan Women's Association Regional Tibetan Youth congress and Settlement Officer address the gathering after which all the attendees at around 1:30 PM organized a rally
- From 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM we observed a large scale candle light vigil organized by the Tibetan Solidarity Committee and Indo Tibet Friendship Society
- 20 Trulku from Drepung Gomang after receiving consent from the Local District Commissioner decided to stay for a hunger strike from 9:00 AM to 12:00 on 27th March 2008.