TIBETAN SOLIDARITY COMMITTEE

Death Tolls Mounting in Tibet, Reach 154

According to confirmed information received here, on 5 April 2008, the Chinese security forces prevented a group of monks (Nyatso monastery, Tawo) from carrying out a candle light vigil cum Buddhist ritual for Tibetans who succumbed to death in the recent protests. When the monks tried to blame the Chinese security forces of not respecting religious freedom, they were fired on, killing and injuring at least three of them. As far as the fate of other monks is concerned, it remains unclear if they are killed or injured. Ten more Tibetans have been confirmed dead (of which two committed suicide) in addition to 144 Tibetans already massacred by the Chinese security forces. The death tolls have now reached 154. The ten Tibetans who have been identified dead are:

1) Tse Yangkyi, female, 23, from Tsangon family
2) Thubten Sangden, 27, former head of Tongkor monastery, Tsangon village
3) Bu Bu Delek, male, 30
4) Son of Tsering Phuntsok, Dru yak village
5) Daughter of Tsangon, Morgroe village
6) Druglo Tso, 24, female, Gura village
7) Tenlho, 32, female, Gura village
8) Lobsang Rinchen, monk

The above-mentioned Tibetans were killed between 8 PM to 9 PM on the 3rd of April 2008, when Chinese security forces randomly fired on them during a non-violent protest.

Because of Chinese government's intolerable repression, Lobsang Jinpa, a monk from Kirti monastery, committed suicide on 27 March 2008. In his suicidal note, he said, "I can not live under the Chinese oppression even for a minute or an hour, let alone a whole day". Likewise, Lektsok, 75, monk from Gomang monastery, Ngaba, while on his way to conduct prayers in a Tibetan household, was severely beaten up by the Chinese security forces. He was kept in prison for a few days. Although released later, he committed suicide with a note saying, "I cannot bear such oppression".

Chinese government claims that it is sincerely protecting Tibet's cultural heritage. Nothing is further from the truth. Tibetans inside Tibet cannot even deposit money in banks without filling in the forms in Chinese language. Tibetans are unable to correspond with each other in their own language. The meetings of the National People's Congress and those of the Tibet Autonomous Region are all conducted in the Chinese language.

Tibetans in Tibet deeply resent China's unjust policies in Tibet. As a result protests keep on growing every day, which the Chinese security apparatus finds it difficult to suppress. The Chinese government still denies the killing many Tibetans in the recent non-violent protests. Although pictures of massacred Tibetans have appeared in the international media, the State Council of the People's Republic of China issued a press statement in which it unabashedly declared, "We are not aware of the killings in the Ngaba Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture". Ironically, Xiao Youcai, Deputy Secretary of Ngaba Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture admitted that Chinese police did fire on Tibetan protesters. Similarly Xinhua, in a news article published on 4 April 2008, admitted that Chinese security forces fired on Tibetan protesters, although it did not dwell on the number of Tibetans killed in the incident.

It has been nearly a month since China's violent and brutal crackdown on peaceful Tibetan protestors. The international community and the media are still unable to grasp the full reality inside Tibet: the kind of brutality and suffering the Chinese government is inflicting on the Tibetan people. In view of the present crisis in Tibet, we urgently appeal to the UN and the International community to:

1. Immediately dispatch independent fact finding delegations to Tibet
2. Immediately allow free press to cover the whole of Tibet
3. Immediately end the brutal killings in the whole of Tibet
4. Immediately release all arrested and imprisoned Tibetans
5. Extend immediate medical assistance to the injured Tibetans
6. Allow free movement of people and provide access to daily needs

- Tibetan Solidarity Committee