Press Release


June 7, 2008

Another Peaceful Demonstration in Drakgo District in Tehor Area, Kham Province

According to a reliable source, on June 6 around noon time, three monks namely Tsewang Drakpa (22) from Jangdha Area in Drakgo district, Thupten Gyatso from Tawo district and Jangsem Nyima (22) from Zatoe district in Yulshul Area (Tso-ngon Province) staged a peaceful demonstration and distributed documents with Tibetan national emblem imprinted at Drakgo district in Kardze Area in Kham Province. All of them were immediately arrested.

During their peaceful demonstration, they distributed two documents; first: an appeal to Tibetans on how they should deal (face) with Chinese Government's repressive policies and second: their demands in the context of the present situation in Tibet under China.

The first document mentioned the following statement, directly translate as "How do we rise up against the Chinese Government?" By keeping in mind the basic principles of Tibetan Buddhism and find a solution that mutually benefits both Chinese and Tibetans. We must uphold the principles of non-violence, whether for freedom, justice or liberty. Since the Chinese Government continuously tries to portray peaceful Tibetan demonstrators as terrorists for our use of stones, sticks and weapons, we (Tibetans) must understand their manipulative policies. Therefore, at any cost, we must not opt for violence and not fall under their false labeling of us as terrorists."

The following slogans appeared in the second document: " We have no political freedom. We want political freedom. We have no economic freedom. We want economic freedom. We have no religious freedom. We want religious freedom. For the past five decades under Chinese Government's repressive rule, we have lived under an immeasurable repression, terror, torture and death. We need liberation. We have no freedom. We want freedom. We want freedom." With these slogans, three monks protested against the Chinese authority. There was a similar case in the past where same slogans were used and distributed in some districts in Kardze Area. 

 

In view of the ongoing critical situation inside Tibet, we urge the United Nations and the International community and organizations to the following urgent needs:

  1. To immediately send an independent international fact-finding mission into Tibet
  2. To exert pressure on the PRC government to allow unfettered access to free press in whole of Tibet
  3. To pressure the PRC to end the brutal killings in the whole of Tibet
  4. To immediately release all the arrested and imprisoned Tibetans
  5. To extend immediate medical assistance to those injured Tibetans
  6. To allow free movement of people and provide access to daily needs

 - Tibetan Solidarity Committee