For Immediate Release
May 9, 2008

In spite of the violent crackdown on peaceful demonstrations in Tibet since March 10th, Tibetans in Tibet are still not deterred in stopping their protests against the Chinese Government. For instance, on May 7, 2008, Lhatruk, a nun from Drakar nunnery school in Sershul Tenshang located in Kardze Distt in "TAR" and Pepe, age 28 or 29 (a former nun from Drakar Nunnery school) from Bendeh Gang were among the group of nuns arrested by the Chinese authorities. They were arrested for allegedly protesting against the Chinese Government. During this protest, they called for Tibet's Independence and shouted, "Long live the Dalai Lama."

On April 16, at around 4:30 AM, the Chinese armed police entered into the premises of Ratoe Monastery in Taktsang, Nyethang Shang, Shushul County and forced the inhabited monks to gather in the Monastery's courtyard. While the monks were gathering, Chinese forces conducted a raid during which they confiscated pictures of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, political books and documents, Monastery telephones and cell phones owned by monks. Moreover, 50 monks were arrested following the raid. Though Chinese authorities released some of the arrestees, 32 monks including Ven. Namkhar and Ven. Thupchok (both former political prisoners) are still being detained.

The cause of the above incident was can be traced to the events of March 14, 2008 when 30 monks took to the streets from Ratoe monastery and Nyethang Shang calling for freedom in Tibet and shouting "long live His Holiness the Dalai Lama." However, the Chinese police failed to arrest those protestors when a huge crowd of Tibetan lay people intentionally stood up the Chinese police. Following this incident, additional Chinese "work teams" entered Ratoe monastery to conduct "patriotic education" which involved denunciation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. However, when the monks stood against the campaign, they were immediately arrested.

As previously report in May 3 press release concerning the secret trial held for a group of nuns from Ngang Gon nunnery school (in Sogon Town), we can confirm that Choedon, was among those arrested. She has been sentenced to seven years of imprisonment. 
 


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