TIBETAN SOLIDARITY COMMITTEE

Press Release         21st April 2008

On 17th April, 8 novice monks have been arrested from Nalanda Monastery of Phenpo Lhundrub District. On 15th April evening 18 monks were arrested followed by another 4 monks on the 16th from Shitsang Gatsel Monastery of Kanlho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Luchu District. On 14th morning, Chinese Army search parties arrested another 3 monks from Choepel Tashi Choekhor Ling Monastery in Chone District, which took the total arrestees from the monastery to 200.

As reported earlier many monks from Rebkong Rongpo Gonchen Monastery have been arrested. The place has been designated as the source of all the protests in the region and severe restrictions on the movement of people had been imposed. The additional army personnel in black dresses deployed in the region on the 17th and 18th April has been identified as Commandos and Border Security Forces from Hunnan Province.

The arrested and the ongoing arrest of innumerable Tibetans have resulted in overflowing of all the prisons in Tibet. Many arrestees have been transferred to other regions of Tibet and many others to prisons in China. Several imprisoned Tibetans have been released. However, due to brutal torture and starvation, the health conditions of the released Tibetans are in very poor health. Moreover, all these prisoners have been forcibly asked to pay a fine ranging from several thousand to several ten thousand Chinese Yuan for their release.

In other unreported case, on the 18th of March, a group of monks belonging to North Taklung Monastery of Phenpo Lhundrub District organised peaceful demonstration at Dhamshung District headquarters but no further details are available.

In view of the critical situation in Tibet, we appeal the UN and international community of the urgent consideration of our following demands:

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