Lhasa – Page 2

02/06/2012 News

Detentions reported after Lhasa immolations

An unspecified number of Tibetans have been detained following the twin self-immolation protests in the Tibetan capital, Lhasa.

Two Tibetan men, both believed to be young, staged a joint self-immolation protest near Jhokhang Temple at Barkhor (Chinese: Parkor) Street in Lhasa. Dorjee Tsetan died while Dhargye is hospitalized with burn injuries.

Chukey, the owner of the restaurant where Dhargye used to work as a cashier, was arrested along with his wife and family, according to sources. Our sources also identified some of the detained Tibetans as Dolma Kyab, Nyurgyog, Khambey, Tamdrin Kyab and Sangdrak; all of them belong to Ngaba Prefecture.

20/04/2012 News

China Rewards ‘Harmonious’ Monasteries, ‘Patriotic’ Monks, Nuns

The Chinese government has conferred awards on ‘harmonious’ monasteries and ‘patriotic’ monks and nuns at a ceremony held on 19 April 2012 in Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR).

Reporting on the award ceremony presided over by TAR Party Secretary Chen Quanguo, the Chinese government-owned website, ChinaTibetnews.com said the recipients of the first award ceremony for the harmonious model monasteries and law-abiding, patriotic and advanced monks include 59 monasteries and nunneries, 58 Monastery Management Committees (MMCs), 6,773 monks and nuns, and 200 ‘outstanding cadres’ posted in monasteries in recognition of their good work.

The report said the ‘law-abiding advanced monks and nuns’ of the Harmonious Model Monasteries shall be awarded with government subsidies. These subsidies include free pension, medical insurance and an annual free health check up.

10/03/2010 News

China detains hundreds of Tibetans in Lhasa under “Strike Hard Campaign”

With the launch of “Strike Hard” Campaign in the “Tibet Autonomous Region” (‘TAR’) from 2nd March, the Chinese security forces had detained nearly 500 Tibetans alone from Lhasa city alone, according to reports given in the state run web portal.

According to the official report dated 4 March 2010 given in the state run web portal www.chinatibet.com, “during the campaign, the Lhasa City Public Security Bureau Police Brigade (Ch: Lasa Gong An Ju Xing Jing Zhi Dui) raided a total of 4,115 rented accommodations, thoroughly checked 60 high prone areas where crime is concentrated, gathering areas for floating population, places with complex social order and iniquity, carried out comprehensive checks on a total of 7,347 non-permanent residents of the city, raided more than 70 guest houses, internet cafes, entertainment centre and bars; and detained a total of 435 people. Of these 7 were arrested on theft and burglary, 3 persons on stealing motor bikes, 1 person for duping, 3 others suspected burglary accomplices.” There is no detail information or reasons were given on the remaining people who were arbitrarily detained during the “strike hard” campaign launched since 2 March 2010.

03/03/2010 News

China launches “Strike Hard” Campaign ahead of sensitive anniversary

The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy(TCHRD) condemns in strongest term over Chinese authorities — launching of the –”Strike Hard” campaign aimed at carrying out further detentions of Tibetans in Tibet as the March anniversary of the Tibetan Uprising approaches.

According to information given in the official newspaper Lhasa Evening News (Ch: Lasa Wen Bao) today, “the Lhasa City Public Security Bureau (PSB) officials under the order of Lhasa City government, the “Tibet Autonomous Region” (“TAR”) PSB, “TAR” Party Committee and Lhasa City Party Committee had carried out the “Strike Hard” Campaign from 9:00PM (Beijing standard time) yesterday across the Tibetan Capital, Lhasa. “The campaign was also launched across all seven prefectures under the “TAR” in order to strike hard according to law against all kinds of criminal activity and to vigorously uphold the social order and stability.” The length of this campaign was not mentioned and it may last for months.

20/04/2009 News

TCHRD condemns China’s sentencing of three Tibetans

Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) expresses its shock and dismay over the harsh sentences passed on three Tibetans by the Lhasa Municipal Intermediate People’s Court.

Penkyi,sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve

According to official Chinese mouthpiece, Xinhua, dated 21 April 2009, the Lhasa Municipal Intermediate People’s Court sentenced one man to death with a two-year reprieve and two others to long jail terms for setting fire that killed six people in Lhasa riot last year. Penkyi, of Sakya County, Shigatse Prefecture(Ch: Xigaze) “Tibet Autonomous Region” (‘TAR’) was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve, whereas Penkyi, 23, from Nyemo County (Ch: Nimo Xian), Lhasa Municipality, “TAR” was sentenced to life imprisonment and Chime, 20, from Namling County (Ch: Nanmulin xian), Shigatse Prefecture, “TAR” was sentenced to 10 years in prison. The three were sentenced by the Chinese court on alleged charges of arson, setting fire to clothing stores last year during the Lhasa unrest.

09/10/2008 News

Tibetan AIDS activist missing

File photo of Wangdue talking to Lhasa residents about AIDS

Wangdue, a Tibetan HIV AIDS activist, has been missing since his arbitrary detention by the Lhasa City Public Security Bureau (PSB) from his home on 14 March 2008, according to information received by TCHRD.

“Wangdue, now in his early 40s was born in Taktse County (Ch: Daxi/Dagze Xian), Lhasa Municipality, “Tibet Autonomous Region” (“TAR”). He is a former political prisoner initially arrested for his involvement in the March 1989 protest in Lhasa and was later sentenced to three years to “Re-education through Labour” in Sangyip Prison, also known as “TAR” PSB Detention Centre.

29/09/2008 News

Tibetan monks missing since April raid

Five monks have gone missing since the raid by Chinese security officials on Ramoche Temple following protests in the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, in March 2008.

According to information received by TCHRD, the whereabouts of Ramoche monastery’s Chagzoe (manager and treasurer) Sonam Rabgyal and four other monks cannot be ascertained. The monks were arrested during a midnight raid in monks’ residence on 7 April 2008.

19/05/2008 News

Rare testimony by a Tibetan youth in Lhasa on March 2008 protest

A rare testimony in detail of a Tibetan youth who was arrested in the aftermath of Lhasa unrest in March 2008 is obtained by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD). The interviewee describes the use of extreme torture in prison, cries of pain in the corridors of the prison, harrowing stories that he constantly hears, unwavering hope of support from the outside world, and perception of life post imprisonment. The interview which is reproduced below has been dictated to a third party and edited by TCHRD in order to protect the identity of the youth. While (*) denotes information withheld, further details, comments or explanations are provided in square brackets.

09/04/2008 News

Around 70 monks of Ramoche Temple detain in midnight raid, whereabouts still unknown

In contrary to what the Chinese authorities are proclaiming about the calm and normalcy restored in Lhasa city, the reality in the area underlines that severe restriction and mass detention are continuing especially in monasteries which were proactive in the recent series of demonstration in Lhasa and other parts of Eastern Tibet. In the latest series of major clampdowns on monastic institutions, around 70 Tibetan monks from Ramoche Temple were known to have been detained on the night of 7 April 2008, according to confirmed information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD).

05/04/2008 News

China arrests over 2,300 Tibetans in Tibet

Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) has been informed by reliable sources that the Chinese authorities are stepping up arbitrary arrest drive inside Tibet with renewed vigour and fervour. The latest information emanating from Tibet indicates over 2,300 Tibetans from various parts of Tibet have so far been arrested by the Chinese authorities currently detained in detention centres located in Townships, Counties and Prefectures in various administrative regions of Tibet.

According to TCHRD documentation since 10 March 2008, the Centre has documented a list of 301 Tibetans whose identities were confirmed as of today.

21/03/2008 News

Tibetans facing massive arrest drive in Tibet

After days of the peaceful protests in Lhasa and in other parts of Tibet, the Chinese authorities are now arresting hundreds of Tibetans in other parts of Tibet.

On 19 March 2008, Lhasa City Procuratorate has arrested 24 Tibetan protestors on a basis of pre-trial detention. Although 24 Tibetan protestors are on pre-trial detention but it is already a foregone conclusion that they will be charged with serious crimes and will receive harsh prison sentences.

In China pre-trial arrests are usual practice, it is most likely that the detained Tibetan protestors will be indicted within five days at an extraordinary pace compared judicial system in the democratic countries. The swift arrests and sentencing is part of Chinese legal system of sending fear and panic to the protestors to cease their activities. It can well be described as “killing goats to scare sheep”.