October 2007 – TCHRD

31/10/2007 News

Chinese authorities closes down Pangsa Monastery in Tibet

The Chinese authorities in Meldrogungkar has temporarily closed down Pangsa Monastery in Meldrogungkar County, Lhasa municipality, Tibet Autonomous Region (“TAR”) in Tibet according to credible information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD).

Pangsa Monastery belongs to the Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism. The monastery’s chief relic is a mummified reliquary body of the highly realized Yogi Jampal Gyatso. Je Tsongapa Chenpo (1357-1419), the exalted master and the founder of the Gelugpa school of Tibetan Buddhism brought the holy reliquary statue of Yogi Jampal Gyatso from his birthplace, Tsonga in Amdo Province along with him when he came to Lhasa, during the 14th century. Since then the reliquary statue of Yogi was housed in the Pangsa Monastery as a chief relic.

31/10/2007 News

Ronggye A’drak indicted by the Chinese court

The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) today received reliable information that Kardze People’s Intermediate Court indicted Ronggye A’drak with four accounts of “crimes” ranging from disruption of law and order to state subversion.

According to the source, on 29 October 2007, a handcuffed Ronggye A’drak was brought to Kardze People’s Intermediate Court, for a trial. During the trial, the court indicted Ronggye A’drak with four accounts of “crimes”:

(1) Indicted of seeking to “split” the country and subvert state power on 1 August 2007 during the horse racing festival by shouting “Long Live the Dalai Lama” and asking for the Dalai Lama to return to Tibet.

30/10/2007 News

Chinese authorities closes down Pangsa Monastery in Tibet

30 October 2007 The Chinese authorities in Meldrogungkar has temporarily closed down Pangsa Monastery in Meldrogungkar County, Lhasa municipality, Tibet Autonomous Region (“TAR”) in Tibet according to credible information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD). Pangsa Monastery belongs to the Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism. The monastery’s chief relic is a mummified reliquary body of…

27/10/2007 News

Freedom at last after 18 years- China releases Ngawang Phulchung

27 October 2007 One of the longest serving Tibetan political prisoners, Ngawang Phulchung, who was one of the key leaders of the famous peaceful pro-independence demonstration of 27 September 1987, in Lhasa, was released from Chushul Prison (Ch: Qushui Prison) around 21 October 2007. According to confirmed information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), Ngawang…

25/10/2007 News

Nangpala Revisited- Shooting left nine Tibetans missing and three arrests

25 October 2007 According to a confirmed information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), a group of 46 Tibetans while attempting to flee Tibet via Nangpala Pass in October were shot by Chinese border People’s Armed Police (PAP) resulting in the arrest of three Tibetans and missing of nine. According to a TCHRD source in…

23/10/2007 News

Forcing silence in Tibet as Dalai Lama receives US Congressional Gold Medal

There are credible reports on the arrest of a monk of Drepung Monastery, five people in Labrang Tashikyil Monastery and two other from Kardze region of Tibet for celebrating the US Congressional Gold Medal Award to the Dalai Lama despite severe restriction and control imposed by the Chinese authorities, according to confirmed information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD).

Hundreds of Tibetans in their best attire converged early in the morning at Lingkor Road and Barkhor Street in Lhasa for customary observance of Sangsol(incense burning prayer that involve throwing tsampa in the air for success and good fortune) and visited monasteries in large number to offer prayers despite Chinese authorities imposition of severe restriction and vigilance in Tibet ahead of and during the US Congressional Gold Medal Award ceremony for the Dalai Lama on 17 October.

16/10/2007 News

China steps up vigilance and control in Tibet prior to Congressional Gold Medal award ceremony for the Dalai Lama

16 October 2007 Credible and confirmed information coming from Tibet indicates that the Chinese authorities in Tibet have heightened the security measures and intensified control prior to impending U.S. Congressional Gold Medal Award Ceremony for the Dalai Lama on 17 October 2007. According to confirmed information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), the Chinese authorities of…

09/10/2007 News

A Statue of Guru Rinpoche demolished and construction of another suspended in Tibet

The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) expresses its deepest anguish at the China’s recent outrageous interference in the religious affairs of Tibetan people in Tibet. According to the latest information emanating from Tibet, another statue of Guru Padmasambhava or popularly known as Guru Rinpoche was demolished and construction of another Guru statue was reportedly suspended by the…

08/10/2007 News

Two Tibetans arrested in Lithang after “Patriotic Education” Campaign

In the aftermath of massive “Patriotic Education” campaign launched by the Chinese authorities in Lithang area since the beginning of September this year, cases of arbitrary arrests and detention of Tibetans who openly defied and challenged the authorities for violating their rights have began to surface from the area.

According to confirm information, on 2 September 2007, the Chinese authorities summoned a meeting of the general public of Youru Kharshul and Kayta Villages in Lithang County, Kardze “Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture” (‘TAP’), to receive political education telling Tibetans how the Chinese liberation of Tibet has empowered the Tibetan commoners and how Tibetans under the Chinese Communist Party’s patronage are leading a happy and content life.