The Chinese authorities had arrested four Tibetan nuns for staging a protest in Kardze County Kardze “TAP”, Sichuan Province, according to reliable information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD).
Around 6 PM (Beijing Standard Time), 22 May 2008, the four Tibetan nuns of Nyimo Gaysey Nunnery in Tehor Kardze County had staged a peaceful protest at the County government headquarters. They were protesting against the recent crackdown of peaceful Tibetan protesters and the illegal detention of Tibetan people in the Chinese prisons.
In the recent spates of sporadic protests reported from Kardze County, more reports of protest led by group of two or four persons continue to surface from the area. According to confirmed information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), two young monks in their early 20’s from Tsitsang Monastery were detained by the County Chinese security forces for their peaceful protest in Kardze County.
Three Tibetan nuns from Tehor Nyagay Nunnery, in Kardze County were arrested by the County Chinese security forces for staging a peaceful protest, according to reliable sources within Tibet.
At around 1:00 AM (Beijing Standard Time) on 20 May 2008, three nuns from the Nyagay Nunnery, situated in Kardze County, Kardze “Tibet Autonomous Prefecture”(TAP”), Sichuan Province, started marching from Tehor Nyagay Nunnery towards the Kardze County which is around 20 Kms away from the Nunnery. The Nyagay Nunnery is very close to the famous Kardze Tehor Dargay Monastery. The three nuns were said to have reached, Kardze County, their preplanned destination of the protest before morning dawn sets in. The reason cited for the three nuns was to launch their march in the wee hours of the morning so as to avoid being blocked and arrested by the heavy security presence and severe restriction imposed on the movement of the people in that area.
The Chinese authorities had arrested a revered religious figure in Kardze, Tibet according to reliable information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD).
Tulku Phurbu Tsering Rinpoche
On 18 May 2008, around 4.30 AM (Beijing Standard Time), the Chinese security forces had arrested Tulku Phurbu Tsering Rinpoche from his residence without stating any reason. He was a highly revered religious figure in Kardze County, “TAP”, Sichuan Province.
The arrest of the prominent religious figure has brought much grief and disbelief to the local Tibetans. Tulku Phurbu Tsering Rinpoche was much loved and revered for his religious vocation and looking after the welfare of the local Tibetans in Kardze County.There has been no information about his current whereabouts, detention and well being.
Tulku Phurbu Tsering Rinpoche was a highly regarded reincarnated Tulku (Living Buddha) of Tehor Kardze Monastery. He was the chief spiritual preceptor and the head of Pang-ri and Ya-tseg Nunneries in Kardze. A charismatic figure who was a source of inspiration and hope had constructed an old age orphanage and opened two chemist shops for the local Tibetans.
The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) received confirmed information that, Geshe Sonam Phuntsok, a former political prisoner who spent five years in prison for his religious activities and for conducting a long life prayer ceremony for the Dalai Lama in October 1999, passed away on 5 April 2008 in Kardze after a prolong battle with multiple illnesses following a lengthy imprisonment and maltreatment in the prison.
As per the earlier information received by the TCHRD, Geshe Sonam Phuntsok, popularly known as Kardze Geshe, was in poor health for the long period of time since his release from Chuandong no. 3 Prison in Tazhu County in October 2004. Geshe Sonam Phuntsok, 57 year-old, was a hugely popular religious figure particularly in Kardze. Since his release from prison in October 2004, Geshe Sonam Phuntsok was put under virtual house arrest as movements outside his residence were severely restricted that Geshe has to seek official permission even for any medical treatment. His activities particularly in religious spheres were under constant surveillance from the authorities.
The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) received confirmed information from multiple sources, that at least three Tibetan protestors were shot dead this afternoon during a peaceful demonstration in Kardze County, Sichuan Province in eastern Tibet after Chinese security forces started an indiscriminate firing on the peaceful Tibetan protestors.
The incident took place on 18 March 2008, today between 2:30 – 3:00 PM (Beijing Standard Time) when around 300 Tibetans from all walks of life staged a peaceful protest demonstration in the main market square of Kardze County, Sichuan Province by raising slogans calling for “independence for Tibet” and “Long Live the Dalai Lama”.
Khenpo Jinpa, a monk from Chogtsang Talung Monastery in Serthar County, Kardze “Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture” (“TAP”), Sichuan, has been sentenced to three years prison term by the Kardze People’s Intermediate Court on 16 July 2007, according to confirm information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD). He was charged of endangering the state security by “anti-government propaganda and incitement of masses”.
On 8 August 2005, political leaflets calling for Tibetan independence and the Dalai Lama’s long life were in distribution at the Serthar County festival ground. The Public Security Bureau (PSB) upon investigation into the incident suspected Khenpo Jinpa of carrying the activity. On 23 August 2006, three PSB officers arrived at Chogtsang Talung monastery and took him away to a detention centre in Dartsedo County. Three days later ten vehicles full of PSB officers arrived at the monastery. The officers broke the lock at Khenpo Jinpa’s room and went on a rampage looking for evidence.
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.
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.
The Chinese authorities have arrested a Tibetan monk of Lithang Monastery in conjunction with the ongoing massive “Patriotic Education” launched in the first week of September in Lithang area, according to confirmed information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD).
According to the confirmed information, Lobsang Phuntsok, a monk of Lithang Monastery was arrested on 15 September 2007 following sudden raid carried out in his monastery residence by Lithang County Public Security Bureau (PSB) officials. Lobsang Phuntsok, 30 year-old, was born to Wangchuk Gonpo (Father) and Ashe Doenkyi (Mother), and was a native of Dekyi Village located on the periphery of Lithang Monastery, Lithang County, Kardze “Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture” (‘TAP’).
Two Tibetan women, O’dho and Apha Bhomo, both in their late 50’s and residents of Othok Village, Nyagchuka County, Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture “TAP” Sichuan Province, were arrested on 19 July 2007 by the Nyagchuka County Public Security Bureau (PSB) officials on alleged ‘crime’ of instigating people to join their call for Trulku Tenzin Delek’s release, according to confirmed information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD). Both women are currently detained at Nyagchuka County PSB Detention Centre and authorities are known to have denied visitation right to their relatives. O’dho, a mother of nine children, was born in Sholong Township, Nyagchuka County, Kardze “TAP”, Sichuan Province. In addition, it was learnt that both O’dho’s sons, Kalsang Sungrab and Tenzin Tsoknyi were barred from attending their respective schools. Tenzin Tsoknyi who was studying at a private school in Lithang County was barred from attending the school and authorities even put restriction on their movement.
