April 21, 2008 report
April 21, 2008:
Bandhara –
A comprehensive list of Bandhara report:
On March 19, 2008, around 115 people participated in the candle light peace procession. In another action on March 25, 2008, approximately 212 people went on a peaceful protest in the town of Bhandhara.
Milan, Italy -
April 17, 2008: Tibetans Protests against wave of repression in Tibet
Tibetans in Italy led by Milan Tibetan community and Tibetan Women’s association gathered in front of the Chinese consulate with Tibetan flags to protest against the repression that is continuing in Tibet.
Italian Radical party representative Hon. Bruno Mellano joined the protest. He condemned the continuous repression in Tibet and called on European countries to take more firm stand against China. Slogans shouted were Hu Jintao, talk to the Dalai Lama.
In his speech, the Tibetan community President Mr. Thupten Tenzin emphasized on the courage and determination of Tibetans in Tibet and the need of the exiled Tibetans to commit more to the Tibetan cause.
One minute silence was dedicated to the Tibetans killed in Tibet by Chinese army.
Prayer words of truth were chanted and at the end, Tibetan national anthem was sung.
Meanwhile, the Chinese embassy in Rome had invited representatives of the various Italian regions at the embassy office on April 17th at 6:30PM to convey their view of Tibet. President Franz Pahl of the autonomous region of Sud tirol council in his press release rejected the invitation to show his disapproval of the continuous repression and violation of Tibetan peoples’ right. They also condemned that Tibet was illegally occupied by Chinese communist regime. President of Tibetan Women’s association Dechen Dolkar led a group of protesters in front of the Chinese embassy and managed to draw the attention of representatives who attended Chinese invitation.
Report filed by Sangpo Tenzin, Secretary of Tibetan Community in Italy
For more information, visit www.comunitatibetana.org
Dehradun -
On April 12, 2008, a famous Ladakhi singer Ladakh Phuntsok visited the Tibetan relay hunger strike to express his solidarity by singing his latest composed song based on the recent crisis in Tibet. He assured the Tibetans that the Himalayan Tibet Supporter will always stand behind the Tibetans.
Pema Dolma, a Tibetan lady of 82 years old shaved her head to express her support for the Tibetan cause. Her act drew much attention from the media and resulted in wide media coverage.
On April 17, 2008, around 1500 people gathered at the Dehradun Gandhi Maidan where Tibet supporters came in larger numbers, including all India National Gandhi Foundation, New Delhi, Dharma Chariya Bodhi Sagar, Chairman, Buddhist Association in Uttarakhand, Usha Negi, Representative of Shrimati Uma Bharti of Jan Shakti Party, Ajay Sharma, Political Activist and many other. They also addressed the gathering. Thereafter, a mock trail imitating dead bodies taken to their burial was enacted. They also presented a play to demonstrate the repressive acts of Chinese military in Tibet and to show how Tibetans are being suppressed in Tibet. Later, they gathered at the Dehradun Gandhi Maidan, where the Indian Sambhov Manch Parivaar, a theatre activist group presented a program based on the recent killings in Tibet.
Switzerland -
Wednesday, 9th April, 2008: CANDLE LIGHT VIGIL BARÜSSLERPLATZ IN BASEL
On April 9, 2008, in the city of Basel, 50 Tibetans and other non-Tibetan supporters joined on very rainy Wednesday night after work at 18:00 to recite prayers. We had been successful with our prayers even though our candles did not last long due to rain and strong wind. Primarily due to bad weather, gathering outside proved challenging and could not carry on.
Wednesday, 16th April, 08 CANDLE LIGHT VIGIL BARÜSSLERPLATZ IN BASEL
Weather was beautiful with bright sun shine and little windy, many as 43-50 Tibetans & non -Tibetan supporters attended the Candle Light Vigil. We could disseminate information about current situation in Tibet based on the information from Stoptibetcrisis.org web translated in German and English. The distributed information comprised of:
- H.H. the Dalai Lama's an appeal to Chinese People dated 28th March,2008
- H.H. the Dalai Lama's an appeal to the World Leaders, Parliamentarians, NGOs and Members of the public dated 2nd April, 2008
- Statement of H.H. the Dalai Lama's to all Tibetans dated 5th April, 2008
- Clarification dated, 18th April 2008
- Sites of Tibetan uprising as of 10th April, 2008
- Announcement of Candle Light Vigil, Purposed and latest updates by point wise organised by Emergency Tibetan Solidarity Committee, Basel, Switzerland headed by Tsamdha Tsering and Tibetans and non - Tibetans supporter from in and around Basel Canton.
Every Wednesday 18:00 Barfüsserplatz
INTRODUCTION
After the 49th anniversary of the Tibetan people’s peaceful uprising in capital Lhasa on 10th March & just after four days, when Tibetan monks, nuns, followed by laymen went for a peaceful demonstration. The Chinese police officers used violent crackdown by firing into crowds of protestors. This incident of killings sparked a series of uprising all over Tibet and spreaded like a wild fire. This is nothing but an outburst of 50 years of suppression of sentiments, injustice, discrimination and unhappiness und Chinese rule. And making of Tibetans into a second class citizen in their own county under chinese government and its policy on Tibet and Tibetans in the three provinces of Tibet, U-tsang, Kham and Amdo.
PRESENT CRISIS IN TIBET
- 154 peaceful Tibetan demonstrators have been killed in Tibet
- More than 500 Tibetans have been grievously injured
- More than 1300 innocent Tibetans have been detained and are being tortured
- Martial Law like situation in Tibet
- Thousands of People’s Liberation Army have been deployed. Plans to deploy more
- The atmosphere is very tense. However fresh protests are being reported every day
- Foreign Press & Tourists are being forced to leave Tibet
- Ban on Mount Everest expeditions and forcing Nepal to ban from Nepalese side
- Finally, Tibet is being blacked out to carryout atrocities without international security
- Peoples Liberation Army and Chinese Police disguised as monks to foment trouble in Tibet
- Footages are being doctored and subtitled to suit their needs and to fool the world
- China using a massive State sponsored propaganda to divide the Tibetans in Tibet
- Severe Restriction on movement and army cordon has reported causing first death due to Hunger especially in and around monasteries
PURPOSE OF CANDLE LIGHT VIGIL
Purpose is to pray for the brave Tibetans who sacrificed their life for Tibetan cause, all severely injured and those who have to undergo torture and sufferings in prison. The candle light vigil also hopes for a long lasting peaceful solution to the Tibet-China problem.
OUR DEMAND
In view of the present crisis in Tibet, we urgently appeal to the UN, IOC, and the international community to pressure the Chinese Leadership to come for a dialogue with His Holiness the Dalai Lama to solve the TIBET-CHINA PROBLEM:
- Immediately dispatch independent fact finding delegations to Tibet
- Immediately allow free press to cover the whole of Tibet
- Immediately end the brutal killings in the whole of Tibet
- Immediately release all arrested and imprisoned Tibetans
- Extend immediate medical assistance to the injured Tibetans
- Allow free movement of people and provide access to daily needs
- IOC should ban Chinese government to use the route of Olympic torch through Tibet and to Mount Everest. (This is purely a politically motivated, provocation to Tibetans and to legitimize the Chinese occupation of Tibet, also mis-use of sports to achieve their political goal)
Nepal –
800 participated in the mass prayer recital.
Following are the prayer counts of April 16, 2008:
Dolma Gyepa 253771
Dolma Dueypa 231181
Dolma Zung 262773
Mani 6384539
Vajra Guru 476661
Tamding Zung 193632
Shabten Recital for 17th April, 2008:
Number of participants: 500
Dolma Gyepa 1,17,000
Dolma Dueypa 2,47,139
Dolma Zung 91,419
Mani 63,81,478
Vajra Guru 6,96,116
Tamding Zung 1,04,715
Shabten Recital for April 18, 2008:
500 participated.
Dolma Gyepa 74,761
Dolma Dueypa 2,10,540
Dolma Zung 2,04,701
Mani 17,69,428
Vajra Guru 10,77,880
Tamding Zung 1,03,113
Friday, April 18, 2008 update:
The 6th Day of 24 hours Relay Fasting in Solidarity:
The 6th day of the 24 hours Relay fasting in Solidarity with Tibetans in Tibet started with 41 participants. About 10 had not been able to come due to the late night release from detention the previous night. As usual, Chithue Yungdrung Gyaltsen la addressed the new set of participants and also read out the latest press release from TSC.
Fresh protests, arrests and injured:
The protest mainly took place around the Old Chinese embassy, where 37 Tibetans were arrested at KamalPokhari, 38 at Maharajganj Police station, 5 at Durbar Marg Police station, 38 at Anamnagar Police station, 9 at Tinkue and 2 at Guashala Police station. There were reports of more severe Police beatings in areas where there were no media around. Monks and nuns were equally beaten and manhandled. Police grabbed one girl by her throat while others pulled her head. She later became unconscious and was taken to the hospital. Another girl was hurt badly when a policeman pressed his knee against her abdomen to push her into the police vehicle. She was brought to the hospital. Her arms and legs had bruises from polices beatings. A monk was badly beaten, kicked and stamped on his chest. NTSF’s delegated team attended the sick and arrestees all night -- bringing them food and keeping track of all the arrestees so no one “disappears”. All detainees were released late last night.
The 24 hour Relay Fasting in Solidarity entered its 7th day without any untoward incidents. There are 56 participants out of whom two men are Tamangs. A special appreciation was mentioned towards the two Tamangs for their support.
Mr. Sudip Pathak, President of Human Rights Organization of Nepal and former member of the National Commission for Human Rights, paid a visit to Boudha to speak to a group of Tibetans who have been participating in the protests daily. He shared some suggestions and also gave some advice in the present context of Nepal’s situation. Prior to his arrival, the Chithues here spoke to those present and informed them of our tentative plans and what we had been told by UNOHCHR yesterday.
One case of a woman (Tsamchoe) who had been kicked in the stomach on 17th and had been discharged on her request from hospital had to be re-admitted into hospital due to internal complications. Another nun was reported to have fractured her foot a result of police beating at yesterday’s protests. NTSF’s assigned special task committee members to look into these two special cases. No protests today --- Saturday –everything’s closed!
England –
CANDLELIGHT VIGIL FOR TIBETANS was organized by the Dharma network, which is affiliated to Tibetan Buddhist and Bon organizations in UK. The vigil was
organized in the Tibetan Peace Garden which is situated next to the Imperial War
Museum of London. The prayer vigil lasted for an hour on April 19, 2008.
The organizers said that the candlelight vigil was held to express UK Buddhists and Bon Organizations’ support to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Tibetans.
The vigil was well attended by members of the Dharma Network and by members of the Tibetan Community in Britain.
Dharamsala –
April 18, 2008:
1. Around fifty people gathered at Lhabsoeri for sangsol.
2. Relay hunger strike continued.
3. Led by His Holiness Private office, special prayer recital of Chenresig Jigten Wangchuk continued. Around 1500 people including 500 monks participated in the prayer.
4. Photo exhibition on recent killings on Tibet continues.
5. In the evening, around 2000 people participated in the candle light peace procession.
6. Continued to offer thousand butter lamps for all those who died in the recent killings in Tibet.
April 19, 2008:
1. Around fifty people gathered at Lhabsoeri for sangsol.
2. Relay hunger strike continued with the participation of around 20 people.
3. Private office organized special prayers to recite Chenresig Jigten Wangchuk continued. Around 1500 people including 500 monks participated in the prayer.
4. In the evening around 1500 people participated in the candle light peace procession.
5. Continued to offer thousand butter lamps for all those who died in the recent killings in Tibet.