For Immediate Release
May 4, 2008

According to reliable source, on April 26, Chinese governmental "work teams" arrived in Bada Samdupling Monastery in Tzenda Township, Sershul (Ch: Shiqu) County, Karze "TAP," Sichuan Province to reinforce the "Patriotic re-education campaign". However, a group of monks from the monastery refused to sign the documents that lacked explanations of its purposes and furthermore, they walked out during the "patriotic re-education" class. Chinese governmental "work teams" were hoping to conduct a more effective "patriotic re-education campaign". Out of 70 monks who study at the monastery, Gelek Thapkhey, Gelek Drakpa and Tenzin Phuntsok were arrested during one of the protests in March in Lhasa. Further details about where they are being detained remain unknown.
On April 25, 2008, 20 Tibetans from Gaden Chokhor town were arrested during the protests in March, were transferred to Lhasa on April 25. A Tibetan named Dawa, aged 31, a farmer in Dhedrong Village in North Khashang was also arrested during a peaceful demonstration in Phenpo Area. He was released on March 27 under a critical condition. Few days following his arrest, he died on April 1. Similarly, a nun from Shar Bhumpa nunnery, from Gerpa family, Chugkha Jang Village, Phenpo Lhundrup (Ch: Lingzhi) County in Lhasa Municipality, who had participated in the protests in March was severely beaten and injured and was admitted to the County Hospital. Although, she was recently discharged from the hospital, she had to re-enter due to her critical condition.  
Chinese Government’s consistent misfeeding of information through their state-run media have caused rift between Chinese and Tibetans. Ethnic tension has risen. There have been cases of Tibetans being beaten and threatened by Chinese in some areas of China; however, Chinese government has not provided any protection to these Tibetans against the threats. Chinese students in many parts of China have vehemently accused any Tibetan monks they see as instigators of the riots to disrepute them.

In view of the ongoing critical situation inside Tibet, we urge the United Nations and the International community and organizations to the following urgent needs:

1. To immediately send an independent international fact-finding mission into Tibet
2. To exert pressure on the PRC government to allow unfettered access to free press in whole of Tibet
3. To pressure the PRC to end the brutal killings in the whole of Tibet
4. To immediately release all the arrested and imprisoned Tibetans
5. To extend immediate medical assistance to those injured Tibetans
6. To allow free movement of people and provide access to daily needs

 - Tibetan Solidarity Committee