china: stop the attacks in Ngaba

Dear Mike, CHINA: STOP THE ATTACKS IN NGABA Tibetan monks at Kirti monastery in eastern Tibet are in danger – and need your help. As Beijing intensifies its sweeping crackdown on dissent, Chinese troops in Tibet are on the verge of "disappearing" hundreds of monks. Tibetan monks in Dharamsala, India have received an urgent call for help from Ngaba County (Chinese: Aba County). They are reporting that Chinese troops attempted to storm Kirti monastery this morning. According to reliable sources, residents fear Chinese authorities are planning to forcibly remove all monks between the ages 18 and 40. Local Tibetans, being alerted to the troops' arrival, rushed to block the monastery entrance. The armed police and soldiers tried to break through the crowd by beating the Tibetans and setting police dogs on them. In spite of the violent attacks, the Tibetans stood their ground and the troops failed to enter the monastery's inner gates. As of now, the standoff continues. TAKE ACTION: Sign the petition to demand Chinese troops immediately stop the siege at Kirti Monastery. Tibetans fear Chinese authorities are planning to transfer the monks from the monastery into local prisons where they will be subjected to China's repressive political "reeducation". Tension in Ngaba has been high since the self-immolation of Phuntsok Jarutsang (pictured right), a 20-year monk from Kirti Monastery, on March 16, 2011. Chinese forces have been stationed around Kirti Monastery for weeks and more than a dozen monks have been arbitrarily arrested. According to the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights & Democracy as of yesterday, troops had completely sealed off the monastery. The monks' dwindling food supplies are prompting fears of starvation in the monastery. The lives of many Tibetans are at stake. Take Action: Let the Chinese authorities know the world is watching Sign the petition and demand an end to the siege. Organize a solidarity rally at the Chinese consulate nearest you or at a public landmark in your community. Find details of protests here. Send information about your protest to grassroots@studentsforafreetibet.org so we can alert others. Spread the word. Forward this email to friends & family. Update your Facebook and Twitter status to "I stand with Tibetans in Ngaba". For more ways to take action, visit: http://www.studentsforafreetibet.org/ngaba Let's work together to end the siege at Kirti monastery, and to protect the monks and local Tibetans who are defending the monastery. In hope and solidarity, Tendor, Kate, Tendolkar, Mary-Kate, Stef, Tentsetan and all of us here at SFT HQ For more information, read the reports & articles below: Chinese armed police cordon Ngaba Kirti Monastery, 2500 monks face food shortage (TCHRD) http://www.tchrd.org/press/2011/pr20110411.html Security step-up in Kirti monastery likely to starve monks (Phayul News): http://is.gd/iaQ7tN Ngaba Kirti Monastery Under Lockdown (Voice of America): http://www.voanews.com/tibetan-english/news/Ngaba-Kirti-Monastery-under-Lockdown-119696874.html More information about the incident on March 16th self-immolation:  http://www.studentsforafreetibet.org/article.php?id=2306