TIBET UPDATE

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The Tibet Update eNewsletter is a bimonthly summary of news and governmental actions related to Tibet. Past issues in PDF format are located at http://www.savetibet.org/media-center/tibet-weekly-updates/. INSIDE TIBET:  ICT Report: Protests, tensions escalate in Ngaba following self-immolation of monk: Kirti monastery under lockdown Phuntsog, a Kirti monk who died in the early hours of March 17, following his protest in the main area of Ngaba county town There is a deepening climate of fear in the Tibetan area of Ngaba, Sichuan Province, as a result of a worsening crackdown by authorities following the self-immolation and death of a young monk from Kirti Monastery on March 16. The authorities have now imposed a lockdown on the monastery with a new barbed wire fence and wall being built around the back of the monastic complex, and armed troops within the compound preventing monks from leaving and food from being delivered. The monastery's regular programs have been cancelled since March 19 and a stringent patriotic education campaign has been launched. Sources said that two peaceful protests followed the March 16 self-immolation. The first was organized by upper middle school students and the second by more than 100 people in Namda Township. The current situation at the school is uncertain, the latter protest was broken up by police, subjected to severe beatings and eight people have been arrested. All movements of monks are being restricted and there are serious fears that the tension in Ngaba will escalate still further if the current crackdown is not eased. Read more ... For the latest, continuing updates on this situation, please visit www.savetibet.org. ICT report: Bold protests in earthquake-hit area over government reconstruction plans Hundreds of Tibetans in Kyegu town held bold peaceful demonstrations on April 1-3 to protest against Chinese government policies of reconstruction and allocation of land after last year's 6.9 magnitude earthquake that leveled the land, killing more than 2,600 people. According to sources, over 40 demonstrators were detained. Pictures obtained by ICT show the protestors holding banners and signs with slogans, including "Fairly and legitimately resolve this issue," "Our land belongs to us," and "Help for the Yushu disaster should put ordinary people's benefits first. This concerns people's lives. Reasonably plan the land of our lives." Tibetan protests have persisted throughout the reconstruction process, due in part to a lack of transparency and responsiveness on behalf of the authorities, who have excluded most all Tibetan involvement in the reconstruction planning process. Read more ... ICT report: Death of second Tibetan monk tortured after protest during foreign reporters' 2008 trip to Labrang Monastery Jamyang Jinpa, 37, a monk from Labrang monastery, died on April 3 after suffering severe torture in Chinese detention. Jinpa was one of 15 monks who protested in front of foreign journalists at Labrang Monastery on April 9, 2008. The journalists were part of a press tour, organized by Chinese authorities, in an attempt to show the situation had returned to normal following major unrests across Tibet in March 2008. The monks' protest was broadcast around the world. Three of the 15 monks who protested in front of the journalists managed to escape to India after going into hiding. Another, Sangey Gyatso, died on February 26, 2011 after living in hiding for more than a year. Read more ... U.S. CONGRESS: ICT Report: U.S. State Department documents "severe repression" and "social and cultural discrimination" in Tibet by Chinese authorities The U.S. Department of State released the "Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2010" on April 9. The special Tibet section of the report, in stark contrast to Chinese claims of a stable and peaceful Tibet, documents a litany of human rights abuses and economic, social and cultural discrimination faced by Tibetan under Chinese rule. Secretary Clinton has stated that human rights is a "core element of the Obama Administration's foreign policy, because it actually is in line with our values, our interests, and our security." The use of this term is significant because the Chinese have used the term "core interest" to attempt to wall off certain topics such as Tibet from international scrutiny. Read more ... ICT Report: "Money can't buy you love." US Senate Staff delegation finds discrimination and discontent in Tibet A new report prepared by a bipartisan staff delegation of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee that visited Tibet in September 2010 finds that Chinese economic and social policies are "fueling discontent" among Tibetans. The report offers ways for U.S. Tibet policy makers to work collaboratively with Chinese authorities and calls for the establishment of a U.S. consulate in Lhasa. The delegation which comprised four staff members of the Committee, visited Lhasa in September 2010, arriving via the Qinghai-Tibet railway. Additionally, one staff member also made observations in Amdo, traveling though Tibetan autonomous areas in Qinghai and Gansu provinces.  The report's release comes three weeks after His Holiness the Dalai Lama issued a call for "fact-finding" delegations to Tibet to find out if Tibetans are truly happy under Chinese policies. Read more ... TIBET IN EXILE: ICT Report: Photos and impressions from ICT observers of Tibetan elections Over 82,000 exiled Tibetans across the world, registered to vote in the March 20 Tibetan election for Kalon Tripa (Chairman of the Cabinet) and members of the Parliament-in-exile. Eighty-six regional election offices in Asia, Europe, and the Americas are responsible for counting the votes and forwarding the results in secret to Dharamsala, the home of the Central Tibetan Administration. The elections in India, Brussels, Zurich, New York and Toronto were observed by a group from the International Parliamentarians for Tibet (INPat). Members of ICT's staff joined INPaT's Tibetan Election Observation Mission and some of their observations are included in this ICT report. Read more ... EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: ICT Report: European Parliament resolution of April 7, 2011 on the ban of the elections for the Tibetan government in exile in Nepal The European Parliament reacted to Nepal's suppression of Tibetan exile government elections in its long-staying Tibetan refugee community with a Resolution calling for rights of Tibetans to be respected. The Chairman of the European Parliament's cross-party intergroup on Tibet, German MEP Thomas Mann, said, "Freedom of speech and right to vote are universal human rights. Nepal must not give in to pressure from Beijing and must allow the 20,000 Tibetans in the country to exercise their right to vote for their government in exile," and urged that the government of Nepal include these basic rights as well as the freedom of religion in the country's new constitution. Read more ... NEPAL: China requests Nepal to block Tibetans' movements Nepal's Republica newspaper reported on March 27 that a meeting was held on March 26 at Khasa (Tibetan: Dram), Tibet between security officials of adjoining regions during which Chinese officials requested Nepal to increase security at the borders and ensure blockage in the movement of Tibetans. Nepali officials, headed by Chief District Officer Bishnu Kumar Karki, confirmed the meeting but didn't disclose issues discussed.Read more ... China recalls 'weak' Ambassador Nepal's Himalayan Times reported on March 27 that China has recalled Qiu Guohong, its ambassador to Nepal, and that sources said that China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs was dissatisfied with Qiu's weak efforts to neutralize anti-Chinese activities in Nepal. An official at the Chinese Embassy confirmed the news but denied comment. Qui is expected to return to Beijing within two weeks. Read more ... FROM THE ICT BLOG: Amnesty International and Tibetan filmmaker Dhondup Wangchen - April 8, 2011 Messages from U.S. Ambassadors - April 7, 2011 Another day at the office - April 7, 2011 Old U.S. Films on Tibet: A History Lesson for Today's Policy - April 6, 2011 Vulnerable or Invulnerable? - March 31, 2011 George Patterson, Shining the Light on Tibet - March 29, 2011 Tibetan Parliament to meet in Special Session to decide on Devolution of Dalai Lama's Authority - March 25, 2011 BECOME A FRIEND OF TIBET ICT relies on the consistent support of a special group of supporters called the Friends of Tibet.  These automatic monthly gifts provide a steady, reliable source of income and ensure we will have the funds when we need to respond to emergencies and unexpected opportunities as they arise.  Click here if you are interested in becoming a Friend of Tibet or would just like to receive more information.  Tashi Delek!