Chinese state TV broadcast of military gathered in Potala Square in Lhasa to watch the opening day of the 18th Party Congress. Tibetans were prevented from entering Potala Square, normally a public area.
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China’s ‘friends’
The Chinese have been particularly good ‘friends’ to Tibetans recently. In fact, after the recent crackdown in Drango, reports suggest every single family in the county has been allotted a special ‘friend’ they can talk to, and perhaps even confide in.
These ‘Chinese friends’, as they are known, are especially interested in Tibetans who may have been talking to relatives who live abroad, or buying petrol.
There are even fears that telephone lines, only just connected after a 5-month long communications blackout, have been bugged. Clearly it’s not been Tibet’s day, their week, their month or even their year.
Take a look around our website and see if you can’t help Tibet be there too, like it’s been there before. Help Tibet be there for you, by being there for it too.
Release the Drango Four
In January 2012, four monks were seized by Chinese security forces from the city of Tridu. They have not been seen or heard from since.
They are:
- Thinley, 42, business manager for the Drango monastery
- Tashi (or Dralha) Thupgyal, 31, accountant for Drango monastery
- Tulku Lobsang Tenzin, 40, from Gochen monastery
- Geshi Tsewang Namgyal, 42, teacher and academic from Drango monastery
They travelled to Tridu, following protests which had just taken place in Drango, when Chinese authorities opened fire on protesters, killing two and injuring dozens more.
Internet cafe
Although the monks were not involved in protesting, it is believed the authorities suspected they were trying to send information about what had happened. Some of the monks are said to have been rounded up by security forces in an internet cafe.
It’s been more than nine months since anyone heard from the Drango Four, even though no charges have been brought against them and no information given regarding their whereabouts or wellbeing.
We need as many people as possible to take action. They are just a few of the hundreds of Tibetans who have been disappeared by Chinese forces. Campaign for their release now.
“It does not mean that we don’t want to go on living with our families, but we don’t have freedom”
This is the final message of Sonam and Choephak Kyap who set themselves on fire and died last week in the name of Tibetan freedom.
Discovered two days after their self-immolation, their recording is now being shared among Tibetans.
This is the latest example of Tibetans passing on information about protests in spite of China’s attempts to control communications across the country.
They said they were self-immolating “against the Chinese government and for the protection of the Buddha Dharma”.
Their call has inspired Tibetans in Barma township, where they self-immolated, to gather at the local monastery to pledge solidarity.
Sonam and Choephak Kyap were not interested in personal glory but in “Tibetan people’s rights”.
Those rights, including the right to share calls for freedom, are now being asserted by those who hear the message.
They do so at great risk to themselves. The least we can do is share it too.
