[rohrpost] FW: Tibet Action Alert April 11

[Annett Zinsmeister]

Dear Friends;


04/04/08
 The situation remains dire in Tibet and needs our attention: More
demonstrations in Tibet, more killings through police shootings, more
arrests. For example, 3.4.08 8 Tibetans were shot dead when several hundred
Tibetans demanded the release of two monks who were arrested when security
officials raided their monastery, confiscated and tore up pictures of the
Dalai Lama and demanded that every monk denounce the Dalai Lama. One
monastery was invaded by 3000 security forces. Two monks in another
monastery just committed suicide, one leaving a note saying he could no
longer bear to live under Chinese rule and taking full responsibility for
organizing a protest, thus trying to shift the blame from other monks to
himself. 
Some governments are now talking about not sending their political
representatives to the Olympic events unless China reverses course in Tibet.
San Francisco's local government will receive the Torch on Wed. "with alarm
and protest". Avazz delivered 1.5 million protest signatures to Chinese
embassies in dozens of boxes. In other words momentum is staying alive, thus
please continue to help us to support Tibetan in Tibet.

Here is what you can do:

1. Sign the NEW Avaaz petition which is an online tool which allows people
to send a message to Heads of State. See
http://www.avaaz.org/en/tibet_report_back/4.php/?cl=69898799
2. Send a message to the Olympic organizing Committee due to meet April 8:
http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/torch_out_of_tibet
3. Wear a black ribbon for Tibet. See attachment:
  blackribboncampaign-11.pdf

11/04/08
The Tibetan uprising continues.  Monks continue to demand freedom. China's
guided media tours are backfiring as the very monks that China tries to
showcase unfurl banners saying that they are not free. These monks are
incredibly brave. They face long years of imprisonment and torture and
possibly death. At the same time, desperate reports are emerging from
isolated emails and cell phone calls of Tibetans reporting that family
members and neighbors are rounded up and disappearing. The full extent of
the tragedy unfolding in Tibet at the moment is hard to assess as the
country is under de facto marshal law with no free press access.
The Olympic Committee has apparently just decided to allow the torch to be
run through Lhasa, after reassurances from China that effective rules will
be in place!  As Nanci Pelosi said "That's the biggest insult, I think, of
all. The world should not allow that to happen" .
China's strategy seems to be to provoke Tibetans to the point of violent
outbursts which it then uses to justifies their repression. China has
refused  the UN Human Rights Commissioner's request to visit Tibet. We need
to keep up the international pressure on China and the IOC.


WHAT YOU CAN DO TODAY: 11th of april

1. Click here <http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/ioc_executive>  now to send
an email to IOC Executive Members.

2.  Tell President Bush to condition attendance at the Olympics on justice
for Tibet Take Action!

 <http://support.savetibet.org/site/R?i=vAFYr9mXwiYT4mGjP4fDwA..> 3.  Call
you nearest Chinese Embassy or Consulate and ask that
i. imprisoned demonstrators be released;
ii. that China start substantive dialogue for a resolution of Tibet's
political status with the Dalai Lama and his representatives and
iii. that Tibet be opened to the free press and UN inquiry. In San Francisco
the number is 415-674-2968

4. Call House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and thank her for her exemplary support
for Tibet 202-226-7616.
The bill she introduced passed in both houses of Congress, calling on China
to end its crackdown in Tibet and for the Beijing government to enter into a
results-based dialogue with His Holiness the Dalai Lama.


FOR MORE INFO:

Please have a look at this incredible undercover video and send it to your
friends. It gives you a very good sense of why Tibetan are so brave as to
risk everything for change. It 48 minutes long.
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/dispatches-undercover-in-tibet/690134842?i
cid=acvsv2 
 
Below, an example of the bits of information we are receiving during this
lock down in Tibet:
"I just spoke with a relative who received a call from family in Lhasa few
days ago.  First and
foremost, they did not want us to call them on their home phone or cell
phone. They have simply
disconnnected the phones. They expressed extreme concerns about many
neighbours and other Tibetans
who are being rounded up with no explanation.  "If I was to die because I
spoke up for Tibet, I
would have no regret but to be captured for no reason is pitiful" is what
the caller said. There are
constant raids and people disappearing every day for no apparent reasons.
Some have used the term
"second cultural revolution" to describe what is to come in Tibet, that is
certainly the fear of the
Tibetans in Tibet.  People are apparently cleaning their houses to rid of or
hide any pictures of
His Holiness.  People in Lhasa are fearing the worst possible consequences
but their hopes are not
diminished.
Movement within Lhasa is extremely restricted.  Tibetans without Lhasa
resident permits are not
leaving their homes.  Most Khampas are simply just hiding in their houses.
Friends and neighbours
are carrying food and supplies for them.  There is severe shortage of food
in Lhasa.  Tibetans are
mostly surviving on Tsampa and tea.  Price of Yak meat has jumped from Y15
per half kilo to over
Y25; Butter has doubled and so has many staple food.  Vegetables are not
available".

SUMMARY OF UPRISINGS IN LAST SEVERAL DAYS

9 April 2008 

Ramoche monastery (Lhasa) -Most monks from Ramoche monastery arrested.

All of the monks at Ramoche monastery (except around 30 of them) were
arrested today on 7 April. Ramoche monastery usually houses over a 100
monks. 

Since the massive protest by the monks of Ramoche monastery on 14 March, one
or two of the monks were arrested on 15 March. The other monks were put
under tight restrictions in a house arrest like situation.

Based on the arrests made at Ramoche monastery, it is very likely that
similar arrests may also be made at Sera, Drepung and Gaden (the three major
monastic universities of Tibet) and arrests are also likely at other
monasteries that remain under tight restrictions.

Machu (Ch: Maqu) County, Kanlho "Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture," Gansu
province- Many arrested

On the evening of 7 April, thirty monks from Ngul-ra monastery were
arrested. An additional ten people from Thumey-runak monastery, Ngul-ra
Township, were also arrested.

In Ngul-ra village alone, over 110 monks and lay people have been arrested
so far. 

5 April 2008 

Tawu (Ch: Daofu) County, Karze "Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture," Sichuan
Province- Tibetans express frustrations

The Chinese flag was brought down at a school nearby Rabgang monastery in
Mi-nyak Nagtren village, Garthar, Tawu County.

In Ge-kay thang street in Mi-nyak Nagtren village, various slogans such as
"Free-Tibet" were written on stone tablets and advertisement boards using
red paint. 

Local police and concerned officials arrived on 6 April to get rid of the
graffiti which resulted in a minor clash with some Tibetans.

Moreover, local authorities arrived in Mi-nyak Nagtren village to give
"patriotic re-education" classes. However, this has been met with resentment
from the Tibetans. 

Ngaba (Ch: Aba) County, Ngaba "Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture" - Two monks
arrested at Tsok-tsang monastery

A huge number of Armed Police arrived at Sok-tsang monastery and conducted a
thorough search of the monk-quarters. Two monks were arrested. They are: 1)
Tsultrim Gyatso (from Chukra village)
2) Lobsang Thupten (from Dopel village)

2 April 2008 

Machu (Ch: Maqu) County, Kanlho "Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture," Gansu
province- Over 30 monks from Sargoen Tashi Choepel Ling monastery arrested

Over 30 monks from Sargoen Tashi Choepel Ling monastery, Well-bhen Town,
Machu County, were arrested between the dates 31 March-2 April. Twelve of
monks were released after a fine of 1500 Yuan was imposed on them.

20 monks from Thupten Yongdueling monastery, Well-bhen Town, Machu County,
were also arrested.

Eva Herzer
Mediator & Attorney
901 Peralta Ave.
Albany, CA 94706
510-526-5146 

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