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Tibets selvstændighed er essentiel for klimakrisen

Den eskalerende klimakatastrofe på Verdens Tag vil berøre vandforsyningen for hundredvis af millioner asiater. Samtidig opdæmmer og afleder Kina de floder, der udspringer i Tibet og tvinger den oprindelige nomadebefolkning til at opgive sin bæredygtige livsform

Af: Charlotte Mathiassen

INFORMATION 17. december 2009  

Når en næsten samlet dansk regering anerkender Kinas ‘ét Kina-politik’ og tilmed præciserer, at den »modsætter sig tibetansk uafhængighed«, er dette på en gang udtryk for en uværdig studehandel med en diktaturstat og et angreb på det tibetanske folks ret til selvbestemmelse.

Meldingen fra det officielle Danmark ramte lige midt i hjertet på den kampagne under klimatopmødet i København, som Foreningen Frit Tibet i tæt samarbejde med tibetanere i eksil og Tibet-støtteorganisationer fra hele verden har iværksat under navnet ‘Tibet Third Pole’ for at skabe opmærksomhed om klimaforandringerne i Tibet og den tætte sammenhæng mellem tibetanernes selvbestemmelsesret og en bæredygtig forvaltning af Tibets naturressourcer.

Videnskabsfolk kalder Tibet og Himalaya for ‘den tredje pol’, fordi området med sin store ismasse og permafrost, der nu trues af smeltning og overgennemsnitligt store temperaturstigninger, har afgørende betydning for klimaet og ikke mindst for Asiens vandressourcer. Mange af Asiens største floder har deres udspring i Tibet. Hvis gletsjerne smelter og floderne tørrer ud, får det enorme konsekvenser ikke kun for tibetanerne men for de befolkninger, der lever ved Mekong og Brahmaputra, ved Indus og Yangtze og ved mange af de andre floder, som danner levegrundlag for hundredvis af millioner af mennesker.

‘ Miljøfanger’

I stedet for at tage denne trussel alvorligt opdæmmer og omdirigerer Kina i stor stil Tibets floder for at forsyne Kina med energi og vand. Beijing har samtidig iværksat en proces, hvis formål er at flytte størstedelen af Tibets nomader bort fra græslandet og bosætte dem i triste bosættelser uden adgang til deres traditionelle livsformer - eller alternative beskæftigelsesmuligheder. Nomaderne kan ikke modsætte sig flytningen eller vælge at leve, som de altid har gjort. De har ingen mulighed for at deltage i beslutninger, der har afgørende betydning for dem selv og for den tibetanske kultur, Tibets og Asiens fremtid. De få, der har prøvet, er blevet i dømt strenge straffe.

Blandt tibetanerne tales der om ‘miljøfanger’, som de forventer, at der vil blive mange flere af fremover. Kina nægter at erkende, at nomaderne som de traditionelle forvaltere af Tibets græsland, er en forudsætning for at tilpasse sig konsekvenserne af klimaforandringerne med den viden, de har opbygget i århundreder. Græslandets tilstand er ikke kun vigtig for nomaderne og deres flokke af yakokser og får, men har betydning for hele økosystemet.

Den danske regering vælger helt bevidst at se bort fra Kinas overgreb på det tibetanske folk og bøje sig for kinesiske krav, ene og alene fordi Kina er en stormagt og vigtig handelspartner. Det er ellers ikke småting, Kina gør sig skyldig i. For bare at nævne nogle få krænker Kina med tvangsflytningen af nomaderne og udplyndringen af Tibets naturressourcer tibetanernes ret til deres eget land, naturressourcer, kultur og traditionelle livsformer; opdæmningen af floderne krænker retten til vand for millioner af mennesker uden for Kinas grænser og den brutale undertrykkelse af den tibetanske befolknings ret til i en demokratisk proces selv at vælge den måde, de vil leve på, krænker dens ret til informations- og ytringsfrihed samt deltagelse i beslutningsprocesser, der berører Tibets fremtid.

Derfor opfordrer ‘Tibet Third Pole Kina’ til at sætte en stopper for flytningen af Tibets nomader, til at stoppe udplyndringen og den ikke-bæredygtige udnyttelse af Tibets naturressourcer og tillade en uvildig undersøgelse af det tibetanske økosystems tilstand. Vi opfordrer til at udvikle strategier for en grænseoverskridende tilgang, der kan muliggør tilpasning til og afdæmpning af effekterne af klimaforandringer og til at give tibetanerne ret til fuld deltagelse i genopretningen, forvaltningen og bevarelsen af Tibets miljø.

Der er mange muligheder for at forvalte Tibets ressourcer bæredygtigt. For eksempel er der et stort potentiale for vand- og vindkraft som alternativ til opdæmning af floderne. De tibetanske nomader må igen inddrages som de bedste forvaltere af Tibets sårbare natur - også i forbindelse med naturbeskyttelsesområder. Det er for længst erkendt rundt om i verden, at udelukkelse af de traditionelle forvaltere af et naturområde ikke kun er en krænkelse af deres rettigheder, men ej heller giver den bedste løsning for naturen.

Tibetanerne ved bedst

Lige nu er hundreder af græsrødder og ngo’er fra alverdens lande i København for at lægge pres på forhandlerne for at indgå en klimaaftale, der lytter til ‘folkenes stemmer’. For første gang ved en klimakonference deltager en tibetansk delegation fra det tibetanske eksilsamfund. Tibetanerne fra Tibet er ikke til stede. De har ingen mulighed for at tilslutte sig de mange, der bruger klimatopmødet til at fortælle os, at klimaforandringer og menneskerettigheder er uadskillelige, og at der ikke kan være en retfærdig aftale uden klimaretfærdighed, som er blevet et kernekrav blandt græsrødderne.

Så sent som den 25. juni udtalte udviklingsministeren i forbindelse med offentliggørelsen af ‘Strategien for Demokrati og Menneskerettigheder i Udviklingssamarbejdet’, at: »Fremme af demokrati og menneskerettigheder … står som en central målsætning i regeringens udenrigspolitik…« Måske skulle hun give udenrigsministeren et kopi af strategien og minde ham om, at menneskerettighederne er udelelige og også omfatter retten til selvbestemmelse. Vi betragter det som Danmarks ansvar at støtte det tibetanske folk i at dæmme op for den potentielle katastrofe i Tibet og store dele af Asien, når bjergene smelter og vil også efter COP15 arbejde for at skabe den nødvendige viden og opmærksom herom. Måske er det, som står på spil her, ikke så meget Tibets uafhængighed i sig selv, som det er spørgsmålet om, hvorvidt tibetanernes selvbestemmelse ikke er den eneste udvej for at undgå den eskalerende klima- og miljøkatastrofe.

25. juni
Den tibetanske miljøaktivist Karma Samdrup er blevet i dømt 15 års fængsel tilsyneladende helt uden fornuftig begrundelse

se kort film med Karma på
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8e80dyGbYkE&feature=related

International Campaign for Tibet har udsendt følgende baggrundsrapport.

Fears for three environmentalist brothers as 'gaunt' Karma Samdrup on trial
after torture

ICT report, June 24, 2010

There are fears for the safety of a leading Tibetan environmentalist and
philanthropist, Karma Samdrup, his two brothers, two cousins, other
relatives and supporters in a major case in which prominent Tibetans have
been targeted and imprisoned despite no evidence of political activities.
The three brothers, who are now all in custody and facing charges, had been
regarded as model citizens and previously acclaimed in the Chinese state-run
media for their environmental and cultural work.

Karma Samdrup, a 42-year old businessman, well-known collector of Tibetan
art and founder of the award-winning Three Rivers Environmental Protection
Group, appeared in court yesterday in Xinjiang. He was detained following
unsuccessful efforts to secure the release of his two brothers, Chime
Namgyal and Rinchen Samdrup, who were imprisoned on August 7 2009 after
their efforts to conserve wildlife in their home area of Chamdo (Chinese:
Changdu) Prefecture in the Tibet Autonomous Region clashed with the local
authorities, according to reports from Tibetans.

Karma Samdrup's wife and lawyer told the Associated Press (AP, June 22,
2010), that he had appeared in court in Yanqi County, Xinjiang, looking
"gaunt and shrunken" during Tuesday's opening session. They also said that
he told the court that during months of interrogation, officers beat him,
deprived him of sleep for days on end, and drugged him with a substance that
made his eyes and ears bleed.

In a remarkable blog written after her attendance at the trial and posted
online today, Karma Samdrup's wife Dolkar Tso [Chinese transliteration:
Zhengga Cuo] wrote: "[When speaking in court he] paused for a while, 'Today
my friends and relatives are here, and there is probably a lot I shouldn't
say.' The account we heard afterwards exceeded our worst imaginations, we
heard about hundreds of different cruel torture methods, maltreatment around
the clock, hitherto unheard of torture instruments and drugs, hard and soft
tactics, and even of fellow prisoners being grouped together to extract a
confession. If he did not reveal certain details he would be mentally
tormented. If he wanted to eat or go to the toilet he had to write an 'IOU',
an 'IOU' which has already amounted to 660,000 RMB ($ 96,864). The
'purchased' food would first be crushed by people using their feet, there
would be beatings for no reason, this was common and occurred too many times
to count. He said in a sad voice that he had already prepared for death and
he had written a letter to tell his relatives what to do. Two elderly
interpreters had red eyes and started crying bitterly." The blogpost,
entitled "Praying" is translated from the Chinese by the website High Peaks
Pure Earth, http://www.highpeakspureearth.com. Karma Samdrup's mother
'beaten unconscious' during detention of brothers
 
As concerns about the three brothers' situation increased in the context of
an intense security crackdown in Tibet, new information has reached ICT
about other Tibetans linked to the case. Their cousin, Sonam Choephel, has
been sentenced to one and a half years of re-education through labor (RTL)
for petitioning in December last year in Beijing against the detention of
Rinchen and Chime. Twenty villagers from Gonjo (Chinese: Gongjue) in Chamdo,
the brothers' home area, were detained in Chamdo, interrogated and tortured
for 40 days after they went to Beijing to petition against the brothers'
detention.

The whereabouts of another cousin, a monk called Rinchen Dorje, following
his detention by police in March, is unclear. Rinchen Dorje, a Tibetan
Buddhist monk who speaks Chinese, had acted as Karma Samdrup's interpreter
in 1998 when he was purchasing antiques in Xinjiang. He is believed to have
been detained in March this year and taken to Xinjiang initially. He was
then taken by the authorities to the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) after an
alleged escape attempt, according to Tibetan sources in contact with people
in the area. When his relatives tried to find him in the TAR, they were
unable to locate him within the prison or the justice system there.

Karma Samdrup's mother, who is in her seventies, was beaten unconscious by
police led by an Party official from Chamdo prefecture called Chen Yue
during the raid in which Rinchen Samdrup and Chime Namgyal were being taken
into custody from the family home in August, 2009.
 
Rinchen Samdrup's trial 'postponed'

Rinchen Samdrup, 44, Karma Samdrup's older brother, was originally due to go
on trial on Thursday in Chamdo on a "state security" offence but the trial
was abruptly cancelled, according to Chinese lawyer Pu Zhiqiang, who is
representing Karma Samdrup.

Rinchen Samdrup was detained from his home with his younger brother Chime
Namgyal, after they accused local officials in their home area of poaching
endangered species. There are fears that Rinchen Samdrup will receive a long
sentence. Since his detention in August, 2009, he has been detained in the
Chamdo Detention Center. According to Tibetan and Chinese sources familiar
with the case, when his family enquired about his whereabouts last month,
the court responded that his case had been already submitted to the courts
in Lhasa. When his Beijing-based lawyer, Xia Jun, then traveled to Lhasa
from Beijing to ask about the case, he was told by the Lhasa courts that
they had not received any details.

Two articles in People's Daily and Beijing Youth News profile Rinchen
Samdrup for winning awards for his environmental conservation work from the
Ford Motor Company Conservation and Environment Protection Grants
(China).(http://www.chinatibetnews.com/huanbao/2010-01/12/content_384895.htm
). Both of these articles were published even while Rinchen Samdrup was in
detention. An acclaimed book by the leading environmental journalist Liu
Jianqing profiled the work and life of both Karma Samdrup and Rinchen, the
most recent being Tianzhu, "Heavenly Beads", published by the TAR
government's own printing house in Lhasa last year. Karma and Rinchen's
environmental organization also won a million yuan (around $130,000) grant
as a "Model Project" from the One Foundation, a charity created by the
Chinese martial art movie star Jet Li.

There are also concerns for the welfare of Chime Namgyal, who has been
tortured while serving a 21-month re-education through labor sentence for
"harming national security" according to Tibetan sources in the area. Just
over a week ago, Chime Namgyal's health deteriorated dramatically and he was
sent to hospital. According to the same sources, he cannot walk or eat on
his own, and detention center staff feared he would die in custody.

The re-education through labor management committee from Chamdo Prefecture
alleged that Chime Namgyal had set up an "illegal" environmental
organization that "illegally collected three digital disks of information
and video footage about the environment, the natural resources and the
religion of Changdu prefecture Š provided pictures and material for the
illegal publication 'Forbidden Mountain, Prohibited Hunting', illegally
possessed reactionary propaganda materials from the Dalai clique abroad and
organized the local residents into irregular petitioning of the authoritiesŠ
therefore severely interfering with state power organizations at the local
level and effectively harming social stability." (ICT translation from the
Chinese RTL document).

Karma Samdrup, who appeared in court yesterday in Xinjiang, is being held on
what are regarded as trumped-up charges for excavating and robbing ancient
tombs - a charge initially brought and allowed to drop in 1998. The
environmentalist and philanthropist, also known as the "King of Heavenly
Beads" for his important collection of Tibetan cultural artifacts, was
arrested in Chengdu, the provincial capital of Sichuan, in early January. He
was taken to Xinjiang because this is where the charges originated.

The lawyer, Pu Zhiqiang, has told foreign reporters based in Beijing that he
did not know why the charges had resurfaced after so long, saying: "He
wasn't really expecting it. This case was many years ago and at that time
the Xinjiang police had already made a decision recognizing Karma Samdrup
was not guilty and the grave robbers (who were)Šhave already been punished."
(Reuters, June 1). Although the trial is being held in Xinjiang, some
informed observers believe that it is the Tibet Autonomous Region
authorities driving the proceedings, due to local officials' interests being
challenged by the brothers' environmental work.

Pu Zhiqiang has also expressed serious concern about obstacles presented by
the authorities in Karma Samdrup's case, which Human Rights Watch has
categorized as repeated violations of China's own criminal procedure law. He
was denied the right to meet anyone, including his wife and his lawyers, for
more than six months after his arrest, and the court refused to allow Karma
Samdrup's lawyers to photocopy the 70-page prosecution file to prepare his
defense, insisting that they only copy excerpts (Human Rights Watch report,
June 10,
http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/06/10/china-drop-charges-against-tibetan-env
ironmental-philanthropist).

In a letter to the court, lawyer Pu Zhiqiang wrote: "It should be said that
even though we overcame many hardships and have striven to 'complement' the
work of the court, ultimately because the case is complex, and because it is
from long ago and because the case file is confused, we encountered
bottlenecks in the practice of our profession and face extremely serious
difficulties." (Translation from the Chinese by ICT, reproduced in a
blogpost of June 3 at
http://woeser.middle-way.net/2010/06/blog-post_411.html).

In her blogpost today about the court proceedings, Karma Samdrup's wife
writes: "The lawyer also almost started crying. During the afternoon trial,
the submission of evidence and translations was an endless process, endless
but extraordinary. All of the evidence that was 'temporarily put aside', to
my understanding, contained many loopholes and contradictions. Even the
lawyers seemed to think that much was illegal in the procedures and they
raised their doubts. It was just a pity that the panel discarded them as
'unrelated to the respective issue' or said that 'this has already been
clarified'."
(http://www.highpeakspureearth.com/2010/06/praying-blogpost-by-dolkar-tso-wi
fe-of.html).

The cases are in the context of a deepening crackdown in Tibet in which
almost many expressions of Tibetan identity or support for Tibetan culture
can be accused of being 'reactionary' or 'splittist'. For the first time
since the Cultural Revolution intellectuals and prominent figures in the
community are being targeted more systematically for their work or views.
The cases of the three brothers are different to previous Tibetan political
cases, which have involved some form of protest or dissent - there is no
evidence of any political activities or even of opposition to mines or
corporations by Karma Samdrup, Rinchen Samdrup or Chime Namgyal. (Also see
ICT report
http://www.savetibet.org/media-center/ict-news-reports/raging-storm-crackdow
n-tibetan-writers-and-artists-after-tibets-spring-2008-protests).

Kendt tibetansk forfatter Woeser fortæller om sit møde med Karma Samdrup
Remembering the First Time I met Karma Samdrup - By Woeser


A number of days ago, Human Rights Watch submitted a report to the Chinese government requesting to rescind the accusations against the philanthropist and environmentalist of the Tibetan people, Karma Samdrup and his brothers. It states: ?these people embody the characteristics the government says it wants in modern Tibetans ? economically successful, lending support to only approved cultural and environmental pursuits, and apolitical ? yet they, too, are being treated as criminals.? This made me remember when I first met Karma Samdrup. It was one day in May 1998; I had travelled from Lhasa to Chengdu for business and at the entrance of the Chenghua District Government, to my surprise, I saw a group of Tibetans quietly sitting on newspapers, bamboo or plastic mats, they looked exhausted and their clothes were tatty but one glance was sufficient to see their anger and grievance. I went over to speak to them; I wanted to know why they were there. Right at this moment, Karma appeared carrying two large boxes of bottled mineral water.

Originally, those Tibetans were trading with Chinese caterpillar fungus, most of them were Khampas from eastern Tibet but some also came from the Ngaba grasslands of Amdo. After the caterpillar fungus season the year before, they had brought more than 5000 kilos of caterpillar fungus to sell, which had been collected by over 7000 families to Chengdu. All of their merchandise was collected by some Pharmaceutical Company belonging to the Chenghua District Government. It had been agreed that payment would be made on a certain day. But when it came to that day, the boss of the Pharmaceutical Company had vanished into thin air and the 5000 kilos of caterpillar fungus had also disappeared without a trace. When the traders saw the altogether almost 40 million RMB coming to naught, they were burning with impatience because they had taken the fungus from the local villagers merely on the basis of goodwill and promise, as it is traditionally done. So the hard working villagers looked forward to promptly receiving the money to take back home. Some of them had to settle many urgent payments. For those traders who don?t do big business, their entire belongings are at stake. In addition, 15 million RMB was loaned from the bank and another 5 million RMB was taken from the poverty alleviation funds. Thus, they had no alternative but to stay in Tibetan places around the Chengdu Office, demanding payment every day. But after countless months had passed without any results, they could do nothing but carry out a quiet sit-down protest. It was said that the number of traders participating in the sit-down protest reached 60. Yet, can a sit-down protest solve the problem? Who can make up for a loss of 40 million RMB? I heard that a trader named Dorgey from Ngaba was in such extreme despair that he committed suicide.

So, was Karma also one of the people who had been tricked? No, he wasn?t. At the time, he was a little over 30; he was trading in "dzi" (heavenly beads) and had also just arrived in Chengdu and randomly run into this group of Tibetans carrying out a sit-down protest. Without any hesitation he put aside his business and took the initiative to help them. He firstly brought them water, medicine and food and secondly, he used his network to find an important person to speak for them. For example, after much effort, Karma found Phuntsog Wangyal who was living in Beijing. Although Phuntsog Wangyal had retired from his position as the Deputy Director of the State Ethnic Affairs Commission many years ago, he was still influential. Moreover, he was the very first Tibetan revolutionary, an eminent patriot. Of course he would lend a helping hand when the lives of so many common Tibetans were affected. He explained this situation to the then Premier of the State Council, Zhu Rongji. Thereupon, as I came to know much later, after a period of three years, provincial departments on all levels in Tibet, Sichuan and Qinghai provinces, as well as Chengdu, renumerated those Tibetans who had been cheated.

At the time, the noble Karma and I had both been in a rush, I had not been able to help him. It wasn?t until summer 2002 at a banquet in Lhasa that I met Karma again. I was astonished by his brilliant words saying that when one carries out environmental protection work in Tibet one should also consider the benefits of local Tibetans, otherwise one might as well not do it. It is said that Karma established the very first environmental non-government organisation in Tibet ? ?Three Rivers Environmental Protection Group?, which he also sponsors himself. After interviewing him a few times I wrote an article titled ?Karma, ?King of Heavenly Beads??, which was published in 2006 in the ?Southern Weekend? newspaper. I remember how in the very beginning he said to me: ?I have never been to hell, I don?t know how terrifying hell really is but I have suffered a lot; I have never been to heaven, I don?t know how magnificent heaven really is but I often feel happy.? What really is a shame is that today, Karma is commonly portrayed these days in the light of the first half of this sentence, which really is very unjust.

Beijing, June 17, 2010


23. juni
Radio udsendelse om Tibet på P1
http://www.dr.dk/P1/Horisontpaap1/udsendelser/2010/2010/06/21125554.htm

Tibet - drømmen om et land

Horisont på P1 22. juni 2010 kl. 10:03 på P1

• Hør udsendelsen   (56:49)

Tibet - langt borte, højt oppe og med en ret lille befolkning. Alligevel udløser Tibet og tibetanernes forhold gang på gang strid og konflikt mellem Kina og Vesten. Tibet har i årtier været en del af Kina, men det tibetanske folk melder om undertrykkelse og taler om en kinesisk besættelse. De kinesiske myndigheder fokuserer derimod på, at de har medviret til en økonomisk og kulturel udvikling i det tibetanske højland. 

En befrielse?
Det officielle Kinas version er, at Kina har befriet tibetanerne. Men i følge Mette Holm, journalist og mangeårig kender af Kina og Tibet, er tibetanernes situation langt mere vanskelig end kineserne giver udtryk for.

Et eksempel er, ifølge Mette Holm, at mange soldater kontrollerer det tibetanske område.

"Hvis det var så godt, som magthaverne siger, var det jo ikke nødvendigt at have flere hundrede tusinde soldater i Tibet", mener Mette Holm.

Ønsket om et frit Tibet
Tibetanerne kæmper for at løsrive sig fra Kina. Også i Danmark kæmpes der fra flere sider om at gøre Tibet til et selvstændigt land. Tibetansk-fødte Penpa Andersen, der i dag bor i Danmark, og Charlotte Mathiassen, der er formand for foreningen Frit Tibet, er blandt dem, der drømmer om tibetansk selvstændighed.

Vært: Charlotte Harder

18. jun
Jordskælvsramte tibetanere protesterer mod myndigheder
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/land-06032010112635.html

Residents of a quake-stricken county are angrily rejecting plans to move them from their land.

Local resident

An undated photo submitted by a local resident shows buildings in Gyegu town, Yushu county undergoing demolition following the April 14 earthquake.

HONG KONG—Scores of Tibetan residents of an earthquake-damaged western Chinese county are protesting local government plans to take possession of choice properties to reconstruct ravaged homes, schools, offices, and other sites, Tibetan sources say.

Some properties claimed by the authorities suffered no damage in the April earthquake, which left nearly 3,000 people dead, according to Tibetans in Yushu county, Qinghai province, as well as Tibetans in exile who said they have been in touch with relatives there.

“The local government has forced local residents out of their houses—they said they had to clean the area to build office buildings, schools, and parks, and they are planning to take away the sites for our homes and our fields,” one Yushu resident said.

“This has upset the local Tibetans, and they have argued the land has belonged to them for generations. So they have been going to the local government office in their hundreds over the last few days,” he said.

“Every day there are about 100 Tibetans protesting and appealing for the right to return to their land and fields, but the local authorities didn’t listen.”

Another Tibetan from Yushu said that one of his friends had seen "several hundreds" of Tibetans at the protest.

He said he was unsure whether Tibetans or monks had been taken away by police, but suggested that "people don’t want to talk about it out of fear."

The man said many local Tibetan families are unwilling to accept the government's offer of 80 square meter (860 square foot) homes as compensation for handing over their land.

“We Tibetans always have big families with many family members living together. Therefore, an 80 square meter unit is too small for them,” the Yushu resident said.

Officials dispatched

A photo provided by a local resident shows a monastery damaged by the April 14 earthquake in Gyegu town, Yushu county. Credit: Local resident

A local police officer, contacted by telephone, confirmed that incidents were occurring but said, "I don’t have any clear information for you.”

But an official at the Yushu county government office said in a telephone interview that more than 1,000 Tibetan protesters had been stationed in front of the building for days, demanding a resolution to the land dispute issue.

The woman, who did not give her name, said officials had been dispatched to talk to the protesters.

“[The petitioners] wanted to speak with some officials and they were able to do so. But not [Chinese Vice President] Xi Jinping. The incident is still unresolved. They say their land has been taken away by the government and they want it back—want their homes back. They have petitioned here every day, though there are less people today,” she said.

No Tibetans had been arrested, the official said.

Police blocked Tibetan protesters from approaching Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping when he visited the area on Wednesday, another resident confirmed.

‘The best sites’

An undated photo sent by a local resident shows that most of the buildings in Gyegu town were reduced to rubble following the earthquake. Credit: Local resident

A Yushu native who now lives in the United States said his family who remain there have complained that the “local government selected the best sites for the construction of government offices, schools, and public parks.”

“The Tibetans who are government employees are following government instructions, but the others have appealed to revoke these decisions. They also protested … and argued with the officials that whether they have lived 10 or 20 years in the area, they will not move from these sites.”

“Even during the Cultural Revolution, many Tibetans lost their loved ones but they insisted on staying on the land of their ancestors.”

Another Tibetan who now lives in New York, and who still has family members living in Yushu, said that the Chinese government had begun to construct small apartment units for relocation far from Yushu, which he described as ill-suited to the local Tibetan lifestyle.

“Local Tibetans are trying to stop the government from building these small apartment units. They prefer assistance from international charity organizations or would rather slowly build their own houses than live in these government-provided small dwellings.”

Praise for monks

The Yushu native said Tibetans from the area are largely self-sufficient and praised Tibetan monks for their quick efforts in providing relief materials to victims of the April 14 earthquake.

“Some victims didn’t get anything from the government even three or four weeks after the earthquake because the relief materials had to go through many checks and verifications. Tibetan monks hand-delivered relief supplies to each victim without delay.”

Kunga Tashi, the Chinese liaison officer in the office of Tibet in New York City expressed regret that Tibetan monks had been forced by the government to leave the disaster area soon after the earthquake.

“The religious beliefs of Tibetan monks maintain that good deeds should be done for ordinary people. But to expel them from the disaster area for an unclear reason has injured their souls and may lead to some kind of instability in the long run,” Kunga Tashi said.

Soon after the quake, China's powerful propaganda department called for curbs on reporting of "negative news" about the earthquake that struck Yushu.

In its April 25 directive to news organizations, the central propaganda department warned state media not to focus too much on the relief work carried out by Tibetans themselves in the worst-hit regions of the remote province.

"Talk of the earthquake in 'scientific terms;' do not criticize the earthquake forecasting agency; do not focus too much on the efforts by Buddhist monks to help the victims; and give extensive coverage to the appeals for donations organized by state-owned CCTV," the directive said.

Tibetan residents of Yushu said state-run media coverage of the rescue and clean-up operation was already far from reflecting the situation on the ground.

China's official Xinhua news agency says about 2,700 people died in the quake, while Tibetan estimates are much higher.

Original reporting by Choegyi for RFA’s Tibetan service, Tang Qiwei for RFA's Mandarin service, and RFA's Cantonese service. Tibetan service director: Jigme Ngapo. Mandarin service director: Jennifer Chou. Cantonese service director: Shiny Li. Translated from the Tibetan by Karma Dorjee, and from the Chinese by Jiayuan and Shiny Li. Written and produced in English by Sarah Jackson-Han and Joshua Lipes.

Copyright © 1998-2010 Radio Free Asia. All rights reserved.

Støt tibetanske jordskælvsofre
Kære alle

Hvis I ønsker at støtte jordskælvsofrene i Tibet er det muligt gennem ADRA Danmark, en udviklings og nødhjælpsorganisationer, som jeg selv pt er ansat i.
Se nedenstående fra ADRA's hjemmeside med støttemuligheder
Mvh Charlotte Mathiassen, formand

Et jordskælv på 6,9 på Richterskalaen ramte i onsdags den afsides beliggende tibetanske Kyedudo (kinesisk: Yushu) region i Qinghai provinsen i det nordvestlige Kina. Ifølge de nyeste oplysninger er dødstallet indtil videre oppe på 2000, mens cirka 12.100 mennesker er sårede. 256 mennesker er meldt savnede og op imod 100.000 mennesker har mistet deres hjem. Langt de fleste af de berørte er tibetanere.

Der bor et sted mellem 60.000-70.000 indbyggere i området. ADRA Chinas personale vurderer, at cirka 85 % af husene er kollapset. Både huse, skoler og offentlige bygninger er styrtet sammen, og ifølge det kinesiske nyhedsbureau Xinhua, ligger mange mennesker stadig begravet i ruinerne fra sammenstyrtede bygninger i byen Jyekundu i nærheden af epicentret. De mange hjemløse ofre er uden tag over hovedet og temperaturen er på frysepunktet. I følge ADRA China er området ekstra udsat på grund af relativ stor befolkningstæthed.

ADRA China har indtil videre kørt to lastbiler ind i området med 1000 varme tæpper og 1000 madrasser, der er blevet uddelt til 500 hjemløse familier. Derudover er der blevet givet en generator, benzin, ilt og medicin til personalet. ADRA China planlægger at distribuere telte, mad, vintertøj og medicin til det jordskælvramte område.

”Der er hårdt brug for telte, tæpper, mad, redningsudstyr og varmt tøj i det jordskælvramte område…Der er brug for mange flere penge til at distribuere hjælpen ud til de mange ofre”, fortæller Sina, der arbejder for ADRA China.

ADRA China koordinerer sit arbejde i samarbejde med lokale offentlige institutioner og nødhjælpsorganisationer. ADRA arbejder bland andet sammen med en frivillig organisation fra Hunan provinsen om at uddele vand, mad og medicin. 

ADRA Danmark har foreløbig afsat 25.000 kr. til indsatsen.

Du kan hjælpe de mange ofre i Tibet!

Via SMS: støt med 100 kr. ved at sende en sms med teksten KINA 100 til 1231
 

Via din bank eller netbank: indsæt dit bidrag på konto 9570 0008688222 - mærk indbetalingen "KINA"

Mvh



14.april
JORDSKÆLV I AMDO REGIONEN I DET ØSTLIGE TIBET

Tibet earthquake kills more than 400 and leaves 10,000 injured

An earthquake of magnitude 7.1 hit north-eastern Tibet at 0749 local time today. Official Chinese news sources have reported that more than 400 people have been killed and more than 10,000 are injured. That figure is certain to rise.

The epicentre of the quake is about 50km west of Jiegu Township, according to the official Chinese news agency, Xinhua. Jiegu is the main town in the Tibetan-populated area  of Yushu in the eastern Tibetan area of Amdo (Chinese province: Qinghai). The Chinese government considers Yushu as a Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.

Free Tibet has attempted to contact sources in Yushu through its Tibetan contacts in exile who have contacts in the affected area, but so far has been unsuccessful.

The US Geological Survey reported that the initial quake was followed by a series of powerful aftershocks: ten minutes after the first quake a second quake of 5.3 magnitude struck. That quake was followed two minutes later by a quake of 5.2 magnitude. Another quake measuring 5.8 was recorded at 9.25am local time. Sky news has reported that 18 aftershocks in total followed the initial quake.

Free Tibet’s Director Stephanie Brigden, who worked in Yushu and knows the area well, said:

“ The buildings along the main road are concrete blocks which have probably toppled like dominos, in the surrounding back streets there are more traditional wooden Tibetan homes which we hope have been able to withstand the earthquake. We already know hundreds are dead, many more injured. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people affected by this earthquake and their families and friends living in exile who will be frantically waiting for news.  Military presence in Tibetan towns, even in remote areas like Yushu has been increasing since the Spring protests in 2008. Their presence has been intimidating and has allowed the state to respond quickly to quash protests. We are encouraged  that in response to the tragedy the military have been mobilised to assist in search and rescue.”

Xinhua has reported one local official in Jiegu as saying that more than 85% of the houses had collapsed following the series of quakes and that large cracks had appeared on the buildings that remained standing. A local government website reports that the county’s population was measured at 89,300 in 2005, mostly Tibetan herders and farmers. Yushu is close to the source of three rivers on the Tibetan Plateau.

The BBC has reported that many local people have fled in to the mountains amid concerns that a nearby dam at the headwaters of the three rivers could burst. The BBC cited official state media as reporting that local officials were attempting to drain a reservoir after a crack appeared in the dam wall. China is building a string of dams across the headwaters of major Asian rivers which have their sources on the Tibetan Plateau to address future water shortages. The presence of a growing number of dams in an area prone to earthquakes received significant media attention following a huge earthquake that struck Sichuan province in 2008.

The BBC also reported that soldiers had been sent to the area to help with the rescue effort in the first instance and that 5,000 specialist quake rescuers have been despatched to Yushu. There is a significant military presence in the area as China has sent thousands of additional troops into the area following Tibetan protests against Chinese rule in 2008 that have continued sporadically since.

Snow Peaks Black Tents

Journeys Among Nomads in the Himalaya and Tibetan Plateau. Se: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1197299?utm_source=TellAFriend&utm_medium=email&utm_content=1197299
By DANIEL MILLER

Dalai Lamas tale den 10. marts i anledning af årsdagen for den tibétanske opstand i Lhasa i 1959

Statement of His Holiness the Dalai Lama on
the 51st Anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising Day
http://www.tibet.net/

Today marks the 51st anniversary of the Tibetan people´s peaceful
uprising in 1959 against Communist China´s repression in Tibet, as well
as the second anniversary of the peaceful protests that erupted across
Tibet in March 2008. On this occasion, I pay homage to those heroic
Tibetan men and women, who sacrificed their lives for the cause of
Tibet, and pray for an early end to the sufferings of those still
oppressed in Tibet.

Despite the great hardships Tibetans have faced for many decades, they
have been able to keep up their courage and determination, preserve
their compassionate culture and maintain their unique identity. It is
inspiring that today a new generation of Tibetans continues to keep
Tibet´s just cause alive. I salute the courage of those Tibetans still
enduring fear and oppression.

Whatever circumstances we find ourselves in, it is the responsibility
of all Tibetans to maintain equality, harmony and unity among the
various nationalities, while continuing to protect our unique identity
and culture. Many Tibetans in Tibetan areas are working in various
responsible posts in the party, government and military, helping
Tibetans in whatever way they can. We recognise the positive
contribution that many of them have made up to now, and obviously when
Tibet achieves meaningful autonomy in the future, they will have to
continue to fulfil such responsibilities.

Let me reiterate that once the issue of Tibet is resolved, I will not
take any political position nor will members of the Tibetan
Administration in exile hold any positions in the government in Tibet.
I have repeatedly made this clear in the past. To understand the
situation of the Tibetans in exile and their aspirations, I invite
Tibetan officials serving in various Tibetan autonomous areas to visit
Tibetan communities living in the free world, either officially or in a
private capacity, to observe the situation for themselves.

Wherever Tibetans in exile have settled, we have been able to preserve
and promote our distinct cultural and spiritual traditions, while
generating awareness of the Tibetan cause. Unlike other refugees, we
have been relatively successful because we have also been able to give
our children a sound modern education, while bringing them up according
to our traditional values. And because the heads of all four major
schools of Tibetan Buddhism and the Bon religion are in exile we have
been able to re-establish various institutions for religious training
and practice. In these institutions over ten thousand monks and nuns
are free to pursue their vocations. We have been readily able to
provide educational opportunities for those monks, nuns and students
who continue to come from Tibet. At the same time the unprecedented
spread of Tibetan Buddhism in both East and West and the prospect of
continuing to flourish in the future gives us hope that it may yet
survive. This is some solace to us during this most critical period in
Tibet´s history.

Today, the Chinese authorities are conducting various political
campaigns, including a campaign of patriotic re-education, in many
monasteries in Tibet. They are putting the monks and nuns in
prison-like conditions, depriving them the opportunity to study and
practise in peace. These conditions make the monasteries function more
like museums and are intended to deliberately annihilate Buddhism.

Tibetan culture based on Buddhist values of compassion and non-violence
benefits not only Tibetans, but also people in the world at large,
including the Chinese. Therefore, we Tibetans should not place our
hopes in material progress alone, which is why it is essential that all
Tibetans, both inside and outside Tibet, should broaden their modern
education hand in hand with our traditional values. Above all, as many
young Tibetans as possible should strive to become experts and skilled
professionals.

It is important that Tibetans maintain friendly relations not only with
people of all nationalities, but also amongst themselves. Tibetans
should not engage in petty disputes with each other.  I earnestly
appeal to them instead to resolve any differences with patience and
understanding.

Whether the Chinese government acknowledges it or not, there is a
serious problem in Tibet. As the world knows, this is evidenced by the
fact that there is a huge military presence and restrictions on travel
in Tibet. It is good for neither party. We have to take every
opportunity to solve it. For more than 30 years, I have tried my best
to enter into talks with the People´s Republic of China to resolve the
issue of Tibet through the Middle-Way Approach that is of benefit to us
both. Although I have clearly articulated Tibetan aspirations, which
are in accordance with the constitution of the People´s Republic of
China and the law on national regional autonomy, we have not obtained
any concrete result. Judging by the attitude of the present Chinese
leadership, there is little hope that a result will be achieved soon.
Nevertheless, our stand to continue with the dialogue remains
unchanged.

It is a matter of pride and satisfaction that our mutually beneficial
Middle-Way Approach and the justice of the Tibetan struggle have gained
growing understanding and support year by year from many political and
spiritual leaders, including the President of the United States of
America, reputed non-governmental organisations, the international
community, and in particular from Chinese intellectuals. It is evident
that the Tibetan issue is not a dispute between the Chinese and Tibetan
peoples, but has come about because of the ultra-leftist policies of
the Chinese Communist authorities.

Since the demonstrations in Tibet in 2008, Chinese intellectuals inside
and outside China have written more than 800 unbiased articles on the
Tibetan issue. During my visits abroad, wherever I go, when I meet
Chinese in general, particularly the intellectuals and students, they
offer their genuine sympathy and support. Since the Sino-Tibetan
problem ultimately has to be resolved by the two peoples themselves, I
try to reach out to the Chinese people whenever I can to create a
mutual understanding between us. Therefore, it is important for
Tibetans everywhere to build closer relations with the Chinese people
and try to make them aware of the truth of the Tibetan cause and the
present situation in Tibet.

Let us also remember the people of East Turkestan who have experienced
great difficulties and increased oppression and the Chinese
intellectuals campaigning for greater freedom who have received severe
sentences. I would like to express my solidarity and stand firmly with
them.

It is also essential that the 1.3 billion Chinese people have free
access to information about their own country and elsewhere, as well as
freedom of expression and the rule of law. If there were greater
transparency inside China, there would be greater trust, which would be
the proper basis for promoting harmony, stability and progress. This is
why everyone concerned must exert their efforts in this direction.

As a free spokesperson of the Tibetan people I have repeatedly spelled
out their fundamental aspirations to the leaders of the People´s
Republic of China.  Their lack of a positive response is disappointing.
Although the present authorities may cling to their hard-line stand,
judging by the political changes taking place on the international
stage as well as changes in the perspective of the Chinese people,
there will be a time when truth will prevail. Therefore, it is
important that everyone be patient and not give up.

  We acknowledge the Central Government´s new decision taken at the
Fifth Tibet Work Forum to implement their policies uniformly in all
Tibetan areas to ensure future progress and development, which Premier
Wen Jiabao also reiterated at the recent annual session of the National
People´s Congress. This accords with our repeatedly expressed wish for
a single administration for all those Tibetan areas. Similarly, we
appreciate the development work that has taken place in Tibetan areas,
particularly in the nomadic and farming regions. However, we must be
vigilant that such progress does not damage our precious culture and
language and the natural environment of the Tibetan plateau, which is
linked to the well-being of the whole of Asia.

On this occasion, I wish to take the opportunity to offer my sincere
thanks to the leaders of various nations, their intellectuals, the
general public, Tibet Support Groups and others who cherish truth and
justice for continuing to support the Tibetan cause dStatement of His Holiness the Dalai Lama on
the 51st Anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising Day
http://www.tibet.net/

Today marks the 51st anniversary of the Tibetan people´s peaceful
uprising in 1959 against Communist China´s repression in Tibet, as well
as the second anniversary of the peaceful protests that erupted across
Tibet in March 2008. On this occasion, I pay homage to those heroic
Tibetan men and women, who sacrificed their lives for the cause of
Tibet, and pray for an early end to the sufferings of those still
oppressed in Tibet.

Despite the great hardships Tibetans have faced for many decades, they
have been able to keep up their courage and determination, preserve
their compassionate culture and maintain their unique identity. It is
inspiring that today a new generation of Tibetans continues to keep
Tibet´s just cause alive. I salute the courage of those Tibetans still
enduring fear and oppression.

Whatever circumstances we find ourselves in, it is the responsibility
of all Tibetans to maintain equality, harmony and unity among the
various nationalities, while continuing to protect our unique identity
and culture. Many Tibetans in Tibetan areas are working in various
responsible posts in the party, government and military, helping
Tibetans in whatever way they can. We recognise the positive
contribution that many of them have made up to now, and obviously when
Tibet achieves meaningful autonomy in the future, they will have to
continue to fulfil such responsibilities.

Let me reiterate that once the issue of Tibet is resolved, I will not
take any political position nor will members of the Tibetan
Administration in exile hold any positions in the government in Tibet.
I have repeatedly made this clear in the past. To understand the
situation of the Tibetans in exile and their aspirations, I invite
Tibetan officials serving in various Tibetan autonomous areas to visit
Tibetan communities living in the free world, either officially or in a
private capacity, to observe the situation for themselves.

Wherever Tibetans in exile have settled, we have been able to preserve
and promote our distinct cultural and spiritual traditions, while
generating awareness of the Tibetan cause. Unlike other refugees, we
have been relatively successful because we have also been able to give
our children a sound modern education, while bringing them up according
to our traditional values. And because the heads of all four major
schools of Tibetan Buddhism and the Bon religion are in exile we have
been able to re-establish various institutions for religious training
and practice. In these institutions over ten thousand monks and nuns
are free to pursue their vocations. We have been readily able to
provide educational opportunities for those monks, nuns and students
who continue to come from Tibet. At the same time the unprecedented
spread of Tibetan Buddhism in both East and West and the prospect of
continuing to flourish in the future gives us hope that it may yet
survive. This is some solace to us during this most critical period in
Tibet´s history.

Today, the Chinese authorities are conducting various political
campaigns, including a campaign of patriotic re-education, in many
monasteries in Tibet. They are putting the monks and nuns in
prison-like conditions, depriving them the opportunity to study and
practise in peace. These conditions make the monasteries function more
like museums and are intended to deliberately annihilate Buddhism.

Tibetan culture based on Buddhist values of compassion and non-violence
benefits not only Tibetans, but also people in the world at large,
including the Chinese. Therefore, we Tibetans should not place our
hopes in material progress alone, which is why it is essential that all
Tibetans, both inside and outside Tibet, should broaden their modern
education hand in hand with our traditional values. Above all, as many
young Tibetans as possible should strive to become experts and skilled
professionals.

It is important that Tibetans maintain friendly relations not only with
people of all nationalities, but also amongst themselves. Tibetans
should not engage in petty disputes with each other.  I earnestly
appeal to them instead to resolve any differences with patience and
understanding.

Whether the Chinese government acknowledges it or not, there is a
serious problem in Tibet. As the world knows, this is evidenced by the
fact that there is a huge military presence and restrictions on travel
in Tibet. It is good for neither party. We have to take every
opportunity to solve it. For more than 30 years, I have tried my best
to enter into talks with the People´s Republic of China to resolve the
issue of Tibet through the Middle-Way Approach that is of benefit to us
both. Although I have clearly articulated Tibetan aspirations, which
are in accordance with the constitution of the People´s Republic of
China and the law on national regional autonomy, we have not obtained
any concrete result. Judging by the attitude of the present Chinese
leadership, there is little hope that a result will be achieved soon.
Nevertheless, our stand to continue with the dialogue remains
unchanged.

It is a matter of pride and satisfaction that our mutually beneficial
Middle-Way Approach and the justice of the Tibetan struggle have gained
growing understanding and support year by year from many political and
spiritual leaders, including the President of the United States of
America, reputed non-governmental organisations, the international
community, and in particular from Chinese intellectuals. It is evident
that the Tibetan issue is not a dispute between the Chinese and Tibetan
peoples, but has come about because of the ultra-leftist policies of
the Chinese Communist authorities.

Since the demonstrations in Tibet in 2008, Chinese intellectuals inside
and outside China have written more than 800 unbiased articles on the
Tibetan issue. During my visits abroad, wherever I go, when I meet
Chinese in general, particularly the intellectuals and students, they
offer their genuine sympathy and support. Since the Sino-Tibetan
problem ultimately has to be resolved by the two peoples themselves, I
try to reach out to the Chinese people whenever I can to create a
mutual understanding between us. Therefore, it is important for
Tibetans everywhere to build closer relations with the Chinese people
and try to make them aware of the truth of the Tibetan cause and the
present situation in Tibet.

Let us also remember the people of East Turkestan who have experienced
great difficulties and increased oppression and the Chinese
intellectuals campaigning for greater freedom who have received severe
sentences. I would like to express my solidarity and stand firmly with
them.

It is also essential that the 1.3 billion Chinese people have free
access to information about their own country and elsewhere, as well as
freedom of expression and the rule of law. If there were greater
transparency inside China, there would be greater trust, which would be
the proper basis for promoting harmony, stability and progress. This is
why everyone concerned must exert their efforts in this direction.

As a free spokesperson of the Tibetan people I have repeatedly spelled
out their fundamental aspirations to the leaders of the People´s
Republic of China.  Their lack of a positive response is disappointing.
Although the present authorities may cling to their hard-line stand,
judging by the political changes taking place on the international
stage as well as changes in the perspective of the Chinese people,
there will be a time when truth will prevail. Therefore, it is
important that everyone be patient and not give up.

  We acknowledge the Central Government´s new decision taken at the
Fifth Tibet Work Forum to implement their policies uniformly in all
Tibetan areas to ensure future progress and development, which Premier
Wen Jiabao also reiterated at the recent annual session of the National
People´s Congress. This accords with our repeatedly expressed wish for
a single administration for all those Tibetan areas. Similarly, we
appreciate the development work that has taken place in Tibetan areas,
particularly in the nomadic and farming regions. However, we must be
vigilant that such progress does not damage our precious culture and
language and the natural environment of the Tibetan plateau, which is
linked to the well-being of the whole of Asia.

On this occasion, I wish to take the opportunity to offer my sincere
thanks to the leaders of various nations, their intellectuals, the
general public, Tibet Support Groups and others who cherish truth and
justice for continuing to support the Tibetan cause despite the Chinese
government´s pressure and harassment. Above all I wish to pay my
heartfelt gratitude to the Government of India, the various State
Governments, and the people of India for their continued generous
support.

Finally, I offer prayers for the happiness and well-being of all
sentient beings.

The Dalai Lama

10 March  2010
espite the Chinese
government´s pressure and harassment. Above all I wish to pay my
heartfelt gratitude to the Government of India, the various State
Governments, and the people of India for their continued generous
support.

Finally, I offer prayers for the happiness and well-being of all
sentient beings.

The Dalai Lama

10 March  2010


2. marts Bønder straffet for at nægte at så afgrøder

ICT report, March 2, 2010

A Tibetan farmer in Kham, eastern Tibet, has been sentenced to death 
with two years suspension, and two other Tibetans to life and 16 years 
imprisonment, for setting fire to a government office as part of a 
protest in February 2009. The protest occurred almost a year after a 
wave of protests swept across the Tibetan plateau from Lhasa on March 
10, 2008.

  The detention of the three Tibetans - Pema Yeshi, Sonam Gonpo and 
Tsewang Gyatso - from Nyarong (Chinese: Xinlong) county in Sichuan 
province had been announced in the official Ganzi Daily newspaper on 
March 18, 2009, but details of the sentences have only just been 
confirmed by two exile sources in contact with Tibetans in the area.

  A Tibetan source in exile who had grown up with the three men in Tibet 
said: "The three of them are straightforward, good people - not highly 
educated but respectful. I think that the reason why they did what they 
did was because of general resentment of the Chinese government. They 
knew of what happened in Tibet in 2008, and it must have moved them to 
act."

  The presence of security personnel in Nyarong county has intensified 
since the 2008 demonstrations, according to the same Tibetan exile 
sources. Checkpoints along the roads have been set up, requiring anyone 
entering or leaving the county to show identification. Tibetans 
planning on visiting neighboring counties are required to register 
their journey with the local police station. Tibetans in Nyarong are 
deeply disturbed by the news of the recent sentences.

The Tibetan sources reported that on November 17, 2009, Pema Yeshi, a 
28-year old farmer from Thankyi (Chinese: Gongxiao) township in Nyarong 
county in Kardze (Chinese: Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture 
received a death sentence, suspended for two years. It is rare that 
people given suspended death sentences are actually executed unless 
they commit significant transgressions in prison. Sonam Gonpo, a 
24-year old elementary school cook, received life imprisonment; and 
Tsewang Gyatso, 32 and also an elementary school cook, received 16 
years imprisonment. The families of the three men were notified by 
government officials of the sentencing only after it had taken place.

  The Ganzi Daily reported that the three men were detained at dawn on 
March 11, 2009, after a ´criminal investigation´ following the protest 
incidents on February 28, 2009. In a report published on March 18 (and 
enclosed below in English translation), the newspaper stated that on 
February 28, 2009, "criminal elements wrote on buildings along the 
street where the Tongxiao township government is located and scattered 
handbills with slogans inciting splitting the nation, and then set fire 
to the township government office building... seriously threaten[ing] 
state security and public safety." The newspaper reported damages 
related to the office fire totaling over 200,000 yuan [US $29,300]. 
(http://epaper.gzznews.com/gzrb/20090318/index.htm.)

  The Tibetan exile who knew all three in Tibet said: "I heard that the 
building was set on fire sometime either early in the morning or late 
at night, because the intention was not to take the lives of people but 
to show resentment towards the government. People in the area admire 
these Tibetans for their bravery. In this area, people have heard of 
the terrible things happening elsewhere in Tibet. They are frightened 
and angry, but their desire to express their feelings is still strong."

  Pema Yeshi, Sonam Gonpo and Tsewang Gyatso were also involved in a 
peaceful ´farming boycott´ and ´No Losar´ protests, according to the 
same sources. The farming strike across some areas in eastern Tibet 
involved farmers refusing to carry out the spring planting. This form 
of protest originated in Kardze prefecture in Sichuan following the 
popular boycott of Tibetan New Year (Losar) ceremonies in 2009 to mark 
the deaths of those killed from March 2008 onwards. (ICT report: 
http://www.savetibet.org/media-center/ict-news-reports/tension-tibet-
tibetans-mark-new-year-prayers-dead.) Officials in Kardze and elsewhere 
sought to force farmers to resume normal farming activity and 
threatened them with confiscation of their land if they did not comply.

  According to the Dharamsala-based Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and 
Democracy, after the three Tibetans were taken into custody, their 
whereabouts remained unknown for around five months. The same Tibetan 
sources state that Pema Yeshi is being held in Dartsedo (Chinese: 
Kangding), and the other two prisoners in Deyang, north-east of 
Chengdu.

  Although full details of charges against the three are not known, it 
is likely that Pema Yeshi´s suspended death sentence was linked to 
Article 115 of the Criminal Law on endangering public security, which 
states: "Whoever commits arson, breaches a dike, causes explosion, 
spreads poison or inflicts serious injury or death on people or causes 
heavy losses of public or private property by other dangerous means, 
shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than 10 
years, life imprisonment or death." Often death sentences are passed 
months or even weeks after a suspect has been detained on suspicion of 
committing a capital crime in the PRC.

  There is no evidence that Pema Yeshi, Sonam Gonpo and Tsewang Gyatso 
were granted a fair trial and proper legal access in accordance with 
China´s own laws. In particular since March, 2008, Tibetans have been 
denied the right to be represented by the lawyer of their choice due to 
the highly political nature of many cases, with several lawyers being 
threatened with disbarment if they attempted to represent detained 
Tibetans.

  Two Tibetans, Lobsang Gyaltsen and Loyak, were executed in Lhasa last 
October for their alleged roles in the protests and rioting in Lhasa on 
March 14, 2008 
(http://www.savetibet.org/media-center/ict-news-reports/official-
confirmation-execution-tibetans-lhasa). Lobsang Gyaltsen and Loyak were 
sentenced to death in April 2009 on charges relating to "starting fatal 
fires," according to a report in the Chinese state media. They were the 
first known executions of Tibetans in connection with the Lhasa riot on 
March 14, 2008 although others have died following torture in custody.

Tibetan farmer shot and wounded after farming protest

  In a separate incident involving a Tibetan from the same township, 
Thankyi, in Nyarong, a Tibetan man named Penbe was shot by police after 
helping to organize a ´farming boycott´ in the area. The incident 
happened on April 15, 2009, but due to rigorous efforts by the Chinese 
authorities in preventing information about the situation in Tibet 
reaching the outside world, has only just been reported.

  A Tibetan source said of the farming boycott that: "The farmers know 
that they will be the ones to suffer if they do this. But this is a way 
for them to show their unhappiness." (Times of London, April 11, 2009.)

  According to the same Tibetan exile sources with contacts in the area, 
during one incident in April, 2009, a Tibetan monk started to argue 
with government officials who came to Thankyi to tell Tibetans to stop 
the farming boycott. When police attempted to detain the monk, local 
Tibetans protested, and Penbe also tried to stop the police taking him 
away. As a result he was shot several times in the legs. Penbe was 
taken by police to hospital. He is believed to have survived, and is 
now being held in prison. The charges against him and his current 
health condition remain unknown.

  An English translation of the article about the three sentenced 
Tibetans in Nyarong follows below:

http://epaper.gzznews.com/gzrb/20090318/index.htm

Ganzi Daily, March 18, 2009, p. 1.

Sentences declared in case of incitement to split the nation and 
endangering public safety against Baima Yixi [Pema Yeshi], Chongweng 
Jiangcuo [Tsewang Gyatso], and Silong Gongbu [Sonam Gonpo] from 
Tongxiao [Tib: Thankyi] township in Xinlong [Tib: Nyarong] county

Ganzi Daily. At dawn on February 28, 2009 in Tongxiao township in 
Xinlong county, a criminal incident of incitement to split the nation 
and endangering public safety occurred, where criminal elements wrote 
on buildings along the street where Tongxiao township government is 
located and scattered handbills with slogans inciting splitting the 
nation, and then set fire to the township government office building. 
All fixtures and items within the office building were destroyed, 
causing economic losses totaling more than 200,000 yuan [US $29,300].

  Following the incident, public security organs immediately launched an 
investigation, and at dawn on March 11, 2009, detained the criminal 
suspects Baima Yixi (male, 28 years old, from Lieda village, Tongxiao 
township, Xinlong county), Chongweng Jiangcuo (male, 32, an elementary 
school cook from Tongxiao township, Xinlong county), and Silong Gongbu 
(male, 24, an elementary school cook from Tongxiao county, Xinlong 
county). The three criminal suspects confessed fully and without 
reservation to the facts of the crimes of writing slogans inciting 
splitting the nation, scattering handbills inciting splitting the 
nation, and setting fire to the township government office building. 
The criminal actions of the three criminal suspects seriously 
threatened state security and public safety and violated the "Criminal 
Law of the People´s Republic of China," and [the three criminal 
suspects] have been put in criminal detention by public security organs 
in accordance with the law.





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