China tightens security in Tibetan border regions

[Ray]

China tightens security in Tibetan border regions
Phayul[Wednesday, July 04, 2012 23:35]

China has tightened security in Tibetan areas bordering India and Nepal as a measure to block Tibetans from fleeing into exile after taking part in public demonstrations and protests in recent months.

"As a result of the chain of self-immolations and demonstrations in eastern and central Tibet, China has tightened security in the Tibetan areas bordering India and Nepal," Passang Dolma, a Tibetan in exile said quoting contacts in the region.

Dolma said since early this year, China deployed extra armed and plain security officers in towns and villages in the border areas.

"Besides deploying armed soldiers, the Chinese government has also set up committees in every village and town to spy and report on Tibetan activities in the border regions," Dolma added.

Thousands of Tibetans have taken part in multiple public protests since January this year, demanding freedom in Tibet and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile. In many instances, Chinese security personnel have opened indiscriminate fire on the unarmed protesters, killing and wounding scores of Tibetans.

Chinese authorities have also led large-scale manhunt of Tibetans suspected of taking part in the protests. In one instance, Chinese security personnel hunted down and killed two brothers for taking part in an anti-China protest. During the shootout, their mother also suffered bullet injuries and later she had to amputate her arm.

On March 29, Gonpo Rigzin, 25, stabbed himself to death after being hunted by Chinese authorities for taking part in a demonstration.

He had taken part in the January 23 mass protests in Drango and was apparently caught on Chinese police CCTV surveillance cameras."¨

Gonpo Rigzin had told his family members, while being hunted down, that he would rather kill himself than get arrested and tortured by the Chinese police.

The Chinese courts in the region have been passing down heavy sentences on Tibetan arrested for taking part in protests.

In the past few months, Chinese courts in eastern Tibet have sentenced several Tibetans to varying prison terms – from a few months to life-imprisonment, for their 'involvement' in anti-China protests.

China tightens security in Tibetan border regions - www.phayul.com

There seems to be no end to Tibetans protesting for their rights as people who are not ready to be assimilated into the Han society and instead maintain an autonomy of their unique identity.

Unfortunately for the Hans historically they have felt it essential to impose their culture on all territory they have captured through the ages and make all fall in line with the Han culture and become Hans, obliterating their past in all its forms, be it culture, language, customs, tradition, religion and so on.

It is only the Huis who got assimilated, but since Muslims are strong adherents of their religion, the Hans could not make them shed their religion even though they have tried by oppression as they are doing with the Muslim Uighur.

However, in defence of the Han action, one can say that the Chinese are forward looking, even if they are not ethical about it, that they realise that unless the differentiation of various identities are removed forever, there will remain the seeds for dissension and rebellion as is being seen in Tibet and East Turkestan (XInjiang).

 

[Ray]

Land seizure protests in Keygudo prompts self-immolation


[Wednesday, July 04, 2012 23:30]


The Tibetan woman who self-immolated in Keygudo, eastern Tibet, last Wednesday has now been identified as Dickyi Choezom, a mother of two in her 40s.

Phayul had earlier quoted the Beijing based Tibetan writer Woeser on reports of the self-immolation.

The Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile in a release Monday said that Dickyi Choezom set herself on fire on June 27, at around 2 pm (local time) in Keygu town near the Dhondupling Monastery.

"Dickyi Choezom set herself on fire during a public protest against Chinese government policies of forced eviction and land seizures in the region," the Tibetan Parliament said.

"Around 70 Tibetan families, taking part in the protest, were raising slogans for 'Right over our own land' and 'Rights over our own wealth.'"

Chinese security personnel at the scene of the protest doused the flames and took Dickyi Choezom away, reportedly to a hospital in Siling. There is no further information available on her wellbeing.

Speaking to Phayul, Lobsang Sangay, an exile monk with contacts in the region said that following Dickyi Choezom's self-immolation, two of her relatives, who were both taking part in the protest, were severely beaten and briefly arrested.

"Tashi Yangzom and Tashi Dhondup were singled out, severely beaten and arrested by the police," Sangay said. "Many of the gathered Tibetans demanded their release, threatening to set themselves on fire. The two were released later in the day carrying serious injuries."

Tibetans in Keygudo have been protesting China's redevelopment plans that have ousted them from their ancestral lands to make way for government buildings following the devastating April 2010 earthquake.

In April last year, around 300 Tibetans had led a mass protest in the main intersection of the town against the government takeover of their land. Many of the protesters were wounded and several detained in the bloody crackdown that followed.

Dickyi Choezom's self-immolation came exactly a week after two young Tibetans, Ngawang Norphel and Tenzin Khedup self-immolated in the region demanding the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile and freedom in Tibet.

The Tibetan parliament condemned the repressive policies of the Chinese government, blaming them for the ongoing wave of self-immolations in Tibet.

"Until China changes its repressive policies, self-immolations will continue inside Tibet," the lawmakers said. "China must bear full responsibility for the protests."

Land seizure protests in Keygudo prompts self-immolation - www.phayul.com

 

[Bhadra]

Committing "Zohar" in Tibetan style !