Grupo de Apoio ao Tibete

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Statement by the International Tibet Network on Crisis at Kirti Monaster

Global Tibet movement condemns China's continued crackdown on Tibetan Monastery, calls for immediate international pressure on China to end the crisis in Kirti. Sources from Ngaba report that armed Chinese forces continue to maintain a blockade of Kirti Monastery, 'patriotic re-education' sessions are ongoing, and a climate of fear prevails.The worldwide membership of the International Tibet Network (1), consisting of almost 200 Tibet campaign organizations on six continents, condemns China's continuing crackdown on the monks of Kirti Monastery and Tibetans living in Ngaba, Amdo in Eastern Tibet (Ch: Aba, Sichuan Province).

This crackdown, now well into its third month, has to date resulted in well over 300 detentions, three further deaths and the sentencing of two monks to three-year prison terms, following the self-immolation and death of a 20-year old monk named Phuntsok on 16 March (2).
The International Tibet Network calls on governments around the world to issue a public statement of concern about the crisis and to continue to raise it directly with China in the strongest diplomatic terms. We further urge government leaders to convey to China's leaders at every possible opportunity the message that its paramilitary forces must withdraw from Ngaba, all detainees must be unconditionally released and unfettered access must be granted to international observers and media.

On 21 April the crisis intensified when over 300 monks were forcibly taken away from Kirti Monastery by paramilitary police. Elderly Tibetans keeping vigil at the monastery and who tried to prevent the monks being removed were beaten, and two - Dongko (male) and Sherkyi (female), both in their sixties - died (3). The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy has reported the death of a further young Tibetan named Chukpel on 7 April from injuries sustained during a protest, and in early May two Kirti monks - Lobsang Dhargye and Kunchok Tsultrim - received prison sentences of 3 years each (4). A further 25 detainees are still missing and disappearances are continuing, while sympathetic students at local schools have been subject to investigations and lockdowns (see also note 3). Video footage released on 20 April by Voice of America's Tibetan Service clearly refutes China's claims that the situation in Ngaba is "normal." See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwmstGsFlJc (5).

Venerable Lobsang Tenzin, head of Kirti Monastery told the International Tibet Network, "At around 3am on April 22, more than three hundred monks were arrested and many went missing. Chinese constitution guarantees religious freedom for all, but for the past two months, the historic Kirti monastery has been turned into a prison. The monastery now faces serious threat of being shut down by the Chinese government. We appeal to world political leaders, religious heads, and devout followers to strongly urge Chinese leaders to stop the crackdown in Kirti monastery."

On 15 April His Holiness the Dalai Lama appealed for restraint, saying,"The current situation prevailing at Kirti Monastery in Ngaba in northeastern Tibet is extremely grim because of the stand-off between the Chinese military forces and the local Tibetans. The monastery, housing approximately 2500 monks, is completely surrounded by Chinese armed forces, who at one point prevented vital food and other supplies from entering the monastic compound. […] I am very concerned that this situation if allowed to go on may become explosive with catastrophic consequences for the Tibetans in Ngaba.” (6)

The crackdown in Kirti Monastery and the detention of over 300 monks was raised by the United States government during the recent US/China Strategic Dialogue (9 and 10 May), but Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and European Council President Herman van Rompuy both apparently failed to discuss the crisis with Chinese leaders during their recent visits to China. Tibetans and Tibet supporters worldwide urge all those involved in future visits and diplomatic exchanges to robustly express their concerns to China's most senior leaders about for the safety of monks and Tibetan lay people in Ngaba, and to call for an end to the human rights abuses being inflicted by Chinese paramilitary forces.
end

Notes
1. The International Tibet Network is a global coalition of 183 Tibet related non-governmental organizations, which works to maximise the effectiveness of the worldwide Tibet movement. Network Member organizations hold varied positions on Tibet's future political status, but all regard Tibet as an occupied country and are dedicated to ending human rights violations in Tibet, and to working actively to restore the Tibetan people's right under international law to determine their own political, economic, social, religious, and cultural status.
2. Tibetan monk Phuntsok, aged 20, immolated himself in the market area of Ngaba on 16 March, the third anniversary of protests at Kirti Monastery in 2008 when police opened fire on and killed at least ten Tibetans. Phuntsok died in hospital on 17 March. For a chronology of events see http://www.tibetnetwork.org/sites/default/files/NgabaTimeline23May2011.pdf. For an updated list of those known to have been detained, see International Campaign for Tibet, 26 May 2011, see http://savetibet.org/media-center/ict-news-reports/crackdown-ngaba-monks-detained-giving-wrong-answers-%E2%80%98patriotic-education%E2%80%99.
3. See International Campaign for Tibet, 9 May 2011, http://www.savetibet.org/media-center/ict-news-reports/ngaba-students-protest-crackdown-authorities-respond-new-information-deaths-tibetans-who-t
4. See Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy updates 5 May 2011 http://www.tchrd.org/press/2011/pr20110507.html which includes photographs of Lobsang Dhargye and Kunchok Tsultrim, and 29 April 2011 http://www.tchrd.org/press/2011/pr20110429.html (warning, graphic image)
5. Detailed analyses of the Voice of America Tibetan Service's video have been published by the International Campaign for Tibet, see http://savetibet.org/media-center/ict-news-reports/dramatic-new-footage-reveals-ngaba-crackdown-refutes-chinese-claims-normal-life and Tibet Society UK, see http://www.tibetsociety.com/content/view/171
6. To read His Holiness' statement in full see http://www.dalailama.com/news/post/663-appeal-by-hh-the-dalai-lama

Signed by Members of the International Tibet NetworkWestern Europe:Aide aux Refugies TibetainsAssociation DorjeAssociation Drôme Ardèche-TibetAssociation Rencontres Tibetaines - C.S.P.T. Midi-Pyrenees Associazione Italia-Tibet Austrian Committee for TibetBriancon05 Urgence TibetCaisse d'Aide aux Prisonniers Tibetains Casa del Tibet - Spain Comite de Apoyo al Tibet (CAT)Comite de Soutien au Peuple Tibetain (Les Lilas) Comite de Soutien au Peuple Tibetain (Switzerland) Corse - TibetEco-Tibet France EcoTibet IrelandFrance-TibetFree Tibet Groupe Non-Violent Louis Lecoin, FranceGrupo de Apoio ao Tibete, Portugal International Campaign for Tibet Deutschland International Campaign for Tibet EuropeInternational Society of Human Rights, Munich Chapter (IGFM)Jamtse Thundel Association La Porte du Tibet, GenevaLes Amis du Tibet - BelgiumLes Amis du Tibet LuxembourgLions Des Neiges Mont Blance, FranceMaison des Himalayas Maison du Tibet - Tibet Info Nice Tibet - (former: Vercors Tibet Resistances)Nos Amis de l'Himalaya Objectif Tibet Passeport Tibetain Phagma Drolma-Arya TaraReseau International des Femmes pour le TibetSave Tibet, AustriaSociety for Threatened Peoples InternationalSolidarite TibetStudents for a Free Tibet - France Students for a Free Tibet - UKSwiss Tibetan Friendship Association (GSTF)Tibet 59 / 62 Tibet Democratie Tibet Initiative Deutschland Tibet Liberte SolidariteTibet Libertes, France Tibet Society, U.K. Tibet Support Group - IrelandTibet Support Group - Netherlands Tibet Unterstutzung Liechtenstein Tibetan Association of GermanyTibetan Community Austria Tibetan Community in BritainTibetan Community in Ireland Tibetan Youth Association in EuropeTibetan Youth UK Tibetisches Zentrum HamburgTSG Free Tibet And YouTsowa-Maintenir la Vie, France Vrienden Van Tibet
Northern Europe:Association of Free Tibet Friends of Tibet in Finland Swedish Tibet Committee The Norwegian Tibet Committee Tibet Support Committee Denmark Tibetan Community in Denmark Tibetan Community Sweden
Central & Eastern Europe:Fair Society o.s. Friends of Tibet Slovakia Friends of Tibet Society St. Petersburg, RussiaHelsinki Foundation for Human Rights - Tibet DeskInternational Youth Human Rights Group - Human Rights in TibetLithuanian Tibet Culture FoundationPolish Movement for a Free Tibet Society for Croatia-Tibet Friendship Students for a Free Tibet, Poland The Foundation for Civil Society, Russia Tibet cesky (Tibet in Czech) Tibet Support Association - Hungary Tibet Support Group - Krasnodar Region, Russia Tibet Support Group - Romania Tibet Support Group - Sochi Region, Russia Tibetan Programme of The Other Space FoundationTSG - Slovenia (Formally Foundation Dharmaling) Union Latvija Tibetai (Latvia for Tibet ) Zida Cels, Latvia
North America:Association Cognizance Tibet, North CarolinaBay Area Friends of TibetBoston Tibet Network Canada Tibet CommitteeColorado Friends of TibetCommittee of 100 for TibetCTC - CalgaryDhokam Chushi GangdrukInternational Campaign for TibetInternational Tibet Independence MovementLos Angeles Friends of TibetMonadnock Friends of TibetNorthwest Tibetan Cultural AssociationRangzen AllianceSan Diego Friends of Tibet Santa Barbara Friends of TibetSeattle Friends of TibetSierra Friends of Tibet Students for a Free Tibet Students for a Free Tibet – Canada The Tibetan Alliance of Chicago The World Tibet Day Foundation Tibet Committee of Fairbanks Tibet Justice CenterTibetan Association of IthacaTibetan Association of Northern CaliforniaTibetan Association of PhiladephiaTibetan Association of Santa Fe Tibetan Association of Southern CaliforniaTibetan Cultural Association - QuebecTIBETmichiganToronto Tibet Youth CongressU.S. Tibet CommitteeWestern Colorado Friends of TibetWisconsin Tibetan Association United Nations for a Free Tibet (UNFFT)
Central and South AmericaAmigos del Tibet, El SalvaforAsociacion Cultural Peruano TibetanaAsociación Cultural Tibetano-CostarricenseCasa Tibet MexicoCentro De Cultura TibetanaGrupo De Apoyo a Tibet ChileGrupo Pro-Cultura Tibetana, Chile Le Club FrancaisPensando En Tibet - Mexico Tibet Group-Panama Tíbet Patria Libre, UruguayFundacion Pro Tibet World League for Freedom and Democracy - Costa Rica Chapter
AsiaBharrat Tibbat Sahyog Manch, IndiaCircle of Friends (Philippines)Core Group for Tibetan Cause, IndiaFoundation for Universal Responsibility of H. H. the Dalai LamaFriedrich-Naumann Foundation Gannasamannay Gu-Chu-Sum Movement of TibetHimalayan Committee for Action on TibetIndia Tibet Friendship Society Japan Association of Monks for Tibet (Super Sangha)Lung-Ta Project Mahatma Gandhi Tibet Freedom MovementNational Campaign for Tibetan Support, India National Democratic Party of Tibet Raise Tibetan Flag CampaignRoof of the World Foundation, Indonesia SFT Japan SFT-IndiaStudents for a Free Tibet - BangladeshTaiwan Friends of TibetTaiwan Tibet Exchange FoundationThe Youth Liberation Front of Tibet, Mongolia and TurkestanTibet Lives, IndiaTibet Solidarity Forum, Bangladesh Tibet Support Group Kiku, Japan Tibet Support Network Japan Tibetan Student Association, Madras (TSAM) Tibetan Parliamentary and Policy Research Centre Tibetan Rights and Freedom Committee (TRFRC)Tibetan Women's Association (Central)Tibetan Youth Congress Japan Committee of 100 for TIbetNs3 Rigpa Community Builder’s Foundation Anterrashtriya Bharat - Tibbet Sahyog Samiti
AustralasiaA.C.T. Tibet Support Group Australia Tibet Council Australian Tibet House Inc.Friends of Tibet New Zealand Students for a Free Tibet New Zealand Tibet Action Group of Western Australia Tibet Support Group - AustraliaTibetan Community of Australia (Victoria)Tibetan Women Association and Friends Australia Sakya Trinley LingAustralian Tibet House Inc.
Africa and Middle EastFriends of Tibet - Isamailia (Egypt) Israeli Friends of the Tibetan People South African Friends of TibetTibet Support Group Kenya

URGENTE

PARTICIPEM NA ACÇÃO ONLINE PELO FIM DA REPRESSÃO NO TIBETE E NA CHINA !

EM:

http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5380/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=6257

Sunday, April 24, 2011

URGENTE

Caros Amigos,

A situação em Ngaba, no Tibete, deteriorou-se.

No dia 21 Abril mais de 300 monges foram detidos e dois Tibetanos idosos que tentavam impedir a sua detenção foram agredidos e mortos.

Poderão ler a notícia em: http://phayul.com/mobile/?page=view&c=1&id=29413Existem várias acções nas quais poderão participar já, seguem os links em baixo, contamos com o vosso apoio!

* Acção da International Tibet Network dirigida aos líderes mundiais: http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5380/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=6257

* Acção da International Tibet Network dirigida ao Ministro Chinês dos Assuntos Externos: http://www.facebook.com/index.php?lh=cacbb842074d48b496485ea2e332b800&#!/note.php?note_id=205981902760007

* Acção dos SFT dirigida ao Secretário do Partido do Sichuan: https://secure3.convio.net/sft/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=781.

* Acção da Amnistia Internacional dirigida aos oficiais do Sichuan: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/ASA17/021/2011/en/d75f7611-be66-4d5a-9391-c80c43501d56/asa170212011en.html.

* Acção do ICT dirigida ao Embaixador americano Jon Huntsman: http://action.savetibet.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=3932.
Em solidariedade,
Grupo de Apoio ao Tibete
___

Two elderly Tibetans killed as hundreds of monks detained from Kirti; crackdown deepens

ICT report, April 22, 2011

The crackdown in Ngaba has deepened with the deaths of two elderly Tibetans trying to protect hundreds of Kirti monks being taken into custody last night. A further Tibetan, Chukpel, was reportedly beaten to death after he protested on April 7 outside a police station in the area.

There are fears that more monks will be detained tonight (April 22). In a development linked to the crackdown and unrest, the Ngaba (Chinese: Aba) area and neighboring Kardze (Chinese: Ganzi) were closed to foreigners yesterday, and all foreigners advised to leave.

Tibetans detained since the unrest at Kirti began following the self-immolation of a 20-year old monk called Phuntsog on March 16 have suffered severe torture, including beatings by electric shock-batons, and some of those released “pass out with pain several times a day”.Paramilitary police raided the monastery last night (April 21) and took away more than 300 monks, according to exile sources in contact with people in the area. As the monks were being driven away in large trucks, the group of laypeople – mainly in their sixties or older – who had been standing vigil at the monastery gate were beaten “mercilessly” by police according to the same sources.

“People had their arms and legs broken, one old woman had her leg broken in three places, and cloth was stuffed in their mouths to stifle their screams,” said an exiled Kirti monk. The two people who died in their attempt to prevent the monks from being taken away were Dongko (male) of upper Tawa, aged 60, and 65-year old Sherkyi (female). Donko was from the Trinken Chukle pastoral division of Tawa Gongma in Ngaba county. He was 60 years old, and leaves a wife, Trangme, a son named Tsultrim and a daughter named Trinle Tso. Sherkyi was from the Rako Tsang house in Naktsangma, Cha township, Ngaba county.

The raid on the monastery last night began at around 9 pm, when armed troops were deployed around all of the monastic residences in the compound of Kirti monastery to seal them off. The monks detained, numbering more than 300 according to exile sources, were taken to 10 large military trucks and driven away. Their current location is not known. As the monks were driven away, laypeople who have been gathered around the entrance gate since April 12 attempted to prevent the trucks from leaving, but were severely beaten by People’s Armed Police troops.

Most or all of the laypeople were then loaded into goods trucks and taken to a nearby army camp. The two people who had died, Dongko and Sherkyi, were taken directly to the cemetery. Most of them were released this morning (April 22), but a group of younger people was detained, although there are no further details on their names due to the authorities’ attempts to impose an information blackout.

According to the same sources, all shops and restaurants in Ngaba county town remained closed, and only military and official vehicles can be seen on the roads.According to a notice by provincial public security authorities issued yesterday, foreigners have been banned from entering various Tibetan areas of southwest Sichuan (northern Kham and southern Amdo) including the Tibetan area of Kardze and counties in neighboring Ngaba prefecture (http://www.xcar.com.cn/bbs/viewthread.php?tid=14476990&extra=page%3D1&page=1)

"Foreigners already in the aforementioned areas are to be urged to leave," the notice dated April 21 said, copies of which were placed on the websites of some Chinese travel agencies, according to a Reuters report today (April 22,

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/22/us-china-tibet-travel-idUSTRE73L1E020110422).

No explanation was given for the ban. The deaths of two elderly Tibetans and the detention of several hundred monks are the latest developments in an escalating crisis at Kirti. The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy reported today that a 24-year old Tibetan man, Chukpel, had died of his injuries after being beaten severely by police after he protested together with two other youths outside the local police station in Dzamtang township, Ngaba prefecture. The two other youths are severely injured and have been taken to Chengdu for urgent medical treatment. On April 7, the three young men had set off firecrackers outside the police station, saying that they were celebrating the elections among the Tibetan diaspora in exile for a new Kalon Tripa (head of the Tibetan exile government) and shouting slogans such as “May His Holiness the Dalai Lama live for 10,000 years!” and "Self-government for Tibet!" They were arrested and beaten by the police. According to TCHRD, Chukpel, who is from Gyalrong, lost consciousness and was taken to the local hospital, but died soon afterwards. According to the same source, hundreds of local people gathered at the police station to protest against Chukpel’s death. The police offered 70,000 yuan ($10,756) in compensation for the death, according to TCHRD, an NGO based in Dharamsala, India. On Wednesday (April 20), several hundred officials from nearby counties gathered at Kirti to conduct ‘patriotic education’. In scenes that appear to be reminiscent of the Cultural Revolution, when monks gave answers that the officials did not approve of, the monks were severely beaten. There have been further detentions in the area although full details of the identity of those detained are not known. Those now released from custody are apparently traumatized and injured after torture. The same exiled Kirti sources said that some of those released are incapable of looking after themselves and some “pass out from the pain several times a day”. The torture included being tied to powerful electric heaters, beaten, tied to metal pillars, and beaten with electric shock-batons. The Chinese state media confirmed today that it was conducting a “legal education” campaign at Kirti, describing it as a “troublesome” monastery (April 22, Xinhua). The same Xinhua report alleged that monks had visited prostitutes and taken part in gambling. The Xinhua report is part of a pattern of proactive and assertive attempts by the authorities to distort and mislead international media coverage and opinion.Powerful new footage released this week by the Voice of America Tibetan Service refuted the Chinese government’s claims that the situation in Ngaba is “normal”

(ICT report, http://savetibet.org/media-center/ict-news-reports/dramatic-new-footage-reveals-ngaba-crackdown-refutes-chinese-claims-normal-life). To view the footage, see: http://www.youtube.com/user/VOAKunleng#p/u/0/zwmstGsFlJc.

The US State Department will hold its next human rights dialogue with China on April 27-29 in Beijing, and the crackdown in Ngaba should be raised as an urgent issue by the U.S. delegation.

URGENTE

ICT report, April 22, 2011

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/22/us-china-tibet-travel-idUSTRE73L1E020110422).

The US State Department will hold its next human rights dialogue with China on April 27-29 in Beijing, and the crackdown in Ngaba should be raised as an urgent issue by the U.S. delegation.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Concentração frente à Assembleia da República - 29 de Março (terça-feira) - 14h00

Caros Amigos,

Vimos informar que uma delegação da Assembleia Popular Nacional da China será recebida na Assembleia da República no próximo dia 29 de Março. A Secção Portuguesa da Amnistia Internacional, em colaboração com o Grupo de Apoio ao Tibete, promove neste dia, com início às 14 horas, uma concentração na base da escadaria da Assembleia da República.

Apelamos à vossa participação, mesmo que apenas durante alguns instantes. Obrigada.

Saudações

Grupo de Apoio ao Tibete

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Agradecimento

O Grupo de Apoio ao Tibete vem por este meio sentidamente agradecer o apoio

à Manifestação Pacífica pelo Tibete agendada para hoje às 19h00,

por parte do Partido pelos Animais e pela Natureza.

Saudações amigas,

Grupo de Apoio ao Tibete

PAN apoia a manifestação pacífica pelo Tibete

O Partido pelos Animais e pela Natureza (PAN) apoia a concentração a favor do respeito pelos direitos humanos no Tibete que o Grupo de Apoio ao Tibete convocou para quinta-feira, dia 10 de Março, às 19h00, junto à Embaixada da República Popular da China, na Rua de Santana à Lapa, n.º 2, em Lisboa.

Recordamos que na China, além das violações sistemáticas dos direitos humanos, se cometem também muitos e graves atentados contra o bem-estar dos animais.

Apelamos aos nossos apoiantes que defendam igualmente os direitos dos humanos e dos não-humanos, em qualquer país do mundo onde sejam violados, e que estejam presentes nesta e noutras iniciativas com o objectivo de construir um mundo melhor para todos.

O Conselho Nacional do PAN

http://www.partidoanimaisnatureza.com/nacionais/158-pan-apoia-a-manifestacao-pacifica-pelo-tibete.html

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Uma Nova Revolução

Caros Amigos,

Uma nova revolução está em curso no Tibete.

Uma nova geração de Tibetanos - no Tibete e no exílio - ergue-se.

Apesar do poderio e controlo militar chinês sobre a sua nação, os Tibetanos afirmam resolutamente a sua identidade e o seu desejo por liberdade.

A revolução está em curso via videos, canções, poemas e literatura.

Esta quinta-feira, dia 10 Março, marca 52 anos desde que os Tibetanos se ergueram para que a China deixasse de ocupar o seu país. Hoje, uma nova geração de Tibetanos está determinada a acabar aquilo que teve início há meio século atrás.

Junte-se à manifestação global pelo Tibete!

- No Facebook mude a sua foto de perfil pela imagem em anexo.

- Veja e partilhe o video seguinte: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUJkiouBTfc

- Participe na acção global pela libertação de Norzin Wangmo, condenada a cinco anos de prisão pelo envio de informação acerca da violação dos direitos humanos, para o exterior, via telemóvel e internet.

http://www.freetibetanheroes.org/

- Compareça frente à embaixada da República Popular da China, esta quinta-feira às 19h00.

- Leia e partilhe: "Tiananmen 2.0: Why China Is Not Immune to the Tunisia Effect" por Tendor do Students for a Free Tibethttp://blog.studentsforafreetibet.org/2011/02/tiananmen-2-0-why-china-is-not-immune-to-the-tunisia-effect/

- Exiba a bandeira Tibetana em janelas, no seu trabalho, no carro, na bicicleta, no skate. Use o saco com a bandeira, cole o autocolante no caderno e vista a camisola Freet Tibet!

Porque o Tibete precisa da nossa ajuda.

Saudações

Grupo de Apoio ao Tibete