Protests sweep across the Tibetan plateau

In March 2008 Tibet saw the an uprising on a scale not seen since 1989. Unlike 1989, the protests spread well beyond the capital Lhasa to include the Tibetan areas of China outside the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR). Almost 80% of the demonstrations took place in Amdo, in the Chinese province of Qinghai. It is estimated that over 100 protests took place throughout March and April. The number of Tibetans taking part is unknown, but Chinese reports have estimated some 30,000 people. Unlike previous protests, the demonstrators included students, nomads and ordinary citizens as well as monks and nuns of all ages. In 2009, a report by Beijing academics criticised China's handling of the situation in Tibet.


(Left) Monks protest in Rebkong and (right) protesters hoist the Tibetan flag in Bora.

Almost all the protests were completely peaceful. A few in Lhasa resulted in attacks on Chinese businesses, government and police buildings. According to Chinese government figures, 22 Chinese and one Tibetan were killed in the protests. The Tibetan government in exile puts the Tibetan death toll at more than 200. Following the military crackdown in Tibetan areas, thousands of people were arrested in houseto- house searches; one year on China has failed to account for the identity and whereabouts of more than 1000 Tibetans who were detained in March and April 2008. All foreigners and journalists were expelled from Tibet by 17 March. Phone lines were severely limited Here we summarise four of the key protests taking place during the uprising.

Kirti Monastery, Sichuan Province. 16 March

On 16 March a dispute occurred between police and monks at Gomang monastery after armed police removed a Buddhist flag replacing it with a Chinese one. Two monks were arrested. Following the clashes, thousands of monks from Kirti monastery joined with laypeople and students from Ngaba County Middle School to demand the release of the two monks. The protesters burned police cars and threw stones then marched towards the police station and entered the compound where the police opened fire on them. Between 15 and 30 people including women and a 16-year-old schoolgirl died in the shooting. Two days later graphic photos of the dead bodies emerged. One Kirti monastery monk – Lobsang Jinpa committed suicide on 27 March. In his note he said: “I do not want to live under the Chinese oppression even for a minute, leave aside living for a day”. Between 28 and 30 March, around 572 monks including 10-year-olds, were arbitrarily arrested.

The whereabouts of the majority of monks is still unknown although it is hoped that many have since escaped into hiding, afraid to return. Lhasa City, Tibetan Autonomous Region.

 
(Left) Tibetans stand around bodies of the dead at Kirti, and (right) monks march from Drepung monestary

10 March-28 March

Protests began on 10 March with spontaneous demonstrations by monks from Sera and Drepung monasteries at the Jokhang Temple. Around 15 monks were apparently arrested at this time. In the days that followed hundreds of monks from Drepung, Sera and Ganden monasteries and nuns from Chutsang marched towards the Jokhang to demand release of the arrested monks, but were stopped by police. Thousands of Public Security Bureau (PSB) personnel with firearms and electric batons dispersed the crowd and arrested dozens more monks. Although police seemed restrained, a massive military buildup started to take place.

By 14 March peaceful protests had escalated to include hundreds of students and laypeople. The protests turned violent and led to the burning of Chinese shops and businesses. According to official figures, 19 Chinese people died during the protests. There are several reports of armed police firing on protestors. The full Tibetan death toll is unknown. Free Tibet Campaign has received eye-witness reports of police collecting corpses and throwing them into police vans. A heavy security crackdown followed from 15 March as house-to-house searches took place and former political prisoners were rounded up. The Times reported that dozens of handcuffed Tibetan protesters were paraded on tanks on the streets of Lhasa.

On 28 March about 30 monks from Jokhang Temple spoke out passionately to foreign journalists on a stateorganised media tour. The monks were reported as saying: “… the army killed more than 100 Tibetans … We want freedom and we want peace … But after you leave, we are probably going to be arrested." As we go to press their whereabouts following this incident remain unknown.


(Left) Monks at Jokang speak to journalists and (right) huge protests take place in Labrang

Labrang Monastery, Gansu Province. 14 March-15 April

One of the largest protests took place at Labrang. On 14 March around 1000 monks and laypeople gathered around the White Stupa of Labrang monastery for a religious ceremony. The gathering erupted in protests after monks draped in Tibetan flags began to call for the Chinese to leave Tibet and for the long life of the Dalai Lama. The crowd marched through the streets before being dispersed by police. For several days small protests took place in and around Labrang, some involving clashes with police who fired tear gas and warning shots. Dozens of Tibetans were detained or injured. Phone lines and internet connections were cut and regulations put in place banning people from walking in groups of more than two people. On 8 April a government organised media tour of foreign journalists visited Labrang. About twenty monks appeared in front of the cameras with Tibetan flags, shouting that they don’t want independence, but they want human rights and the Dalai Lama to return to Tibet. On 15 April, during a late night raid, 160 monks from Labrang monastery were arrested. There are reports that three monks are in hospital after being tortured, but nothing has been heard of the others.


Protesters take to the streets in Machu

Tongkor Monastery, Sichuan Province. 2-3 April

On 2 April Chinese authorities were conducting a “patriotic education” session which required the monks of Tongkor monastery to denounce the Dalai Lama. Chantmaster, Lobsang Jamyang, refused, allegedly saying he would rather die than take part in the sessions. The next day all the remaining monks joined him, refusing the political indoctrination campaign. Chinese work teams arrived with armed police who searched the monastery, confiscating photos of the Dalai Lama. Two monks were arrested. In response, all the monks from the monastery and around 400 laypeople marched to the township authorities demanding the release of the arrested monks. A clash occurred between Tibetans and the police. Machine guns were fired into the crowd killing at least eight people.

Videos of the 2008 protests
(WARNING: Some of the footage contains explicit material)

See more videos here
See the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy's 'Uprising in Tibet 2008' videos here

See more pictures here


Press releases from spring 2008

May 19  2008: Update on the nuns arrested in Kardze

May 15  2008: Scores of nuns arrested in Kardze county, Sichuan, following protests

26th April 2008: China must take key steps to restore normalcy in Tibet before talks

25th April 2008: Sweeping arrests in Rebkong county (Qinghai) since February 21

22nd April 2008: 153 Tibet groups warn Cola-Cola of humanitarian disaster

9th April 2008: Stop the torch going through Tibet

9th April 2008: Crackdown on protest in Sichuan province

4th April 2008: Thonkor killings

31st March 2008: Confirmation of new protests in Lhasa

27th March 2008: Reports of monasteries starved in Lhasa

24th March 2008: Eruption of protests in Sichuan

23rd March 2008: Protests continue in Qingha & Gansu

21st March 2008: Reports of Tibetan nuns arrested

21st March 2008: New photos from protests in Rebkong

21st March 2008: Eyewitness accounts and photos from protests

20th March 2008: Further reports of protests

19th March 2008: Tanks in Machu

18th March 2008: Demonstrations in Gannan City

18th March 2008: Photos of the dead from Kirti monastery

17th March 2008: More news from Machu protests

16th March 2008: Reports of spreading protests in Tibet

14th March 2008: Statement on current situation in Tibet

11th March 2008: Tibetan monks stage large demo in central Lhasa


Tibet Watch's protest logs