Exchanging Tibet’s Independence For Chinese Rule

With the Exiled Tibetan administration recently affirming, as a high priority, efforts to seek negotiation with communist China (with a willingness to accept Chinese domination in exchange for improvements in so-called autonomy for Tibetans)  it goes against the heartfelt aspiration of its own people for national liberation.

Such insane capitulation is a universe away from the hopes and determination of Tibetans inside Tibet who continue to cherish in their hearts a hope for their country free from thetyranny of illegal Chinese rule.

Have the advocates of such a dangerous surrender of Tibet’s right to national sovereignty  forgotten the inspiring courage and sacrifice of their compatriots inside occupied Tibet? Or their demands made during Tibet’s National Uprising of 2008?

Should they have any misunderstanding, or amnesia, on what it is that Tibetans are sacrificing themselves for the following cases should serve as a forceful reminder.

Shooting of Kham-Tibetans in Pro-Independence Demonstration, Aba, Kham-March 20, 2008

A report from Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA) detailed that “at least 18 Tibetans were shot dead by paramilitary police in a town of Aba, Kham” (so-called Sichuan province) some thirteen Tibetans, including an 8-year-old child, had been reported as killed by Chinese security forces on Friday 14th March 2008. A further five Tibetans were reported as killed on 15th March, according to a Tibetan source in Aba. Chinese security reinforcements arrive in the area on Tuesday, the source said. The soldiers aggressively interrogated people who ventured out at night and any Tibetans walking on the street in groups of more than two people, he said. “The protesters shouted slogans such as ‘Tibet independence,‘carried rocks and homemade petrol bombs, and waved the flag of the Tibetan government in exile,” the agency said. Source: DPA

Tibetan Nomads Stage Pro-Independence Protest, Phonkur-Khanlo, March 19, 2008

A confirmed report from the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) documented some 250 families, mostly nomads and farmers, staged a peaceful demonstration at the Ma Ngoe Township Public Primary school, shouting slogans such as “Independence for Tibet”, “Long Live the Dalai Lama”, “Release the Panchen Lama” “Dalai Lama should return to Tibet” and “Tibet belongs to Tibetans”. The report stated that protesters replaced the Chinese flag with the banned Tibetan national flag. The demonstration continued until Chinese security forces arrived, and demanded the removal of the Tibetan national flag. According to reports the Tibetan protesters resisted for some time, but were overpowered by a large deployment of Chinese security forces. More than five truckloads of Chinese security forces were brought into the scene to quell the demonstrators.The demonstration carried on for some time, with protesters demanding that unless Chinese security forces abandon the planned arrest of the Tibetans they would continue to stage the protest. Source: TCHRD-Wednesday, March 19, 2008 17:54

Kham Tibetans Killed During Pro-Independence Demonstration, Kham-March 18, 2008

At least three Tibetan protestors were shot dead by Chinese security forces, according to a despatch from the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) whilst participating in a peaceful demonstration in Kham, (named as so-called Kardze County, Sichuan Province) The shooting occured when a reported 300 Khamba-Tibetans staged a peaceful demonstration in the main market square of so-called Kardze County. Shouting slogans calling for “independence for Tibet” and “Long Live the Dalai Lama”. Increasing numbers of Tibetans joined the protest, “shouting pro-independence slogans”. According to eyewitnesses testimony, Chinese paramilitary troops indiscriminately fired into the demonstrators from a nearny rooftop. “Protestors started dispersing in all directions for cover. After a short while, three dead bodies were found lying on the road”.  TCHRD reported that “15 Tibetan peaceful protestors were also injured during the indiscriminate firing by the Chinese security forces. Out of 15 injured Tibetans, identities of the five, two females and three males were known. They are Pema Dechen, Chemi Gonpo, Lobsang, Tseten Phuntsok and Shao Mimi” Source: TCHRD-Tuesday, March 18, 2008 22:49

Monks Stage Pro-Independence Protest, Khanlo,Amdo-March 16, 2008

A report from the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) documents another pro-independence demonstration.at Khanlo, Amdo. Some 500 hundred monks, from the Choephel Shing Monastery, “erupted into protest” according to a confirmed source. A number of different sources testify that the monks were conducting a prayer ritual (burning Juniper Incense) upon a hillside near the monastery. “Shortly after the end of the prayer ritual, the monks “marched out carrying the banned Tibetan national flag, shouting slogans calling for the “Independence for Tibet” and “Long Live the Dalai Lama”. TCHRD reports the protest as “gaining momentum and growing in size”. Enormous number of People’s Armed Police (PAP) and Public Security Bureau (PSB) has been drafted into the area brought into the area to quell the Tibetan demonstrators. The situation on the ground is extremely tense. Source: TCHRD-Tuesday, March 18, 2008 14:41.

Thawa Ghongma-Killed by Chinese Security Forces,Amdo-March 16 2008

Image:phayul

Shot dead, Mr. Thawa Ghongma was among eight other 8 Tibetans killed by Chinese Security Forces when thousands of monks from Ngaba Kirti Monastery led a pro-Tibet independence demonstration on March 16 2008.

18 Tibetans Killed Following Tibetan Independence Protest Khanlo, Amdo-March 16 2008

Image:tchrd

A report issued by Phayul.com (March 18, 2008 ) stated that least 18 Tibetans were killed and some 200 severely injured when Chinese security forces fired inot a crowd of 2000 Tibetans, at a pro-independence march in Tibet’s Amdo Province. According to the source more than 80 Tibetans were arrested during the demonstration.

Amdo Tibetans in Pro-Independence Demonstration March 14 2008

Place: Labrang, Amdo Region Eastern Tibet, Time: Around 14.00 Hours (Beijing Time) Date: March 14, 2008

Images: tchrd

According to confirmed information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), thousands of Tibetan monks and laypeople converged and stage demonstration in the streets of Sangchu County, Kanlho “Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture” (“TAP”), so-called Gansu Province. Around 50 monks from the Labrang Tashikyil Monastery staged a demonstration carrying the banned Tibetan national flag and called for “Tibetan Independence” Around 500 monks from the same monastery later joined the demonstration. The demonstration eventually grew into thousands when laypeople also joined in. The police started to fire live ammunitions in the air and started to beat when the demonstrators neared the Sangchu County Public Security Bureau headquarters”.  Source: TCHRD

These protests were part of many demanding Tibetan independence, that took place during the National Uprisings of 2008, as with ongoing resistance to Chinese occupation, they present a courageous and forceful reminder to the Exiled Tibetan Administration, that the political aspiration of the Tibetan people remains an independent Tibetan nation.