E-mail Discussion Lists Using Advocacy to Achieve Democratic Reform

DemocracyAlerts

From time to time, the World Movement for Democracy issues alerts concerning participants and other colleagues who are, or may be, facing personal danger due to their work on behalf of democracy and for whom a vigorous response from around the world may be critical.

To see previous alerts go to www.wmd.org/democracyalerts/democracyAlerts.html.

(March 18, 2008)
Alert: Demonstrations in Tibet Violently Suppressed

On March 10, the Chinese government violently suppressed peaceful demonstrations in occupied Tibet.  The demonstration was initially led by the monks of Sera and Drepung and marked the occasion of the 49th anniversary of Tibetan Uprising Day.  According to the International Buddhist Information Bureau (IBIB), during the demonstration Chinese police deliberately provoked violence by dressing as monks and lashing out at the peaceful demonstrators.  Dozens have been arrested, and several monasteries have been sealed off.  Estimates on how many have died in the crackdown vary.  IBIB reports that over 80 people have been killed, while the Tibet Institute claims there have been 102 confirmed deaths.

Many groups have made statements on behalf of the demonstrators.  Specifically, Que Me: Action for Democracy in Vietnam has issued a statement calling for an urgent UN inquiry into the violence.  The Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV) has also issued a statement calling on the Chinese government to cease the violence and open a meaningful dialogue with His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, as the spiritual and temporal leader of the Tibetan people.   The UBCV also calls on the United Nations, world governments, parliaments, and the whole international community to press the Chinese to cease repression and concretely address the Tibetan people’s legitimate demands.

Moreover, Tseten Norbu, member of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile, Executive Director of the Tibet Institute, and World Movement participant, made the following statement:

On the 10th of March, on the occasion of the 49th Tibetan Uprising Day, the Tibetans in occupied Tibet took to the streets of Lhasa demonstrating peacefully with slogans like Free Tibet, Tibet Belongs to Tibetans, Long Live H. H. The Dalai Lama etc. The demonstration was initially led by the monks of Sera and Drepung. When the Chinese police tried to stop the demonstrators going to Jokhang Temple, the lay people - men and women- joined them in stopping the Chinese police arresting the monks. Thousands of the civilians joined the movement and the demonstrators were ruthlessly beaten, dragged and killed on the spot. In many parts of the city, indiscriminate shooting at the demonstrators took place and the death toll till today stands at 102. Unconfirmed estimates are between 200 to 300.

The excessive use of force and the resulted killings set a chain reaction and demonstrations spread to different parts of occupied Tibet such as Dzigatse, Phenpo, Lhasa, Amdo kirti Monastry, Machu and Gansu. This has spread to small towns and villages as well.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama has called upon the international community to send an investigating delegation to find the abuses there terming it as Cultural Genocide.  Kalon Tripa (the Prime Minister/ government in Exile) and the Tibetan Parliament in Exile have also issued separate statements calling for international support.

Our immediate concern is the safety and the wellbeing of the Tibetans living under Chinese occupation. As such we appeal to the International community to send fact finding delegations to investigate the excesses and abuse of Human Rights Situation there.  We also call upon the United Nations to send a delegation and to intervene at this juncture by using their good office to prevail upon China to observe the Universality of the Human Rights that they have signed. The international community must urge the Chinese authority to stop the ongoing violence and respect the rights of the Tibetan People to demonstrate peacefully.

We feel that it is time for the international community not only to issue statements but act upon by calling your own governments, parliaments and head of the governments to impress upon the Chinese government in this senseless killing of the Tibetans and to ensure their rights.

For the statement made by Que Me, go to: www.queme.net/eng/news_detail.php?numb=953

For the statement made by the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam, go to: www.queme.net/eng/news_detail.php?numb=954