The situation in Driru has spiralled, with protests rising, and more armed forces pouring in.
Since the arrests last month, the count has gone up. Chinese authorities have arrested 17 more Tibetans from the Tibet Autonomous Region. No reasons were given for their arrests, sources say, and the 17 were picked up in separate groups in Gonshul Village and Tenkhar village. Of these, 13 have been released after being asked to pay fines for unknown offences, while the others — two of them women — remain under detention, with one reportedly beaten in custody.
Earlier in the month, another 15 Tibetans were detained for protesting against the arrest of writer Tsuiltim Gyaltsen and his friend Yougyal. Villagers had submitted a written appeal after they had been told they would not be allowed to assemble in groups of more than five, and that they should present their protest in writing, sources told the RFA. They received no response. When a Chinese work team came to Driru’s Samchu township to carry out propaganda work, the villagers asked them about the duo. Again, no response. In frustration, Sarkyi (49), Tsophen (47) and Yangki (25) went to the work force’s homes in an effort to demand explanations. They were arrested, along with a group of young Tibetans who had gathered outside the township. Many of them were subject to beatings.
Driru authorities have officially banned Tibetans from petitioning in large groups: a petition of more than five people is to be considered, in their words, “a political error”. Armed forces have been increased and more than 80 armed policemen are closely watching the 170 families living in Shakchu village; local Tibetans are required to produce their public benefit access card and government issued identity cards in order to leave the village for daily chores. Three Tibetans were arrested in Driru county for allegedly putting up “freedom posters”. Others, from Dongkhor township in Kardze County, have repeatedly destroyed the flagpoles built on community bridges, used for flying the Chinese flag.
This picture sent to RFA by a listener shows Chinese security forces moving into Garchung Valley
Reporters without Borders have condemned the arrests in Driru and asked for the international community to back them up. “Instead of trying to turn Tibet into an information black hole, the Chinese authorities must put an immediate stop to these arbitrary arrests and release those detained without delay….There can be no justification for remaining silent in the face of these flagrant violations of freedom of information, not even the ‘respect for sovereignty’ that the Chinese government repeatedly cites in response to criticism of its repressive and discriminatory policies towards Tibetans.”
Tibetans and supporters in Dharamshala raise Tibetan national flags in a protest against Chinese forces shooting at Tibetans in Driru, Tibet.
Photo: VOA
The conflict began in October when villagers of Mowa village refused to place the Chinese flag on their rooftops, a space traditionally reserved for sacred flags. In protest, they threw the Chinese flags into a nearby river.
Print
Email