TibetInfoNet has recently received documentation concerning the protest that took place in the eastern Tibetan town of Kardze (Chin: Ganzi or Garzè), Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan province, on 18 March 2008. Although a landmark in the region, the 18 March protests in Kardze have so far been comparatively less well publicised than other incidents in Tibetan areas. The 22-page document, which is summarised here, provides comprehensive, precise and cross-checkable information compiled by eyewitnesses. As such, it attests to the growing realisation by Tibetans inside Tibet for the need to present a dense and fact-oriented picture of their situation, rather than to rely on second hand and inevitably more patchy reports by outsiders. This corresponds with the appeal made on 01 April 2009 by Lodi Gyari, the Special Envoy of the Dalai Lama to the US, for Tibetans to record their "personal experiences of suffering"(1). The document also provides details of the authorities' security arrangements following the protests. It corroborates more incidental observations that the strategy of the security forces was and is primarily aimed at paralysing local life and intimidating the population with overwhelming displays of force. This in turn indicates that the authorities clearly realise that the protests reflect the concerns and aspirations of a broad section of the local population, and this contradicts public statements, propped up by reports in the official press, that these demonstrations are isolated incidents involving troublemakers influenced by external forces. The government's strategy, however, has proven to be only partially successful, as despite all this, Kardze and its vicinity arguably remains to date, as it historically has been, the most restive area on the Tibetan plateau.

Photocopies of some of the leading people behind the 18 March 2008 demon...

There appears to have been anticipation of possible unrest, as prior to 10 March 2008, additional security forces had been sent to the area. As part of their precautions, they strengthened control over the area around Kardze monastery and sometimes prevented monks from leaving the monastery.

On 10 March, unknown protesters distributed pamphlets. This action was not linked to the protest of 18 March, and it is unclear who was behind it. This supports the observation that different groups engage in political activities independently, rather than under the orchestrations of some 'mastermind', as is claimed by the Chinese authorities.

On 17 March, Tenzin Namgyal, a monk from Dargye monastery was arrested. Tenzin Namgyal, had spent some time in India, where he stayed at the Tehor Khangtsen of the re-established Sera monastery in Mysore, South India. On his return from India, Tenzin Namgyal is said to have been under surveillance by the authorities, something his arrest is probably linked to(2).

Official 'wanted' poster for various protesters; photographed in Kardze.

The document in TibetInfoNet's possession says the organisers of the protests intended to express their frustration with and suffering because of, in particular, "The occupation of Tibet by China since 10th march 1959", the "Torture of Tibetans inside Tibet", the authorities' portrayal of the Dalai Lama and Tibetan exiles as 'separatists', "Torture in the name of political re-education", the disappearance of the Panchen Lama in 1995 and the absence of human rights and religious freedom for Tibetans, "unlike the rest of the 56 minorities in China" (sic).

Among those who the document describes as having "put themselves on the target" (3), i.e. the main leaders of the protests, were:

1. Ngoega, from the Chukhatsang family from Serchuteng(4),
2. Pema Dechen, from the Tagyutengtsang family(5),
3. Tsering Gyurmed, a monk from Tsitsang monastery,
4. Dhonden, from Rongpatsa,
5. Apha Jamyang, from Chokri,
6. Chimed Gonpo, from Dugangteng,
7. Gonga from Dugangteng,
8. Sangpo, from the Tsangkhatsang family,
9. Loyang, from the Aruratsang family,
10. Gonpo, from the Maduetsang family,
11. Tashi Palden, from Osang,
12. Norbu Tsering, originally from Zapa, but married and settled in Yarlogcha,
13. Shao Mimi, from the Chotenshabtsang family whose father is Chinese and mother a Tibetan called Bhola,
14. Loga, from Tachuda,
15. Tseten Phuntsog, a monk and former chant master from Kardze monastery,

Tseten Phuntsog

As well as two lay people, "whose names now is not the right time to tell".

Further, Tsering Dorjee, Jamyang(6), Tseten Gyurmey, Zapa Tenpa, Jamdo, Gonpo Gyaltsen, Nangsel Wangden, Tenzin Namgyal and Jolo were also involved in leading the protest.

The predominantly young protesters, reportedly numbering around 1,000(7), included monks, nuns, and lay people. Students of the Tibetan High School also joined the protest. Among the protesters were also about 200 monks from Dargye monastery(8) who had come to show solidarity with Tenzin Namgyal, one of their peers, who was arrested the day before. Monks from Samdup monastery in Kardze were also preparing to join the protest, but this was leaked to the authorities and security forces prevented them from leaving their monastery.

A new ad hoc military base in Kardze

The demonstration started at 1.50pm at the intersection of Chingdrol Lam (Liberation Street) with the Sichuan-Tibet Highway. The slogans shouted during the protest were: "Freedom", "Return of His Holiness [the Dalai Lama] to Tibet", and "Release the Panchen Lama and other political prisoners". Protesters paraded photos of the Dalai Lama and Tibetan flags(9); a great number of pamphlets demanding freedom in Tibet were also distributed. The demonstration continued until finally, about 150 armed "policemen and military personnel" arrived, stopped the protesters and, at the same time, took pictures and video footage of the leaders before they started beating the crowd, aiming at heads and limbs. Shots were fired(10) and some protesters collapsed. Tseten Phuntsog was shot in the feet. Many of those who were wounded with broken limbs and head injuries belonged to the group of monks from Dargye monastery, and so did one of the protesters who died at the spot(11). The fallen protesters were dragged into vehicles and taken away. Among those who could escape, some fled to the hills to escape arrest. They kept themselves abreast of the situation by listening to radio broadcasts. Some decided it would be too risky to go back to Kardze and tried to leave the region, looking for a place where they could live in anonymity for a while, or sought to leave Tibet. It is unknown how many succeeded in doing so.

A town under siege

Military base in Kardze (Details)

From 18 March 2008 onwards, the region of Kardze has been under a state of siege. The construction of the first army base, in Marathang, began immediately,. According to the document received by TibetInfoNet, seven transport aircraft brought in troops. The troops encircled the city and sealed Kardze monastery within an hour. A curfew was put in place and it was announced that anyone entering the downtown area would, from the next day onwards, be shot without warning. Everybody was under strict orders to stay put, and no movement was allowed anywhere in Kardze. On 19 March, more soldiers were deployed, with 46 army vehicles arriving and three military planes landing. The new troops, whose strength was put at 10,000, a figure that may need further corroboration, arrived from the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR). Whereas the movement of troop reinforcements westward from the Chinese mainland onto the Tibetan plateau during March 2008 has been well documented, sometimes even with actual unit numbers(12), the document received by TibetInfoNet appears to be the first source that expressly mentions the deployment of troops eastwards from the TAR. This indicates that the Chengdu military command, which is responsible for the eastern and southern part of the Tibetan Plateau had posted riot units in the TAR in anticipation of disturbances there, but realised, even just a few days after the violent clashes of Lhasa on 14 March 2008, that the real challenge in Tibetan areas came from the east. For a while, four military planes (probably fighter aircraft) overflew Kardze every day in an apparent attempt to intimidate the population.

Seven bigger armed forces control points were set up in these locations:

• Kardze Intermediate school, near Kardze monastery,
• Storage House compound - a grain market,
• Kardze post office,
• Kardze Water Storage Tank - on the way to Marathang,
• The hill behind the bridge to Tagchudha
• Near to the Yarteng nunnery; and
• Near to the Buramna (Pangrina) nunnery

Five smaller control points were also established to check the flow of outsiders coming into Kardze, namely at:

• Latse khar,
• Tsodha La,
• Henyag La,
• Zakhog Lam; and
• Nyarong Sewakha

Any person found passing through these points was questioned, searched, and their ID checked. They were also asked to provide referrals from the local government before being allowed to continue.

Finally, six check points were set up by police and army units around Kardze:

• Police check point at the Dukhangteng bridge
• Police check point at the Tagchudha bridge
• Police check point near Tsoudehphar guest house
• Police check point near the Yingwang Shau school
• Army check point at Tomatha
• Army check point at Kubumshab

Additionally, bunkers were erected on the roads and a large number of army and police patrolled Kardze town, stopping and questioning People at random.

Tibet is covered by the two military regions of Lanzhou (yellow) and Che...

A large number of the troops and the majority of the officers brought in by the authorities to repress the protest were Chinese (Han), with relatively few Tibetans in any position of authority involved. Two local Tibetans, Lolo (probably for Lobsang) and Chogyal, are described by the local population as having been notoriously zealous and aggressive in repressing the dissent and chasing protesters and sympathisers. Chogyal appears to be a minor officer, while Lolo's exact position is unclear.

Notes:
1: See: www.tibetinfonet.net/content/news/10988.
2: The authorities could probably not charge Tenzin Namgyal with any major offences since he appears to have been released from custody in May or June 2008.
3: A common Tibetan saying for taking a bet on something.
4: Ngoega is "Ngogha" which that the Tibetan Central Administration (CTA) in Dharamsala, India, listed as one of the victims of the 18 March 2008 protest in their 'Provisional list of known Tibetan casualties' published on 24 March 2008.
5: The International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) described Pema Dechen as one of the casualties of the demonstration in their book 'Tibet at a turning point' published on the eve of the Beijing Olympics.
6: He could be the "Jamyang/Jampel" which CTA listed as one of the victims of the 18 March 2008 protest in their 'Provisional list of known Tibetan casualties' published on 24 March 2008.
7: However, the document mentions at another place point that there were the number of 3000 protestors.
8: Note that this appears to contradict a report on the same events by the Washington DC-based Radio Free Asia (RFA) dated 20 March 2008.
9: Reports by CTA and the Tibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) published on 18 March 2008 state that the protest took place "in front of the Kardze county government headquarters", "in the main market square". RFA states that the protest started around 2pm.
10: TCHRD's short report dated 18 March 2008 on the event states that "paramilitary troops fired (...) from a rooftop".
11: This monk is possibly the "Tashi Gyaltsen" which CTA listed as one of the victims of the 18 March 2008 protest in their 'Provisional Provisional list of known Tibetan casualties' published on 24 March 2008.
12: See for instance 'Unrest in Amdo', www.tibetinfonet.net/content/update/101.