Three more Tibetans arrested in connection with Farming Boycott Movement
Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) received confirmed information from multiple sources that three more Tibetans from Kardze region were again arrested by Chinese authorities on 21 March 2009, under the on-going farming boycott movement in the Tibetan region of Kardze in Sichuan Province.
Dhunka Dorjee, age 40, Tsering Wangrak, age 40 and Pachen, age 30, all from Khang-Nyin-Nang Village, Lhoe-pa Township, Kardze County, Kardze “Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture” (“TAP”), Sichuan Province, were arrested by Kardze County Public Security Bureau (PSB) forces on alleged charges for their involvement in the farming boycott movement. Sources also told TCHRD that, an unidentified Tibetan fled towards mountain nearby when PSB forces came to arrest him. Earlier on 19 March 2009, a 27-year-old Jampa Dhondup, a monk of Tse-Tsang Monastery was arrested over his involvement in the same farming boycott movement.
At present, situation in Kardze region is very tense as civil disobedience movement to boycott farming continuous to gain momentum as a defiant protest against China’s repressive policies. Streets were filled with posters declaring their vow to boycott farming activities in the region. The local Chinese authorities called a public meeting and warned that “anyone who defies farming will face arrest and their land will be officially confiscated.”
Moreover, most of the Tibetan youths in the Kardze region were arrested and detained by the Chinese authorities for participating in the peaceful Pan-Tibet protests, year ago, which spread to all parts of Tibet since 10 March 2008. Even if people in Kardze wishes to till the lands, there is hardly any manpower left behind to do the farming work.
Kardze have been continuously leading the protest movements against the Chinese government since March 2008. Hence the Chinese government deploys a huge number of People Armed Police (PAP) to reign in protestors should any untoward incidents take place. At the moment the number of PAP forces outnumbered local inhabitants in Kardze area. Out of desperation, Tibetans in the Kardze gave up tilling their fields as a sign of defiance against the Chinese authorities. The older Tibetans profess that “they have no regrets, if their sons and daughters lay down their lives and face death for the cause of Tibetan people and their nationhood.” They elders only hope is to have a glimpse of the Dalai Lama
