STOP PRESS:Agency Reports Shooting of Kham-Tibetans in Pro-Independence Demonstration, Aba, Kham-20th March
A report from Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA) details 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. 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

STOP PRESS:Tibetan Nomads Stage Pro-Independence Protest, Phonkur-Khanlo, Amdo-19th March
A confirmed report from the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) documents 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 states 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 will continue to stage the protest. TCRHD reports that "The present situation at Ma Ngoe Township is known to be very tense and volatile". Source: TCHRD-Wednesday, March 19, 2008 17:54
STOP PRESS:Kham Tibetans Killed During Pro-Independence Demonstration, Kham-18th March
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 Tibetas 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. "According to sources, two of them were identified as Gonpo Nadul, Nyiga and the name of the third victim is still unidentified at the moment". TCHRD reports 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

STOP PRESS:Monks Stage Another Pro-Independence Protest, Khanlo,Amdo-18th March
A report just in 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 hilside 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.

STOP PRESS:Thawa Ghongma-Killed by Chinese Security Forces,Amdo-16th March
Images Courtesy of 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 16th March.

STOP PRESS:18 Tibetans Killed Following Tibetan Independence Protest Khanlo, Amdo-16th March
Images Courtesy of Phayul
A report issued by phyaul.com (March 18) states 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, a reliable source told Phayul.com. According to the sourcemore than 80 Tibetans were arrested during the demonstration. Tibetans began staging demonstrations calling for “Tibetan Independence”, completely ignoring China’s deadline for protestors to give up by Monday midnight or face the consequences.

STOP PRESS:Fresh Tibetan Independence Protest by Amdo Ngaba Kirti Monks-16th March

According to a report, received 16th March from the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, sometime around 11.30 AM (Beijing Time), thousands of Tibetan monks of Amdo Ngaba Kirti Monastery, in Kham (so-called Ngaba County (Ch: Aba), Ngaba "Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture" Sichuan Province), gathered for a prayer session. Shortly after this session, the monks erupted into spontaneous protest by raising slogans calling for "Tibet independence", "return of the Dalai Lama" and "Freedom for Tibet".

The most updated report just in, reveals that monks at the monsastery of Amdo Ngaba Kirti, home to about 2800 monks, joined by lay Tibetans raised the banned Tibetan national flag, and shouted slogans calling for "Bod Gyalo" (Victory to Tibet), "Long Live the Dalai Lama". Chinese security police burst into the Monastery campus and lobbed tear gas on the Tibetan protestors. Security forces were blocking the protestors from exiting the Monastery. No information

A similar protest, by the monks of Taktsang Lhamo Kirti Monastery in Kham (so-called Dzoge County (Ch: Zoige) Ngaba "TAP" Sichuan Province) yesterday afternoon, truckloads of troops were sent into the area to disperse the protesting crowd to put the situation under the control. In yesterday's protest at Ngaba, more than ten monks were reportedly arrested and around five others injured following a violent crackdown by People's Armed Police (PAP) on the peaceful protestors.
Source:(TCHRD)

STOP PRESS: Click Updates Here for Video Of Pro-Independence Demonstration in Labrang 15th March
Amdo Tibetans in Pro-Independence Demonstration 14th March 2008
Images Courtesy of Tibetan Center For Human Rights and Democracy
Place: Labrang, Amdo Region Eastern Tibet
Time:Around 14.00 Hours (Beijing Time)
Date: 14th March 2008
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

This protest is one of a number of demonstrations demanding Tibetan independence, that took place during March this year, and is a courageous and forceful reminder to the Tibetan Government-in-exile (TGIE), that the political aspiration of the Tibetan people remains Independence. One trusts on this occasion Ms.Kate Saunders and the International Campaign for Tibet will ensure the political objectives and stated demands of this event are reported accurately.

Meanwhile, as Tibetans are making these sacrifices, perhaps Samdhong Rinpoche may care to reflect upon his recent comments. On the subject of the protests inside Tibet he treacherously stated to ABC News 15th March:

"If we are unable to remain non-violent, the strength of our movement will be lost....If they become violent then how can we support? We appreciate their intention, their determination. But we cannot appreciate their action."

or his staggering betrayal of the Tibetan struggle, made on 15th February:

"We are not seeking independence,rather those minimum rights that are protected under the People's Republic of China's constitution and its law on regional ethnic autonomy"

Independent Tibet Network wishes to express its solidarity with the Tibetan people in their struggle for national liberation.