For Immediate Release Contact:

John Ackerly, Jigme Ngapo

202-785-1515

Tibetan Monks Arrested in Dispute Over Panchen Lama, Monastery Closed to the Public.

Washington, July 21, 1995 (ICT) - During the night of July 11, police arrested an estimated 20-40 monks from Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in Shigatse, seat of the Panchen Lama, Tibet's second highest religious leader, according to preliminary reports from sources in Shigatse.

Sources say that officials called a meeting with Tashi Lhunpo monks on July 11, the first day of the three-day Thanka Festival. During the meeting, officials demanded that the monks sign a proclamation denouncing their abbot, who was arrested several weeks ago for having given information to the Dalai Lama concerning the identity of the reincarnated Panchen Lama. After the monks refused to sign the proclamation, police returned during the night to make arrests.

The status of the arrested monks is currently unknown. The monastery was closed to the general public the following day and the police presence in the city was extremely heavy. Tourists in Shigatse on July 12 were told by police to return to their hotels and police arrived in the evening to check passports and confiscate film.

Tourists arriving two days after the incident were allowed to stay overnight in the city but were told by officials not to take photos near the monastery, which remained closed. A group of tourists was told by a manager of a travel agency in Lhasa that the Public Security Bureau had informed tour operators that the monastery may remain closed for more than a month. As of July 17, travel agencies are no longer being allowed to schedule overnight stays for tourists in Shigatse, a primary tourist destination.

Security had already been tight in Shigatse before this incident. Sources indicated that soldiers in full riot gear and armed with machine guns were patrolling the streets regularly weeks prior to this latest incident.

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The International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) was established in 1988 to monitor and promote internationally recognized human rights and democratic freedoms in Tibet. ICT is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization incorporated in Washington, DC.

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