World Tibet Network News Monday, May 18, 1998

Dharamsala, 18 May - According to a reliable source from Tibet prison guards at Drapchi prison opened fire to subdue a group of some 80 Tibetanpolitical prisoners who demonstrated at a function in Drapchi prison on May 4, 1998. Earlier, news of firing at 150 political prisoners in Drapchi prison was reported on May 1.Some 80 Tibetan political prisoners from Drapchi prison's Unit 5 and 6 disrupted a function commemorating Youth Day on May 4 in Drapchi prison by raising slogans and pasting posters around the prison calling for independence of Tibet. The protesters include 30 female political prisoners. Following the demonstration, the People's Armed Police force surrounded the prison and prison guards opened fire to disperse the demonstrators. TheChinese authorities are keeping total secret of the incident and no visitor is being permitted to visit Drapchi prison. It is believed that a number of political prisoners were shot and seriously injured. The number of casualties is not known yet. The prisoners involv

ed in the demonstration are being interrogated and are kept under strict control.

Earlier on May 1, at a function to celebrate the International Labour Day,Chinese police opened fire at some 150 Tibetan political prisoners,according to a confidential letter sent from Tibet. The protest was hel dwhen Chinese official hoisted number of Chinese national flags around the prison compound. This display of Chinese authority and rule apparently caused dissension among the prisoners and led to the demonstration. "We were dismayed and saddened by not seeing a single Tibetan flag" Karma Sonam and Karma Dawa reportedly told prison officials during interrogation, according to a reliable source. These two Tibetans were accused by the Chinese authorities for instigating the demonstration. Karma Sonam and Karma Dawa are from Kham Bathang and Kham Derge respectively. The shooting occurred when the political prisoners flew the Tibetan national flag and demonstrated within the prison compound. Shortly afterwards, the officials of the Public Security Bureau and People's Armed Police force stormed into the pr

ison and arrested all of the 150 demonstrators in a swift and forceful reaction to the demonstration. It is reported that the Chinese authorities have set a new rule for prisoners in Drapchi prison to recite Chinese national an them every Monday as part of "patriotic education".

The May 4 incident falls on Monday when prisoners were required to pay respect to the Chinese national flag and sing their national anthem.In a separate incident, Chinese border police opened fire on a group of 12 Tibetan youths at Dram on the Chinese border on April 26, 1998, seriously injuring two people. The incident occurred when 12 Tibetan youths were attempting to cross the border. The two youths were reportedly taken to a hospital and the remaining 10 were arrested and taken to a prison in Shigatse, most likely in Nyari prison. It is reported that the Chinese authorities have tightened the border over the past few months following the announcement by Tibetans that they intend to undertake a non-violent Satyagraha movement to end China's repression in Tibet and salvage their cultural identity. It is speculated that this incident at the border was to prevent such undertakings.

Issued by - Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, Dharamsala