Increased tension does not deter nuns from demanding what they want

DHARAMSALA, 15 July - During the first week of July, coinciding with the 61st birth anniversary of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, eight nuns from Garu nunnery, north of Lhasa, staged an independence demonstration in front of the Tibetan capital's Jokhang temple, said a Tibetan businessman who arrived in Nepal this week.

The demonstration barely lasted for two minutes before the ever-vigilant members of the Public Security Bureau (PSB) and the People's Armed Police (PAP) pounced on the nuns, beat them and drove them to prison, the businessman said.

The businessman said he does not know the names of the nuns nor the prison they were taken to. But he said the nuns were either taking advantage of the birth anniversary of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, which falls on 6 July, or the World Cleanliness Day, which this this year fell in the first week of July.

The businessman said that the situation in Tibet, and especially in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa, was tense, fuelled by China's recent ban on the photos of the Dalai Lama in all public places, including monasteries and temples. "It takes uncommon courage to demonstrate in such a tense situation," the businessman said, commending on the courage of the eight young nuns.

This is the fifth known demonstration against Chinese rule in Tibet this year. The first known demontsration took place in Kanze, a part of eastern Tibet incorporated into the Chinese province of Sichuan. On 8 March, seven monks from Dhargay monastery in Kanze distributed Tibetan independence literature in front of the PBS and in a neighbouring village. Five of them were later released, though two of them are still in prison.

The second known demonstration took place on 7 May when monks of Ganden monastery physically resisted the authorities' attempt to pull down Dalai Lama photos from the monastery. Two monks were wounded and about 62 were arrested in this incident.

The third expression of opposition took place in May when Sera, Drepung and the Tsuglhakhang voluntarily closed to show their support of the protesting Ganden monks. These places of worship remained closed to the public for three days until they were forcibly opened by the authorities.

The fourth protest happened in June in Lhasa when two nuns staged a demonstration. They were easily overcome by the PSB and put in prison.

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Last updated: 12-Aug-97