Dharamshala: - Lobsang Rinchen, a 21-year-old monk of Kirti Monastery in Ngaba has been arrested from his residential quarter on 9 May. He is a native of Tsamring Tsang house in pastoral division no.2 of Me'uruma township in Ngaba.

"He was arrested and taken away by Ngaba prefecture state security and public security officers to an unknown place without giving any proper reasons for his custody," Lobsang Yeshe and Kanyag Tsering, monks at Kirti Monastery in Dharamshala told TibetNet website.

"Monasteries and communities in Ngaba, especially Kirti monastery, is being kept under tight restrictions," they said.

"The campaign for patriotic re-education is underway at the monastery and the residents of monks are under overt surveillance. The movements of monks are being watched over the electronic devices placed in every corner of the house," they added.

Taipei: A group of Tibetans headed by Mr Dachompa, the president of Taiwan Tibetan Welfare Association, have submitted an urgent appeal letter to the Taiwanese government and other foreign representative offices based in Taipei about the crisis in Ngaba in northeastern Tibet on 9 May.

In their written petition, the Tibetans have appealed to the respective governments to take legal measures to immediately stop the crackdown on monks of Kirti Monastery and lay Tibetans in Ngaba.

It also asked them to encourage the Chinese government to allow freedom of press inside Tibet.

The Office of the President, Office of the Executive Yuan and the Office of Legislative Yuan have acknowledged the petition filed by the Tibetans. They have subsequently forwarded the petition to American Institute in Taipei, Representative office of Canada, Australian Commerce and Industry Office, Representative office of United Kingdom and India Taipei Association.

"The initiative is part of our efforts to call on the international community to help defuse the worsening situation in Ngaba," said Mr Dachompa.

Dharamshala: The Chinese government, in case of a threat scenario with India, now has the capability of deploying more than half-a-million troops and sustaining them for over a month on the Indo-Tibetan border, also called the Line of Actual Control, according to the Indian Express. Last month a presentation was given to PM Manmohan Singh by the Indian Army, disclosing the details of Chinese army capacities and the recent build-up of infrastructure in the so-called Tibet Autonomous Region.

As part of major infrastructure upgradation in Tibet and east Turkestan, China has plans to establish another 70.000 km of black-top roads, to extend the Qinghai-Tibet Railway from Golmund to Lhasa and thereon to Shigatse (close to Sikkim), to construct railways connecting Kathmandu, Myanmar, Bhutan, Pakistan and Central Asian republics as well as plans to build 11 new rail lines in Tibet and Xinjiang, which will ensure rapid deployment of troops or so called PLA.

Also included in the report was information that there are eight airfields in Tibet, including five operational ones; 18 air bases in Tibet and east Turkestan have the capability to put India under range of Sukhoi 27 aircraft.

Dharamshala: - The Kalon for the Department of Religion and Culture of the Central Tibetan Administration will pay his last respects to the late Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu in Tawang.

According to a report on the official media 'Tibet Net", Kalon Tsering Phuntsok has left Dharamsala on last Saturday for Tawang to attend the state funeral of late chief minister scheduled on 10 May. He will offer his condolences to the concerned officials and family members of the late chief minister on the occasion.

He will visit Tawang monastery to conduct prayer service on 11 May. He is also expected to meet with the Tibetan community. He will return Dharamshala on 14 May.

Mr Dorjee Khandu along with 4 of his colleagues died in a tragic helicopter accident near Tawang recently.

Dharamshala: The Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile has expressed its deep condolence over the sad demise of Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, who passed away in a tragic helicopter crash.

In a condolence message sent to the state chief secretary, the Tibetan Parliament said it was deeply worried and prayed for the safe return of the chief minister as the helicopter carrying him and his colleagues went missing for the last almost four days.

"The state of Arunachal Pradesh and the Tibetan people have had historical relationship, which was further strengthened and deepened during the tenure of Dorjee Khandu La's chief ministership. The Parliament remains highly appreciative of his leadership and concern," Speaker Penpa Tsering said in the message.

"The Tibetan Parliament in Exile expresses its deep condolence to the people of Arunachal Pradesh. We wish to convey our condolence to all the bereaved family members of the late chief minister," the message noted.

TAIPEI: A Parliament member of Taiwan and a long time Tibetan supporter, Ms Tian Qui Jin, organised a meeting between a delegation of Taipei-based Tibet support groups and a top Taiwanese official on 4 May.

The delegation, which includes members of Tibetan NGOs, raised the issue of Chinese government's repression on Kirti Monastery in northeastern Tibet during their meeting with Mr Zhao Jian Min, vice-president of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council.

In a letter submitted to Mr Zhao, the delegation urged the Taiwanese government to persuade the Chinese authorities to lift the military blockade of Kirti monastery, which has left 2 Tibetans dead and over 300 monks detained so far.

They also called for the immediate release of 300 detained monks and to allow the media to report the real situation in the region.

“As the Dalai Lama, as well as many governments around the world have demanded, China must show more restrain when handling the Kirti Monastery incident to avoid more casualties and to respect freedom of religion and it must stop illegally arresting monks,” TFOT president Chow Mei-li said in a statement after the meeting.

Dharamshala: - The Kashag of the Central Tibetan Administration on Wednesday condoled the sad demise of Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, who died in a helicopter crash in Lobothang near Tawang District.

In a condolence message, Kalon Tripa Prof Samdhong Rinpoche expressed "deep sadness and worry about the tragic demise of a young, honest and one of the best chief ministers of Arunachal Pradesh Dorjee Khandu."

"Moreover, he has brought immense development and improvement in the lives of the people of Arunachal Pradesh and the Tibetans living there in peace and harmony," Kalon Tripa said.

"Since his death is a great loss to both the Tibetans and the people of Arunachal Pradesh, I, along with my cabinet colleagues offer our prayers and heartfelt condolences to the people of the state and his family members," Kalon Tripa said.

A special prayer service will be organised by the Department of Religion and Culture at the Tsuglagkhang, the main temple in Dharamsala on 5 May, Kalon Tripa said.

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