For the second time, they reveal to international media the human rights offences that occur daily inside Tibet. Last year, when they found themselves in front of cameras, they were afraid of the ramifications of telling the truth. Now, as guests of Tibetans in exile, including the Central Executive Committee of Dhomay (CED), and safely in India, there is no reason for them to fear physical harm.
A press conference took place at the Tibetan Government-in-Exile complex in Dharamshala, India. Mr Dhundop, vice president of CED, said, “We didn’t hear about this news on the radio or on TV when these five monks arrived here; then we knew their story. We are very happy to see these heroes face to face, and we heartily appreciate their bravery and sacrifice.”
On 9 September 2008, international media was allowed a brief visit to Labrang monastery, where monks Jamyang Jinpa, aged 24 (from Sangchu county in Eastern Tibet), Lobsang Gyatso, also 24 (from Vezi county in the Tso-ngon region), and Jigmey Gyatso, aged 23 (from Bha county in the Tso-ngon region), revealed human rights offences in interviews. The monks became national heroes inside Tibet for openly telling the international media about human rights violations in Tibet.
The five Tibetan national heroes were joined by two additional monks who had also been involved in peaceful protests in Sangchu district, eastern Tibet: Tibetan monks Gedun Gyatso, aged 39 (from Sangchu county in Eastern Tibet), and Kalsang Jinpa, aged 39 (from Sangchu county in Eastern Tibet). The five monks handprinted the flag used in this demonstration.
Two of the five monks shared their personal narratives of the events of 9 September 2008 and 29 March 2008, when they were involved in peaceful protests against Chinese rule over Tibet.
Monk Lobsang Gyatso gave a general description of the current situation inside Tibet and how they made the peaceful demonstrations last year.
Jamyang Jinpa described the brutality of Chinese oppression in Tibet and the extreme destruction of the environment, including the dumping of nuclear waste on land inhabited by Tibetans. He said, “Population transfer has made us a minority in our own country. We have been colonised by the Chinese, and Tibetans are forced to acknowledge a fake Panchen Lama.”
He continued, “There is no religious freedom in Tibet; we are forced to denounce His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who is at the core of our heart, from whom we seek refuge and salvation.”
They spoke about their plans for further involvement in political issues: “Now, we don’t have any specific plans to be involved with the Tibetan cause, but as human beings, when the opportunity arises to serve our people and our country, we will do our best to be helpful to Tibetan religion and culture.”
The spokesman for the five continued, “The Tibetan issue is still unresolved, and we feel sadness that Tibetans inside Tibet and those outside are not united. Still, we are grateful that we have arrived and blessed to have the opportunity to meet with His Holiness the Dalai Lama.”
Mr Dhundop praised the five men: “In 1959, we lost our capital city, Lhasa, to Chinese invaders, and many Tibetan heroes and heroines sacrificed their lives for Tibetan freedom. But, shockingly, the younger generation that was raised under the Chinese flag remains committed, to the utmost, to freedom.”
Lobsang Gyatso said, “Tibetans need the help of the international community, and the global community must be strong and united—like Tibetans inside Tibet.”
