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TIBET AT A TURNING POINT: THE SPRING UPRISING AND CHINA’S NEW CRACKDOWN
The local tradition of symbolic protests in the marketplace, usually involving flags and
leaflets, came into its own after the March 2008 uprising — and took place in a political
climate that was already deeply repressive. Confrontational hardline strategies
involving a stringent campaign of ‘patriotic education’ had been adopted throughout
Kardze TAP since spring last year (2007), leading to increased resentment and
frustration in the monastic and lay community.
Kardze was one of several places in Kham where pro-independence leaflets were
posted in public places on March 10, and there was an enhanced security presence
on the streets in the days before the first serious disturbance occurred on March 18.
Several reports have emerged of what happened that day, all naming more or less the
same group of core protestors who were killed or arrested, but each giving a different
version of events. Most agree that one or two individuals started a protest that
afternoon by shouting slogans in the main marketplace, and were quickly joined by
a large crowd. They were soon confronted by armed police or soldiers who broke up
the demonstration, killing four protestors, perhaps with live ammunition although
this could not be confirmed, and arresting at least 15.
The disciplinary master of Kardze monastery, Wangchen, in his forties, was reportedly
one of those who died in Kardze on March 18. Ngodup Phuntsog, and 40-year
old Ngoga and Pema Dechen, both from a nearby village of Sichu, were also killed in
Kardze on March 18, according to a report received by ICT.
One eyewitness said: “Extra security forces had arrived in Kardze in previous days [up
until March 19] to bolster security, and they confronted the protestors. They threatened
to shoot unless the protestors dispersed, and after that one section of the crowd broke
away and obeyed the order. The protestors remained entirely peaceful, not even a
stone was thrown. Police moved in on the remainder, beating them with clubs, and arrested
at least 12 of them. They beat people savagely, aiming at the head, and it is possible
that one or two may have been killed or mortally wounded on the spot, but
no-one knows exactly.”
The same evening troop reinforcements arrived and set up a new camp below town,
enforcing virtual martial law in the area. In the aftermath of the protest, security
forces conducted searches and made further arrests. Smaller protests were also staged
by the monks of Darje monastery on March 17 and by school students and laypeople
in nearby Rongbatsa on March 18.
The next major protest in the area took place in Trehor township under neighboring
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