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INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR TIBET
MACHU: MAJOR PROTEST LEADS TO CRACKDOWN
IN TOWN AND NOMAD AREAS BEYOND
MACHU (CHINESE: MAQU) COUNTY is a pastoral area in Kanlho TAP in Gansu,
north of Ngaba TAP in Sichuan province. As far as is known, this area has
not seen overtly nationalist protest since the crushing of armed resistance
in 1958.
At 6:00 pm on March 16, thousands of local people, led by a group of monks and students
from the county Tibetan middle school, joined a protest march in Machu county
town. They carried the Tibetan national flag and photos of the Dalai Lama and shouted
slogans for his long life, his speedy return to Tibet and the restoration of human rights
and religious freedom. The crowd attacked the entrance gate of the People’s government
building and set fire to the county public security office, broadcasting office,
traffic police office and post office, as well as shops owned by Chinese and Muslim
traders. Nineteen vehicles belonging to public security and traffic police were also
destroyed in the protest, which continued for around three hours. On March 17, hundreds
of soldiers despatched from the Gansu Military District imposed strict control
on the county.
Also on the evening of March 16, there was a large protest in Ngulra township, where
hundreds took over the town, replaced chinese flags with Tibetan flags and attacked
the buildings and vehicles of the local police station. This continued the following
day, when the local government building was set ablaze. The monks of Ngulra
monastery led their own similar protest in Ngulra Gongma township on March 17.
Simultaneous protests of a similar character took place on March 17 in Mema township
(led by Tsendrok monks), in Welben township (led by Sar monks), and in Tsenur
township, Chukama township and Makuk Tara town. In Welben, the Tibetan flag
flew over the township for several days until the security forces finally arrived on
March 23.
On March 19, a further 30 truckloads of soldiers were sent to the area. Four to five
truckloads of police and soldiers were sent to each township to begin arresting those
involved in the protests. Hundreds were arrested through early April, and reportedly
severely beaten, with several taken to the hospital suffering permanent disabilities.
A number of deaths were reported. There were also reports of serious food shortages
and compulsory blood donations in detention.
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