The current situation prevailing at Kirti Monastery in Ngaba in
northeastern Tibet is extremely grim because of the stand-off
between the Chinese military forces and the local Tibetans. The
monastery, housing approximately 2,500 monks, is completely
surrounded by Chinese armed forces, who at one point prevented
vital food and other supplies from entering the monastic
compound.
The local Tibetans fearing that this siege on Kirti Monastery is a
prelude to large scale detention of the monks have surrounded the
soldiers blockading the monastery and have filled the roads so as
to prevent Chinese trucks and vehicles from either entering or
leaving Kirti.
The local Chinese blockade of Kirti Monastery began on 16 March
2011, when a young Tibetan monk at the monastery tragically set
himself on fire as a way of observing the third anniversary of the
widespread peaceful protests that shook Tibet in 2008. Instead of
putting out the flames, the police beat the young monk which was
one of the causes of his tragic death. This act created huge
resentment among the monks, which resulted in this massive blockade
of Kirti Monastery.
I am very concerned that this situation if allowed to go on may
become explosive with catastrophic consequences for the Tibetans in
Ngaba.
In view of this I urge both the monks and the lay Tibetans of the
area not to do anything that might be used as a pretext by the
local authorities to massively crackdown on them.
I also strongly urge the international community, the governments
around the world, and the international non-governmental
organizations, to persuade the Chinese leadership to exercise
restraint in handling this situation.
For the past six decades, using force as the principle means in
dealing with the problems in Tibet has only deepened the grievances
and resentment of the Tibetan people. I, therefore, appeal to the
Chinese leadership to adopt a realistic approach and to address the
genuine grievances of the Tibetans with courage and wisdom and to
restrain from using force in handling this situation.
The Dalai Lama
April 15, 2011