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The outrageousness of this image from last year’s anniversary of the 2008 protests which I just came across today made me want to share this with you. A truck painted with the giant slogan, “We pay respect to the people of Ngaba” and filled with heavily armed paramilitary police.

Paramilitary police on patrol during the 2008 protest anniversary.

The old adage “a picture is worth a thousand words” comes to mind. In this case, the photo blatantly contradicts the words. Words which, by the way, are written in big Chinese letters under smaller Tibetan letters. Maybe the slogan is meant to be reassuring to the local Chinese and not to the local Tibetans at all.

Currently, there is a standoff between Tibetans in Ngaba and the Chinese armed police. The police have completely surrounded Kirti Monastery housing about 2500 monks, and local Tibetans have gathered around the monastery in an attempt to protect the monks and stop the Chinese authorities taking the monks away. The situation is critical and everyone is terrified.

The Dalai Lama issued a special appeal today saying that if allowed to go on, it may become explosive with catastrophic consequences for the Tibetans.

Exile lama Kirti Rinpoche made a rare public statement urging the Chinese leadership to address the situation and appealing to the local Tibetans to continue practicing non-violence.

ICT has issued detailed reports on the crisis at Kirti Monastery on April 11 and on April 13. Please continue to check back on our website for further information and updates.