Report: Chinese police open fire on Tibetans in Tawu

Celebration of His Holiness birthday in Tibet despite strict restrictions

A Tibetan monk is in critical condition and several others, including a brother of a self-immolator, have been severely injured after Chinese security forces opened fire and used tear gas to disperse a crowd gathered to mark the 78th birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Tawu region of eastern Tibet.
The incident occurred when hundreds of Tibetans from Tawu joined monks from the Nyatso Monastery and nuns from the Geden Choeling Nunnery on the morning of July 6 to offer prayers to mark the 78th birthday of the Dalai Lama at a nearby hill used for making and prayer offerings.

A convoy of Chinese People’s Armed Police arrived at the site and immediately surrounded the area, baring the gathered Tibetans from offering prayers. As the face-off continued, Jangchup Dorjee, a monk from the Nyatso Monastery and younger brother of Palden Choetso, a nun from Geden Choeling nunnery who self-immolated on November 3, 2011, tried to drive past the security blockade. Chinese security forces retaliated by firing upon the unarmed crowd, critically injuring a monk Tashi Sonam from Nyatso Monastery, who was shot in the head. He is currently believed to be in a critical condition in a hospital in Chengdu. Tear gases were also fired on the gathered crowd injuring several Tibetans.
Others who were severely injured in the live fire include Jangchup Dorjee and Tsering Dhonudp from Nyatso Monastery, Nyendak from Mikya town, Tashi and a nun from Geden Choeling Nunnery.The situation remains tense. Large numbers of armed police have been deployed surrounding the Nyatso Monastery where no one is allowed to either enter or leave.