International Campaign for Tibet

Three Tibetans shot dead on first day of Chinese New Year

Yonden, one of three Tibetans who were shot and killed by police in Draggo during a protest on January 23, 2012.

January 23, 2012

Three Tibetans were killed and several injured when police opened fire on Tibetans who gathered to protest in Draggo, Kardze (the Tibetan area of Kham) today, the first day of Chinese New Year. The escalating crackdown in Draggo follows the circulation of leaflets in the area saying that Tibetans should not celebrate the New Year in 2012 because of the self-immolations, and declaring an intention by the unnamed author of the leaflets to set fire to themselves at the time of Tibetan New Year (Losar, which falls on February 22).

The Chinese state media confirmed that one Tibetan had died (Xinhua, January 23) in the protest. More Tibetans may die of their injuries following the incident today as Tibetans who were wounded by being shot or beaten by police are too frightened to seek medical treatment at the local government-run hospital due to concerns of arrest.

Tibetans gathered in Draggo (Chinese: Luhuo) county town in Kardze (Chinese: Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan, at around 12 noon-2 pm today (January 23) following a buildup of tensions in the area. According to Tibetan exile sources in contact with Tibetans in the area, the local authorities tightened control in the area after the dissemination of leaflets. Although full details of circumstances leading up to the protest are not known, several sources said that police had adopted harsh measures to counter the impact of the leaflets, and that this has led to people from the three main nomadic areas of Draggo gathering in the town. Tibetans shouted slogans calling for freedom and saying that they could not live under Chinese rule in Tibet.

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