DHARAMSHALA, February 6: Following deployment of armed forces in Drango during the Chinese New Year, China has now stepped up its military presence in Kardze County, one of the most restive Tibetan regions, as the Tibetan New Year draws near, according to the US funded Radio Free Asia.
Citing a source, RFA reported that paramilitary troops in large numbers have arrived in Kardze County, and that most of the government office in the county are now guarded by these forces. A large number of armed forces patrolled in the streets of Kardze on the Chinese New Year. Troops are currently stationed at a newly built army base and local grain market.
Despite the Chinese authorities’ pressure on Tibetans to celebrate the Chinese New Year, Tibetans ignored to celebrate, a Tibetan source said. “They are also not sure whether they will celebrate Losar [the Tibetan New Year] next month, because they feel this would be disrespectful to Tibetans who have lost their lives” in protests against Chinese rule.”
All the roads leading to the protest sites of 2008 and 2009 were under surveillance and military patrolling, according to sources.
Last week, large convoys of armed Chinese forces including tanks were seen heading towards Drango in eastern Tibet, where a major protest was witnessed on the Chinese New Year two years ago.
Tibetans are required to produce public benefit access card and their government issued identity cards frequently as they move around. Public gatherings around restaurants and tea stalls are also restricted and vehicles owned by local Tibetans are stopped for random checking.
Hundreds of Tibetans had come out on the streets in Drango on January 23, 2012, the first day of Chinese New Year, calling for Tibet’s freedom and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile. Chinese security forces retaliated by firing indiscriminately on unarmed protestors killing and injuring several people. The protests flared after local Chinese Public Security Bureau officials began to arbitrarily arrest Tibetans on suspicion of their involvement in the appearance of leaflets and posters around the town following the wave of self-immolations in the region. The posters had warned of more Tibetan self-immolations if the Chinese government did not listen to Tibetan concerns.
Since 2009, 125 Tibetans have set themselves on fire in Tibet to protest against the China’s occupation of Tibet and its hard-line policies.
