DHARAMSHALA, April 13: The Chinese authorities in Tibet’s Ngaba County, a hotbed for protests against the Chinese regime and self immolation protests since 2009, have started preparations to quell any protests or large gatherings by Tibetans ahead of the 80th birthday of the exiled Tibetan leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama in July.
The Voice of Tibet reported that military convoys including armored trucks have been spotted in the outskirts of the County, where a 42 year old Tibetan nun Yeshi Khando died after setting herself ablaze last week.
The police have not yet handed over Yeshi’s body to her family for post death rituals and cremation.
A Tibetan source from Ngaba told the VOT that Chinese police and security personnel are seen in unusually high numbers around the county with some even taking up houses among civilians. “There are policemen in plain clothes in most of the cafes and restaurants keeping a close watch on Tibetans,” the source said.
It is estimated that there are at least ten thousand Chinese policemen and soldiers spread across the County.
The same source further said that the beef up of security and surveillance comes in the wake of Tibetans planning to celebrate the 80th birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama with grand festivity in the traditional way.
Known as Gyatoen, the 80th birthday of the Tibetan leader, vilified by China as “a monk in wolf’s clothing”, will be marked with festivities around the world by Tibetan exiles, supporters and admirers.
