Source: tibet.net, 08-05-2011

PARIS: Supporting His Holiness the Dalai Lama's appeal to the international community over the Chinese government's repression on Kirti monastery in Tibet, the Tibet Working Group in the French Parliament had lodged an urgent representation to the French foreign minister and the Chinese ambassador in Paris.

The Tibet Working Group had drew the attention of the two officials on the deteriorating situation borne out of military blockade of Kirti monastery, which left 2 Tibetans dead and over 300 monks detained.

In an appeal letter to foreign minister Mr Alan Juppe on 3 May, Tibet Working Group's president Lionnel Luca said, “Our country cannot remain indifferent to the situation of the monks of Kirti monastery and the Tibetan population of the area. I would, therefore, like to know the position of France on this situation.”

Similarly, Mr Luca also sent a letter to Chinese Ambassador Kong Quan asking him about the condition of over 300 monks detained from the Kirti monastery.

The Tibet Working Group reaffirmed His Holiness the Dalai Lama's concern that the situation at Kirti monastery would become explosive if force is used in handling the crisis.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama also made an appeal on 15 April to express his concern over the prevailing situation in Kirti Monastery and requested the International community and the foreign governments to persuade the Chinese leadership to exercise restraint in handling the situation. 

The Chinese government has sealed off Kirti Monastery by deploying armed security forces to crackdown on Tibetans and stopped the essential supplies to the monastery. The local Tibetans fearing the risk of massive detention of the monks are confronting the soldiers who are enforcing the blockade of the monastery.  In the subsequent crackdown, many Tibetans were severely beaten and arrested. 

The death of Phuntsog, a 21-year-old monk from Kirti monastery who set himself on fire on 16 March this year to protest China's repression in 2008 led to the blockade of monastery by the Chinese authority. 

The Tibetans gathered at the monastery, who were mostly elders, were severely beaten by the police as they attempted to resist the police from taking away 300 monks in 10 military trucks on the night of 21 April.