DHARAMSHALA, January 26: In reports coming out of Tibet, another Tibetan was killed and several others seriously injured in police firings in eastern Tibet earlier today. This is the third bloody incident this week when unarmed Tibetan demonstrators have been fired upon by Chinese security personnel.

At around 12 noon local time, a Tibetan man named Tharpa put up signed flyers around Zu To Bharma Shang, declaring that until the demands of the Tibetans who have self-immolated are met, Tibetans will never abandon their struggle and continue to organise more campaigns.

Since March 2011, 16 Tibetans have set their bodies on fire demanding the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile and protesting China’s continued occupation of Tibet.

In a release today, the exile base of Kirti monastery said that Tharpa had himself gone around the town putting up the flyers with his name clearly signed on it.

“You, Communist Chinese, come and arrest me,” Tharpa had challenged.

Following the wave of self-immolations, numerous flyers and pamphlets have been reportedly cited in Ngaba and Drango areas, stating that many more Tibetans were ready to set their bodies on fire.

Two hours later, at around 2 pm local time, Chinese security personnel surrounded Tharpa’s home and arrested him. A crowd of gathered Tibetans outside the house stopped the Chinese police from taking him away saying that “all local Tibetans will rise up in protest” if Tharpa is arrested.

Following the confrontation, the Chinese security personnel resorted to violent force.

“The Chinese security personnel used fire arms, killing one Tibetan on the spot and injuring many more,” the release said citing sources in the region.
Over ten thousand Tibetans from the nearby regions of Zu Toe and Zu Mey (upper and lower Zu) have reportedly arrived at Bharma Shang as the situation continues to remain very tense.

Earlier this week, at least a dozen Tibetans were killed after Chinese security personnel fired indiscriminately at unarmed Tibetan demonstrators in two separate incidents in Drango and Serthar.

Amnesty International, in a release yesterday had urged China to allow independent monitors into areas of protest, saying that it was “worried about further violence and bloodshed" in Tibetan areas.