August 30, 2014
Introduction
A peaceful Tibetan protest was brutally supressed and the crowd fired upon by security forces in Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (TAP) on 12 August 2014. The Tibetans involved were protesting the arbitrary arrest of a local village leader, Wangdak, who had been detained the previous evening.
This was the beginning of a series of events that was to have a devastating impact on Wangdak’s immediate family – including five male relatives being shot, three of whom subsequently died in detention, and one female relative suffering brain damage as a result of torture.
Tibet Watch received information about the events in Kardze TAP at the time. The information was published by our campaign partner, Free Tibet, and also disseminated to the international media.
Due to the nature of the political situation in Tibet, there are risks and challenges involved in passing information to the outside world. In the aftermath of a protest, or similar incident, it is even more difficult – and also dangerous for the individuals involved. Internet and telephone lines are often cut and the security forces deal harshly with anyone they suspect of passing on information.
It is natural, under such circumstances, for information to take a long time to be passed on and also for misunderstandings or misinformation to circulate. For this reason, Tibet Watch continues to monitor all areas where incidents have occurred and seeks to obtain updates and clarifications once communication lines have been restored and security forces have withdrawn. Even when the troops are gone, people often fear ongoing surveillance and it can take some time for confidence and normal communication to resume. However, Tibet Watch believes it is of paramount importance for research groups to clarify misinformation and to provide a clear picture of events that take place in Tibet, even if the clarifications come some time after the incidents take place.
The situation in Kardze TAP remains tense, even though more than three months have passed since village leader Wangdak’s arrest and disappearance. It is still extremely difficult to obtain reliable information from the area but Tibet Watch has received some recent updates, which are included in this report. In addition to the updates, this report provides a comprehensive overview of the events in Kardze TAP, their impact on the local community, especially Wangdak’s family, and also commentary on the wider context.
