Ever since Chinese authorities enforced martial law in Tibet on March 14, some monasteries have been cut off by armed soldiers and police. While temples have no access to food and water, there have been reports that a monk had been starved to death in his monastery under seige.
According to Kelsang Gyaltsen, Senator for the Tibet government-in-exile, the reports have been confirmed by inside sources. The monk's name was Thokmey. His body was cremated in his hometown, Garze on March 26.
Kelsang Gyaltsen revealed that the monk was starved to death on March 23. "His body was brought to his hometown on March 25 and was cremated yesterday. He was from Jiangzi County in Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze. He was 32 years old."
Kelsang Gyaltsen also said that the Chinese army has been sealing off the monasteries for more than two weeks, cutting off their access to water, electricity and food. "The monks in the monasteries are in terrible situations," he said.
"It's very difficult for the monks since they have neither water nor electricity. Laypeople have attempted to bring food and water but were denied access. Their lives are on the line. The monk who passed away yesterday was the first to starve to death."
As for the latest conditions in Tibet, Gyaltsen said that few Tibetans could be found in the streets in Lhasa because the authorities gave the army such orders as "police may open fire if two and more Tibetans come together."
"Nobody dares to come out because the police could open fire if more than two Tibetan people gather together," said Gyaltsen. "Each family can only send out one person to buy supplies. So these days you can rarely see any Tibetan in most supermarkets, like those around the Jokhang Temple."
According to the Tibet government-in-exile, approximately 140 Tibetans have been killed and 500 have been injured seriously. In addition, close to 1,300 Tibetans have been imprisoned and suffered ill treatment.
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