REUTERS/David Gray

12 monks arrested for opposing “patriotic re-education” campaign (TCHRD)
The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy has reported that on 19th May a Chinese ‘work team’ arrived at Dingri Shelkar Choedhe Monastery in Tingri County, Shigatse Prefecture, TAR, to conduct the “patriotic re-education” campaign. Twelve of the monks, led by Ven. Khenrab Tharchin, openly opposed the campaign and refused to denounce the Dalai Lama. The monastery was then closed, the monks were confined to the compound and cell phones were confiscated. Later, the same evening, armed forces arrived and forcibly took away the 12 monks. The whereabouts and condition of the monks is not known. Read TCHRD press release

More than 80 nuns detained in Kardze in May (ICT)
An ICT report detailing the recent dissent by nuns in Kardze TAP in Sichuan. There have been at least eight separate protests since more than 50 nuns were detained after a demonstration on 14th May. More than 80 nuns have now been detained in the unrest in Kardze, that has continued despite the severe ‘anti-separatist’ crackdown in Tibetan areas upheld even since the earthquake struck Sichuan on 12th May. Read ICT report

Tibet still closed to foreign press despite post-quake openness (RWB)
Reporters Without Borders press release. “The government is allowing the foreign media a remarkable and unprecedented level of freedom in Sichuan,” RWB said. “It should be extended to the Tibetan regions which the international press has not been able to visit freely since the Lhasa riots on 14 March. The government is clearly trying to prevent the foreign media from confirming the few reports emerging about arrests of Tibetans and reeducation campaigns being carried out since then.” Includes quotes from foreign journalists who have been turned back when they tried to enter Tibetan areas. Read full press release

Beijing reminds foreigners to behave during Olympics (Reuters)
The organizers of the Beijing Olympics have reminded foreigners coming to China for the Games to behave, warning them that everything from protesting without permission to sleeping outdoors is banned. Entry would be banned to anyone who was intent on “subversion”, those with mental illnesses, with sexually transmitted diseases and people who wished to engage in prostitution. “Foreigners must respect Chinese laws while in China and must not harm China’s national security or damage social order,” the rules say. “Not all of China is currently open to foreigners, and if foreigners do not have permission they should not go into areas not opened,” it reads. (Currently the official 9 page document is on www.beijing2008.cn but it is written only in Chinese.) Read full article