April 25, 2008
Mongolian police arrested Kalsang, a Tibetan lecturer, for painting “Free Tibet” on the walls of the Chinese Embassy in Ulaan Baatar. He also threw photographs (showing police brutality against Tibetan protesters in Lhasa) over the embassy fence. Kalsang’s brother was shot dead by armed Chinese policed during the recent riots in Lhasa. Kalsang was released by authorities, but after a press conference in Ulaan Baatar, Kalsang and his family have gone into hiding. As a last resort, he contacted me through my website. Here are his letters to me, sent in the last 36 hours. I’ve deleted parts that give away where he is hiding.
Dear Mikel Dunham
My name is Kalsang. I
live in Mongolia. I am Tibetan. I am 34 years old. I fled from the
Tibet as a political refugee to India and lived in Dharamsala. Now I
hold my identity Card issued by the Government of India as my passport.
In 2001, living in India, I graduated the Sarha Buddhist University on
the Dharamsala Distt kangra H.P. Then in I have been practicing as a
teacher for 1 year in Katmandu, Nepal. Then in 2003 within the frames
of an exchange program organized between the Tibetan Foundation and
Mongolian Notional University, I came to Mongolia and worked 2 years as
a lecturer. Since 2005 year, I taught Tibetan language to Mongolian
lamas \ Buddhist monks\ in the Zuun Khuree College of the Dash-Choilin
Monastery. At present, I am teaching Tibetan in the ‘Etugen’
University. In 2004 I married a Mongolian women and our marriage is
legal in full conformity with the laws and regulations of Mongolia. Now
we have a daughter of 2.5 years old.
On 14th March 2008 my
brother Lobsang Jinpa from Kham (Minyak) was shot to death by some
Chinese soldier during the Lhasan rebellion for freedom and sovereignty
of Tibet. He was just holding high the national flag of Tibet.
The
Radio Free Asia and the Government of Tibetan solidarity committee
after becoming aware of this fact put [the story] on the Tibetan web
site. The Chinese tried to conceal all the facts from the world
community.
On 20th March 2008 I learned about death of my
brother when I called on telephone my relatives still in Tibet. I was
in deep shock and sorrow to hear of such tragedy. It seemed to me like
my heart was cut through by knife. I could not just sit so I manifested
my outrage and protest before the embassy of the China four times. My
demonstration became breaking news and broadcasted by Mongolia TV
Broadcasters like C1 and TV5, and published through the local
newspapers. This news is still up to date. I continue my protesting and
claims for justice in peaceful manner. 
On 15th April 2008, when I was in the University I was arrested and
interrogated by Mongolian police in the detention chamber. The Mongolia
police warned me that if I should repeat this manifestation I would be
either deported or put in jail.
On
17th April 2008, I called my sister in Tibet. She said that Chinese
police had come to our home and deeply frustrated my parents by asking,
“Where is your son? They answered that they had not seen me for the
last twenty years since the last contact was lost. They also were brave
enough to say: “Our son is lost, this is all that we know, and you can even have us killed, but we can’t say anything more.”
The Chinese embassy in Mongolia asked the Chinese police and mass media to provide information about me.
If I am deported from Mongolia I shall be deported to China and not back to India and this troubles me indeed. If
I should be deported to China-my last hopes to see my family shall be
lost forever. When I was in India, the Indian police once deported one
Tibetan to Chinese police and those Chinese tortured him to death. The
same story may possibly happen to me…
After
publishing this fearsome news my family members remain in anxiety and
not aware of what is going to happen, so I truly hope that you, Sir,
shall find the ways and means to help us out. I am delighted having
reached you at last.
Yours faithfully,
Dharma
Kalsang family Mongolia Ulaanbaatar
Here are photographs Kalsang sent to me, taken while he was painting the walls of the Chinese embassy in Mongolia.
I immediately contacted friends in
Washington to see if this guy’s story was on their radar. It was not. I
wrote back to Kalsang, asking for more information. Here is his reply
sent to me last night:
Dear Mikel Dunham,
Thank
you for your email. At 3pm on April 21, 2008, a press conference was
held during which I talked about my brother Lobsang Jinpa’s murder,
Tibetan freedom and human rights. I am now in a difficult situation
which makes me unable to stay at my home.
I also know that the Chinese Embassy is angry after the conference. i
consider that the Chinese Embassy may pay money to some Chinese men or/
and Chinese hybrid Mongolias to kill me. I am afraid because i do not
know when the persons dispatched by the Chinese Government will assault
to murder me. Hence, we are in an absolute danger. At present, my wife, daughter and I are hiding in…
thank you
yours in the Dharma
kalsang family
mongolia ulaanbaatar
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP: The State Department has been notified. Hopefully, Kalsang will be protected through diplomatic channels. This post will be updated for further developments. In the meantime, contact your representatives or NGOs dealing with Tibetan issues to let them know you care about Kalsang and his family. And please forward this to your friends.
