A Buddhist monk died of starvation due to a 12-day blockade of food and water to major monasteries in Lhasa by Chinese forces, Tibetans in exile reported Wednesday. Lama Thokmey died Monday in the Ramoche monastery in Lhasa, according to the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD).
The Chinese military have not allowed food and water into the monastery since March 14 and fires teargas into it frequently, the TCHRD said, citing reliable sources. Many monasteries in Tibet face shortages of food, water, medicine as well as restrictions on movement, DPA reported Thursay via BuddhistChannel.tv.
The TCHRD said it is getting increasingly difficult to get details due to the restrictions placed by Chinese authorities. China’s ban on foreign journalists traveling to the protest areas makes it extremely difficult to verify information.
The European Union on Tuesday urged China to stop using force against Tibetan protesters and to lift restrictions to movement and information. Slovenia’s Ambassador Andrej Logar, who currently represents the seven-nation bloc at the UN body, told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, “We urge Chinese authorities to refrain from using force against those involved in unrest and call on demonstrators to desist from violence.”