Mongolia imposed a four-day state of emergency in the capital, Ulan Bator, after the opposition Democratic Party claimed fraud in last weekend's elections and violent protests broke out. Military vehicles patrolled the streets, five people were killed, and the headquarters of the "victorious" Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) was ransacked and torched. Clashes also took place in the country's second city, Darkhan. (DPA, July 1) The Wall Street Journal fears the unrest "could slow the country's economic transformation and delay investment plans of Western mining companies that have been waiting to push through deals."

Police in Tibet arrested 16 Buddhist monks and accused them of involvement in bombings on April 5, 8 and 15 in villages near Qamdo. All three bombings involved homemade explosives and caused only property damage, authorities said. (NYT, June 6) While the claims were picked up by the NY Times, ongoing harsh repression in Tibet is noted only by the India-based Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD). On May 30, Chinese security forces arrested twelve monks of Dingri Shelkar Choedhe Monastery during a night raid for resisting the "patriotic re-education" campaign—meaning they had refused to denounce the Dalai Lama. (TCHRD, May 31)

Our May issue featured William Wharton's book review of A Tibetan Revolutionary, memoirs of Bapa Phuntso Wangye—a Chinese Communist Party militant who became a dissident and advocate of autonomy for his native Tibet. Our May Exit Poll was: "Will Tibet explode again during the Beijing Olympics? Is there potential for an alliance between the Tibetans and Han Chinese workers and peasants against the Beijing bureaucracy? How about between the Tibetans and the Palestinians?" We received the following response:

Tashi YangtsoFrom the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, May 21:

Three Tibetan nuns from Tehor Nyagay Nunnery, in Kardze County were arrested by the County Chinese security forces for staging a peaceful protest, according to reliable sources within Tibet.

The Chinese government is refusing to issue visas to thousands of Hindus seeking to make the traditional summer pilgrimage to a Tibetan mountain said to be the home of Lord Shiva. The Indian foreign ministry, which is working with Chinese authorities to make arrangements for almost 1,000 pilgrims selected by lottery, said Beijing had informed New Delhi it was not ready for the visitors—presumably due to the ongoing unrest.

From the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, May 19:

The Chinese authorities had arrested a revered religious figure in Kardze, Tibet according to reliable information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD).

Monks protest at Labrang MonasteryMass arrests of monks and their supporters continue in Tibet and the neighboring Tibetan ethnic regions of the People's Republic of China. Ten monks were arrested May 12 at Khenpa Lungpa Monastery for defying the "patriotic re-education" campaign, in which authorities demand ritual denunciations of the Dalai Lama in surprise raids on monasteries. Six monks were arrested May 13 at Woeser Monastery, and two lay Tibetans arrested there May 14. Both monasteries are in Garthog township, Markham county, Chamdo prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region. (TCHRD, May 15) On May 7, thousands of People's Armed Police and Public Security Bureau personnel surrounded Labrang Monastery, Xiahe County, Gansu province, detaining around 140 monks. The next day, monks from the monastery held a protest to demand the release of those arrested. All but seven of those arrested were released after the protest. (TCHRD, May 9)

Some 300 Tibetan protesters, including many Buddhist monks and nuns, tried to storm the Chinese Embassy in Nepal May 8, kicking the metal gates and throwing banners inside the fortified compound before police pushed them back. More than 200 were detained. "We want our freedom. Stop China," they chanted as they skirmished with police. (AP, May 8) The protest came as the Olympic torch made the final, televised ascent along Mount Everest's icy ridge, crossing from Nepal into Tibet. (AP, May 8)