Shooting in Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefrecture: 11 Dead, 3 Missing

The dead include three Han, including one police officer. After this took place, three Tibetans went missing and reports indicate that they could be dead.

Wangzha was jailed for refusing to arrange a song and dance performance to welcome county officials to his village during an inspection. The women in the village reported that they had been harassed by the county officials when they danced, so they collectively refused and that caused a conflict. In addition, this village’s horse racing festival was declared illegal by the county government. Wangzha wasn’t detained then, but his present arrest is believed related to the above events.

The village leaders was secretly detained on Monday August 11. On Tuesday August 12 Tibetans went to demand his release. A large number of county police were dispatched. They fired guns and used tear gas. Wangzha’s son and younger brother Sangbo were both shot twice. That evening the police went to Danmaxuba village and arrested many Tibetans. Police vehicles entered the village and many Tibetans fled to the mountains. The old people, women and children left behind were interrogated and beaten by the police. After that the area’s communications were shut down.