Dharamshala — Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, launched a new book, titled "2008 Uprising Experiences: Roar of truth at the cost of one’s life," in Tibetan, authored by writer Zumshul Jamyang Thupke, at the hall of the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, Gangkyi, Dharamshala, on June 12, 2026.
This book provides a detailed account of the demands made by peaceful Tibetan protesters during the 2008 uprising and explains how Tibetan monks from Labrang Monastery protested in front of the international media to denounce China’s illegal occupation of Tibet, call for the independence of Tibet, and demand the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
During the event, Zumshul Jamyang Thupke, Jamyang Jinpa and Jinpa Gyatso, who participated directly in the peaceful protest gave speeches sharing their experiences.
The author, Zumshul Jamyang Thupke, explained that he wrote this book to pay tribute to the Tibetan patriots who protested against the CCP’s oppressive policies in Tibet and called for Tibetan independence as well as the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet. He added that he had written in particular about the Tibetan monks from Labrang Monastery who protested in front of the international media, noting that it was also on the advice of His Holiness the Dalai Lama that he had decided to record the truth.
Jamyang Jinpa stated that on March 14 and 15, 2008, thousands of people gathered in Labrang and staged a large protest against the Chinese government and the CCP. Then, when international journalists visited Labrang Tashi Kyil Monastery on April 9, 2008, we made a large Tibetan national flag and demonstrated in front of the international media to denounce China’s illegal occupation of Tibet, call for Tibetan independence, and demand the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet. After our protest, Chinese police arrested the demonstrators and brutally tortured them; many of them lost their lives.
"What I am proud of is that, even though the Chinese police and authorities tortured us, we kept our protest movement nonviolent; even though more than 157 Tibetans set themselves on fire without causing the slightest harm to the Chinese police, we respected the teachings of Buddhism and His Holiness the Dalai Lama," he added.
Jinpa Gyatso also recalled his experience of protesting against China’s illegal occupation of Tibet, call for Tibetan independence, and demand the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet, in Labrang Monastery, on April 9, 2008.
