The 2008 Uprising:
The Chinese government has characterized the 2008 uprising in Tibet as a single violent incident. However, as this website shows, tens of thousands of Tibetans participated in hundreds of protests in every region of Tibet. Far from being a single incident, the nationwide uprising was the largest in Tibetan history. Every segment of Tibet's population participated in the uprising—youth, the elderly, monks, nuns, farmers, nomads, teachers, students, businessmen, and musicians. Although isolated acts of violence occurred, the vast majority of the protests were peaceful expressions of the Tibetan people's desire for freedom and independence. These protests were creative, often using symbolism and powerful imagery. The messages from protesters were clear: "Independence for Tibet,” “democracy,” “may the Dalai Lama Return to Tibet,” “human rights,” “solidarity,” and “unity."
336 Protests took place during the 2008 uprising
The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) estimates the number of Protests in 2008 to be 336. The Tibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) estimates at least "300 separate events of protest." On one occasion, even the Chinese government admitted "150 incidents" had taken place.
229 Tibetans were killed by Chinese security forces
The CTA estimates that 229 Tibetans were killed in 2008 by Chinese security forces. Some of those killed are pictured on this website. TCHRD documented 120 deaths. The Chinese government claims 3 Tibetan protesters killed and 18 Chinese civilians, all in Lhasa.
6,810 Tibetans arrested as a result of the uprising
The CTA estimates at least 6,810 Tibetans were arrested as a result of the 2008 uprising in Tibet. TCHRD estimates about 6,500.
Uprising Archive:
Uprising Archive was created in the wake of the 2008 uprising in Tibet with the hope that the world would never forget the sacrifices made by those who participated. It is an independent project with the commitment to preserve and make available high quality content. As time goes on and it becomes harder to find media and information about the uprising, this website will ensure the sacrifices made in 2008 are never forgotten.
It is our hope that Uprising Archive will be useful for researchers, students, journalists, historians, and others who want to understand the scale and importance of the 2008 uprising in Tibet.
The photos and video on UprisingArchive.org were obtained from individuals who were in Tibet during the uprising, reporters, news websites, bloggers, and organizations; including theTibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy, Kirti Monastery in Exile, Free Tibet Campaign, and Students for a Free Tibet. Some photos were also obtained by website authors directly from sources in Tibet.