Tibetan monk arrested during peaceful protest in Ngaba

By Tsering Dhundup

DHARAMSHALA, April 6: A Tibetan monk named Pema hailing from Surima village in Ngaba County was arrested during a peaceful protest along the renowned ‘Martyr’s Road’ on March 26, reported by Tibetan news outlet Tibet Times.

According to a source inside Tibet, Pema, a monk from Kirti Monastery, embarked on a solo protest carrying a large portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet, while shouting slogans. Pema’s protest was immediately halted, and he was arrested . 

Following Pema’s arrest, security measures have been intensified, with a significant deployment of armed forces in Ngaba town and around Kirti Monastery, the same source said. Over the years, the restive Ngaba region has seen numerous protests including a string of self immolations, many of them monks, protesting against the Chinese rule and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama .

Pema is a student of Buddhist philosophy and served as a teacher in the preliminary Buddhist study section at Kirti Monastery. Pema’s full name, family background, and his current whereabouts following his arrest remain unknown, raising concerns about his well-being and the extent of repercussions he may face at the hands of Chinese authorities.