Dharamsala, November 15 – As US President Barack Obama arrives in Chinese city of Shanghai today on his maiden trip to China, there is an apparent fear among the Chinese authorities of fresh protests by Tibetans. According to Tsering, a monk of Kirti monastery here, the Chinese government had set up check posts and barriers at several points in Ngaba region, that last year saw major spur of anti- China protests.

Tsering further said that the authorities are strictly monitoring the internet and telecommunications network in the area and people are required to show their identity cards at various checkpoints that have been specially built ahead of Obama’s visit.

Meanwhile, the family members and relatives of a Tibetan named Dolma Namgyal of Adupontsang family, say there is no information about their groom who was arrested from Chengdu in Sichuan province soon after last year’s protests. Namgyal was charged with having links with "outside separatist forces of the Dalai clique." Tsering said the old parents and sister of Namgyal are facing difficulties meeting their ends as Namgyal was their sole bread earner.

The family and relatives of Jamyang Phuntsok, a monk of Kirti monastery, have not heard about him since his arrest on March 3, 2009, according to Tsering who added that Jamyang’s family members are not so hopeful of his being alive. Jamyang was accused of disseminating information about Tabey, a monk who immolated himself on February 27 this year. Chinese official new agency Xinhua reported on March, 2009 that Jamyang had confessed to his charges.