News and Views on Tibet

New cases of arrests and detentions reported from Lithang

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March 18 – Following a solo protest that was later joined by bystanders in Lithang County on 15 March 2008, the situation in Lithang is known to be very tense with authorities’ imposing severe restriction on the movement of the people in the area, according to confirmed information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD).

When the protest spread to other parts of Tibet in the recent few days, the Chinese authorities in a precautionary measure, sent reinforcement into Lithang County as the place witnessed mass protests last August spearheaded by Ronggye A’drak. On 15 March 2008, Barchog Lopoe, a 37 years-old teacher cum manager of Lithang Nyingma Monastery (one of the 113 branches of Lithang Gonchen Monastery) in Lithang County, Kardze “TAP” stopped a convoy of military trucks from marching forward by standing in the middle of the road. Barchog Lopoe shouted slogans calling for free Tibet and Dalai Lama’s long life, which was later joined by bystanders. Barchog Lopoe was arrested soon after his act by the Public Security Bureau (PSB)officials and took away to the County PSB Detention Centre. The bystanders and local public followed him towards the detention centre and demanded his release. Sensing more protest by the public, the PSB officials released Barchong Lopoe the same evening. Currently he is under constant vigilance and people of Lithang county fear that he might get re-arrested anytime.

On 16 March, a 52-year-old monk, Akyi, originally from Youru Village, Lithang County, and of Lithang Gonchen Monastery, started a sit-in protest on the main road of Lithang which was later joined by lay people of the county. Akyi was known to have been arrested while demonstrating and released soon after a brief detention in the county PSB detention centre following intervention from village and county heads. The authorities of Lithang County are known to have circulated a notice telling from venturing out of their home in the coming days as more military trucks were brought into the area. Schools, offices and shops in the area remain closed in the area.

In a similar incident on the morning of 17 March, witnesses confirmed to the Centre that many military tanks and reinforcement of PAP were brought into Lithang County with street looking completely deserted except for the military trucks, tanks and troops. Communication lines in the area were known to have been cut off since the evening of 16 March with complete restriction imposed on the people’s movement outside their home. Dagay, 23-years old, a nomad from Youru Village in Lithang County while taking her sick mother for a vaccination was barred by the military troop from going to a clinic yesterday. Dagay in fury protested against the security personnel and was known to have been taken away to the PSB Detention Centre. Following villagers call for his release Dagay was released on the yesterday’s evening.

The situation in the area is known to have been tense with restriction clamp on the people’s movement. TCHRD will continue to monitor the situation and will update as and when more information surface from the area.

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