Dharamsala, August 31 – Chinese authorities in Sershul County in Kardze (TAP), Prefecture, Sichuan province, have arrested 20 Tibetans including two minors since Saturday in connection with two separate incidents of anti China protests, according to the Voice of Tibet radio.
The arrests came after a group of Tibetans brought down and tore into pieces a Chinese national flag on the eve of the inauguration of new hall of Tashi Gephel ling monastery in Chaktsa (spelled as pronounced) division (Tib:depa), in Zakay (spelled as pronounced) township, monk at Sera monastery’s Jadrel Khangtsen, Sonam Dakpa, told the radio.
On the day of the inauguration on August 28, some residents sang melodies in praise of the exile Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and other politically banned songs at a gathering that was attended by over a thousand people from the area.
“I was told that they wrote ‘independence for Tibet’ and other pro – Tibet slogans on the torn pieces of the Chinese flag and replaced it by a Tibetan national flag,” Sonam said on phone.
No arrests were made on the day. However, the Chinese police started investigating into the matter and hunted down suspects from August 29.
Tharshul division’s Dhamchoe, 14; and his brother Sonam Yonten, 10; were among those arrested for singing songs in praise of the Dalai Lama. Also arrested in connection with the flag-tearing and singing incidents were Chaktsa monastery’s Dechen Trinlay Rinpoche, disciplinarian Thambo, Yagar, Dawa, Nemel, Loyak, Thinlay Nima, Dagyam, Thupo, Sonam, Tharshong, Sheba and six others from the two divisions, Chaktsa and Tharshul.
According to the source, the situation in the area is tense with the authorities sending in troops to quell any sign of dissent. “At the moment, the atmosphere is very tense. People have seen about twenty military trucks in the area,” he added.
Those arrested are currently detained at the County prison in Sershul.
