By Kalsang Rinchen
Dharamsala, April 12 – Chinese authorities in Nyagrong County in the traditional Tibetan province of Kham have arrested a Tibetan named Abo Tashi, a 22 year old Tibetan monk of Guru monastery, for taking part in a protest rally.
Abo Tashi was accompanied in the protest by Tsering Gyaltsen, 19; Tsering Wangchuk, 22; of Guru monastery and Rinzin Dorjee from Jamchok monastery. The four rode bikes carrying the banned Tibetan national flag and chanted slogans that demanded the “return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet,” “independence for Tibet,” and “cease mineral excavation in Tibet.”
Following the protest, more than 500 local Tibetans joined a protest march in support of the activities of the four Tibetans. As of now there is no information as to where Abo Tashi has been taken.
Meanwhile, around 20 Tibetan students of a Tibetan school Sertha County were arrested after they staged a protest Saturday (April 10, 2010) and handed out pamphlets with contents that are banned by the Chinese government. The students, however, were released the same day.
In Machu County, Chinese authorities have arrested a Tibetan monk named Tashi Gyatso of Sarma monastery on April 8, 2010, a Tibetan source with contacts in the area told Phayul. The same source further said that the authorities have allegedly found equipment to receive Tibetan service of Voice of America radio from his quarter at the monastery.
