DHARAMSHALA, August 29: In continuing crackdown at the Gyalrong Tsodun Kirti Monastery in Barkham, eastern Tibet, another Tibetan monk has been arrested by Chinese security personnel on unknown charges.
Lobsang Rabten, 34, an official with the Monastery Management Committee of Tsodun Monastery, was detained on August 19, according to the Dharamshala based rights group Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy.
His whereabouts remained unknown for almost ten days following his arrest.
“After sustained inquiries by friends and relatives, it has emerged that Rabten is now being held at Barkham (Chinese: Ma’erkang), capital of Ngaba Prefecture,” TCHRD said. “However, there is no information on the location of his detention and the reasons for his detention.”
Lobsang Rabten hails from Tsukde nomadic village in Tsodun and is the son of Tsering Popo and Dolma.
The Tsodun Monastery has come under increased surveillance and severe crackdown following the self-immolation protests by three of its monks since March this year.
On March 30, Chime Palden, 21 and Tenpa Dhargyal, 22, set themselves on fire protesting China’s continued occupation of Tibet in Barkham. Chime Palden died a day after his fiery protest while Tenpa Dhargyal passed away a week later.
On July 17, Lobsang Lozin, 18, self-immolated near the monastery’s main prayer hall and began walking towards the local Chinese office in flames before falling down. Lobsang Lozin succumbed to his injuries the same day.
Five Tsodun monks were earlier arrested this month in night raids by Chinese security personnel.
On August 12, Lobsang Sengye, around 19 years old, Yarphel, and Namsey, both around 18, were arrested in night raids from their monastic quarters while Thubwang Tenzin , 20, and Asung, 22, were arrested from their quarters on August 16.
All the arrests were made on unknown charges and their whereabouts and wellbeing remain unknown till date.
The exile base of the Kirti Monastery in Dharamshala earlier told Phayul that Chinese security personnel, armed with weapons, have been carrying out raids every night in each and every quarter of the monks in the Monastery. The monks are being “beaten and interrogated at gunpoint.”
Gyalrong Tsodun Kirti monastery is located some 80 kilometers to the north of Barkham town and is one of the biggest Gelug monasteries in Gyalrong region.
