By Choekyi Lhamo
DHARAMSHALA, Aug 5: The Chinese officials in Ngaba County have reportedly arrested a 45-year-old monk named Konmay from Trotsik monastery on July 20, according to two sources from Kirti monastery based in Dharamshala. The sources however, could not provide any other information including the cause of arrest.
The detained monk is a senior monk appointed to a disciplinary role, which required him to supervise the daily functioning of the school and discipline of the monks in the monastery. Konmay had joined the monastery at a young age.
The sources also revealed that another monk in Ngaba named Lobsang Tenzin was released from prison after completing 10 years of his 13-year sentence, but any news of his health could not be ascertained as of now.
Lobsang Tenzin is from Shigligabma Village in Cha Township of Ngaba County. He was a monk at Kirti monastery, and was accused of involvement in the death of Lobsang Phuntsok, who self-immolated on March 16 in 2011 as a form of protest against Chinese oppression. The Ngaba Prefecture Intermediate People’s Court sentenced Lobsang Tenzin for 13 years in prison on August 28 that same year.
Lobsang has been released before the completion of his sentence. However, he will likely serve three years of deprivation of political rights, which bars him from practicing free expression, association, assembly, publication, vote, among others. However, there is no direct confirmation whether these conditions still apply following his early release.
