By Choekyi Lhamo
DHARAMSHALA, Sept 1: 53 more Tibetans in Dza Wonpo region have been detained last week, in addition to the recent news of detention of around 59 Tibetans on Aug. 22, according to a report published Wednesday by Tibet Watch. The cause of such mass detention is similar as before, which is the looming suspicion of possession of photos of the exile leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama, as confirmed by the Dharamshala rights group.
The latest arrests have targeted local residents as part of the government’s campaign against any possession of banned images of respected spiritual leaders. A local source told Tibet Watch that among those detained, a lay man, woman and monk have been released on Tuesday, whereas the other 50 detainees will be kept in custody for a month.
The mass arrests were undertaken after a People’s meeting held by the Chinese Communist Party officials on Aug 25. The meeting summoned locals aged above 18 who were ordered to comply with a five-point list of regulations, according to sources. The area was then put under military lockdown and every household was searched by security personnel.
“A search operation in the monastery and village [to track and trace Tibetans with contacts in exile and images of the Dalai Lama on one’s phone] is still underway. From 31 August, groups of 20 monks at a time have been summoned for interrogation session and forced to assure the police that they will not indulge in activities like contacting Tibetans outside Tibet, that they abide by laws of the country, and that they will not spread any sensitive information on social media,” the source told the rights group on the condition of anonymity.
Moreover, local Chinese authorities have also appointed two monks of the Monastic Management committee at Dza Wonpo monastery to oversee the movement of monks and further monitor individuals who refuse to participate in the official programs and operations. The amount of surveillance seems to have intensified during the campaign and growing fear of informants amongst Tibetans. In addition to massive deployment of armed forces in and around the town, the Chinese authorities have reportedly recruited civilian spies from both the village and monastery.
2 Responses
As with the earlier arrests, these latest arrests and detentions in Dza Wonpo have targeted residents who are under suspicion of keeping images of the Dalai Lama and keeping in contact with Tibetans in exile. A local source has stated that three of those detained, a layman, a woman, and a monk, were released on 31 August, while the remaining 50 detainees will be kept in custody for a month. Everyone aged above 18 was summoned to the meeting and ordered to comply with a five-point list of regulations.
According to our source, four Tibetans, including a monk, one woman, and two men are said to have been released on 31 August but locals believe that the remaining 50 will be detained for at least a month as the Chinese police fabricates charges against them. Chinese police also made fresh regulations effective 31 August where they conducted daily interrogation sessions with 20 Dza Wonpo monks during which they were coerced into proving themselves loyal to the Chinese Communist Party. During the interrogation, the monks had to prove their innocence in activities deemed illegal by the Chinese government.