News and Views on Tibet

Tibetan philanthropist blames Covid policy for his grandson’s death

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Nangchen Tashi's daughter Yangzom (Photo/TCHRD)

By Choekyi Lhamo

DHARAMSHALA, Dec. 21: Renowned Tibetan philanthropist Nangchen Tashi has accused the China’s zero-covid policy for his two-year-old grandson’s untimely death, according to WeChat messages cited by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy. According to the report, Tashi and his family members from Kyegudo (Ch: Yushu) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture were taken to a facility on November 30 even though the family members were healthy, but the grandchild contracted the virus in the facility and was denied proper medical care within the quarantine centre.

Businessman Tashi on a Wechat group named the ‘Quarantine cell no. 131 to 176’ said that his calls for a doctor to treat his grandchild were ignored. “I made calls asking for a doctor but to no avail. Due to the indifference of the authorities, my grandson passed away. They procrastinated in providing medical care. They were following orders from above. The lower-ranking officials are all hand in glove with the higher officials. They always claim to work for the nation but this is how they operate,” Tashi said on December 6 through the group, advising others on the group to not take their offspring and elderly folks to these centers as they face the greatest risk of contracting the virus during quarantine.

“When I talk about the well-being of society and people, I am called a thief and liar by these politicians. As for me, my intention has always been to help the society, if not, I make sure not to harm it. When people are suffering, I have to say something,” Tashi further wrote, criticizing the head of covid prevention center Nyima Tashi as well as the city’s mayor, and Chinese leaders in positions of power.

The mother of the new-born, Yangzom, also weighed in on the mismanagement that led to her son’s death; she accused the prefectural head Nyima Tashi and the mayor Yangtso for the death and for using ethnic harmony only as lip service to the community. “They oppress the weak and abuse power for selfish reasons. They forcibly took all my family members to the quarantine centre even though we were not sick. They killed a child through forcible detention. Right now, the child’s cold body is in the hospital and we are barred from taking custody of the body. Who will take responsibility for the life of this two-year-old child? Who will take responsibility for this grief and tragedy?” she further wrote online. 

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