Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, Aug. 25: Chinese authorities have reportedly detained 48-year-old Tibetan monk Zega Gyatso of Tsang Monastery in Amdo, eastern Tibet, for allegedly sending money abroad. Nearly two months since his arrest, his whereabouts and condition remain unknown, Tibet Times reported.
Gyatso was taken into custody around July 2 in Xining, coinciding with celebrations of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s birthday. He had traveled to the city to seek medical treatment when Chinese security personnel detained him. Since then, he has been denied all contact with family members and acquaintances, and authorities have withheld any information on his detention or well-being.
While officials have reportedly accused him of sending money to India, sources close to his family reject the allegation and believe the arrest stems from political suspicion. His relatives in exile suspect that Chinese authorities are using the accusation as a pretext for targeting him.
Gyatso and his family have long been under heavy surveillance. Since the 2008 arrest of his younger brother, Khedrub Gyatso, their household has endured repeated harassment, including midnight summons, questioning over alleged foreign connections, and threats from security officers.
Born in 1976 to Sonam Wangdu and Tashi, Zega Gyatso is the eldest of six siblings. He first travelled to India in 2002, where he studied briefly at Sera Je Monastery in South India before returning to Tibet in 2003 to continue his education at Ragya School. Later, he joined Tsang Monastery, where he became a respected teacher of Tibetan language and the traditional five sciences at the monastery’s Leksheling School until his arrest.
