Tensions continue to rise under the Chinese crackdown as reports from Tibet bring news of further arrests and lengthy prison sentences.
Khenpo Khedup, popularly known as Chamdo Khedup, an abbott from Boeyak monastery in Chamdo was arrested on April 13. It is believed he may have been arrested for initiating special prayers for Tibetan’s who have died for the Tibetan cause. He is currently held in prison in Chamdo. Authorities have had the abbott on their watchlist since November 2011 and he was imprisoned for a month in 2013.
Rinchen Wangdu, of the Pelhatsang family and Phurtse of the Chajigtsang family were arrested on March 28 in Trido township, Nagchu, Sog County and taken into custody. They are accused of sharing politically restricted content via messaging apps on their phones. Three laymen, Phurbu, Trindu and Dadak of the same township have been accused of the same offence this April and arrested.
Radio Free Asia reports that a monk named Adey was arrested on March 28 at Sog County’s Drilda monastry. He has been held by police as a “person of interest” in the investigations surrounding the painting of “Tibet is independent” in Tibetan on an iron bridge in the area. Since this arrest another monk named Tendar has also been arrested in connection with this charge.
Rigsal, leader of Mokhyim Village, was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Photo: TCHRD
Village leaders Ngangtak, 51 and Rigsal, 31 of Mokhyim village, Driru County were sentenced to 10 years in prison on January 14. The exact charges of these sentences have not been revealed, but the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy reports the men were sentenced for their alledged failure to maintain stability in the area. Residents of Mokhyim village are accused of taking part in a number of protests last year, including refusing to raise Chinese flags on their rooftops. Ngangkak is additionally accused of “instigating fellow villagers against the Chinese authorities”. The two men were arrested and detained on November 24, 2013. Another man from the same village, identified as Trigyal, was sentenced to 13 years in prison. Further details are as yet unknown.
Trigyal was sentenced to 13 years in prison.
Photo: TCHRD
A Tibetan youth has also been arrested in Mani Ghego town, Dege County, after a video of his solitary protest on 8th April appeared on facebook. The video shows the youth scattering prayer flags and shouting “long live Gyalwa Tenzin Gyatso (Dalai Lama), Tibet needs freedom”. The name of the man is still unknown but he is thought to come from neighbouring Kyegudo County in Yulshul prefecture, Qinghai Province.
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