Kirti monastery monk detained after solitary protest, another detained for unknown reason in restive Ngaba County

DHARAMSALA, Dec 29: A Tibetan monk was taken in detention by Chinese paramilitary police following his solitary protest challenging Chinese rule in Tibet and another monk was also detained for unknown reasons in restive Ngaba County in the traditional Tibetan province of Amdo.

Lobsang Trinley staging a lone protest in Ngaba County.
Lobsang Trinley staging a lone protest in Ngaba County.

Lobsang Trinley, a 21-yr-old monk of Kirti monastery in Ngaba County staged a solitary protest on the main road at about 4:40 pm (local time) on Dec 26. Carrying a portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama draped in Tibetan national flag Lobsang Trinley marched on the main road shouting slogans calling for long life for His Holiness the Dalai Lama and freedom in Tibet.

Within 3-4 minutes, Chinese paramilitary police arrived at the site, severely beat up Lobsang and took him into custody.

The same evening Chinese police detained another monk of Kirti monastery identified as Lobsang Lungrik, aged about 20 from his monastic quarter. The reason behind Lungrik’s sudden detention remains unclear as police provided no reason for his arrest. His whereabouts and condition also remain unknown.

Losang Trinley, son of Norden and Chogsum hails from nomadic camp no. 4 and Losang Lungrig and Losang Lungrig, son of Reyrey and Lhamo Dron hails from nomadic camp no. 5 in Meuruma Township in Ngaba County.

An undated photo of Lobsang Lungrik.
An undated photo of Lobsang Lungrik.

The detention of the two monks follows the death of Tsepe Kyi, a 20-yr-old Tibetan woman who set herself on fire at about 2 pm (local time) in Meruma Township in Ngaba County in Amdo. Tsepe Kyi succumbed to her burn injuries within minutes into her fiery protest.

While confirming the detention of the two monks, Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, a Dharamsala-based rights group today condemned the actions of Chinese paramilitary forces and called on the Chinese authorities to release the two monks.

“TCHRD condemns the actions of Chinese paramilitary forces that have engaged in unnecessary violence and disproportionate use of force by beating up local Tibetans who had gathered there to peacefully express their discontents and aspirations. TCHRD calls on the local Chinese authorities to immediately release Losang Trinley from detention since he was merely exercising his right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression. There is no legitimate ground for his secret detention. Furthermore, the local PSB officers must make public the reasons behind the arbitrary detention of Losang Lungrig who was picked up from his monastery without any reason. TCHRD urges the individuals, NGOs, and the UN human rights mechanisms to press on China to respect the basic rights and freedoms of the Tibetan people and dissuade from subjecting the monks to torture and inhuman treatment in detention and to account for their psychological and physical well-being,” TCHRD said.

 

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