Sangdak Kyap detained after 3 years in hiding in connection with self-immolation

By Lobsang Tenchoe

DHARAMSALA, Oct 13: A Tibetan man accused of assisting in providing safe passage to a self-immolator’s body to avoid Chinese takeover of the body was detained by Chinese authorities after three years on the run.

Sangdak Kyap was detained by Chinese authorities on Sept 29 from his home in Sangchu, in the traditional Tibetan province of Kham, a Tibetan source told Tibet Express.

The 46-year-old, along with three other Tibetans, Jinpa, Dorje Tashi and Dorje Namgyal were accused of offering safe passage to a 2013 self-immolators body to his home to avoid Chinese authorities’ takeover of the body. Barring Kyap, others were arrested by the Chinese authorities and sentenced to two and half to three and half years in prison.

Kyap, on the run since, returned to his home following the release of others, thinking the situation has subsided. But the Chinese authorities raided his home and arrested him.

Jamkyi, Kyap’s wife went to the detention center to plead with the Chinese authorities to allow her to meet him but her pleas fell to the deaf ears of the Chinese authorities, the same source added.