Tibetan Monk Tortured in Chinese Custody Remains Bedridden Two Years Post-Derge Crackdown
By Tenzin Chokyi
DHARAMSALA, 5 August: Gonpo Tsering, a 46-year-old Tibetan monk and administrator at Yena Monastery in Derge County in eastern Tibet, remains in critical condition more than two years after he was hospitalized following his detention by Chinese authorities during protests against the Kamtok (Gangtuo) hydropower dam project, according to information released by the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT).
Gonpo is currently receiving treatment at West China (Huaxi) Hospital in Chengdu. Sources cited by ICT said he is bedridden, unable to stand or speak, and is being fed through tubes. He is reportedly unresponsive to family members and no longer recognizes those around him. Chinese authorities have also imposed strict surveillance at the hospital, restricting visitors, closely monitoring those caring for him, and prohibiting photographs or videos from being taken or shared.
Gonpo was detained during a large-scale crackdown that followed mass protests in February 2024 against China’s planned Kamtok hydropower dam in Derge County. The demonstrations drew monks and local Tibetan residents who opposed the project because it would inundate villages, historic monasteries, and sites of deep religious and cultural significance, including Yena and Wonto monasteries.
Following his arrest, Gonpo was reportedly subjected to severe physical abuse and torture while in Chinese custody, leaving him with life-threatening injuries. He was subsequently rushed to West China (Huaxi) Hospital in Chengdu, where he has remained in critical condition for the past two years.
According to rights groups and Tibetan sources, Chinese authorities arrested more than 100 Tibetans during the crackdown, including monks from Yena Monastery and local residents accused of organizing or participating in the demonstrations.
Among those arrested was Jamyang Lekshe, the head of Yena Monastery, who was later sentenced to four years’ imprisonment at Ya’an Prison on charges of “gathering a crowd to disrupt public order.” Gonpo Tsering received a three-year sentence on similar charges, although reports indicate he required emergency hospitalization after suffering severe injuries while in custody.
Although construction of the Kamtok Dam and the planned relocations have reportedly been paused, sources told ICT that Chinese authorities continue to exert pressure on local monastic communities. Monks at Yena and Wonto monasteries have reportedly been compelled to sign written pledges promising not to oppose government construction projects and to comply with official directives.
The Kamtok Dam is part of China’s broader plan to build 13 hydropower dams along the upper reaches of the Drichu (Yangtze) River. The project was approved in 2012, and construction began in 2018.
According to a July 2024 communication from UN special rapporteurs to the Chinese government, local Tibetans were not meaningfully consulted during the planning process, and critical project information was unavailable in the Tibetan language.
Despite repeated attempts by local Tibetans to raise their concerns, officials abruptly informed residents in February 2024 that relocation was imminent without providing adequate compensation or resettlement plans. The announcement heightened anxiety among affected communities and ultimately triggered the rare protests in Derge, where Tibetans demonstrated against the project despite the risk of a government crackdown.
