Three Tibetans including village leader arrested for discussing recently held Tibetan elections on WeChat

DHARAMSALA, Apr 1: Chinese security forces have arrested three Tibetans including a village leader in the traditional Tibetan province of Amdo for participating in discussions, especially on the recently held Tibetan elections in various groups on WeChat micro messaging app that were allegedly managed by people from outside Tibet.

The three Tibetans identified as Samdup, Rongshar and Lhadon were arrested by four paramilitary police at around 10:00 am (local time) on Mar 30 in Chugo village in Kyareng township in Matoe county of Golog prefecture, Amdo province.

“Local Tibetans suspect that they were arrested for taking part in various group discussions run by people from outside Tibet on WeChat micro messaging app that included discussions on the recently held Tibetan elections in exile,” Norway-based radio station Voice of Tibet (VOT) quoted a local Tibetan as saying.

Out of the three Tibetans, Samdup, 40 is the deputy leader of village number 1, 3 and 5 in Kyareng township. Lhadon of Namgyaltsang family is a mother of two children and the youngest of them, Rongshar has a wife named Yangkyi.

All three are being held at the county detention centre and authorities have not allowed their family members and relatives to meet them.