Lobsang Lhundup from Nekhor Monastery in Lithang shouted “Long Live the Dalai Lama,” “Independence for Tibet,” “Swift return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet” and “No Losar celebration this year” slogans before being arrested by Chinese authorities on Sunday
By Phurbu Thinley
Dharamsala, Feb. 16: Chinese authorities on Sunday arrested a Tibetan Buddhist monk from Nekhor Monastery in Lithang County in Kardze ‘Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture’ (‘TAP’) for staging a peaceful solo protest demonstration; according to Dharamsala based Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy.
“At around 12 noon (Beijing Standard Time) yesterday, Lobsang Lhundup, a monk of Nekhor Monastery staged a peaceful solo protest demonstration at the main market square of Lithang town for about 15-20 minutes before being forcibly detained by the Public Security Bureau (PSB) and People’s Armed Police (PAP),” TCHRD quoted “a reliable source” as saying in its press statement.
According to the source, Lobsang chanted “Long Live the Dalai Lama,” “Independence for Tibet,” “Swift return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet”’ and “No Losar (Tibetan New Year) celebration this year” slogans before being arrested.
According to eyewitnesses’ accounts from the site of the demonstration, Lobsang, who was limping with the help of a walking stick, was forcibly subdued and taken in a police vehicle after his brief protest at the main market.
Lobsang Lhundup is known to have been taken to the Lithang PSB Detention Centre for further interrogation.
38-year old Lobsang Lhundup was born to a nomadic family in Gemo Village in Lithang. He later became a monk at the Nekhor Monastery, which serves as the most important village to four adjoining villages in the region.
Lobsang’s family shifted their base from Gemo village to Lithang town a year and a half ago.
According to the source, Lobsang Lhundup returned home after completing annual religious prayers at Nekhor Monastery a fortnight ago.
Lobsang Lhundup visited India in 2002 for the Kalachakra teachings at Bodhgaya, which was cancelled owing to the Dalai Lama’s ill health. He stayed until the next teaching in January 2003 and returned to Tibet after the teaching the same year.
In its press statement, TCHRD has expressed “deep concern” over the detention and safety of Lobsang.
Calling for his immediate release, the centre says Lobsang’s act “constitutes nothing more than the peaceful exercise of freedom of expression and thought”.
The centre calls on the Chinese authorities to “ensure that Lobsang Lhundup is not subjected to ill treatment in the detention centre,” as is often a common practice for authorities in Tibet.
In recent years, Lithang witnessed some of the most active and sporadic Tibetan demonstrations.
In 2007, Runggye Adak, a Tibetan nomad, who shouted “long live the Dalai Lama” and called for the return of Tibet’s exiled leader at a horse-racing festival on August 1, was quickly arrested by Chinese authorities.
Three months later Adak was sentenced to eight years imprisonment in jail. He was not the only one imprisoned because of that day’s events.
After his remarks, which were made in front of thousands of spectators, and his subsequent detention, hundreds of people staged a demonstration near the police center where he was being held to call for his release.
Scores of Tibetans in the community were later arrested and three were sentenced to between three and 10 years in jail. Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported that the court verdict convicted the three of leaking “intelligence that endangers national security and interest” after they were allegedly found guilty of taking pictures, burning them on to CDs and sending them to foreigners. And those who were not under arrest were being subjected to a “patriotic campaign” that requires participants to denounce the Dalai Lama.
