Dharamsala, March 18 – Chinese authorities have arrested a Tibetan for the second time for his role in extending help to another Tibetan who made a film denouncing Chinese rule in Tibet.
According to the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), Jigme Gyatso, better known as Golog Jigme, was picked up around March 10 from his residence in Sangchu County, Kanlho (Ch: Gannan) “Tibet Autonomous Prefecture” (“TAP”), Gansu Province.
Jigme, a monk of Labrang monastery, was last arrested on 23 March 2008 and released on 15 October 2008. Jigme helped Dhondup Wangchen in making the film “leaving fear behind” (Tib: Jigdrel), that widely brought bad publicity to China around Beijing Olympics.
Citing sources, the TCHRD said no explanation was given by the authorities for Jigme’s re-arrest. There has been no news about him, sources told TCHRD, a Dharamsala based Tibetan NGO that monitors human rights situation inside Tibet.
Dhondup Wangchen was arrested on 23 March last year and is currently held at an undisclosed location.
Dhondup says on a website dedicated to his film, “Nowadays, China is declaring that they are preserving and improving Tibetan culture and language. That’s what they are telling the world. Many organisations and offices have been set up for these things. What they say and what they do are totally different, opposites. If they really want to preserve and improve Tibetan culture and language in Tibet then they should withdraw Chinese people living in Tibetan areas. Tibetan culture and language has to be practiced in all Tibetan areas. If it is not practiced, how can it be preserved?”
