DHARAMSHALA, December 6 – Chinese authorities in Tibet’s Driru County have arrested two Tibetan singers in November for producing music albums that called for Tibetan unity and preservation of the Tibetan language, a Tibetan source said.
Gonpo Tenzin, 25, from Septhra village (spelled as pronounced), Shagchu township in Driru County, was arrested on Nov. 30 from Lhasa, Tibet’s capital city.
Gonpo has sung several songs calling for unity among Tibetans and preservation of the Tibetan language and cultural tradition. Among his albums, “where is the Tibetan losar in Tibet” became the most popular in Tibet.
Tsekar Thinlay, a 22 year old Tibetan singer, was arrested around November 20 while he was at a government run driving school and license issuing office in Nagchu. The source added that his album, “Ring of Unity”, which called for unity among Tibetans was well received by listeners. He is accused of mobilizing anti-government sentiments among Tibetan listeners of his music.
There is no further information about the two’s whereabouts amid strict monitoring and surveillance by Chinese authorities in Driru that has seen several protests and crackdown since September 2013.
Sources also said that the county law enforcement authorities have released a list of Tibetans who have studied outside Nagchu prefecture to be called for Thought Education Campaign. The Tibetans who had been released since September will also be subjected to the Thought Education Campaign.
Since widespread protests against China across Tibet in 2008, Tibetan singers, writers, and artistes promoting Tibetan national identity and culture have become easy targets of China’s ongoing crackdown on intellectuals.
