DHARAMSHALA, December 21 – A Tibetan man has been arrested in Nagchu County which has been at the centre of several anti – government protests since September this year, a Tibetan source said.
Tsokay, a native of Akchen village, Tarchen township in Nagchu, was arrested on Dec. 13 for what is speculated as his publicly opposing the Chinese appointed reincarnation of Rongpo Choeje, the head lama of 300 year old Rongpo monastery which the Chinese government closed in July this year. Following his arrest, Chinese armed forces have been patrolling his village. There is no further information as to where he is currently held or what exact charges he is facing.
The authorities shut down the monastery following an incident that they call ‘the 2010 May 20 incident’. The incident refers to the arrest and eventual sentencing of the monastery’s senior figure Lama Dawa to 7 years’ imprisonment for alleged links with the exiled Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama regarding the reincarnation of the monastery’s patron Rongpo Choejey on May 20, 2010.
The ailing Lama Dawa, 78, is currently receiving medical treatment at a hospital in Lhasa, the Tibetan capital, and has been restricted to have any contact with his monastery. He is being constantly watched upon by the authorities in Lhasa, said the same source.
