DHARAMSHALA, January 12: Chinese authorities in Tibet’s Yulshul County have arrested two Tibetan environmentalists in September and December last year, a Tibetan source told Phayul.
Tseten Dhondup, 35, was arrested on September 18 last year from Xiling in Qinghai. The authorities had not informed his family of charges against him or his whereabouts until a few days back when they heard he was being held at Jhachu detention centre in Yulshul, according to the source.
The source also said that he was arrested by deputy head of the Yulshul county police known by his nickname Soshikam and Kyiphun, head of Zhurmang Ruchen police department. Local Tibetans allege that the two cops are corrupt officials who detain Tibetans under false charges for personal gains.
Tseten is a native of Ramdo village where his father Bawa and mother Sertso live. Tseten taught Tibetan language at a school in Driru Toe before leaving for India where he studied Buddhism at the Zongsar Shedra monastery near here. He returned to Tibet in 2005. He is known for initiating numerous environmental activities, campaigns and programs. He gradually earned the respect of the local Tibetan agricultural and nomadic communities of Yulshul through his classes for nomads and farmers on Tibetan Buddhism, culture and environment.
Zumgah, in his 50s, was arrested from Beijing on Dec. 25 last year, said the source. He worked with Tseten in various environment related works in Yulshul. A native of Zachok village, Zumgah had prevented illegal miners who had collaborated with the two police officials in stealing mineral ore from his village. His father Tashi Gyalsten and mother Kyiyang are still wondering why their son was arrested or where he is currently held.
Local Tibetans allege that the arrest of the two Tibetans is a ploy by the two “corrupt” police officials to falsely implicate them under political charges. They fear that two Tibetans will be “falsely charged and eventually sentenced for crimes they have not committed.”
