DHARAMSHALA, January 24: The global rights watchdog Amnesty International has raised concerns about the health of Khenpo Karma Tsewang, the jailed Tibetan abbot who has been under detention since December 6 last year. On December 21, sixteen Tibetans including monks were detained for their involvement in a protest demanding his release. They have have however been released.
Amnesty International reported that Khenpo is suffering from hepatitis and that his family members were not allowed to visit him in prison. “He (Khenpo Kartse) suffers from hepatitis, and although his family was able to give some medication to officers at the detention centre, it is not known whether these were given to him and whether he is getting all the treatment he requires,” said Amnesty International on its website.
Last week, over 400 Tibetans including monks of the monastery staged a silent sit-in-protest in front of the County detention center in Nangchen demanding Khenpo’s release. The protest was, however, called off after local Chinese authorities promised to give information on Khenpo Kartse and release nine monks within five days.
Khenpo Kartse was arrested by Chamdo Police on the night of December 6 from Chengdu where he had traveled with regard to a purchase of a new idol for his monastery.
Earlier this month, Amnesty appealed the international community to write to the Director of Tibet Autonomous Region Public Security Bureau appealing Chinese authorities to release Khenpo Kartse and the 16 Tibetans arrested in the aftermath of a protest march by local Tibetans seeking Kartse’s release.
