Tibetan singer Lolo in poor health

By Phuntsok Yangchen

DHARAMSHALA, April 29: Tibetan singer who is currently serving six years of imprisonment in a Chinese jail in Qinqhai is reportedly in very poor health condition, a Tibetan residing in Tibet told the Voice of Tibet.

Lolo is currently held in a prison in Siling city, Qinghai Province and is in very poor health condition, the Tibetan was cited as saying. His family members are very concerned about his deteriorating health.

The Chinese authorities have also refused permission for the family members to visit him in prison to deliver clothes and food.

On April 19, 2012, Lolo was first arrested for releasing a music album that contained songs with politically-charged lyrics such as the well-known “Raise the Tibetan flag, Children of Snowland”. After a short detention, he was released but was detained again and sentenced on 23 February 2013 for his ‘crimes’ of singing politically charged songs calling for Tibet’s independence.

The title song of the album calls for independence of Tibet and reunion of the Tibetan people.

“To promote loyalty to the Land of Snows, For the complete independence of Tibet, With a realized understanding of our objectives, Raise the flag of Tibet- sons of the snow,” a portion of the lyrics reads.

In the song, Lo Lo further sings for the “return of the saviour” to Tibet and “reunion of the Tibetan people.”

Lolo’s arrest was part of a wider crackdown on Tibetan intellectuals, writers, and artistes, including singers and filmmakers.

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 and artistes, especially after Beijing Olympics.