By Tenzin Monlam
DHARAMSHALA, September 3: A Tibetan monk detained in September last year for carrying out a solo protest in Ngaba had been sentenced to three years’ imprisonment. A monk of Kirti monastery, which has been in the news since 2008 for series of protests, self immolations and solo protest, Lobsang Kalsang is currently locked in a Chinese prison in Maowun County, Ngaba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture.
A Tibetan source said his family members, in their search for him, traced him to Deyang Prison. Kalsang’s family remain worried about his health condition as they were denied permission to visit him.
Lobsang Kalsang was arrested for carrying out a solo protest against the Chinese rule in Tibet on September 7, 2015. He was seen carrying a portrait of the exile Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama as he called for the long life of the Dalai Lama and freedom in Tibet.
He had joined Kirti monastery at a tender age, and studied Buddhist philosophy and Tibetan language. He passed the class of Dialectic and Logic in the year 2014 and was preparing for higher studies.
Kalsang’s parents, Tsering Tenkho and Lhakyi, live in division 2 of Meruma Township of Ngaba County, a restive region known for anti government protests including self-immolations since 2009.
Last month on two separate occasions, Lobsang Drakpa (Adrak) and Jamphel Gyatso, both Kirti monks were sentenced to three years jail for staging solo protests.
Chinese authorities, through their latest manual book distributed throughout Ngaba region, have criminalized solo protests with picture of the Dalai Lama, self-immolations and sending information outside Tibet through social media.
