DHARAMSHALA, January 27: Chinese authorities in Tibet’s Golok region have arrested three Tibetans in Pema County, on January 18 for alleged connection with self immolation protest by a 20 year old Tibetan monk of Akyong Monastery in November last year.
The three arrested were Gelek, Akyong Monastery’s disciplinarian, his younger brother Lhakyab and another Tibetan named Tsekyap. Gelek was detained after an interrogation at the local government headquarters. Lhakyab was detained on his way to hospital in Barkham County. However, Tsekyab was released later.
Tsering doused himself up on fire in protest against the Chinese government and its hardline policies. Engulfed in flames, Tsering collapsed after walking a few metres. Chinese police on street patrol arrived at the scene and doused the fire. Tsering, the 123rd Tibetan to set his body ablaze in protest against China since 2009, was rushed to the county hospital but later died on being transferred to another hospital in Xiling City.
Since 2009, 125 Tibetans have set themselves on fire in Tibet protesting against the China’s occupation of Tibet and its hard-line policies.
Following the self immolation protest by Gyal, a large number of armed forces have been deployed in the Akyong monastery campus and nearby areas. Gyal’s home has also been under constant surveillance with monks finding it difficult to talk to each other about Tsering Gyal.
