By Phuntsok Yangchen
DHARAMSHALA, JUNE 19: Over twenty Tibetans were detained by Chinese authorities in Chabcha County in Tsolho (Hainan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture two weeks ago for protesting against an illegal Chinese mining in the region.
According to the Radio Free Asia, Tibetans had pledged to block Chinese mining activities that run beyond the expiration of a leasing contract and had begun to encroach on sacred sites in Karsel Village.
The Chinese were reportedly mining white marble from the region since 1989 and continues to do so even after the expiration of contract. Angry Tibetans went on protest against the miners.
“The contract expired this year,” RFA cited a source as saying, “So the Tibetans resisted the extension of the mining work after the excavations began to adversely affect the local environment.”
The mining site is said to have a spiritual significance where the local Tibetans worship.
The Chinese Security Personnel from Chabcha County arrived in the region on June 6 and 7 and detained 27 Tibetans including two village leaders Trothar and Barma. However, four were released later and 23 are still in detention.
Last month, a 32-year-old Phakpa Gyaltsen died on the spot after stabbing himself and jumping from a building in protest against Chinese mining activities in Tongbar region of Zogang County in Chamdo
The Dharamshala based Central Tibetan Administration maintains that Beijing, “under the guise of economic and social development, encourages the migration of Chinese population to Tibet, marginalising the Tibetans in economic, educational, political and social spheres.”
