By Tenzin Dharpo
DHARAMSHALA, Oct. 8: In a new development in the Thangkor land grab case in Dzoege County, five of the ten people arrested on Sep. 22 for reoccupying the land confiscated by the Chinese government have been freed on Oct. 2, according to a Radio Free Asia report.
Jigjey Kyab’s sister Tsokyi who was also arrested and severely beaten was released earlier.
The five Tibetans released were Tsering Kyab, Tsering Tashi, Patra, Dobe, and Tabe. Tibetan source told RFA, “Those who were freed said that they had not been tortured or punished during their detention. However, the dispute over the land has still not been resolved.”
The other five Tibetans who have written the original appeal are still held in custody. They are believed to be held in Marthang County. The ones who still continues to be detained are Jigjey Kyab, Tsepak, Phurko, Sonam Gyatso, and Shetruk.
Jigjey went into hiding in April this year after two policemen visited his home reportedly to arrest him. He had been entrusted by the fellow nomadic families to keep the documents supporting their claims and justification of their rightful possession of the confiscated lands.
Approximately five years ago,The Chinese authorities forcefully evicted around 20 families from their land and nomadic grazing tracts in Thangkor situated in Dzoege County, Sichuan Province. The houses were demolished under the pretext of an environmental initiative to ‘turn the town green’ by the Chinese authorities. Relocation assurances and compensation had not been provided and the case dragged on since.
Repeated appeals in January and May by the residents to the local as well as provincial authorities have resulted in further agony for the victims in the form of threats by officials and withdrawal of government subsidies promised for those families.
Lucrative tourism revenues coming in from the regions like Dzoege County into Chinese government coffers. The Tibetan nomadic natives are robbed of their lands and any redressal appeals suppressed.
