Six Tibetans considered influential in their communities were arrested by Chinese police in Sichuan’s Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in recent weeks, according to a Tibetan living in exile. The reasons for their arrests are unclear. Most of the Tibetans arrested have earlier been arrested and they are very vocal against Chinese policies in Tibet.
According to Golok Jigme, a former political prisoner now living in Switzerland, Sey Nam, a writer, and environmental activist, was arrested on April 2 in Kardze’s (in Chinese, Ganzi’s) Serthar (Seda) county, according to local sources.
“My source does not know the reason for his arrest because of tightened communications restrictions in the area,” Jigme explained according to the report by Radio Free Asia.
Tsering Dolma, a Tibetan activist, and former political prisoner were also arrested on April 2 after participating in protests against Chinese policies and rule in Tibetan areas. She had been detained at least twice before, in 2008 and 2012, after participating in protests against Chinese policies and rule in Tibetan areas.
“I believe this was her third or fourth arrest,” Jigme said.
“Kyab had not committed any crime, and the Chinese government has not shown any plausible reason for his arrest,” Jigme said of Gangkye Drubpa Kyab, a writer and former political prisoner also known as Gangme Thak, who was arrested in Sertha on March 23, according to Jigme.
Gangbu Yudrum, a political activist, was arrested on March 22 without being given a reason, according to Jigme.
Yudrum was sentenced to three years in prison in 2008 for his participation in a demonstration in which he raised the outlawed Tibetan national flag and called for the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama’s return to Tibet.
In 2012, he was arrested again and released in 2014, to the delight of his village, who hailed him as a “Tibetan fighter for the facts.” He wrote and circulated copies of a letter to local Tibetans after his release, urging them to work to free Tibet from Beijing’s control.
Two of the six Tibetans detained recently have yet to be named, and the whereabouts of all six are unclear, according to Jigme.
After a failed 1959 national rebellion against China’s rule, Tibet was invaded and absorbed into China by force 70 years ago, and the Dalai Lama and thousands of his followers fled into exile in India and other countries around the world.
Tibetans’ political activities and peaceful expressions of cultural and religious identity are restricted by Chinese authorities, who subject Tibetans to persecution, torture, detention, and extrajudicial killings.