Tibetan Information Office (TIO) is based in Canberra.

China arrests 2 monks in Lhoka after protests over teacher’s visit

Dharamsala, September 29 – Two monk officials of a monastery in Tibet’s Lhoka region have been arrested, following a protest by monks of the monastery against Chinese authorities earlier this month.

Gyurmey Tenzin and an unidentified monk official of Mindroling monastery had approached the local Chinese authorities to allow Dralha Rinpoche — an heir lama to the throne of Mindroling, which is one of the six lineages within the Nyingmapa tradition of Tibetan Buddhism — to visit the monastery.

On September 19, around 50 monks of Mindroling monastery protested against the authorities and demanded that their revered teacher, Dralha Rinpoche, be allowed to visit the monastery. Chinese authorities cordoned off the monastery by deploying armed soldiers around the monastery and prepared for assault.

The monks and local Tibetan populace remain apprehended by the turn of events.

The monastery has been closed to outside visitors. More than 80 Chinese work team officials have arrived at the monastery where monks have been subjected to patriotic reeducation sessions.

Mindroling monastery in exile, which has been rebuilt near Dehradun, has confirmed that activities of Dralha Rinpoche are being strictly monitored by Chinese authorities and his movements in Tibet are under close surveillance.