24 May 2008: Serthar (Ch: Seda) County, Karze “TAP”,(incorporated into Chinese Province of Sichuan) – People involved in protests in March are being arrested
Sungkyab, resident of Tse-shey village, Khenleb Sub-district, Serthar County, was arrested by County Public Security Bureau (PSB) personnel from Nyitoe sub-district on May 24. He was injured during the protest held on March 20 in Nyichu area.
County PSB personnel also arrested wife of Drukpo, age around 30, resident of Thoeshel village.
Earlier on around May 16, Rigdhak, Menkyab, and Ghoeso were arrested as they were involved in the protest carried out in Phuwu village, under Nyitoe sub-district, on March 18. Though, they could not be arrested during the protest, their names were included among the wanted list of “rioters” by the concerned office.
23 May 2008
Ngaba (Ch: Aba) County, Ngaba “TAP”, Amdo (incorporated into Chinese Province of Sichuan) – Two monks from Kirti monastery arrested for disrespecting the “patriotic re-education”
Lobsang Dorjee and Kunga, both monks from Kirti monastery, Ngaba County, were arrested by County PSB from their monastery at 9:00 AM on May 23. They were arrested for showing disrespect to the “patriotic re-education” being imposed on the monastery.
19 May 2008
Dingri (Ch: Dingri) County, Shigatse (Ch: Rigaze) Prefecture, U-Tsang (“TAR”) – 12 monks from Shelkar Choede monastery arrested for refusing the “patriotic re-education”
12 monks from Shelkar Choede monastery, in Dingri County, were arrested by County PSB from their monastery on May 19 for refusing the “patriotic re-education” being provided at the monastery.
They are Khenrab Tharchin (a member of Democratic Management Committee of the monastery), Choewang Tenzin, Tenzin Gephel, Khenrab Tashi, Topgyal, Tenzin Tsering, Lobsang Jigme, Khenrab Nyima, Tashi, Tenpa, Samten, and Choeden.
Strict restrictions are being imposed on the monastery. Monks are not allowed even to leave the campus. People are also not allowed in the monastery to show their devotion. Cellphone handsets of the monks were confiscated. Through these ways, Chinese authorities have controlled the information from spreading out. Monk quarters were also raided.
Among those arrested monks, 4 are being detained in the detention centre of Dingri County, and 8 were taken away to Shigatse Prefecture.
Another member of Democratic Management Committee of the monastery, Lobsang Jinpa, was also arrested later for having links with those monk arrestees in refusing the so-called patriotic re-education. He was earlier detained till the beginning of May for his alleged involvement in Lhasa protest in March as he was in Lhasa during the protest.
Monks of Shelkar Choede monastery had already undertaken protests many years back, including in 1993.