(TibetanReview.net, Mar 11, 2009) — The police in Mangra (Chinese: Guinan) county of Tsolho (Chinese: Hainan) Prefecture in Qinghai Province rounded up 109 monks of Lutsang monastery on Mar 9 and took them away for political education, reported Times Online (UK) Mar 9. The move was part of a series of extraordinary security measures being implemented to prevent Tibetans from commemorating the 50th anniversary of their national uprising with protests.
The monks of Lutsang monastery had staged a candlelight vigil on Feb 25, the start of the Tibetan Earth-Ox New Year 2136 which the Tibetans sought to mark with mourning and prayers for the hundreds killed by Chinese troop in last year’s uprising protests.
Police later issued a notice, demanding that its organizers surrender within 48 hours or face severe punishment.