Tibet lone protest monk severely injured by Chinese police beating

0
25
Map courtesy: Contact magazine
Map courtesy: Contact magazine

(TibetanReview.net, Oct21, 2016) – A Tibetan Buddhist monk belonging to Kirti monastery in Ngaba (Chinese: Aba) County of Sichuan Province lies critically injured in hospital after he was detained and severely beaten by Chinese police for carrying out a lone street protest, reported the Tibetan Service of Radio Free Asia (Washington) Oct 19. The monk, Lobsang Tsultrim, was taken away at around 1:00 pm on Oct 17 after he shouted slogans while walking along a street in Ngaba County’s main town.

As he walked, the monk shouted calls for freedom for Tibetans and prayer of long life for Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, the report said. His protest march was cut short as he arrived at the street in front of the Tibetan Language Middle School where he was stopped by police and taken away, the report said, quoting a local source who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The source has added that the monk was then severely beaten by police and held overnight at what was stated to be a court house in the town. “He was rushed to Ngaba Hospital the next day and is now reported to be in critical condition.”

The day after the monk’s protest march, a group of Chinese police visited Kirti Monastery and questioned its monks about the incident. The presence of police and security officers has now been strengthened throughout the town, the report said.

Two days before the monk’s protest, Kirti Monastery had begun a four-day event marking the completion of a lavish new residence for its abbot who lives in exile in Dharamsala, India, and the authorities imposed severe restrictions on the celebrations, including by banning any mention of the name of the abbot and attendance by local Tibetan students who were otherwise on a holiday break.

The restrictions were said to have led to the monk’s protest.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here