08. Dec 2009
Tibetans arrested in Kardze
(RFA; TCHRD) Around sixty local Tibetans from Nyagchu county (Chin: Yajiang), Kardze TAP, in Sichuan province have been arrested by local Public Security Bureau (PSB) while appealing for the immediate release of Tulku Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, according to TCHRD. On 05 December 2009, a group of seven Tibetans, which later swelled to around sixty, mostly youths from Othok, marched to Nyagchu county government headquarters in protest at the spiritual leader's detention and subsequent conviction in 2002. After these initial protesters were arrested, Tibetans from various parts of Nyagchu county flocked to the government headquarters and urged the release of the sixty detainees. RFA reports that Tibetans traveling to the protest site were blocked on the road by Chinese security forces and threatened with a "violent crackdown" unless they dispersed. Between 500 and 600 Tibetans from the Golok and Othok areas of Nyagchu who were detained are being held by Chinese forces "at a place called Yishin", an RFA source said. The situation remains tense.