Four Tibetan Monks Missing Ever Since Arrest - TCHRD Press Release

2012. május 1./TCHRD/TibetPress

Four Tibetan monks including a reincarnated Lama remain ‘disappeared’ months after their arrests by Chinese security officers, after the 23 January crackdown on Tibetan protesters in Drango (Chinese: Luhuo) County in Kardze (Chinese: Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province.
 
Tulku Lobsang Tenzin Rinpoche (aged 40), a reincarnated lama, Geshe Tsewang Namgyal, monastery’s shop manager Thinlay and accountant Dralha were arrested days after the protests in Drango County on 23 January 2012. They were arrested at an internet café in Tridu (Chinese: Chengdu) city and since then remain disappeared.
 
“Recently, there was unconfirmed news circulating in the region that one of them had died at the hands of the Chinese security officers”, said our source. “But the Chinese authorities have not issued any information on the four monks so far. They were not tried at any court nor were they sentenced thus, creating more concern and fear of their well-being.”
 
Brief profiles of the four ‘missing’ Tibetans:
1. Tulku Losang Tenzin Rinpoche (in 40’s) was born in Pemegang village to parents Pekhen and Gonpo Lhamo. He was recognized as a reincarnated lama at Gochen Monastery. He initiated and oversaw numerous projects for the renovation and expansion of the monastery. He was arrested in Tridu city days after the 23 January Drango protest.

2. Geshe Tsewang Namgyal was born in 1970 to parents Dhoga and Tsezin Lhamo in Chuwar village, Drango County. He attended the local primary school and was proficient in both Tibetan and Chinese language. In 1987, he joined Drepung Loseling Monastery in south India to study Buddhism, English, Hindi and Tibetan. In 1994, he continued his education at Institute of Buddhist Dialectics in north India graduating with a Master’s degree in the Rimey tradition. In 2011, he returned to Tibet and joined as a teacher at Drango Gochen Monastery. He was arrested in Tridu city.

3. Thinlay (aged 42) was born to parents Khamthar and Lhakyi in Bathag village in Drango. He attended primary school before becoming a monk at Drango Gochen Monastery. A few years before, he was appointed the manager at the monastery. Thinlay is also the monastery’s shop manager. He was arrested in Tridu city.

4. Tashi Topgyal aka Dralha (aged 31) was born to parents Palden Dorjee and Tsultrim Dolma in Gonsar village in Drango. He attended primary and middle school in the county. In 2000, he became a monk at Drango Monastery. He was a student at the monastery for five years before becoming the monastery’s accountant. Dralha was also arrested in Tridu city.
 
These arrests were made after security officers fired on hundreds of unarmed Tibetan protesters outside the local Public Security Bureau (PSB) on 23 January 2012 in Drango County. Two Tibetans died on the spot while 36 known Tibetans were seriously injured by the police shooting.
 
TCHRD earlier reported the disappearances of these four Tibetan monks in our news report “12 known Tibetans missing after Drango crackdown”. Information about the remaining eight missing Tibetans is unclear at this moment. To read the report, please visit http://www.tchrd.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=192:updated-twelve-known-tibetans-missing-after-drango-crackdown&catid=70:2012-news&Itemid=162 .