Massive Army Deployment Disrupts Normal Life in Lithang, 5 More Arrested: UpdateWednesday, 18 February 2009, 9:44 a.m.
Dharamshala: Following the massive deployment of Chinese army and subsequent arrests of 5 more Tibetans for staging demonstrations in Lithang county, the normal life in the region was seriously affected, a human rights group based in Dharamsala reported Tuesday.The Lithang County Public Security Bureau (PSB) and People’s Armed Police (PAP) detained five more Tibetans along with 15 other known Tibetans who staged a peaceful protest demonstration in Lithang on 16 February 2009 and were brutally beaten, manhandled at the site of the demonstration before being forcibly loaded into military trucks, reported the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy citing reliable sources.“The shops and restaurants remain closed yesterday following the peaceful protest in Lithang town. The vehicular traffic movement between Lithang and Bathang was brought to a grinding halt after the protest and subsequent deployment of massive troops into the areas to check further Tibetan protest,” sources added. The number of Tibetans arrested has risen to 21. Amongst those five arrested, three were identified as Damdul, head of Dekyi village and Yanglo and Dolma, nomads from Sako village in Lithang county. Yanglo and Dolma were known to have been released last evening, sources said.Sources said the whereabouts of Sonam Tenpa, aged 29 and Lobsang Tenzin, 23, who had sustained severe injuries after they got beaten and arrested for staging peaceful protest on 16 February, still remains unknown. Lobsang Lhundup, the monk from Nekhor Monastery arrested on 15 February, is currently detained at Lithang County PSB Detention Centre, whereas other Tibetan detainees are currently held in Lithang Tsagha PSB Detention Centre, sources said.According to sources, on learning about their detention at Tsagha PSB Detention Centre, the family members and relatives went to visit the detainees, however, to their shock, Gelek Kunga who was detained along with other Tibetans was nowhere to be seen in the detention centre. Many fear for the safety and the well being of Gelek Kunga since his detention and disappearance. The protesters chanted slogans of “long live the Dalai Lama” and “swift return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet”. They also called for “independence for Tibet” and “no celebrations during Losar (Tibetan New Year)”.The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy has called upon the Chinese government to immediately locate the whereabouts and safety of all the detainees. The centre demanded that the detainees be provided with immediate and unconditional access to legal representation, their families and medical attention to all those injured.Related report:Tibetans in Lithang Call for Return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet, 16 arrested
