10 June 2006
Five Tibetans arrested for handing out leaflets
Chinese authorities have detained five Tibetans for allegedly handing out leaflets promoting Tibetan independence, sources have told Radio Free Asia's (RFA) Tibetan service. The five, identified as Kayi Doega, his eldest daughter Yiga, a former nun; Sonam Lhamo, currently a nun at Geci nunnery; and two other women, Sonam Choetso and Jampa Yangtso. Yiga, Sonam Choetso, and Jampa Yangtso were detained in Lhasa on the first day of the Saga Dawa religious period (28 May according to the western calendar). Authorities in Kardze (Chin: Ganzi) also detained Kayi Doega on 01 June and Sonam Lhamo on 02 June, apparently on suspicion that they had organised the protest. The Public Security Bureau (PSB) of Kardze and Lhasa worked together to make the arrest and, it is believed, had been keeping the women under surveillance up until the time they were detained. Kayi Doega is known to the authorities and was freed from prison early on medical parole while serving a three-year sentence, handed down in 2002, allegedly for offering prayers for the Dalai Lama. They are reportedly being held in an unknown prison in Kardze.