07 September 2006
Tibetan abbot detained in Sichuan
(RFA) Authorities in the Tibetan region of Kardze (Chin:Ganzi), in traditional province of Kham (Eastern Tibet) have detained the abbot of a major monastery. "Chinese security officials arrested Khenpo Jinpa of Choktsang Taklung Monastery based in Choktsang village, Serda county, Kardze prefecture, on 23 August", a source from the region told Radio Free Asia (RFA). "His room was raided and searched", the source added. It is reported that a team of armed police arrived from the nearby regional town of Dartsedo (Chin: Kanding), sealed the monastery and conducted a search. Though Khenpo Jinpa was arrested, it is claimed that nothing of an incriminating nature was found. A source, from Serda county, said local officials had been overruled in the arrest by a special team dispatched from Dartsedo. Local Tibetan monks suspect the arrest could be related to pro-independence posters displayed a year ago at the monastery, although no arrests were made at the time. Kardze, a traditionally Tibetan area administered by Sichuan province, also saw the arrest last month of a 16-year-old Tibetan girl named Yiwang for handing out pro-independence leaflets.