01 August 2007
Nomad arrested at Lithang
(TCHRD; RFA; BBC; Xinhua) A Tibetan nomad from Lithang has been arrested in Tibet for staging a political demonstration during the Lithang horse festival. Runggye Adak, a nomad from Lithang was arrested for staging a political demonstration during the annual festival. Runggye Adak, from Youru village, Lithang county, Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (TAP), allegedly climbed onstage to offer a traditional scarf to Lithang Kyabgyon, the chief lama of Lithang monastery. Runggye Adak then seized the microphone and shouted slogans including: "The Dalai Lama should return to Tibet", "Release the Panchen Lama" and "Tibet wants independence" – cries which received a positive response from members of the crowd. He then called on Tibetan people to stop fighting amongst themselves [referring to water disputes and conflicts over access to caterpillar fungus]. Runggye Adak then left the stage and confronted Naglu Tenzin, a monk allegedly involved in the ‘patriotic education campaign’, and told him to “denounce his double standards in dealing with the religious affairs of the monastery”. Adak returned to the stage and continued shouting slogans, where local Kardze police finally arrested him. A witness told RFA that 20 people were detained initially and another 200 following a protest at the jail. Xinhua confirmed that Runggye Adak had been arrested for "inciting the separation of nationalities". The situation in Lithang is said to be “tense” following the arrival of police and military from outside the area.