28 August 2007
Runggye Adak charged; nephew arrested
(AP) Runggye Adak, arrested on 01 August, has been charged with subversion after publicly calling for the Dalai Lama's return at Lithang Horse Festival. Prosecutors in Lithang indicted him on the charge of "provocation to subvert state power", the Hong Kong-based Information Centre for Human Rights and Democracy has reported. Runggye Adak's outburst, which prompted clashes between Tibetans demanding his release and security forces, has been labelled a "major political incident" by Beijing, which has ordered hundreds of local government and Communist Party officials to attend meetings to condemn it and strengthen law enforcement. Since his arrest, Runggye Adak’s nephew, a 45-year old monk called Lupoe, has been detained and two more of Runggye Adak’s nephews, Gyatso and Nyima, were arrested but reportedly have now been released.