19 December 2007
Monks held and monastery deserted
(RFA) Chinese authorities in the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) have detained two more monks who refused to take part in a political campaign, following clashes between local people and armed police, according to Radio Free Asia (RFA) sources in the region. The two monks were reportedly detained for refusing to criticise the Dalai Lama. Hundreds of armed police were drafted into the area following clashes between Tibetans demanding the release of six monks detained over a dispute with a shopkeeper in Baikar (Chin: Baiga Shang), Nagchu prefecture, in November. Two teenage monks were also detained in connection with the original dispute and the whereabouts of all the prisoners is unknown. The police presence and mass "patriotic re-education" campaign in the region has effectively shut the local Jesho Baikar monastery down. "Under the pressure of the campaign for re-education, and investigations into the clashes between Tibetans and Han authorities in Baikar, most of the monks have left the monastery and returned home, leaving it completely deserted", a Tibetan formerly employed at the monastery told RFA's Tibetan service.