10. Feb 2009
Nine monks sentenced, other committed suicide
(TCHRD) Nine monks studying at Samye monastery in Central Tibet were sentenced to prison terms between two and fifteen years for their participation in brief protests in Lhoka (Chin: Shannan) prefecture on 15 March 2008 and a monk committed suicide, according to a report by TCHRD. The protests had taken place at Samye government administrative headquarters in Dranang county (Chin: Zhanang). The monks were detained at Lhoka PSB Detention Centre following the demonstration which was joined by hundreds of Tibetans from the county calling for the "swift return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet", "religious freedom" and "human rights for Tibetans".