10. Feb 2010
Tibetan prisoner escapes with Chinese hostage
(RFA) Radio Free Asia (RFA) reports that a Tibetan inmate of a jail in Sichuan province has kidnapped a prison guard in retaliation for harsh treatment in detention. RFA sources in the region said the guard was taken hostage in Kardze county. "One of the Tibetan inmates in the prison, known as Pasang, forcibly took hostage one of the prison guards, known as Chang Kasong, and broke out of the jail", one source said. The breakout sparked a widespread manhunt with roadblocks and hundreds of police manning checkpoints along the roads. A reward of 100,000 Yuan (UK£9,300; US$14,000; EUR€10,700) was announced for Pasang's capture. Local sources said the kidnapped Chinese prison guard had a reputation for treating Tibetan inmates harshly. "[He] is one of meanest officers in charge", one source said. "He is notorious for his ill-treatment of Tibetan prisoners".