Tibetan Monks Arrested Over Blast
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KATHMANDU-Chinese authorities in Tibet have arrested three young Tibetan
Buddhist monks in connection with a September blast at a local power
station, Radio Free Asia (RFA) reports.
Ngawang Tenzin, 20, Tenzin Norbu, 19, and Tenzin Rinchen, 17, are now in
police custody on suspicion of causing an explosion Sept. 8 at a local
power station that knocked out television broadcasts but caused no
casualties, Tibetan and Chinese sources told RFA's Tibetan service.
The explosion, in Markham county, Chamdo [in Chinese, Changdu], in
China's Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), came less than six months after
simmering anti-China resentment erupted in massive protests and rioting
throughout Tibetan regions in China.
Tibetan sources, who asked not to be named, cited resentment among local
Tibetans over television programming in the Kham dialect in August and
September that condemned Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai
Lama, as a "splittist" committed to dismantling China.
On Oct. 24, police found Tenzin Rinchen, shot him in the leg, and
arrested him, Tibetan sources said. Ngawang Tenzin and Tenzin Norbu
"were detained yesterday, Oct. 30," one source said. "They were arrested
yesterday night and taken away."
An official with the Chamdo Public Security Bureau, contacted by
telephone Oct. 31, said Ngawang Tenzin and Tenzin Norbu "have been
arrested and they are being investigated."
Authorities have moved the three monks from Markham to Chamdo and
ordered their family members to remain in the Markham area, another
Tibetan source said.
Tensions 'intense'
"The tensions and restrictions on Markham are very intense. The Chamdo
police chief is here, and they're still holding meetings. There's a huge
presence by security forces here," the source said.
On Oct. 26, Dechen Dorje, 49, the father of Ngawang Tenzin, was detained
and questioned, one source said. He remains in detention. Lobsang
Tenzin, 26, Tenzin Norbu's older brother, was also detained Oct. 19
while ploughing a field, one source said.
He refused to talk under questioning and was unable to move his hands or
feet when he was released on Oct. 27, the source said.
In an interview Oct. 30, a Public Security Bureau (PSB) officer in
Markham county confirmed that the three youths were wanted in connection
with the explosion.
"Those culprits have been hiding out somewhere for a little over a month
and 20 days," the official said. "We caught one. There is no way to
escape from us. If the other two culprits surrender on their own,
China's legal system might show leniency."
Previous blasts
On Sept. 23, the Chamdo Intermediate People's Court sentenced four monks
to jail terms of four to nine years for "terrorist actions" in
connection with a series of small blasts during massive anti-China
protests in the region earlier this year.
The mostly teenage monks were among dozens who were detained in Markham
county on or around May 14 and were charged with "obstructing the
Olympics" and "damaging national stability."
All the monks are believed to have been from Markham county's Oser
monastery or one of its branches.
Tibetan sources in the region reported eight separate explosions in the
Markham area during the Tibetan protests early this year. No one was
hurt in the blasts.
Chinese authorities have made numerous arrests and launched a "patriotic
education" campaign aimed at Tibetans after protests and riots that
began in Lhasa in mid-March and spread to other Tibetan areas.
Beijing says 22 people were killed in the rioting. Tibetan exiles say at
least 140 people died in the region-wide crackdown that followed, while
more than 1,000 were detained.
Chinese authorities have blamed the Dalai Lama for instigating the
protests and fomenting what they regard as a "splittist" Tibetan
independence movement. The Dalai Lama rejects the accusation, saying he
wants only autonomy and human rights for Tibetans.
Original reporting in the Kham dialect by Lobsang Choephel for RFA's
Tibetan service.Translated by Karma Dorjee.Tibetan service director:
Jigme Ngapo.Written and produced in English by Sarah Jackson-Han.
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