The Chinese authorities had arrested four Tibetan nuns for staging a protest in Kardze County Kardze “TAP”, Sichuan Province, according to reliable information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD).
Around 6 PM (Beijing Standard Time), 22 May 2008, the four Tibetan nuns of Nyimo Gaysey Nunnery in Tehor Kardze County had staged a peaceful protest at the County government headquarters. They were protesting against the recent crackdown of peaceful Tibetan protesters and the illegal detention of Tibetan people in the Chinese prisons.
The four protesting nuns raised their fists and protested at the Chinese authorities after arriving at the County government headquarters. Moments after the protest, the local Public Security Bureau (PSB) personnels rushed to the protesting scene and immediately arrested the four nuns. The detained nuns were later subjected to severe beatings and torture by the Chinese security forces.
The nuns distributed loads of pamphlets in and around the County government headquarters calling for an independence for Tibet and shouted slogans demanding “Long Live the Dalai Lama”, “The Dalai Lama to return to Tibet”, “Independence for Tibet” and “To release all political prisoners”.
The detained nuns were identified as Bhumo Tengha from Lunang Village and Rinchen Jamatsang, Jamgha Dolma and Pema were from Lhopa Township, Kardze County, Kardze “TAP” Sichuan Province.
In recent months, Kardze areas have witnessed spates of peaceful protests by the Tibetan monks, nuns and ordinary Tibetans against China’s unpopular crackdown on Tibetan religious institutions, detention of prominent religious figures and implementation of “Patriotic education” and severe curtailments on the freedom of movements by the Chinese authorities.
There has been no information about the nuns’ current whereabouts and well being. The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) expresses its serious concern about rampant violations of fundamental human rights and stepping up of intense restriction in Tibetan religious institutions. The Centre calls upon international communities and vital organs of United Nations to defend the fundamental human rights of the Tibetan people.