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Press
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According to confirmed information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), Ronggay A'drak, a Tibetan nomad from Lithang was arrested for staging political demonstration yesterday during an official anniversary function.
On 1 August 2007, an official function for the 80th Founding Anniversary of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) was organized by the Lithang County government. A large number of people from different walks of life from Lithang area converged to witness the official function and the famous annual horse race. Just before the start of the official function at around 11 a.m., when the Chief guest, the officials and the general public were present, Ronggay A'drak, a 52-year-old Tibetan nomad from Youru Village, Lithang County, Kardze Province "Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture" ('TAP'), went up to the stage to offer a traditional Tibetan scarf to Lithang Kyabgyon- the Chief Lama of Lithang Monastery. Ronggay A'drak then seized the microphone and shouted the following slogans in front of the large gathering -"The Dalai Lama should return to Tibet", "Release Panchen Lama", "Tibet wants Independence". He then went to call for the people to stop fighting among themselves on the land, water dispute and on the collection of Yartsa Gunbu caterpillar fungus (Tib: Yartsa Gunbu, Botanical name: cordyceps sinensis).
Later Ronggay A'drak climbed down from the stage and went straight to Naglu Tenzin, a monk who was actively involved in the Chinese "Patriotic education campaign" to denounce his double standard in dealing with the religious affairs of the monastery in presence of the chief guest and the general public. He later climbed the stage again and continued shouting slogans which the general public joined in unison before he was arrested by Kardze local police and taken away to an unknown place. Sensing fear for the safety of Ronggay A'drak, scores of people from Lithang Yonru Village went to Lithang County Office to call for his immediate release and to ascertain his whereabouts and condition. They even demonstrated inside the compound of the County office calling for his immediate release and respect of Tibetan people's right to freedom of expression and opinion.
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According to a reliable source, a few people even broke into the County Office to demand for his immediate release. Sensing the further escalation of tension, the police officer even threatened the villagers with firing pistol into the air. The Tibetan people unmoved by the threats, weathered incessant rain on that day proceeded forward with their demand. It was learnt that the villagers finally returned to their place only after the officials agreed to release Ronggay A'drak the next day at 2 p.m. According to another source, "While returning to their place, the villagers called for Tibetans, followers of the Dalai Lama and pro-independence to join them. And they even told that if the authorities did not release Ronggay A'drak today by 2:00pm they will organize a mass demonstration in front of the detention centre no matter how much restriction officials put on them." The situation in Lithang County is known to be very tense. Strangely this time the local officials compliance with the demands of local Tibetans was unprecedented. However, it is difficult to predict the future course of the case.
TCHRD expresses its deepest concern at the arrest of Ronggay A'drak for exercising his political rights and demands his immediate release. The People's Republic of China(PRC) should abide by the rights guaranteed in the constitution and other major international covenants and treaties which she is party to. Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right which is a prerequisite to the enjoyment of all human rights. TCHRD seeks the support of human rights groups and the international community in securing his release. The Centre deems the case as an outright clampdown on the freedom of opinion and expression. TCHRD will continue to monitor the situation and will update on the issue as and when further information surfaces.
