Radio Free Asia
July 27, 2015
Chinese authorities in a Tibetan-populated county in Sichuan province detained a monk on unknown charges as he and his father were shopping last month, according to Tibetan sources.
Police detained 38-year-old Chokye of Phugu monastery on June 19 in Nyitoe town, Serthar (in Chinese, Seda) county of Kardze (Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan province, a source who declined to be named said.
“The reason for his detention is not known,” said another Tibetan with knowledge of the matter, but who declined to be named.
On June 20, authorities also detained Chokye’s sister Kyizom and her son Drakpa for unknown reasons and severely beat them for 15 days before releasing them, he said.
“Almost a month has passed without any information about the detained monk,” the source said, adding that a security crackdown, including communications, prevented him from calling attention to the incident.
“Since June 21, the Internet was cut off for almost an entire month,” he said. “It was only on July 24 when Internet service was restored and I could send this information.”
Before he became monk, Chokye lived in Shosang village with his father Shokyanyo and mother Tsering Kyi, the source said.
Chokye had to visit the hospital frequently for treatment for liver and stomach ailments, he said.
Reported by Lhuboom and Kunsang Tenzin for RFA’s Tibetan Service. Translated by Karma Dorjee. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
