Crackdown in Diru widens: Tibetan writer and a former policeman detained

A Tibetan writer and his friend, a former police officer, were detained late last week in an ongoing crackdown at Diru (Ch: Biru) County in Nagchu (Ch: Naqu) Prefecture in Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR).

According to information received by TCHRD, writer Tsultrim Gyaltsen, 27, was detained by a group of County Public Security Bureau (PSB) officers during a night raid at his home in Tengkhar Village in Shamchu Township, Diru County.

On 11 October 2013 at around 1 am, PSB officers detained Tsultrim Gyaltsen, who used to write under the pseudonym Shogdril (Eng: Morning Bell), from his home on accusations that he “engaged in separatist activities and disrupted social stability by spreading rumours” during the recent unrest in Diru County.

The Diru County PSB officers searched his house and confiscated his mobile phone, computer, books and other documents before detaining him.

The next morning, on 12 October 2013, County PSB officers also detained Yugyal, 26, a friend of Tsultrim Gyaltsen, from his home in Tengkhar Village in Shamchu Township. Yugyal was also accused of engaging in separatist activities and for spreading rumours to harm social stability.

The real charges against both Tsultrim Gyaltsen and his friend Yugyal remain unknown. There is no information on the location of their detention.

Tsultrim Gyaltsen is known for his incisive, often irreverent essays and poetry, which he composed in both Tibetan and Chinese languages. In 2007, he published two books, Chimes of Melancholic Snow and The Fate of Snow Mountain. Both books received much appreciation from his readers.

He attended primary school in Shamchu Township. In 2001, he became a monk and joined Palyul Monastery in Palyul (Ch: Baiyu) County in Kardze (Ch: Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province where he learned about Buddhism and Tibetan culture and ancient sciences. He continued to study at Palyul until 2009. In 2009, he continued his studies at different Buddhist monasteries such as Shechen Monastery and Dzogchen Monastery (both in Dege County in Kardze); and Yachen Gar Monastery in Palyul County as well as Kirti Monastery in Ngaba (Ch: Aba) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province.

By the end of 2009, he had disrobed and joined the Northwest University for Nationalities at Lanzhou in Gansu Province. He studied Chinese language and writing at the university. In 2012, along with fellow Tibetan students, he began editing an annual literary journal titled ‘The New Generation’. He later became the chief editor of the journal.

He also ran a blog in Chinese language. Titled Serving Justice, the blog featured essays, poems, and translations. At present his blog http://xiuzheng.tibetcul.com/131613.html#253254 has been shut down. One of his more provocative essays that sparked a controversy was titled, God Must Die.

In May 2013, just a few months away from his graduation, he was expelled from the university. It appears that he was expelled for his opinions and writings than anything else. Sources told TCHRD that Tsultrim Gyaltsen often used to hold debate sessions at the university with fellow students. Some of the subjects debated at these informal sessions were deemed “illegal” by the authorities.

In June 2013, a month after his expulsion from the university, Tsultrim Gyaltsen returned to his hometown in Diru and started a guest house called “The New Generation”. Alongside his responsibilities at the guest house, he used to teach Tibetan and Chinese languages to local youths during his free time.

Yugyal, a former PSB officer, also attended the same primary school as his writer-friend Tsultrim Gyaltsen in Shamchu Township in Diru. In 2005, he was employed at the County PSB office where he worked for seven years. In 2012, frustrated by the political nature of his job, he turned in his resignation and started a small private business to earn his livelihood. He has a wife, Lhakyi Dolma, and two children.