Four monks from Bora Monastery arrested

Chinese security officers have arrested four known monks from Bora Monastery two days after monks from the monastery took out a protest march on 20 March 2012 against the Chinese government carrying portraits of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Tibetan flags and calling for human rights, religious freedom and language rights in Tibet.

According to sources, security officers entered Bora Monastery at around 12 pm (Tibet Time) on 23 March 2012 and arrested four monks. Those arrested are: Sangyal Gyatso (aged 30), Kelsang Lodoe (aged 23), Sonam (aged 20), and Tashi Gyatso (aged 22). It is not immediately known where they are detained and under what circumstances.

Earlier, on 21 March 2012, security officers arrested but released the same day 40 monks from Bora Monastery following the protest march. Sources said security officers had cut power and phone lines before entering the monastery in the wee hours to arrest the monks. Their release was meditated by Gyal Khenpo, the former abbot of Labrang Tashikyil Monastery who travelled to Bora and negotiated with the local officials.

Bora Monastery is located in Sangchu (Chinese: Xiahe) County in Kanlho (Chinese: Gannan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Gansu Province.