China arrests a Tibetan civil servant in Mangra County, Qinghai Province

18 March 2009

The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) received a reliable information that a Tibetan civil servant was arrested by the Chinese authorities in Sum-dho Township, Mangra County (Ch: Gui nan Xian), Tsolho “Tibet Autonomous Prefecture” “TAP”, (Ch: Hainan) Qinghai Province.

Multiple sources told TCHRD that Tashi Dhondup, age 27, was arrested at his home on grounds of suspicion by the Public Security Bureau (PSB) personnel on 12 March 2009. The PSB personnel charged into his house and immediately arrested him without giving any warrant explanation for the arrest. In addition, his Personal Computer (PC) and mobile phone were seized and forcefully taken away by the security personnel for further investigation. At the time of his arrest, he was a Chinese government civil servant in Mangra County, Tsolho “TAP”, Qinghai Province.

Tashi Dhondup had previously served in the People’s Armed Police (PAP) for three years and later worked as a school teacher in Sum-dho Township for some time. He was later recruited as a Chinese government civil servant in Mangra County, Tsolho “TAP”, Qinghai Province, where he was arrested on 12 March 2009 on grounds of suspicion by the Mangra PSB personnel. He has a wife and two daughters at home.

TCHRD learned that Tashi Dhondup was currently being detained at the Mangra PSB Detention Centre.

Of late Mangra County (Ch: Gui nan Xian) witnessed peaceful protest march staged by the monks of Lutsang Monastery on 25 February 2009, during the first day of the Tibetan New Year (Losar). Since then Mangra County saw a dramatic stepped up of restriction and vigilance by the Chinese security forces such as tapping of telephone conversations and restriction on the freedom of movements. It seems that the ground situation in Mangra County appears volatile and tense.