Five Tibetan monks arrested over “subversive” music video

Chinese authorities in Matoe County, Golog “Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture” have arrested ten Tibetan monks and a civilian last Friday for “producing and distributing subversive songs” on video disc, according to information received by Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy. Six were released later on bail.

The county Public Security Bureau (PSB) officials arrested the eleven Tibetans from Tsakho and Khakhor Monasteries in Matoe County.

Sources told TCHRD that the Video CD was produced by Khenpo Ngagsung (23), Nobay, (age not known) and Sherab Nyima of Tsako monastery, in collaboration with Trulku Tsepak, 28, and an unidentified monk of Khakhor Monastery.

The video “Chakdrum Marpo” (Eng: Bloody Omen) contained songs expressing, among others, loyalty to the exile Tibetan leader Dalai Lama and “helplessness” over the death of Tibetans following large scale protests across Tibet. The video also incorporated many images and footage of Chinese clampdown.

Six others who helped distribute around 500 copies of the video were also arrested and made to pay a penalty of 10,000 Yuan but later released on bail. They are Gaybo,41; Gowang,23: Tashi Nyima (33), from Tsako monastery, and Markyi, 40; Khenpo, 25; from Khakhor monastery, and Garab Dorjee, 46; a layperson from Tsakho township. The six were asked to retrieve all the CDs distributed already by December 10 failing which they will be arrested again. They will most likely face arrest as it would be difficult for them to get back all the CDs.

TCHRD called on the government of People’s Republic of China (PRC) to immediately release the Tibetan detainees unconditionally and respect the fundamental human rights of right to freedom of expression and opinion.