Monk Dorgay of Nagchu Shabten Monastery arrested

On 6 July 2011, Dorgay, a monk of Shabten Monastery in Dickyi Township of Nagchu (Ch: Naqu) County in Tibet Autonomous Region was arrested and taken away by Chinese police.

At around 5 am on 6 July, Dorgay, 22, drove his car with 1500-2000 khataks (ceremonial scarves). Praying for the long life of the Dalai Lama, he tied the khataks on trees, electric poles and everywhere in Nagchu region as a celebration of the 76th birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Soon after returning to his monastery, Chinese police arrived at the monastery and inquired whether he was the one who put khataks all around Nagchu to which he confessed. Hence, he was arrested and taken away by Chinese police. His whereabouts remain unknown to date. His family members and fellow monks at Shabten Monastery tried to locate him and find out about his conditions but without any success.

On that day, he was accompanied by a relative, a young male student who was staying with him at the monastery at the time. The boy had been also arrested and no further details are known yet.

It seems like arbitrary arrest and detention continues to stay in the practice of Chinese police. Tibetan Center for Human Rights denounces such actions of the Chinese Authority and their intolerance towards any sign of celebration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s birthday.