Tibetan live-streamer assaulted and suspended for promoting Tibetan language and culture on social media
Tibetan language content creator and live-streamer Tashi Nyima, also known as Gang Lhaja, shared in a video posted on the Chinese social media platform KuaiShou on 28 August that his live-streaming activities were abruptly suspended following orders from the local police. He explained that the restrictions on his content, particularly his series titled “Outdoor Live Stream on The Plateau”, were primarily due to his growing influence within Tibetan communities, where his Tibetan language content had become increasingly popular.
In addition to being suspended from further live-streaming, Gang Lhaja was arbitrarily detained from 1 to 3 September and was beaten in a detention centre. On 7 September, he released another video in Tibetan, expressing his frustration and disappointment regarding the situation. He also uploaded a transcript of his video message in Chinese alongside the video.
In the video, he states:
” I have experienced defeat, and I have experienced it repeatedly. However, I honestly cannot accept the defeat this time because this is a defeat for all who have supported and valued my work. Usually, I admit defeat when it comes. But, the obstacles and interference in my work [by the local authorities] make me extremely discouraged and disheartened. There are a hundred ways to do one task, a thousand paths to one destination, and I carefully trod the path through suitable means and wisdom. However, the path I was taking to accomplish my work has been directly blocked.
I even felt this might be the last livestream in my life. I was terribly scared. I trembled terribly. But today, thanks to the kindness of the Lama and the Three Jewels and, secondly, thanks to the kindness of my friends, I have come here and been able to go online as before. This is also due to the kindness of the Lama and the Three Jewels.
On the one hand, I’m thrilled (my heart is joyful). On the other hand, I’m despondent (my heart is sorrowful). In any case, I couldn’t accomplish the task I set out to do. With hard-earned money saved, I intended to traverse distant places with hope. I prepared over 200,000 yuan, planning to travel through the three regions of Tibet—U-Tsang, Amdo, and Kham. However, my friends, I will not be able to accomplish it.
It’s been seven days now. I’ve been thinking a lot. I feel defeated and sad. However, I know that the greater one’s influence on society, the more obstacles and pressure one faces.”
With over 75,000 followers on KuaiShou and an additional 6,500 followers on a fan account created by supporters, Gang Lhaja has established a strong presence as a Tibetan content creator. He has long focused on producing the Tibetan language through online games, quizzes, and educational activities, often based on the “Chinese-Tibetan-English Dictionary of New Daily Vocabulary” by Khenpo Tsultrim Lodoe, one of the heart disciples of the renowned Nyingmapa master, Khenchen Jigme Phuntsok. Khenchen Jigme Phuntsok was instrumental in reviving Tibetan Buddhism, culture and language in Tibet following China’s Cultural Revolution, during which Mao Zedong attempted to eradicate remnants of traditional Tibetan culture. Under Khenchen’s guidance, numerous private Tibetan language schools were founded, including Sengdruk Taktse, established by Tulku Thupten Norbu.
In one of his final videos before the police intervention, Gang Lhaja revealed his plans for an extensive tour across several regions of Tibet, including Dzachuka, Kardze, Palyul, Derge, Jhomdha, Chamdo, and other regions across Tibet’s three traditional provinces to promote the use of new Tibetan vocabularies. However, since 28 August, he has been unable to host more live streams. Despite this, in his final video, he expressed disappointment with the authorities, asserting that he had not violated any laws or regulations.
In China, live streaming has become a booming industry, but it has also attracted increased attention from regulators. The Chinese government imposes strict controls over content creators, requiring compliance with regulations from agencies like the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) and the Ministry of Public Security.
One recent regulation, the 2019 “Norms for the Administration of Online Short Video Platforms and Detailed Implementation Rules for Online Short Video Content Review Standards,” prohibits content that ‘undermines social stability’, ‘content dividing the nation’, ‘content disclosing state secrets’, and ‘content harmful to ethnic and territorial unity’, among many others. These vague regulations have led to increased censorship, particularly affecting ethnic minorities like Tibetans.
In recent years, several Tibetans have been targeted by authorities for content deemed politically sensitive. In 2022, five Tibetans were detained by local Chinese police in connection with a song about the Tibetan spiritual leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, which was performed during a musical contest on Kuaishou. Last year, Tibetan singer Palden was sentenced to three years in prison for sharing patriotic Tibetan songs on the same platform.
Gang Lhaja is a native of Yuthok village in Derge (Ch: Dege) County, in the traditional Tibetan province of Kham, near the birthplace of the esteemed Situ Panchen Chökyi Jungney, the 8th Tai Situ incarnation. Situ Panchen was a distinguished scholar, writer, painter, doctor, and linguist renowned for his contributions, including the widely studied Situ’s Commentary on Tibetan Grammar, an essential text for Tibetan language students.
Gang Lhaja, a former monk, began his early education in a local monastery, learning basic reading and writing, before graduating from a Shedra (Tibetan Buddhist monastic university). Later, he moved to Chengdu, where he sold coffee on the streets while continuing his Tibetan studies. Although his small coffee business failed, he transitioned to creating online content and garnered widespread support for his efforts to promote the Tibetan language and culture.
As a social impact content creator, he has engaged in numerous charitable activities. He has raised funds for needy patients and even purchased livestock from butchers for life release. His efforts have inspired many followers to participate in acts of compassion and charity, creating a community centred around these values. The recent restrictions on Gang Lhaja are part of a broader pattern of repression against Tibetan language and culture. In recent years, Tibetan activists, scholars, and cultural figures have faced increasing censorship and persecution. While private schools in Tibet are being shut down, Chinese has been imposed as the primary language of instruction, further eroding linguistic freedoms. In June this year, restrictions on Tibetan language content creators heightened concerns over the rapidly shrinking cultural and linguistic freedoms online, with many voicing strong discontent on social media, reporting difficulties in streaming and speaking in Tibetan on platforms like Douyin and Kuaishou.
