Tibetan Teen Girl Arrested, Beaten After Protest

30 June 2012

A teenage Tibetan girl has been beaten and arrested after a lone protest in Kardze (Chinese: Ganzi) County, Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan Province.

On 24 June 2012, Jigme Dolma, aged 17, staged a peaceful protest at around 11 am (local time) in the main market of Kardze County, according to our source.

Jigme Dolma threw leaflets in the air and raised slogans calling for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, freedom in Tibet and the release of the Panchen Lama and Tibetan political prisoners. After four minutes’ protest, Jigme Dolma was immediately arrested and beaten by security personnel that she had to be hospitalized, sources said.

Traga, a nun and aunt of Jigme Dolma, was arrested after the 2008 protests in Tibet for her involvement in the protests. Traga was sentenced to around two years prison term. Around a year after her release, Traga became ill and was admitted in a hospital in Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan Province, from where it was learnt that the medical illness Traga was suffering from were due to ill-treatment during her imprisonment.

Following the arrest on 24 June 2012,  Jigme Dolma’s father approached the local police authorities to allow him to see his daughter, but his request was rejected. On 28 June, Jigme Dolma’s father came to know that his daughter was being taken to a hospital. He then waited at the hospital entrance where he saw his daughter injured and escorted by local police personnel. Jigme Dolma had sustained injuries on her hands, back and legs. On 29 June, Jigme Dolma’s father was allowed to meet his daughter.

Jigme Dolma is detained in Kardze County’s Detention Centre, a source told TCHRD. However, her medical condition and well-being remain a great concern. Jigme Dolma is the eldest among her parents’ three daughters.