Tibetan university student detained for blogging on self-immolation

Chinese authorities have arbitrarily detained a Tibetan university student who is also an active blogger on issues sensitive for the Chinese government such as self-immolation, according to information received by TCHRD.

Meu Soepa, 21, a student of literature at Northwest University for Nationalities in Lanzhou was detained at about 4 pm on 27 December by a group of officers from the Ngaba County Stability Maintenance Office and Public Security Bureau (PSB) in Meuruma town in Ngaba (Ch: Aba) County in Ngaba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, in the Tibetan province of Amdo.

Son of Gonkho and Pelkho, Meu Soepa was born and raised in nomadic camp no 3 of Meuruma Township in Ngaba County.

At the time of detention, Meu Soepa was riding a car travelling to Ngaba County town from Meuruma town. Sources said police used intimidation to detain Soepa before forcibly taking away all his belongings. Soepa’s family and friends have been given no reason for his detention. There is no information on his whereabouts and condition.

Local Tibetans suspect that Soepa was detained for his views and writings on self-immolation and other issues related to Tibetan people that are considered politically sensitive by the Chinese government. He was a prolific blogger and an outspoken critic of Chinese policies in Tibet. On one of his personal blogspot titled “Meu Soepa’s Forum”, he had written about his and other people’s views on self-immolation, Tibetan freedom and the Tibet issue. One of his posts was titled “Raise your fist for freedom” and another “Chinese, won’t you let us live now? We have had enough of your oppression!”

It appears that the immediate cause for his detention stems from the fact that he had written a short poem in Chinese language titled “Martyr” to honour the courage and sacrifice of Tsepey Kyi, the 19-year-old Tibetan woman who died of self-immolation on 22 December. Tsepey Kyi also hailed from Meuruma nomadic town. Below is a translation of the poem done by TCHRD:

“Martyr” 

                 ~ Meu Soepa, Amdo Ngaba

Who was she that ignited herself in the dark?

Energizing the Land of Snows with her [last drop of] blood!

Who was she that sacrificed herself in the flame?

Leaving behind her last solicitude on the Plateau!

Who was she – the messenger of the Tsanpos, the incarnation of the truth?

You have left

Your hopes for truth and justice,

Spreading throughout the Land of Snows!

You have left,

Bearing all the oppression and grief

You have left,

Amid the prayers of hundreds of thousands of Tibetans!