China detains Drakar and Gaden Choeling Nuns in Kardze

China detains Drakar and Gaden Choeling Nuns in Kardze

By Vujyender Sharma

DHARMSHALA----In aftermath of the series of pro-Tibet protests in many parts of Tibet since 10 March 2008, the Chinese government has stepped up unprecedented "Patriotic re-education" campaign in an attempt to counter the growing voices of dissidence in the Tibetan society. The "Patriotic re-education" campaign was originally launched to "stem out" Tibetan nationalism in Tibet's religious institutions. However, in recent years it was conducted in secular Tibetan society such as schools and communities.

Since 10 March 2008, the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) has documented hundreds of Tibetans arrested in connection with the "Patriotic re-education" campaign. In many of Tibet's monasteries and nunneries, the Chinese government has stepped up the "Patriotic re-education", which requires the monks and nuns to criticize and denounce the Dalai Lama.

The campaign has stirred so much of angst and resentment within the Tibetan people at large where those monks and nuns who denounce the Dalai Lama and sign off the official document are allow to stay in monasteries and nunneries while those who refuses to obey the order either face expulsion from their monasteries and nunneries or face imprisonment.

TCHRD has learnt about sporadic cases of the "Patriotic re-education" campaign conducting in Kardze County,"TAP" in recent times.

In one of such incidents, twelve nuns of Drakar Nunnery were arrested for protesting against the Chinese authorities in Kardze, according to reliable information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD).

On 11 May 2008, two Drakar nuns were arrested after they protested against the Chinese authorities in Kardze County, (Ch: Ganzi) Kardze "TAP", Sichuan Province. The nuns called for "religious freedom", vent their anger against the "Patriotic re-education" campaign and the denunciation of the Dalai Lama. The nuns Sonam Lhamo and Thupten Dolma were arrested by the Chinese security forces.

A day later on 12 May 2008, a group of nuns again protested against the Chinese authorities in the afternoon in Kardze County. During the protest, 10 Drakar nuns were arrested by the Chinese security forces.

The names of the arrestees were:

1. Tashi Gha
2. Thinely
3. Sonam Yangzom
4. Tamdin Choekyi
5. Yangkyi
6. Lhamo Choekyi
7. Jampa Lhamo
8. Dickyi
9. Nyima
10. Bhuti

On 14 May 2008, scores of nuns of Ganden Choeling protested against the Chinese authorities in Kardze County, according to reliable information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD).

The protest took place around 9 AM (Beijing Standard Time) when few nuns of Kardze Ganden Choeling Nunnery protested against the Chinese authorities in Kardze County, (Ch: Ganzi) Kardze "TAP", Sichuan Province.

The nuns protested and marched towards Kardze County government headquarters which lay on the other side of a bridge. When they were about to cross the Kardze bridge, about 300 personnel of Public Security Bureau (PSB) and People's Armed Police (PAP) came to the protest scene and blocked the agitated nuns from crossing the bridge and heading towards the County government headquarters to protest.

Incidentally, three nuns were able to breached the security blanket and reached the County government headquarters, where they protested and shouted slogans. Within minutes, they were arrested, beaten severely by the security forces. The names of the three arrested nuns were Dorjee Khando, Takdon and Pema Lhamo.

Meanwhile there has been no information about the whereabouts and conditions of those remaining nuns blocked at the bridge by Chinese security forces.

The Centre expresses its grave concern over the fate of nuns who were arrested. Torture is a regular exercise in many of detention centres in China. The Centre also calls upon the Chinese government to respect the fundamental rights of the arrested nuns and in no case they should be subjected to torture and ill-treatment. The Centre urges to the Chinese leaders to immediately release the detained nuns.