Published by: World Tibet Network News, Thursday, October 10, 1996

In June this year, the three-day "Pot Fairy" festival held in Amdo Ngaba region was marked by wall posters and pamphlets calling for Tibetan independence. The show of protest led to chaos and disturbances at the festival and resulted in the arrest and detention of two persons by the Public Security Bureau (PSB) officials. The two are : Lobsang Jamyang, aged about 50, of Kirti monastery from Thawa village (mother's name : Tadrin Kyi), and Gonpo, aged : 43 (father's name : Phurdrung, and mother's name : Jigdron).

On searching Gonpo's house PSB officials found several pamphlets and wooden blocks inscribed with a call for "Tibetan independence" concealed in an underground pit meant for storing radish and potatoes; they also found a stencil machine.

At present it is not known where the two are detained. It is presumed that they are detained at the Barkham Detention Center.

Chinese authorities suspected them as they had been previously detained for the distribution of pamphlets advocating Tibetan independence. Lobsang Jamyang, a driver by profession, was earlier arrested in 1993 by the PSB from Lhasa's Kyiray guest house for the possession of a number of copies of H.H. the Dalai Lama's autobiography and documents on Tibetan independence. He was handed over to the Ngaba PSB who sentenced him to one year of simple imprisonment. Gonpo Tso, a farmer by profession, was earlier accused of involvement in the distribution of pamphlets calling for a "Free Tibet" during a religious teaching by the abbot of Serta Larung monastery in Karze Serta county. He was detained for over one month.

Issued by

The Tibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy

Department of Information and International Relations

Central Tibetan Administration, Dharamsala