Twelve Tibetan nomads were detained and one was severely beaten in Thangkor town, Dzoege County in Ngaba Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture on September 22. Radio Free Asia reported that the nomads were detained when they appealed for redress for land grabbed from them by force in 2010.
Tibetans at the site where their land was seized in 2010
Photo: Tibet.net
The Chinese authorities forcibly took land belonging to the residents of Thangkor town for government projects, evicting 20 families from their homes . However, there were no projects initiated and local authorities were reported to have leased out the lands to private individuals, provoking the residents to appeal for the return of their land.
Angered by the appeal, local authorities withdrew the subsidies they had provided to the Tibetans in that area, and did not return their land. When locals complained about the issue the officials promised to solve the issue by September 20. After that deadlinethe villagers reoccupied their land prompting a crackdown by the Chinese authorities in the area.
Tsokyi, one of the 12 Tibetans was beaten severely
Photo:Tibet.net
One local, JigjeKyab, 39, organised a protest in the Sichuan provincial capital Chengdu in January. According to local sources he is missing and no one knows about his condition. His sister Tsekyi was severely beaten by officials following the recent appeal. She was released later although other Tibetans arrested with her are still in custody, these include six who had assisted in writing up the appeal, namely Dobe, Shetruk, TseringKyab, Patra, Tsering Tashi and Tsokyi.
Phayul reports that the land is attracting a lucrative income for the government from the million Chinese tourists coming annually to the area.
Print
Email