Nun arrested for solo protest in Kardze

Phayul[Wednesday, March 18, 2009 18:33]

Dharamsala, March 18 - A Tibetan nun was severely beaten before facing arrest four days before the 50th Tibetan national uprising day, Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy said, citing a source. Lobsang Khandro, 21, a nun from Gema Dra-wok Nunnery in Thing-ka Township, Kardze County, Kardze "Tibet Autonomous Prefecture" ("TAP"), Sichuan Province carried out a solo protest march on the morning of 6 March 2009. Khandro walked from Takchu Bridge to Kardze government headquarter. Sources said she carried pamphlets, political literature on Tibet and some prayer flags. She shouted slogans such as "No Freedom in Tibet", "Tibetan People Rise Up, Rise Up", "Long Live the Dalai Lama" and "Chinese Authorities Release all Political Prisoners", according to the centre. The Chinese security personnel rushed in five police vans and beat her severely before taking her to a new detention centre build near the government hospital in Kardze. Relatives visiting her were turned away by the authorities who told them that she had committed a serious crime and deserves to die. "If she has involved in this kind of activity, there is no other way but to die. She has committed a serious offense and crime. There is nothing left for all of you to inquire about. Moreover, all of you must not contact the outside world on this matter", the source told TCHRD quoting the authorities. The Gema Dra-wok Nunnery is situated at a distance of 16 kilometers from Kardze County en route to the sacred pilgrimage site, Khawa Karpo. Nuns of Gema Dra-wok Nunnery participated in a mass uprising last year during the Tibet unrest and five nuns are still serving prison terms, said TCHRD.