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Ragya monastery sealed off

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File photo of Machu (Yellow) river. The red arrow points to the approximate area where Tashi Sangpo committed suicide on 21 March 2009. Security forces have since sealed off and encircled the monastery.File photo/TCHRD handout/China

Following a mass protest in reaction to the suicide of a monk from Ragya monastery on 21 March, security forces have completely sealed off and encircled the monastery, reports the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD).

All communication services have been cut off, leaving little room for information to reach the outside world.

Tashi Sangpo, a 25-year-old monk, jumped into Machu (Yellow) river near his monastery to avoid imprisonment by the Chinese. Police had reportedly found a banned Tibetan flag and other ‘suspicious documents’ in his room.

China’s state run Xinhua news agency said that the monk fled from the Ragya police station after asking to go to the washroom, and further stated that he was seen swimming in the Yellow River, citing a witness.

Tashi’s death led to a large protest with Ragya monks storming the local Public Security Bureau office (police station). The monks reclaimed the Tibetan flag that had been confiscated on 10 March during a protest that saw the pulling down of a Chinese flag and the raising of the Tibetan flag on the roof of the monastery.

The protesters then waved the banned Tibetan flag and shouted anti-China slogans such as: “Stop murdering innocent Tibetans.”

Pamphlets reading: “It is better to die for Tibet and her people than being duped by the monetary rewards of the Chinese government,” were distributed.

Government officials and the heads of Golog Public Security Bureau and People’s Armed Police came to the site of the demonstration, but the Tibetans continued with their protest.

Around 100 monks have reportedly been detained for their involvement in the protest. TCHRD says that the detained monks are currently undergoing severe interrogation methods, including torture at detention centres.

Tashi Sangpo was born in Gartse village in Kaba Sum-dho County, Tsolho Tibet Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai Province. His father’s name was Dolma Kyap and mother’s name Phagdron. He was enrolled in Ragya monastery in his early years to study Buddhism. He completed his vinaya (a set of rules) studies earlier this year.

Copyright © 2009 Tibet Sun

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