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China detains three Tibetan monks in Nagchu

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Undated file photos from left: scripture master Geshe Tsultrim Gyaltsen, Khensur Thupten Thabkey and head monk Tsundue of Shapten monastery in Nagchu, Tibet. Chinese authorities detained the three monks on 11 April 2009 for unknown reason according to Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy. File photo/TCHRD handout/Tibet

Chinese authorities have secretly detained three Tibetan Buddhist monks in Nagchu in Tibet, according to the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD).

Khensur Thupten Thapkhey, a 47-year-old former abbot and Geshe Tsultrim Gyaltsen, a 34-year-old scripture master, of Shapten monastery were detained by the public security bureau on 11 April 2009 in Nagchu for unknown reasons.

Security personnel from the area deceived the monks of the monastery by saying that Khensur Thupten Thapkhey and Geshe Tsultrim Gyaltsen had gone to Lhasa to receive Geshe degree (doctorate in philosophy) certificate from the religious bureau. The security forces took the monks to a detention centre, where they are currently being detained.

Another monk, Tsundue, a 30-year-old head monk of the monastery’s Democratic Management Committee (DMC) was also taken to Nagchu public security bureau detention centre. The security forces told the monks at the monastery that Tsundue will be taken out for a meeting.

TCHRD had no other details of the detention of the monks except that the parents and relatives of the detainees were trying to contact them at the detention centre.

Copyright © 2009 Tibet Sun

Published in Tibet Sun