China Stops Tibetan Horse Festival, Arrests Two Organizers
22.03.2017
Tibetans in Lathong, Chamdo County, Eastern Tibet were ordered by the Chinese authorities to cancel their planned township horse festival two months ago.
According to a source in Dharamsala, North India, the officials arrested two Tibetans suspected as the organizers of the traditional festival about a week ago. Although one of them was later released, the whereabouts of the other remains unknown.
Nyingmig, who is originally from Lhathog and currently resides in Dharamsala, tells VOA that the winter horse festival was planned and announced via Wechat, a social media app. Another Tibetan in New Delhi who wants to remain anonymous confirmed the arrests of the individuals.
Severe restrictions placed on the internet and communication within the region has made it difficult to obtain further information on the detainees.
Latest Self-Immolator Alive
22.03.2017
VOA Tibetan has learnt that Pema Gyaltsen, the young man who carried out a self-immolation protest in Kham Nyarong on March 18, and whose condition was unclear after he was taken away by Chinese security, is still alive today.
He is believed to be in a hospital, within the provincial capital city of Chengdu.
It is unknown whether any family members are being allowed to be with him, especially after several people who were friends and family who had gone to demand his body following his protest were forced to stay in stress positions all night and severely beaten by the Chinese police before being allowed to leave.
