Dharamshala — Chinese authorities in Dingri County, southern Tibet, arrested four Tibetan monks for allegedly organising prayers for His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader of Tibet. The Chinese authorities forced the people and leaders to write a letter promising that they will not recite prayers for the Dalai Lama in the monastery or any other public place.
The Chinese government has banned everything to do with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, including his image, books, teachings and prayers. Because he is the spiritual leader of Tibet and all Tibetans have great faith in him and China considers him a threat to the Chinese government. Therefore, when Tibetans keep his image, his books and pray for him, China will arrest, torture and imprison Tibetans for years to silence them. But Tibetans have never lost faith in His Holiness the Dalai Lama after 60 years of Chinese oppression on Tibetans.
According to a reliable source, in September 2023, Chinese police arrested four Tibetan monks from Lhadong monastery in Dingri county, southern Tibet, for allegedly organising prayers for His Holiness the Dalai Lama. “During an annual prayer session in the Nubling village, five Chinese police officers from Dingri County came to the monastery suddenly and arrested four monks, namely Sonam, Kalsang tsering, Nyima and Phuntsok, and accused holding prayers for His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama,” the source said.
After the monks were arrested, the Chinese authorities raided the monks' rooms in the monastery and also summoned the people and leader of the Nubling village for interrogation. The Chinese authorities then forced the people and leader to write a letter promising that, they will not recite prayers for His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the monastery or in any other public place in future.
The Tibetan monks Sonam, Kalsang Tsering, Nyima and Phuntsok, are from Lhadong monastery, Nubling village, Gemar Township, Dingri county, southern Tibet. Since their arrest, no information has been given to their families about them, in particular about their place of detention and their living conditions. Their families have not been informed of their fate and they are very worried about them.
Shortly after the monks were arrested, the Chinese authorities appointed two officials at the monastery to carry out regular inspections, even though there are only around ten monks in the monastery. The monastery is under constant surveillance by the Chinese authorities.
