Tibetan nomads sent to labor camps for politically sensitive material on cell phones

-Radio Free Asia

The detentions come amid increased surveillance of Tibetans in and around Drago county.

Authorities in China’s Tibet Autonomous Region are detaining more nomadic Tibetans in Drago county and sending them to labor camps for having content deemed politically inappropriate on their cell phones, people with knowledge of the situation said.

“Many Tibetans were detained in January after Drago county police searched their phone data in Likhog town,” said a Tibetan in exile who has source inside the region. “Most of them are detained in a labor camp in Thangnagma.”

Most Tibetans who live in Likhog, which is located about 50 kilometers (31 miles) from Drago (in Chinese, Luhuo) county of Kardze (Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, are nomads.

“It is not just a few Tibetans, but many Tibetans arrested this time,” added the Tibetan who declined to give his name for safety reasons.

“All of those who were arrested are nomads,” he said, though he could not provide an exact figure.

Authorities summoned the Tibetans to the police station and asked them if they possessed any politically sensitive photos, videos or other information, or to see if the owners had been in contact with Tibetans living in exile, said the Tibetan in exile. Click here to read more.


RELATED NEWS

Menu