A convoy of PAP vehicles at the Lithang Horse Race Ground. A group of PAP forces can be seen at the background

The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) is highly concerned at the well being of Ronggye A'drak who has been arbitrarily detained since 1 August 2007 for staging a public protest during the official function organised by the Lithang County Government on 1 August 2007 for the 80th Founding Anniversary of People's Liberation Army (PLO) and annual Lithang horse race. He is known to have been detained at the Lithang County Public Security Bureau Detention Centre. The center is fearful that the authorities will use torture upon Ronggye A'drak during detention, as it is a regular feature in all Chinese administered prisons and detention centers.

In the aftermath of arrest of Ronggye A'drak and the severe restrictions imposed thereafter for fear of massive popular uprising, TCHRD obtained exclusive pictures depicting the tension in the area. According to sources, the local authorities of Lithang County have beefed up the security by sending large number of armed police forces to the area and barred people from traveling. The situation in Lithang in eastern Tibetan Kardze Province "Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture" ('TAP') still remains tense after Ronggye A'drak's arrest and authorities' long impasse over people demand for his immediate release since his arrest on 1 August. Although the local officials had promised to release him the next day at 2:00 PM so far there has been no positive response regarding his release. According to some media reports, local Tibetan supporters of Ronggye A'drak in Lithang who have been protesting outside the government office in Lithang for the past weeks have withdrawn after local Tibetan leaders begged them to leave in order to avoid a violent crackdown.

A group of PAP forces marching with the full protective armour in the aftermath of Lithang protest

In light of the strong appeal made earlier by his son and nephew who are in exile, the Centre urgently seeks the intervention and support of the international civil society groups and the relevant UN mandates on promotion and protection of human rights in securing his early release. The Centre deems the case as an outright clamp down on the freedom of opinion and expression. Freedom of expression is a fundamental human rights which is prerequisite to the enjoyment of all human rights. Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaims, "Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers". Article 35 of the Constitution of the PRC guarantees "freedom of expression, of the press, of assembly, of association, of procession and of demonstration".

A convoy of PAP vehicles in one of which Ronggye A'drak is known to have been taken after the protest

TCHRD also calls upon the PRC government to release all political prisoners who have been arrested and detained for exercising their fundamental human rights enshrined in the UDHR, her constitution and many other international covenants and treaties that she is party to. TCHRD consider Ronggye A'drak's call a genuine expression of local Tibetans' concern and despair that continue to exist in Tibet as a result of China's repressive policies. The PRC should immediately address these genuine concerns of local Tibetan people rather than tightening noose around the Tibetan people's fundamental human rights.

To learn more about the arrest of Ronggye A'drak and the tension that followed as a consequent of his arrest, and the appeal made by his son and nephew, please click below:

A Tibetan arrested in Lithang for political demonstration
Rungyal Adrak: the Tibetan who spoke up for Freedom, Truth and Justice
To view Tibetan Press Release click here