Lobsang Lhundup, a monk of Nekhor Monastery

A monk of Nekhor Monastery in Lithang County in Kardze "Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture" ('TAP') was arrested for staging a peaceful solo protest demonstration yesterday, according to confirmed information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) from reliable sources.

"At around 12 noon (Beijing Standard Time) yesterday, Lobsang Lhundup, a monk of Nekhor Monastery staged a peaceful solo protest demonstration at the main market square of Lithang town for about 15-20 minutes before being forcibly detained by the Public Security Bureau (PSB) and People's Armed Police (PAP). Lobsang chanted slogans 'Long Live the Dalai Lama,' Independence for Tibet,' 'Swift return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet' and ' No Losar (Tibetan New Year) celebration this year,'" according to the source.

Lobsang Lhundup is known to have been taken to the Lithang PSB Detention Centre for further interrogation. According to eyewitnesses accounts from the site of the demonstration, "Lobsang, who was limping with the help of a walking stick, was forcibly subdued and taken in a police vehicle after his brief protest at the main market."

Lobsang Lhundup, 38 years old, born in Gemo Village, Lithang County, Kardze "TAP" was a monk of Nekhor Monastery, which is the primary monastery of four adjoining villages. His family, a nomad, shifted their base from Gemo Village to Lithang town a year and a half ago. According to the source, Lobsang Lhundup returned home after completing annual religious prayers at Nekhor Monastery a fortnight ago.

Lobsang Lhundup visited India in 2002 for the Kalachakra teaching at Bodhgaya, which was cancelled owing to the Dalai Lama's ill health. He stayed until the next teaching in January 2003 and returned to Tibet after the teaching the same year.

TCHRD expresses its deepest concern over the detention of Lobsang Lhundup and calls for his immediate release, as his act constitutes nothing more than the peaceful exercise of freedom of expression and thought. The authorities should ensure that Lobsang Lhundup is not subjected to ill treatment in the detention centre. The Centre deems the case as an outright clampdown on the freedom of opinion and expression in Tibet. Freedom of expression, opinion and assembly are fundamental human rights enshrined in the Chinese constitution and in UDHR.