Chinese Public Security Bureau (PSB) officials in Nyagrong County (Ch: Xinlong xian), Kardze “Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (‘TAP’) in Sichuan Province have arrested a Tibetan monk named Abo Tashi, a 22-year-old of Guru Monastery, for his participation and taking photographs during a protest rally on 8 April 2010, according to information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD).

Abo Tashi was accompanied by Tsering Gyatso, 19; Tsering Wangchuk, 22; of Guru Monastery and Rinzin Dorjee, a 24 year-old from Jamchon Monastery in Nyarong County. All four protesters were hailed from Serwoe Village, Nyarong County, Kardze “TAP”.

The four Tibetan monks staged their protest at the county main market square carrying banned Tibetan national flag and chanted slogans and thrown handwritten pamphlets demanding “quick return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet,” “independence for Tibet,” and “stop mining activities in Nyarong.” Following their protest, around 500 local Tibetans joined the protest march in support. According to source, sound of gunshot fires were heard during the protest and it cannot be confirmed whether it was fired in the air to disperse the protesters or onto the protesting Tibetans. As of now there is no information on Tibetan getting hurt in the incident. Abo Tashi was detained by the PSB officials from the site while capturing the event of Tibetan protest in his camera. There is no information on his place of detention.

TCHRD is gravely concerned about the safety of Abo Tashi and recalls to the competent Chinese authorities that China is legally bound to effectively ensure the physical and psychological integrity person deprived of liberty in accordance with international human rights law. The Centre calls upon the government of the PRC to order his immediate and unconditional release as his action constitute nothing more than a peaceful exercise of the fundamental human rights.