3 arrested in Ngaba

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Phayul
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Dharamsala, March 11 - Chinese authorities reportedly detained 3 monks of Kirti monastery in Ngaba, a source with contacts there told Voice of Tibet radio service.

Jamyang Phuntsok, 35, was taken away from his monastery room in the wee hours of March 3. A monk named Mewa Gyatso and another monk of Kirti monastery were arrested on March 5.

The source said he heard from contacts in Ngaba that the arrests might be linked to Tabey, the monk who set himself ablaze on February 27.

He said that the Chinese authorities were looking for four monks who had threatened to follow Tabey’s footsteps through posters circulated in the region. The three monks who were arrested are friends of Tabey.

Sources say around 60000 troops have been deployed in Ngaba region. The residents have been ordered not to wander out after 8PM and all public facilities have been asked to shut down by that time.