Tsering Dhundup
DHARAMSHALA, Sept. 14: A Tibetan language content creator and live-streamer Tashi Nyima, a.k.a Gang Lhaja, who was censored for his content, has reportedly been detained by local Chinese authorities.
On August 28, Gang Lhaja announced in a video posted on the Chinese social media platform KuaiShou that his live-streaming activities had been abruptly suspended following orders from local police. The restrictions primarily affected his series “Outdoor Livestream on The Plateau,” which had gained significant popularity among Tibetan communities.
According to the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), Gang Lhaja was arbitrarily detained from September 1 to 3 and reportedly beaten while in custody. On September 7, he released a video expressing his frustration and disappointment with the situation.
Gang Lhaja, who has over 75,000 followers on KuaiShou, is known for his efforts to promote the Tibetan language and culture through online games, quizzes, and educational activities. His content often draws from the “Chinese-Tibetan-English Dictionary of New Daily Vocabulary” by Khenpo Tsultrim Lodoe, a disciple of the renowned Nyingmapa master Khenchen Jigme Phuntsok.
Khenchen played a crucial role in reviving Tibetan Buddhism, culture and language in Tibet following China’s Cultural Revolution, during which Mao Zedong attempted to eradicate remnants of traditional Tibetan culture. Under his guidance, numerous private Tibetan language schools were founded, including Sengdruk Taktse.
Before the police intervention, Gang Lhaja had planned an extensive tour across several regions of Tibet to promote the use of new Tibetan vocabulary. This tour has now been effectively cancelled due to the restrictions imposed on him. His censorship is part of a wider pattern of repression against Tibetan language and culture in China. Recent years have seen increased restrictions on Tibetan activists, scholars, and cultural figures. Private Tibetan language schools have been shut down, and Chinese has been imposed as the primary language of instruction in many areas.
Live-streaming industry in China and Chinese-occupied countries like Tibet is subject to strict controls from regulators such as the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) and the Ministry of Public Security. Vague regulations prohibiting content that “undermines social stability” or is “harmful to ethnic and territorial unity” have led to increased censorship.
