Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, June 5: Jamyang Tashi, a Tibetan monk from Tashikhyil Monastery in Amdo, eastern Tibet, has reportedly been detained for a second time by Chinese authorities, with his whereabouts and condition remaining unknown, according to a report by Tibet Watch.
Jamyang was reportedly taken into custody in early February, just two months after being released from a previous six-month arbitrary detention. Chinese police in Sangchu County are said to have carried out the detention, though they have disclosed no charges.
According to research outfit Tibet Watch, he was initially detained on suspicion of maintaining contact with Tibetans in exile. The rights group noted that concerns over potential reprisals against his family have prevented further verification of his current situation. It also remains unclear whether he was allowed to resume normal monastic activities following his earlier release.
The report said Chinese authorities have withheld information from Jamyang’s family and allegedly warned them against seeking details about his case. The lack of information has fuelled concerns over his well-being, particularly given the extensive surveillance and restrictions imposed on Tibetans in the region.
Jamyang was first detained alongside another monk from Labrang Tashikhyil Monastery, Jigme Sangpo, whose whereabouts also remain unknown. Jamyang’s detention was linked to allegations of maintaining contact with Tibetans in exile—a charge frequently used by Chinese authorities against Tibetan monks accused of accessing or sharing information related to exile-based Tibetan Buddhist institutions and the Dalai Lama.
Labrang Tashikhyil Monastery, one of the most influential Gelug institutions in Tibet, has long been subject to heightened state scrutiny due to its religious and cultural significance in the Amdo region.
