Chinese Police interrogate Tibetans arrested over dam protests

New Delhi, Feb 25 (IANS) – Chinese Police have begun harsh interrogations of over 1,000 Tibetans in central China who were protesting against a dam project. The detainees, including Buddhist monks and local residents, were beaten severely and some needed medical attention, according to Radio Free Asia (RFA) report.

The arrests took place on February 23 in Wangbuding township, Dege County of Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan province. The Tibetans were subjected to physical violence when they refused to answer questions during the interrogations, a source told RFA on the condition of anonymity.

According to the source, many of the detained individuals had to be hospitalized due to the beating they received. The protests began on February 14 against the construction of the Gangtuo hydropower dam on the Drichu River, which will lead to the displacement of two major communities and the submerging of several monasteries, including the historic Wonto Monastery known for its ancient murals dating back to the 13th century.

“Some of the arrested Tibetans are being held in a police station in Upper Wonto, while others are being kept in an old prison in Dege County,” RFA reported. Due to the large number of detainees, they are spread out across various locations in Dege County as the authorities do not have a single facility to accommodate all of them.

The second source shared with RFA that the arrested Tibetans were not provided any food except for hot water, leading many to faint due to the lack of nourishment in freezing temperatures. The harsh treatment of the protesters has raised concerns about human rights violations in the region, as the Chinese authorities continue to crackdown on dissent.

–IANS
san/pgh