Police took the two into custody at different locations in Ngawa County. Chinese authorities have tightened controls, including in Lhasa, to crush protests ahead of the 50th anniversary of the Tibet Autonomous Region.

Lhasa (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Chinese police separately detained two monks in Ngawa County. The two were protesting against Chinese rule, and demanding religious and political freedom as well as the return of the Dalai Lama.

The monks are Adak, 20, and Lobsan, 22, both from Kirti monastery. Chinese police took them into custody between 10 and 11 September.

Local sources said that the authorities have tightened controls in Tibetan-inhabited areas to prevent anti-Chinese protests in Tibet and other Tibetan areas under Chinese rule.

A few days ago, Chinese authorities placed the Tibetan capital of Lhasa under tight controls in anticipation of the 50th anniversary of the Tibet Autonomous Region

For Lobsang Sangay, prime minister of the legitimate Tibetan government, Tibetans have “nothing to celebrate”. Both his government and Tibet’s spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, live in exile.

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