- By Shivangi Sharma
- Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:41 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Chinese authorities have reportedly arrested over 20 Tibetans and tortured Gonpo Namgyal, a Tibetan village head, to death following months of severe mistreatment. According to a report by Tibet.net, Namgyal endured repeated electric shocks and other forms of torture while in detention, eventually leading to his tragic death.
Gonpo Namgyal, the village head of Ponkor township in Amdo, Tibet, died on December 18 after suffering over seven months of brutal treatment in Chinese custody, as reported by ANI. During his body’s preparation for cremation, it was discovered that many of his internal organs had been burned, likely as a result of the electric torture he endured while detained.
According to the Central Tibetan Administration, his mistreatment was a result of his involvement in a cultural campaign by the Tibetan Language Association.
Namgyal, the leader of Ponkor Village in Qinghai's Dharlag County, was arrested in May along with the abbot of Shangtoe Monastery and over 20 other Tibetans for promoting the preservation of Tibetan language and culture. Their arrest occurred amid increased efforts by the Chinese government to reduce the use of the Tibetan language and expand Mandarin use among Tibetans.
'Pure Mother Tongue' Campaign
Khenpo Tenpa Dhargye, a respected monk and disciple of Khenchen Jigme Phuntsok, led the "Pure Mother Tongue" campaign to preserve the Tibetan language. His efforts, which included teaching nomadic communities to preserve Tibetan traditions and avoid selling livestock to slaughterhouses, have been widely admired by Tibetans.
The campaign aimed to preserve the Tibetan language, which is under threat from Chinese policies promoting Mandarin. Khenpo Tenpa Dhargye, Gonpo Namgyal, and several others were arrested and charged with ‘endangering state security’, and then taken to Golog Prefecture for detention.