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INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR TIBET<br />
Detention of an esteemed lama in Kham: Phurbu Rinpoche<br />
Four days after <strong>the</strong> demonstration by <strong>the</strong> more than 50<br />
nuns from Pangri on May 14, a senior lama who was <strong>the</strong><br />
head of <strong>the</strong> nunnery, Phurbu Rinpoche, was detained in<br />
connection with <strong>the</strong> protest, according to <strong>Tibet</strong>an<br />
sources in exile who received in<strong>for</strong>mation from <strong>the</strong> area.<br />
Phurbu Rinpoche, an incarnate lama of Trehor Kardze<br />
monastery who lives in Dragyab village, Kardze, was<br />
taken into custody on May 18 or 19, according to <strong>the</strong><br />
same sources. His current whereabouts and welfare are<br />
unknown.<br />
Phurbu Rinpoche is a deeply respected local figure<br />
known <strong>for</strong> his work in <strong>the</strong> community, including <strong>the</strong><br />
building of a center <strong>for</strong> elderly people, and two clinics. In<br />
addition to Pangri, Phurbu Rinpoche is also <strong>the</strong> head of<br />
Ya-tseg nunnery, according to TCHRD. According to <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>Tibet</strong>an writer Woeser, writing on a blog site on May 21,<br />
“At around 4:00 in <strong>the</strong> afternoon on <strong>the</strong> 18th in Kardze<br />
county in Kham […] local police burst into <strong>the</strong> home of<br />
Phurbu Rinpoche and arrested him. […] He […] is held in<br />
very high esteem. The arrest of such a well-known religious<br />
figure has given rise to a great deal of anger and<br />
resentment among local <strong>Tibet</strong>ans.”<br />
Phurbu Rinpoche, an<br />
incarnate lama of Trehor<br />
Kardze monastery and<br />
head of Pangri nunnery<br />
disappeared into Chinese<br />
custody on May 18 or 19.<br />
His whereabouts and<br />
welfare are currently<br />
unknown<br />
1<br />
‘Party, Government Launch New Security Program, Patriotic Education, in <strong>Tibet</strong>an Area,’ CECC, March 17,<br />
2008,www.cecc.gov.<br />
2<br />
‘Aggressive anti-Dalai Lama campaign in Kham; imminent food shortages feared as result of security sweep,’<br />
ICT, April 17, 2008, www.savetibet.org.<br />
3<br />
‘More than 80 nuns detained after peaceful protests continue in Kham,’ ICT, May 30, 2008, www.savetibet.org.<br />
4<br />
‘<strong>Tibet</strong>ans in monasteries under crackdown hold prayer ceremonies <strong>for</strong> earthquake victims: message of reconciliation<br />
from monastery under repression,’ ICT, May 21, 2008, www.savetibet.org.<br />
5<br />
‘China detains Drakar and Gaden Choeling Nuns in Kardze,’ TCHRD, May 17, 2008, www.tchrd.org.<br />
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