Xiangba Qupei was punished for “divulging sensitive information”—in fact, thoughts of His Holiness.
by Lopsang Gurung
Last week, relatives of a Tibetan monk called Xiangba Qupei from Rebgong (Ch. Tongren) received confirmation that he had been sentenced to 18 months of jail last August. The family had not been previously informed of the trial, nor of the decision. Rebgong is part of historical Tibet, although the Chinese made it the capital of the so-called Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai province.
The monk’s “crime” was sharing the Dalai Lama’s teachings on WeChat Moment. He is currently detained in Xining City, Qinghai’s capital.
Xiangba Qupei was arrested at his monastery in mid-March for allegedly “sharing sensitive information” on March 10, Tibet’s uprising anniversary. The “sensitive information” was in fact teachings by His Holiness.
Detained in a Rebgong prison since March 22, he was sentenced to 18 months in August and moved to Xining on September 22 to serve his term. Not only did Chinese authorities not inform his family about the arrest and prosecution, they threatened them against inquiring about his situation. Voice of Tibet had reported on the sentence against him, which has now been confirmed.
Xiangba Qupei was monitored by Chinese Communist Party authorities for years, especially around Tibetan Uprising Day. He went to India in 1986, studied at Dharamsala Debate College, and returned to Tibet in 1996. Since then, he has practiced Buddhism in Rebgong monasteries, gone on pilgrimages, and taught English and Tibetan calligraphy to other monks.
Uses a pseudonym for security reasons.
