In a heartrending incident reported by the Tibetan Review on March 13, 2024, a Tibetan mother succumbed to severe depression after enduring over a year without any news of her son, who has been in incommunicado detention by Chinese police.
The sorrowful event unfolded in Kardze (also known as Ganzi) prefecture, Sichuan province, marking a poignant chapter in the ongoing struggle for information and justice by families affected by such detentions.
The woman, identified as Phudé, aged 53, was the mother of Tenzin Khenrab, a 29-year-old monk and writer. Her despair was deeply linked to her son’s arrest, which, as FreeTibet.org highlighted on March 12, occurred after he was found possessing a photo of the Dalai Lama, Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader, on his mobile phone.
Phudé, who was Tenzin’s only living family member, faced relentless anxiety due to the Chinese authorities’ refusal to disclose any details about her son’s condition or whereabouts.
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According to Free Tibet, a London-based advocacy group, Phudé’s health significantly declined three weeks prior to her death. Despite her repeated pleas to the police in Nyagchu (Yajiang) County for any information about her son or an opportunity to visit him, her requests were consistently denied.
“Under such circumstance, she was in depression and fell sick, which gradually deteriorated and she passed away in the end,” the group reported, citing information from its research partner, Tibet Watch.
Tenzin Khenrab was not only apprehended for having a photo of the Dalai Lama but also for possessing various e-books on his phone, though the details of these books remain unclear.
Known for his education in both Tibetan and Chinese languages, Tenzin studied at local monasteries in Othog and Lithang within Kardze’s Nyagchu county. The current status of his legal situation, including whether he has been tried or sentenced, remains unknown.
This tragic story, as documented by the Tibetan Review and Free Tibet, underscores the profound impact of China’s stringent policies on Tibetan individuals and their families, further highlighting the broader issues of freedom, human rights, and the suppression of cultural identity in the region.
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