IFJ Urges Release of Detained Tibetan Writer

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today learned of the unexplained police detention of a Tibetan writer in Qinghai Province, in China’s remote north-west on April 23.

According to local reports, Tagyal, 45, was taken from his office by police to a Xining Prefecture police station, where he is still reportedly detained. His house was subsequently ransacked and his wife, Lhaso, interrogated.

According to Radio Free Asia, a bookstore owned by Lhaso was also searched by police on April 12, when they seized several copies of a Tibetan-language book written by Tagyal, as well as two computers and other personal documents.

The police then reportedly questioned Lhaso about the book and ordered her to close down the business.

Lhaso was again interrogated on April 25 at a police station two days after Tagyal’s detention.

Tagyal was detained less than a week after he signed an open letter urging people wishing to help victims of the April 14 earthquake in Yushu, Qinghai Province, to send food, clothing and medical supplies as well as money directly to trustworthy contacts.