Over three years have passed since Gendun Lhundrub, a well-known Tibetan poet and writer, was taken into custody by authorities in northwestern China, and his current situation remains a complete mystery. According to Radio Free Asia (RFA), despite repeated pleas from his family for information regarding his location, health, or legal status, Chinese police have stayed silent.
Gendun Lhundrub, who was also a monk at Rongwo Monastery in the Malho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai province, was detained on December 2, 2020. The reasons for his arrest remain unclear, but it came after a period of surveillance by the police, who were monitoring him for any signs of dissent against Chinese rule or policies, RFA reported.
The arrest of Tibetan artists, writers, and singers who express their national identity and culture or criticize China’s governance is a common practice. Authorities often accuse them of actions that could threaten national security or be seen as separatist, thereby posing a threat to the Chinese Communist Party’s control.
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Sources close to RFA shared that Lhundrub’s family has made numerous attempts to learn about his condition and whether he has faced any legal proceedings. Yet, their questions have consistently been met with silence. When the family has tried to send items to Lhundrub, officials in Rebgong county instructed them to leave these items with the office, promising to forward them, yet without allowing any direct contact or providing information about his well-being.
Furthermore, there has been no official documentation or details provided regarding Lhundrub’s sentencing, leaving his family and supporters in the dark about his fate.
Lhundrub is part of a long list of Tibetan cultural figures who have faced arrest. This list includes Tashi Wangchuk, a Tibetan language advocate, who was arrested in 2016, subjected to torture, and released in 2021 after serving a portion of his sentence.
Born in 1974 in Rebgong, within the traditional Amdo region, Lhundrub embarked on a monastic life early on and pursued religious and literary studies across several monasteries. Since 1994, he has contributed significantly to Tibetan literature, releasing a collection of poems titled “Khorwa” in October 2022. In this anthology, as well as on various platforms, Lhundrub has advocated for the freedom of expression for writers and artists, a sentiment echoed by his supporters worldwide, RFA noted.
Lhundrub’s literary work, including poems like “Black Rosary” and “Melody of Life,” continues to be celebrated by Tibetans globally, highlighting the cultural and emotional depth of his writings amidst his uncertain fate.
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