In a chilling display of state censorship, Gong Lajja, also known as Tashi Nyima, was arrested on August 28 by the Dege County Police of Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture during a live broadcast. Gong Lajja, a popular social media influencer known for his efforts to promote Tibetan language and culture, had amassed over 75,000 followers on Kuaishou and more than 200,000 subscribers across multiple platforms, including Weibo and Douyin.
Famous for his outdoor live stream events, “Live Outdoors on the Plateau,” and his ambitious Chinese-Tibetan-English New Everyday Vocabulary Dictionary*, Gong Lajja inspired a movement of content creators dedicated to preserving and promoting Tibetan identity. Before his arrest, he had announced plans to introduce Tibetan Vocabulary Events across Tibet, aiming to increase access to and usage of the Tibetan language.
However, such efforts to preserve Tibetan culture are increasingly being viewed as threats by Chinese authorities. According to a witness of the live broadcast, “Gong Lajja’s arrest happened suddenly, right in the middle of his stream, just as he was discussing future events for promoting the Tibetan language.” It sent shockwaves through his followers and the larger Tibetan online community.
Tibetan cultural content, especially content promoting Tibetan identity and language, faces swift censorship on Chinese platforms. These accounts are often taken down in accordance with policies enforced by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Moreover, content creators who share Tibetan cultural expressions are routinely banned from creating new accounts. Gong Lajja’s arrest is part of an alarming pattern of state repression aimed at erasing Tibetan identity from the public sphere.
The arrest follows the imprisonment of another prominent figure, Tibetan singer Badan, who was sentenced to three years in prison in 2023 for sharing a song that explored the essence of being Tibetan. Badan’s song, celebrated for its heartfelt lyrics and cultural significance, was deemed “subversive” by authorities, adding to the growing list of Tibetans punished for expressing their cultural heritage.
Gong Lajja’s success had inspired a wave of Tibetan content creators, but as the government tightens its grip on expression, many fear that the space for celebrating Tibetan culture online is shrinking. One follower said, “Gong Lajja’s influence went beyond numbers. He was a symbol of hope for preserving our language, but now it feels like even that hope is slipping away.”
Despite the crackdown, Tibetan voices continue to echo online, albeit under increasing threat. As the world watches, the arrest of Gong Lajja serves as a stark reminder of the broader struggle for cultural survival in the face of aggressive state repression.
