Hundreds of Tibetans were beaten and detained in February during rare protests against China’s planned Gangtuo dam on the Jinsha River, according to sources and footage verified by the BBC. The protests underscore growing tensions over Beijing’s controversial hydropower projects in Tibetan territories.
The dam, set to submerge culturally and religiously significant areas, threatens the 700-year-old Wangdui Monastery and several Tibetan villages in Sichuan’s Dege and Jiangda counties. Thousands of Tibetans face displacement, with a public tender revealing plans to relocate over 4,200 residents.
Despite promises of consultation, residents claim they were excluded from meaningful discussions and given inadequate information in Tibetan. Protests erupted when officials announced imminent evictions with little resettlement guidance. Footage shows monks and villagers kneeling, pleading for mercy.
In response, Chinese authorities arrested hundreds, raided homes, and reportedly subjected detainees to beatings. A Tibetan source revealed that interrogations often turned violent when officials were dissatisfied with answers. Released protesters now face travel restrictions, compounding fears of another crackdown.
Rights groups, including Tibet Watch, have criticized the dam as another example of Beijing exploiting Tibetan land while erasing cultural and religious heritage. More than 930,000 Tibetans have been forcibly relocated for development projects since 2000, according to Human Rights Watch.
Environmentalists also warn of the risks of building dams in seismically active regions. Critics argue the projects, branded as “ecological civilization” by Chinese authorities, prioritize energy demands in eastern cities over the rights and safety of Tibetan communities.
China’s embassy in the UK denied allegations of coercion, claiming the project underwent rigorous planning and safeguards. However, calls for an international moratorium on such developments are growing.
“Our ancestors were here, our temples are here,” said one Tibetan protester. “It is very painful to move. What kind of life would we have if we leave?”
