In a troubling development, Chinese authorities have arrested a Tibetan woman, Zomkyi, for allegedly spreading rumours about the recent closure of the Ragya Sherig Norbuling school, a revered Tibetan educational institution.
According to a report by Tibet Times, a Dharamshala-based Tibetan media outlet, Zomkyi, who is a relative of a former student of the school, was detained by Nagchu County police. She is accused of disseminating misinformation on social media regarding the school’s shutdown. Since her arrest, Zomkyi’s whereabouts have remained unknown, raising concerns about her safety and well-being.
A source within Tibet informed Tibet Times that this is not the first time Zomkyi has faced pressure from the authorities. About a week before the school’s closure, she was reportedly detained for several days following an altercation with local government officials. Moreover, on June 14, local police issued an order restricting her movements. The source mentioned that Zomkyi has generally shown disinterest in political education, making the recent accusations against her particularly perplexing.
The Ragya Gangjong Sherig Norbuling school, located in the so-called Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, was forcibly closed by Chinese authorities on July 14, 2024. This private institution, established in 1994 by Ragya Jigmey Gyaltsen, served as a beacon of Tibetan education for 30 years. Its abrupt closure has sparked widespread disappointment and concern among Tibetans both within Tibet and in the diaspora.
The closure was reportedly the culmination of years of pressure from Chinese officials. On April 12, the school faced multiple lawsuits, likely part of a broader strategy by the Communist Party Secretary of Golok and other officials who had been planning the school’s demise for several years. The student association, formed in 2018 with the goal of preserving the Tibetan language, also came under legal scrutiny. It was sued for using symbols from the banned Tibetan National Flag, including the jewel and lion emblems, in its logo.
Adding to the complex web of legal challenges surrounding the school, its founder, Jigme Gyaltsen, was accused of corruption and accepting bribes as chairman of the Snow Land Pastoral Association and the Qinghai-Tibet Trade Association. These charges were brought to trial, but on June 28, Gyaltsen was acquitted of all charges, a rare and unexpected outcome in a region where legal proceedings are often seen as heavily influenced by political considerations.
The fate of the Ragya Sherig Norbuling school, along with the uncertain status of Zomkyi, underscores the increasingly repressive environment faced by Tibetans under Chinese rule. The closure of the school, once a vibrant center for Tibetan learning, represents yet another blow to the preservation of Tibetan culture and language. Meanwhile, Zomkyi’s arrest highlights the severe risks that Tibetans face for even the most minor acts of dissent or perceived disobedience.
As Tibetans continue to grapple with the loss of one of their key educational institutions, the international community’s attention is once again drawn to the ongoing human rights issues in Tibet. Advocacy groups are urging immediate action to secure the release of Zomkyi and to protect the rights of Tibetans to preserve their cultural heritage in the face of escalating repression.
