Mass arrests in Tibet amid protests over Dege hydropower dam project

Over 1,000 Tibetans have been arrested in Dege, Kham, following protests against the construction of the Kamtok (Gangtuo) hydropower station. The 2,240-megawatt project, situated on the Drichu (Jinsha) River’s headwaters, poses a threat to the existence of two villages—Upper Wonto and Shipa—and six monasteries, including the historically significant Wonto Monastery, which houses 13th-century Tibetan Buddhist murals.

The unrest began on February 14, with Tibetans in Dege voicing their opposition to the dam. The protest quickly escalated, with over 300 participants—a significant number given the region’s stringent surveillance and censorship by the Chinese Communist Party.

On February 22, the situation intensified as Chinese police arrested over 100 monks and laypeople, employing tasers, water cannons, and pepper spray. The following day, the number of detainees rose to over 1,000, with authorities instructing them to bring their own tsampa and bedding, indicating an extended period of imprisonment.

The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), based in Dharamshala, India, has criticized the timing of the relocation announcement, suggesting it was strategically planned to coincide with the Tibetan New Year to minimize public attention and potential unrest. The organization condemned the excessive use of police force, which resulted in numerous injuries and hospitalizations.

According to TCHRD, the Chinese government’s aggressive dam construction strategy in Tibet, particularly on the Drichu River, is causing irreparable environmental damage and displacing thousands of Tibetans. The region already hosts at least 13 hydropower stations, with six being large-scale dams. Recent landslides have further impacted the river’s flow, highlighting the ecological vulnerability of the area.

Nyima Woeser, a researcher at TCHRD, has expressed grave concerns over the Chinese government’s disregard for the safety of Tibet’s environment and its people, driven by economic motives. The organization’s findings underscore the need for international attention to the human rights and environmental issues unfolding in Tibet.

Chemi Lhamo, Campaigns Director of Students for a Free Tibet said, "Criminalized for peacefully defending their homes and environment, Tibetans inside Tibet are risking their lives by protesting and exposing the reality of Tibet under occupation of the Chinese government".

"The displacement of thousands of indigenous peoples who have stewarded their ancestral lands for millennia is a pressing human rights and climate justice issue that demands immediate action from the international community. We must stand with Tibetans inside Tibet to fight this injustice" said Nyima Woeser, researcher at TCHRD, in the statement.

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