Chinese police officials have beaten and arrested around hundred Tibetans when a conflict happened about the other horse breeds not accepted in 10000 meters distance racing at Machu horse-race festival in Tibet. Later on, the majority were released except a few people.
As per the information received to Tibet Times, the 14th Gesar horse-race festival kicked off on 10th of this month in the Chinese divided area Machu County, Ganlho Prefecture in Tibet. Numerous horses from Qinghai and Sichuan Autonomous Regions participated in the horse-race. A dispute occurred between horse-race organizers and horse owners for other horse breeds not accepted in the 10000 meters distance racing. The additional deputy commissioner of Machu County and others came to counsel them but few people even blocked the racetrack. By taking this advantage, policemen and armies have beaten horsemen, dispatched military dogs and used tear gas on Tibetans. It is said that around hundred Tibetans were arrested but later on others released except a few.
Regarding this incident a Tibetan inside Tibet said, “A horse named Yiduk Thokda has won several horse-race medals in previously held Gesar horse-race festivals. The conflict among the horse owners happened when some horse owners protested following Yiduk Thokda participation in this year’s festival as this horse is the last year winner and also he is of Chinese breed.”
The source further added, “Not only did the police ganged up and beaten the horse owners and horsemen but some were forcibly taken away. This thrash by policemen is a warning to all the Tibetan present at the festival.”
Tibetan has posted a video about the conflict at the horse-race festival on Chinese social media platforms. Many commented on the video sharing various ideas and expressing no special opinions about the conflict, but since it is a miserable way that Chinese police officials forcibly arrest Tibetans in front of masses. It’s good if the higher Chinese authorities would solve the issue.
In this Machu horse-race event, there are 2000, 6000 and 10000 meters distance races of different horses. Any kind of horse breed is allowed to participate in 2000 and 6000 meters distance racing, but only Tibetan horse breed is accepted in 10000 meters distance racing. In this year, many Chinese horse breeds and other mixed horse breeds are not accepted in 10000 meters distance racing. This has caused problems in the past years too.
