Tibetan Monk Arrested for Sharing Image of Symbolic Hat Commemorating His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 90th Birthday

Reported by Palden
Edited by Pema Tso
Translated by TenGyal

It has been more than three weeks since Palchung, a Tibetan singer from Adhue Village, and Tsewang Dhongo, a Tibetan monk from Adhue Monastery in Ngawa ( Aba/ Ngaba Prefecture), were forcibly abducted and detained by the Chinese authorities. Yet, to this day, their whereabouts remain unknown.

According to Tibet Times information from a reliable source, it has been over three weeks since Chinese authorities arrested the young Tibetan singer Palchung, a close friend of fellow singer Asang, for singing a song of praise in honour of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday celebration. As of now, there is no information regarding his whereabouts or condition, leaving his family deeply distressed.

Palchung, who hails from Adhue Village in Ngawa, Tibet, is not a widely known Tibetan singer. However, Chinese authorities forcibly arrested him after he and fellow singer Asang performed a cover of a song titled The Prince of Peace. Palchung has been married for over three years and has a three-year-old son with his wife.

In a separate incident, Around July 1, 2025, Tsewang Dhongo, a Tibetan monk from Adhue Monastery, was abruptly arrested by local Chinese police for allegedly sharing an image of a symbolic hat commemorating the 90th birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama on social media platforms. Four weeks have now passed since his detention, yet there is still no clear information his whereabouts and condition.

Tsewang Dhongo is from Adhue Village in Ngawa, Tibet. He joined Adhue Monastery as a child and was pursuing advanced studies in Madhyamaka (Middle-Way) philosophy at the time of his arrest.

In Asang and Palchung’s recent cover performance of The Prince of Peace, which spread widely both inside and outside Tibet, they sing,

“ As a youth, you were born in Amdo,

You left your footprints in Central Tibet,

And your noble deeds flourished in the Noble Land of India,

We remember you, O Prince of Peace.

We, the people blessed by the Dharma, do not treasure

Ornaments made of gold, turquoise and coral,

Nor garments sewn from tiger, leopard, fox or otter skin,

It is your heartfelt advice and teachings that we remember now.

You are the sun over our heads,

You are the parent in our hearts,

You are our loving teacher (Lama),

There is no way we could ever forget you.”