This may be old news but I just came across it and figured it deserved some repeat. I don’t know what actually came of these events after they were originally reported in December…any additional information concerning this would be greatly appreciated in the comments.

From TibetCustom

Music videos have been produced and published by Tsakho Monastery in Golok Matoe, Tibet. Chinese authorities in Matoe County, Golog, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, took exception to the content and have arrested ten Tibetan monks and a civilian for “producing and distributing subversive song”

According to the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), an NGO based here. Six were released later on bail.

The Video “Chakdrum Marpo” (Bloody Omen) contained songs expressing, among others, loyalty to the exile Tibetan leader Dalai Lama and helplessness over the death of Tibetans following large scale protests across Tibet. The Video also incorporated many images and footage of the Chinese clampdown.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQT5n_OytJc

From Dossiertibet (careful, its in Italian)

According to the source, the Video CD was jointly produced by five monks from two different monasteries in Tsakho Township. Three monks of Tsakho Monastery: Abbot Ngagsung (23), Nobay, Sherab Nyima (25 yrs old Yogi) and two monks of Khakhor Monastery: Trulku Tsepak (28) and a monk whose name is not known. The Video CD titled “Chakdrum Marpo” (Translation: Bloody omen )was released on 1 September 2009. It mainly comprises of songs with lyrics expressing nostalgia for the exiled Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama, sadness and helplessness over death of Tibetans following mass protests in Tibet since last year, Chinese misrule and brutality since 1959 and mining exploitation in Tibet. The Video CD has incorporated many images of Chinese brutality, killings of Tibetans in the popular Tibetan unrest last year.

Around 5000 copies of the VCD were distributed free of cost by six other Tibetans in and around Matoe County…

…The Chinese authorities over the years have targeted, detained and sentenced Tibetan writers, photographers, bloggers and publishers who did not engage in overt protest activity, but who sought to explore and express Tibetan views on issues that affect Tibetan people’s rights, culture, religion and Tibet’s fragile environment. Last month, a 30-year-old Tibetan professional singer, Tashi Dhondup, was arrested after the release of an album titled ‘Torture without Trace’ for which Chinese authorities accused him of composing subversive songs.

Similarly, in a closed door trial on 12 November 2009, a Tibetan monk writer-photographer, Kunga Tsayang was sentenced to 5 years in prison by the Kanlho Intermediate People’s Court in Gannan “Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture” (‘TAP’), Gansu Province, on charges of disclosing ‘state secret’.

To me it isn’t much of a “state secret” that China has a poor civil rights record.

Cheers,
John
www.zendirtzendust.com