03. May 2010
Machu middle school students go on hunger strike
(Phayul) Tibetan students from Machu Tibetan Nationality Middle School in Machu (Chin: Maqu) county in Kanlho (Chin: Gannan) TAP, Gansu province (traditionally Amdo), have been on hunger strike since 22 April, demanding the release from detention of their teacher and his reinstatement along with two others sacked by the authorities over protests by students in the school, according to Phayul, quoting sources in Dharamsala. The school's headmaster Kyabchen Dedrol, and his two assistants - Do Re and Choekyong Tseten - were dismissed following protests by students of the school on 14 March 2010. Phayul reports that the authorities detained Choekyong Tseten later at an unknown location. According to Phayul, the students are also demanding that the Chinese government stop its "forced inclusion of Communist doctrines and policies" in the school curriculum. Two students, Tsering Dhondup and Thupten Nyima were arrested in 06 April for allegedly leading the students' protest on 14 March.