Background on the case Three men have been arrested along with Runggye Adak, following his call for the return of the Dalai Lama in front of officials at an annual horse race festival. Adak Lopoe (Chinese transliteration: Lubo), Runggye Adak's nephew, who is a respected senior monk from Lithang monastery, received a10 year sentence, for "colluding with foreign separatist force to split the country and distributing political pamphlets".

He was sentenced in November along with Runggye Adak, art teacher Kunkyen and Jarib Lothok. According to Radio Free Asia all four men protested their sentences, calling out: "This is not a fair trial" and "We cannot accept this decision".

Background on Adak Lopoe

Adak Lopoe has been reportedly singled out by police as being the splittist force behind Runggye Adak's protest. Adak Lopoe was arrested on 21 August 2007 in Lithang but was transferred to an unknown location. He is respected in the Lithang area and is well known for his opposition to deforestation, lumbering, wildlife hunting in Kardze and a proponent of education for the young. The locals believe that his calls on these issues might have infuriated the local authorities.

Adak Lopoe was born in 1962. At the age of eight he became a monk and joined Lithang Monastery where he excelled in Buddhist Studies and became a chant master. He also worked as disciplinary master at Yonru Rabgyling Monastery, one of the smaller monasteries affiliated with Lithang Monastery. At the height of the patriotic re-education campaign in 1997/98 he was appointed Deputy Director of the Democratic Management Committee (DMC) of Lithang Monastery, an administrative body implementing government policies. The patriotic re-education campaign, called 'Love Religion, Love Country' is directed at cementing allegiance to the Communist Party, denouncing the Dalai Lama and stamping out political dissent in monasteries. Adak Lopoe resigned from the post as he deemed the position contrary to his spiritual beliefs.

Protest by Runggye Adak
(also Rongye Adak or Runggye Adrak)