Young Tibetan singer A-Sang, popular on Chinese social media with over 30,000 followers, was arrested in July after singing a song celebrating the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday. His case illustrates how even cultural expressions in Tibet are subject to strict surveillance and repression by Chinese authorities.
In early August, Chinese authorities released popular young Tibetan singer A-Sang, according to a source close to the singer. However, after his release, local security officials placed him under constant surveillance and barred him from live streaming or communicating on Chinese social media.
On 8 July, shortly after His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday, Chinese security authorities from the Public Security Bureau of Ngaba (Chinese: Aba) County, Sichuan Province, arrested A-Sang after he sang a cover of the song “Prince of Peace,” originally sung by Tibetan artist Sher Ten. The song refers to His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the following lyrics:
Born in Amdo,
now having set foot in Central Tibet,
whose activities are supported from India,
I miss you, the Prince of Peace.
A-Sang
A-Sang is a popular young singer from Kashul Village, Barma Township, Ngaba County, Tibet, with over 30,000 followers on Kuaishou, a Chinese social media platform.
The source close to the singer also noted that A-Sang’s wife posted a message on Kuaishou, writing: “We are here to announce that we are safe. Thank you to our fans for your support over the past two months. We will be back online soon.” Nevertheless, the two accounts with the largest followings, those of A-Sang and his wife, have both been blocked by Chinese authorities due to his arrest.
This year, despite strict Chinese controls, Tibetans in Tibet celebrated His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s birthday in various ways on social media. For example, a woman from Dzoge, Tibet, displayed a portrait of the Dalai Lama in her home and posted a message on social media: “Today is the special and extraordinary 90th birthday of His Holiness the Great 14th Dalai Lama. I congratulate and send countless good wishes to His Holiness on his birthday. May His Holiness live for tens of thousands of years! May His Holiness return to Tibet soon!” Other Tibetans also celebrated the birthday, despite the oppressive Chinese crackdown, by posting images and symbolic expressions on social media.
“The arrest and limited release of A-Sang for singing a song expressing respect and longing for the Dalai Lama underscores the underlying vulnerability of Chinese rule in Tibet,” said ICT President Tencho Gyatso “Such repressive tactics are necessary, combined with high-profile, staged political visits – such as Xi Jinping’s recent visit to Tibet – to create the illusion of broad public support for the Communist Party’s rule.”
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