A 29-year-old Tibetan environmental whistleblower from Ngaba (Ch: Aba) is currently under detention for his exposé on Chinese social media of illegal sand and gravel mining in his native Tsaruma (Chá’ěrmǎ) hometown.

After the exposé went viral on Chinese social media in mid-October, local Chinese authorities summoned the 29-year-old, whose name ICT is withholding, and other villagers of Tsaruma on October 26. The Tibet Times, based in India, reported that although the villagers have returned to their homes, the 29-year-old has still not returned.

The International Campaign for Tibet is concerned about the well-being of the whistleblower, as Tibetan environmental defenders have faced persecution for their activism. The young Tibetan man is at risk of persecution for expressing his frustration at the environmental damage in his hometown and seeking redress publicly.

Courageous environmental defender

In a brave act highlighting the environmental challenges facing Tibet under Chinese administration, the young man took to Chinese social media to expose ecological damage occurring in his hometown of Tsaruma. The video statement, which went viral on Chinese social media, reveals a troubling situation of environmental neglect, corporate irresponsibility, and apparent governmental inaction in protecting a critical water source for Asia.

The river flowing through Tsaruma township in Kakhog (Hongyuan) County, Ngaba Prefecture, Sichuan Province, is a tributary that feeds into major...

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