Tibetan environmental whistleblower detained in China after illegal mining revelations

A 29-year-old Tibetan environmental whistle-blower from Ngaba (Aba) is currently in custody after a video went viral on Chinese social media exposing illegal sand and gravel mining in his/her hometown Tsaruma (Cherma).

his/her video, which highlighted severe ecological damage and corporate negligence, gained considerable popularity in mid-October, leading local authorities to summon him/her and other villagers on 26 October. While the villagers returned home, the whistleblower is missing, Save Tibet reports.

The International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) has expressed deep concern for their well-being, stating that Tibetan environmental defenders are facing increasing harassment for their activism.

The case highlights the significant environmental challenges facing Tibet under Chinese administration, especially for advocates of ecological conservation.

In his/her video, the whistle-blower details the illegal activities of Anhui Xianhe Construction Engineering Company, which is extracting sand and gravel from the bed of a local tributary river.

This extraction process has caused severe soil erosion and threatened local ecosystems, posing a threat to water security throughout Asia, including the Yangtze and Yellow rivers. The river, which flows through Tsaruma Township in Kakhog (Hongyuan) County, is important to these major Asian river systems, Save Tibet reports.

The young man’s public appeal has drawn attention to the ongoing tension between economic development and environmental protection in Tibet. It also highlights the significant obstacles Tibetans face when advocating for their local environment under Chinese rule.

The intense censorship of whistle-blower videos and related content on Chinese social media further emphasizes the sensitive nature of environmental activism in the region.

The situation remains uncertain, and the international community is urged to advocate for the release of detained whistle-blowers while addressing the broader issues of environmental degradation in Tibet. The region faces environmental challenges driven by climate change, overexploitation of resources and human activities.

According to Tibet Watch, biodiversity is under threat, with habitat destruction from urbanization, agriculture and mining contributing to the decline of endemic species such as the Tibetan antelope and snow leopard.