Dharamshala: - Chinese authorities have arrested a Tibetan singer popularly known as 'contemporary Tibet's young nightingale' for singing a "politically-subversive" song at a concert last year.
"Kalsang Yarphel, about 37, was arrested on 15 July 2013 in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet and taken to a detention centre in Chengdu city in Sichuan Province where he remains now," said Dharamsala-based Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD).
Yarphel has released several albums and participated in many musical concerts organised by both government and private organisations. In his song, Yarphel exhorts "Tibetans to learn and speak Tibetan, unite three traditional provinces of Tibet and uphold patriotism."
The DVDs made out of the songs performed at the concert were distributed distributed widely in Tibetan areas in Qinghai, Gansu, Sichuan and Yunnan provinces. A month later, the Chinese authorities enforced a ban on the sale and distribution of the DVD many of which were confiscated, TCHRD said quoting sources from the region.
The Chinese authorities arrested Yarphel around 14 July this year in the Lhasa City. He is currently lodged in a detention centre in Chengdu in China's Sichuan province.
Yarphel is the son of Gonpo Tseten and Makho. His wife is named Tsezin Palmo and they have three children. Videos of Kelsang Yarphel performing the song Bhodpa Tso is available on Youtube.
Below is a translation of the song by they exile Human Rights group TCHRD:
"Fellow Tibetans"
We must learn Tibetan
Speak Tibetan
To learn them is our responsibility,
Fellow Tibetans
We must unite
We must unite
All the three traditional provinces of Tibet must unite,
Fellow Tibetans
We must build courage
Thinking about the years and months of joy and suffering
We must build courage,
Fellow Tibetans
We must allow joy and suffering to speak up
Thinking about Tibet's future path
We must search for the path,
Fellow Tibetans
We must uphold our patriotism
Upholding patriotism
Let's march forward
Together, shoulder-to-shoulder.
