Dharamshala — Chinese authorities arrested a group of Tibetans, including a well-known Tibetan entrepreneur and internet celebrity, in the name of Chinese political campaign the "sweep the black and eliminate the evil”. The entrepreneur has helped Tibetan students, the disabled and small entrepreneurs, and has also been involved in charity work and disaster relief.
A well-known Tibetan entrepreneur and internet celebrity, Sonam Choedup, whose internet name is Aga Gelek Tsang (popularly known as Aga Gelek), was arrested by the Chinese police in Gonghe County, also known as Kungho, Chinese divided Qinghai Province, Hainan Prefecture along with his partners and friends, including Kunsang Dorjee, Tenpa, Tsenthar Gyal and Tashi Loden, on December 14, 2024, in the name of Chinese political campaign the "sweep the black and eliminate the evil" campaign. Chinese authorities in
The Chinese Communist Party launched the "sweep away the black and eliminate the evil" campaign in 2018, which aims to crack down on ‘illegal organisations and individuals’ within society. China is cracking down on the only freedom it has, the freedom to do business, and now the CCP is seizing that freedom too.
The Chinese authorities warn other Tibetans involved in ‘illegal activities’ to surrender and those who have been victims of their actions to take legal action or lodge a complaint against them. In fact, many Tibetans benefit from the charitable work of Aga Gelek Tsang and its donations to schools and people affected by disasters, by sending Tibetans on vocational training courses such as cooking.
A source said: “Aga Gelek is very famous in Tibet, he has done excellent business online and is known for helping small Tibetan entrepreneurs to do business and for making substantial donations to schools, and activities related to Tibetan culture and the Tibetan language”.
Another Tibetan who living in Exile in India said, “He has done much to preserve the Tibetan language and culture. In particular, he has provided financial assistance to improve the living conditions of poor Tibetans and helping those who setting up small businesses, he has provided them financial assistance and advice. In short, his work has made a big difference to the lives of many young Tibetans. He has made a major contribution to the development of Tibetan society.”
“For example, Aga Gelek donated 3,11,000 Chinese Renminbi Yuan, or 42,698 dollars, to a school for blind children in the town of Rigo, Tibet, on April 3, 2022,” the source added.
