A Melbourne Monk Geshe Sonam Thargye is desperately trying to find the whereabouts of his young niece, 26 year old Sangye Lhamo.

The Buddhist nun was arrested in Tibet on Wednesday morning while participating in a peaceful protest in the Tibetan town of Ganzi in Sichuan Province. The young nun and two others staged their protest in the town's main square chanting slogans in support of Tibetan Independence and the Dalai Lama. They also distributed leaflets calling for Independence. There is a report that another young female student, 21 year old Rigden Lhamo was shot at and severely beaten later that day after unfurling a Tibetan flag in the same town.

Geshe, who runs a Tibetan Buddhist Centre in Australia, cannot find out where these young women have been taken to and what has happened to them.

"It is not easy to get information from place to place within Tibet or to send information to the outside world. People cannot move around freely. People cannot send letters freely either, because they must get the stamps from the police station", Geshe Sonam said.

The Tibetan's leader the Dalai Lama has already warned of Chinese plans for Tibet after the Olympics are over.

As can be seen from the reverse protests by Chinese citizens and the attitude of the Chinese government to the protests that followed the Olympic touch, the Chinese see Tibetans as ungrateful and their protests to the Chinese signify one of the worst Asian offenses Loss of Face'. Retribution will be severe.

As the Tibetans, isolated from the world, have suffered in silence for many years, the Chinese still severely underestimate the strength of Tibetan national identity.

The Olympics committee asked for press freedoms in China as a condition of holding the Olympics, these do not seem to apply to Tibet. Assurances were also given about improving Human Rights. For people like Geshe concerned that his niece is being tortured or worse for a simply act of free speech and defiance, these promises are sounding very hollow.

The United Nations and the rest of the World should insist on having a diplomatic presence within Tibet after the games to ensure the safety and security of Tibetans.

While everyone supports the great efforts of the Chinese government in the earthquake zone, many Tibetans unaware that the world's attention is elsewhere continue to stage peaceful protests and many families, like monk Geshe Sonam Thargye, are desperately try to find the locations of the disappeared.

Is this improving Human Rights? We must lobby our politicians to ask China to disclose the locations of the many young Tibetans that have disappeared.

Her Uncle must no longer wonder "Where is Sangye Lhamo?"

Learn more about this author, Pauline Bleach.
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