Earlier this year, hundreds of Tibetans were detained in a severe crackdown following their protests against a Chinese dam project, with some suffering severe beatings and injuries. Such demonstrations are extremely rare in Tibet, a region under strict Chinese control since its annexation in the 1950s. The protests underscored growing opposition to China’s controversial plans to build dams in a historically sensitive area.

Reports of the arrests and violence began to surface shortly after the protests in February, though restrictions by the authorities made it difficult to verify the details, especially for journalists unable to freely enter Tibet. The BBC spent months gathering information from Tibetan sources and reviewing satellite imagery and leaked videos, which confirmed the scale of the protests and the brutal crackdown that followed. The sources, who live outside China for safety reasons, have not been linked to any activist groups.

While the Chinese embassy in the UK did not confirm or deny the events, it maintained that China is governed by the rule of law and that citizens have the right to express their concerns legally. The protests, followed by a heavy-handed response, took place in Sichuan province, home to many Tibetans, where authorities are planning to construct the Gangtuo dam and hydropower plant. This project, which would flood a culturally and religiously significant region, threatens the displacement of thousands of Tibetans and the destruction of ancient monasteries, including the 700-year-old Wangdui Monastery, known for its rare Buddhist murals.

The dam's construction has been part of China’s larger plan for extensive hydropower development in Tibetan regions, an initiative criticized for its environmental and cultural impact. The BBC has seen documents detailing plans to relocate over 4,000 people for the project. This plan, approved in 2012, has faced scrutiny from international bodies like the UN, which raised concerns over the inadequate consultation with local residents and the lack of informed consent for the project.

In February, after learning that they would be evicted with minimal information about resettlement or compensation, locals, including Buddhist monks, staged protests, despite the risks of violent repression. One of the largest demonstrations took place outside a government building in Dege, with protesters demanding the authorities stop the evictions. Another group, filmed in the village of Xiba, pleaded with officials to cancel the dam plans, with monks and villagers begging for mercy in the traditional Tibetan manner.

The authorities swiftly cracked down, arresting hundreds and raiding homes throughout the valley. Videos circulating online show police aggressively handling monks, and sources confirmed reports of physical abuse during detentions. Some detainees were beaten over several days, while others suffered injuries from the violent crackdown. After the arrests, the area was placed under even stricter control, with communications severely limited, and many locals were fearful of further punishment if they spoke out.

The Chinese government, however, has presented the dam project as a beneficial development for both the environment and the local Tibetan population, claiming it would generate clean energy and promote economic growth. The embassy emphasized the government's focus on high-quality development and enhanced well-being for all ethnic groups. However, activists argue that such projects, like the Gangtuo dam, represent further exploitation of Tibetan lands and communities, eroding their religious, cultural, and linguistic heritage.

Relocation policies, which have seen nearly a million Tibetans displaced since 2000, have sparked controversy. While the Chinese government asserts that these moves are voluntary and provide compensation, rights groups highlight the coercive nature of these relocations and the destruction of communities that have existed for generations. The flooding of Tibetan valleys for dam construction also raises concerns about environmental degradation and the potential for increased seismic activity, putting the region at further risk of natural disasters.

Despite the Chinese government's assurances regarding environmental safeguards and strict planning, critics call for a halt to such large-scale developments in Tibetan areas, demanding international intervention to protect Tibetan rights and preserve their heritage. As one of the sources noted, the loss of their land and culture is deeply painful: "What kind of life would we have if we leave?"