Tsering Tso, a Tibetan human rights defender, and professional tour guide, has reportedly been denied a travel permit by a Chinese official in Trika (Ch. Guide) County, citing alleged “criminal records” as the reason for the rejection.
This incident marks the fifth instance of harassment Tsering Tso has faced in the last five years. On June 29, 2024, she was detained for ten days by local authorities in the so-called Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture on charges of “endangering social stability.” Her detention was linked to her efforts to expose discriminatory practices by Chinese officials against two Tibetan monks on a pilgrimage in Drachen (Ch. Bachen) County, Nagchu (Ch. Naqu) Prefecture, within the so-called Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR).
Tsering Tso has been repeatedly targeted for her activism, particularly her use of social media to expose misconduct and systemic discrimination against Tibetans. On December 19, 2023, she endured interrogation and abuse during a 15-day detention in Drachen County after posting content online that authorities deemed sensitive.
A native of Trika (Ch. Guide) County in Tsolho (Ch. Hainan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Tsering Tso currently resides in Yushu City, where she operates Tibet World Tours and Travel. Her agency specialises in organising tours to destinations within Tibet, including Lhasa City and Ngari, as well as international locations.