Tibetan in San Rafael harassed for his activism

Jamyang Nordup, 50, a former monk and owner of Tibetan Culture House, a retail shop at 1223 Fourth St., said he has received hundreds of harassing messages since Tuesday night. None has been a death threat, he said.

The sources are unknown, although Nordup said he suspects the messages are coming from overseas via the Chinese government.

"I feel like the whole thing is a set-up of the government," he said. "This is not individuals."

Jamyang Nordup of the Tibetan Culture House in San Rafael, has received an onslaught of disparaging e-mail, text and telephone messages following Wednesday's Olympic torch run in San Francisco. (IJ photo/Jeff Vendsel)
Jamyang Nordup of the Tibetan Culture House in San Rafael, has received an onslaught of disparaging e-mail, text and telephone messages following Wednesday's Olympic torch run in San Francisco. (IJ photo/Jeff Vendsel)
Police are investigating the matter as a harassment complaint, spokeswoman Margo Rohrbacher said.

"At this point that's what we're calling this case and were it to become more involved or escalate, that could change," she said. "There's no death threat. It's more hate mail, what he represents, his country. There's not been a specific threat."

Nordup, vice president of the Tibetan Association of Northern California and a member of Team Tibet, an activist group, said he believes he is being targeted because his contact information is available on the groups' Web sites. He said his Northern California colleagues are receiving similar messages.

"KILL TIBET TERRORIST! TIBET WILL ALWAYS BE A PART OF CHINA!! DALAI LAMA GO TO HELL!" read one message via e-mail.
A man carrying a Tibetan flag is attacked by pro-China supporters awaiting the start of the Olympic Torch relay on April 9 in San Francisco, California. World leaders have faced mounting calls from rights groups to boycott the opening ceremony at the Beijing Olympics in protest against China's recent crackdown on Tibet, which it has ruled since 1950. (AFP/Robyn Beck)
A man carrying a Tibetan flag is attacked by pro-China supporters awaiting the start of the Olympic Torch relay on April 9 in San Francisco, California. World leaders have faced mounting calls from rights groups to boycott the opening ceremony at the Beijing Olympics in protest against China's recent crackdown on Tibet, which it has ruled since 1950. (AFP/Robyn Beck)

Several text messages read: "Enslave Tibet!" Another said: "Dalai Lama is an a--hole."

"After watching what jerks you people were to the little girl in the wheelchair in Paris carrying the torch, I have NO longer sympathetic to your cause," another e-mail read from someone apparently not completely familiar with English.

Nordup, a father of three who lives in the East Bay, said he is not afraid, although he is fearful for those still in Tibet. Still, some things, such as a van parked for hours in front of his house on a cul-de-sac street, make him nervous.

"I believe it is safe in this country, but the stories I'm hearing are scary," he said.

Torch Relay Protesters at Justin Herman Plaza in San Francisco
Torch Relay Protesters at Justin Herman Plaza in San Francisco
With his background as a monk, Nordup said he is able to turn the other cheek, as the Dalai Lama has encouraged Tibetans to do.

"It is sad, but we're handling it OK because of our practice," he said. "The Dalai Lama is telling us, don't be mad.

"Everyone has to be treated equally with compassion."

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