Beginning in May 2011 and continuing into July ; Public security bureau officials in Zuogong (Dzogang) county ; allegedly detained approximately 50 Tibetans (15 named ) linked to protests against mining in the county. After security officials detained 9 unnamed villagers living in “Bethong township” on June 30 for protesting mining activity on a mountain the villagers regard as sacred ; three village leaders traveled to Lhasa ; to express their objections. On July 2 ; Zuogong county police who traveled to Lhasa reportedly took into custody the village leaders—Arsong (age 56) ; Tashi Namgyal (60) ; and Jamyang Thinley—and took them back to Zuogong.