Tsongon Tsering, a 29-year-old Tibetan, was detained in October 2024 after he posted a video registering a complaint about large-scale sand and gravel mining along the river in Tsaruma village, which is the source of Asia’s two largest rivers, the Yangtze and the Yellow River.

On 14 October, Tsering posted a five-minute video openly filing a “real-name complaint” to draw attention to the mining operations conducted by Anhui Xianhe Construction Engineering Company, allegedly under the guise of road construction work. Tsering was initially called to the county office along with his family members and villagers after his video went viral. He was permitted to return home briefly before being summoned again and subsequently detained. Sources indicate he is now being held in Kyungchu County prison.