HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH: China: Free Tibetans Unjustly Imprisoned

(original text in English)

Translated into Spanish automatically through Google

New compendium of some 80 long term cases
21 May 2019

(New York) – Las authorities chinas should immediately release the Tibetan monks and other peaceful critics arbitrarily imprisoned since the March protests 2008 on the tibetan plateau , Human Rights Watch said today as it published a new compilation of some 80 case. There has been no information on the whereabouts, the welfare or positions of some of the prisoners for more than a decade.

The number of Tibetans unjustly imprisoned in connection with the protests 2008 remains difficult to evaluate, just like get the details of your cases. Information on rulings from Tibetan areas is tightly restricted, and people who report detentions and prosecutions to others abroad risk arrest. China's official media only reported some of the sentences 2008, generally without further details. Human Rights Watch's collection of Tibetan political prisoners is based on reports received from local sources despite government censorship and intimidation.

"Los tibetanos que no hicieron más que pedir pacíficamente que se respeten sus derechos humanos han sido condenados injustamente a largas penas de prisión", said Sophie Richardson , China director at Human Rights Watch. "Las autoridades chinas deberían liberar de inmediato a estos prisioneros".

In most cases examined by Human Rights Watch, The families of the prisoners have not been allowed to contact them nor have they been informed of their whereabouts. There is great concern for the health of many of these prisoners, due to severe physical abuse and denial of medical care in custody. According to reports, several have received emergency medical treatment while serving their sentences.

The exact charges brought against the defendants are generally not known. Apart from the arson charges against several people, The charges appear to be largely for nonviolent political activity., como "poner en peligro la seguridad del estado" y "divulgar secretos de estado". There is no evidence to suggest that any of the defendants received a fair trial before a trial. Independent and impartial court, as required by international law. Karma Samdrup, an environmental activist, was the only defendant in these cases known to have been allowed representation at trial.

Cluster of cases involves three scholar monks from Drepung Monastery in Lhasa: Jampel Wangchuk, Kochook Nym y Chony , who were arrested on 11 April 2008. All three were distinguished monastic teachers, and among the chief disciples of the late Lamrim Rinpoche, a revered Drepung lama who was not appointed by the government, suggests that the authorities perceive his continued influence as a threat to their control of the monastery. The monks were accused of failing to prevent a protest at the monastery the previous month, in which reports indicated that they had not participated. Two years later, in a trial closed in June 2010, The court sentenced them to life imprisonment., 20 years and 15 years respectively, for undisclosed charges.

Three Lhasa residents convicted of espionage and given harsh sentences, ranging from 14 years to life, for allegedly sending information about the protests 2008 to people outside of China. Information about other unfair sentences reported by the official media at the time, most likely incomplete, includes around 40 names, for which no details have been given since then.

The largest group of long sentences outside of Lhasa was for those involved in the protests of 16 al 17 March 2008 en Addo Naba [chino: Aba] in which security forces killed more than 25 Tibetans. It is presumed that at least five people sentenced to 13 years or more are still in prison: Lobsang Choedar, accused of playing major role in Ngaba County town protest; Ludrup Yeshe y Ludrup Puntsok, accused of participating in the Amchok municipality protest; and the laymen Karma and Tsekho, accused of participating in an alleged attack on the government building of the municipality of Lota.

Another group of prisoners is made up of relatives and colleagues of self-immolators, who were accused of " intentional homicide " in between 2011 and 2013, a new charge that the authorities presented to dissuade these protests, and they considered that moral support for protesters incites suicide. It is assumed that at least 10 of these people remain imprisoned.

Among those still serving sentences for the protests 2008 there are three monks, a writer and two businessmen convicted on dubious charges. The authorities charged the environmental activist and philanthropist, Karma Samdrup, of robbing graves when he opposed closing a conservation organization run by his brothers. Dorje Tashi, a successful real estate investor, He was sentenced to life in prison for the unlikely charge of financing Tibetan exile groups..

Two prisoners are still serving life sentences in 1999 and 2000, for participating in peaceful political activities. Monk Choeying Khedrup prosecuted for printing protest leaflets. Lama Bangri Choktrul Rinpoche, who started an orphanage in Lhasa, fue declarado culpable de "conspirar con la camarilla del Dalai [Lama]". There has been no news of him since his transfer to Chushul prison in 2006.

The Chinese government must immediately clarify the status, the whereabouts and well-being of these prisoners and allow access to their families, lawyers and doctors, dijo Human Rights Watch. All those detained for peaceful activities must be released immediately.

In the most recent Universal Periodic Review of China at the United Nations Human Rights Council, which concluded in March 2019, Government officials said they had accepted recommendations that included combating torture in detention, respect the rights of detainees, protect the religious freedom of ethnic minorities and cooperate with UN human rights mechanisms. However, There is no indication that the Chinese government is taking serious steps to address these long-standing concerns in the Tibet Autonomous Region. (TAR) or in other places.

Chinese authorities must stop prosecuting people for peaceful dissent, incluso bajo cargos abusivos como "poner en peligro la seguridad del estado" y el "separatismo", dijo Human Rights Watch. The government should allow United Nations rights experts access to Tibetan areas to document alleged rights violations and publicly report on potential accountability measures.. Concerned governments should publicly and privately pressure China to live up to its promises made in its Universal Periodic Review.

"La crueldad y la deshonestidad que los funcionarios chinos han demostrado en el procesamiento de estos casos ameritan un examen urgente e independiente", Richardson said.. "El gobierno chino no solo debe liberar a los presos injustamente, sino también castigar a los responsables de estos atroces errores judiciales".

 

Political prisoners serving long sentences

The following cases, detailed below, involve Tibetan Buddhist monks and others who were sentenced to long prison terms, including life imprisonment and the death penalty: 

• The drepung three
• Lhasa March 2008 “espionage” sentences”
• Other long sentences related to the March protests 2008.
• Is it March? 2008 prayers
• “Intentional homicide” sentences”
• Long sentences post-2008
• Pre-2008 life sentences

  The drepung three

  

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• Jampel Wangchuk , senior monk and disciplinarian of Drepung Loseling University, was arrested on 11 April 2008 and sentenced to life imprisonment in 2010 for undisclosed charges.

  

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• Konchok Nyima , Scripture teacher at Drepung Gomang University originally from Dzorge [Chino: Ruoergai] a Ngaba, Sichuan, was arrested on 11 April 2008 and condemned to 20 years in 2010 for undisclosed charges.

  

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• Ngawang Chonyi , writing teacher at Drepung Tantric University, was arrested on 11 April 2008 and sentenced to 15 years in 2010 for undisclosed charges.

 

Lhasa March 2008 'Espionaje' Sentences

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4. Wangdu , former monk and political prisoner, who worked for an HIV program / AIDS in Lhasa administered by the Australian Burnet Institute at the time of his arrest in March 2008, fue condenado a cadena perpetua por cargos de "espionaje" he 27 October 2008. According to official media. Wangdu fue last seenin a hospital in Lhasa, under surveillance, in 2012.

   

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5. Yeshe Choedron , doctor removed, was arrested at her home in Lhasa in March 2008 and condemned 7 November 2008 a 15 años por "espionaje", supuestamente por proporcionar "inteligencia e información perjudiciales para la seguridad y los intereses del estado" a " the security department of the Dalai clique”. He 4 April 2012, was transferred from Drapchi Prison to Lhasa City Public Security Hospital for receive emergency treatment . 

   

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6. Migmar Dondrup , tour guide and staff of a non-governmental organization that does community development work, was accused de "enviar inteligencia a la camarilla del Dalai … antes y después del incidente del '14 de marzo'" and sentenced to 14 years the 27 October 2008.

 

Other long sentences related to the March protests 2008.

 

Toelung protest

7. – 15. Seven monks and one layman from Dingka Monastery in Toelung County [chinos: Duilongdeqing], Lhasa, TAR, They were arrested for participating in a protest on 17 March 2008, and they were among a group of 30 Tibetans sentenced on 29 April. 2008: Install(Ngawang Yignyen), sentenced to life imprisonment; Stop (Ngawang Choying), sentenced to 15 years; Migmar, sentenced to 15 years; Yargye, sentenced to 11 years; Come Bagdro, sentenced to 15 years; Karma Dawa, sentenced to 15 years; Bagdro, sentenced to 15 years; Jigme, sentenced to 15 years. To Sonam Norbu , a driver from Lhasa, among the other defendants in that trial, he was given a life sentence.

 

Protest Dranang

16. – 20. A group of monks and visiting teachers from Samye Monastery were convicted in June for participating in a protest in Dranang County. [Chino: Zhanang], Head, TAR the 15 March 2008: Tenzin booking , visiting teacher, condemned to 15 years ; Tenzin Zopa , visiting teacher, sentenced to 13 years; Gyaltsen, eat Samye, sentenced to 15 years; heama , eat Samye, sentenced to 13 years;  and  Punch , eat Samye, sentenced to 13 years.

 

Kyambel Municipality Incident

21. – 27. A group of monks from Tangkya Monastery in Gonjo County [chinos: Gonjue], Chamdo, TAR were arrested and sentenced on 22 September 2008 for the alleged attack against a government building in the local municipality: Gyurme Dondrup , sentenced to life in prison; Tsering if you come , sentenced to life imprisonment; Dorje Wangyal, sentenced to 15 years; Kunzang Tenzin, sentenced to 15 years; Rinchen Gyaltsen, sentenced to 10 years; Be known; Yeshi, sentenced to 9 years; y Kung Puntsok, sentenced to 10 years.

    

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Machu protest

28. – 33. The following residents of Machu [chinos: Maqau], Kanaal, Gansu were sentenced on 15 June 2008 for his participation in the protest 16-18 March 2008: Lama Kyab was sentenced to 15 years; Kelbar , sentenced to 15 years; Khechok , sentenced to 13 years;  and  Chock , sentenced to 12 years. She further , Sarpatsang Lodroe , a monk at the Tsendrok monastery in Machu, was sentenced on 15 October 2008 a 12 years in prison for participating in the Machu protest of 16 al 18 March 2008, and another monk from Tsendrok, Gonpo Tsekho , was sentenced to 14 years the 16 October 2008.

    

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Penpo Lhundrup Protesta

34. – 41. Lobsang Tsemey , a monk from Ganden Choekor Monastery in Lhundrup County [chino: Linzhou], Lhasa, and  Doloe , a layman, were arrested and sentenced to 15 years for his participation in the protests in Lhundrup county of the 14 al 15 March , 2008. Among his co-defendants, four monks, Ganden Choedak, Tenzin Yeshe, Tenpa Dondrup y Tashi Namgyal, and two lay women, Lhakdron and Dorje Drolma received sentences of up to 14 years. These sentences are among the 14 approved by three county-level courts in Lhasa on 29 October 2008.

    

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Labrang Tsayu protest

42. – 43. Two monks from Tsayu Monastery in Sangchu County [chinos: Xiaohe], Kanaal, Gansu were arrested for participating in a protest in the municipality on 18 March and sentenced on 24 November 2008: Lobsang, sentenced to 21 years;  and  Konchok Jinpa , sentenced to 12 years.

    

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Lhasa March 14 Riot

44. Lobsang Wangchuk , of 26 years, from Taktse County [chino: Dagze], Lhasa, TAR was sentenced to 15 years at the beginning of 2009, for participating in the protest in Taktse County on 15 March 2008.

    

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45. Kangtsuk , from Taktse County, received a suspended death sentence 2 years for arson, he 8 April 2009.

    

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46. Tenzin Puntsok , received a suspended death sentence 2 years for arson, 8 April 2009.

    

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47. Daw Sang , from Taktse County, sentenced to life in prison for arson, 8 April 2009.

    

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48. Penkyi, from Sakya County [chino: Sajia], Shigatse, TAR, was sentenced to death by arson during the protest 14 March in Lhasa.

    

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49. Penkyi (women), of 23 years, from Nyemo County [chino: No one], Shigatse, TAR was sentenced to life in prison for arson during the Lhasa protest.

    

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50. Chime Lhadzom, of 20 years, from Namling County [chino: Nanmulin], Shigatse, TAR was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

    

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51. Sonam Tsering , of 27 years, from Palyul County [chino: Baiyu], Kandze, Sichuan, was arrested on 16 October 2009 for participating in the Lhasa protest in March 2008 and received a suspended death sentence of 2 years the 20 May 2010.

    

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Can (Aba) March 2008 Sentences

52. Lobsang Choedar, monk at Ngaba Kirti monastery and former political prisoner, was sentenced to 13 years for participating in the protest in Ngaba County [chino: Aba] he 16 March 2008. Se informed him by last time in may 2016, when it was reported. be in poor health.

    

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53. Ludrup Yeshe, a monk at the Amchok Tsenyi monastery in Ngaba, was sentenced to 13 years and a half 28 October 2008 for his participation in the protest 17 March in the municipality of Amchok.

    

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54. Ludrup Puntsok, a monk at Amchok Tsenyi Monastery and editor of the monastery magazine, was sentenced to 13 years the 28 October 2008 for his participation in the Amchok protest.

    

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55. Karma, of the Kherkhangtsang family in the municipality of Lota, condide de Naba, He was sentenced to life in prison for his role in the attack. 17 March 2008 to the local government building in Lota.
56. Tsekho, of the Darjuktsang family in the municipality of Lota, was sentenced to 13 years for his participation in the Lota incident.

 

“Intentional homicide” sentences”

57. Lobsang Konchok , a monk at the Ngaba Kirti monastery, He was accused of inciting eight people to commit self-immolation. He 28 of January of 2013, fue acusado de "homicidio intencional" in a trial published by state media and was given a suspended death sentence.
58. Lobsang Tsondru , a monk kirti , He was Puntsok's uncle and mentor, of 20 years, the kirti monk who organized a self-immolation protest in Ngaba on 16 March 2011. Lobsang Tsondru was sentenced to 11 años de prisión por "intencional homicidio ”el 29 August 2011.
59. Lobsang Tenzin (Gyamokha), a Kirti monk, was sentenced to 13 years in prison 30 August 2011, por "homicidio intencional" related to Puntsok's self-immolation.
60. Come to Tsultrim , a monastery in the Nyatso Zilkar monastery in Dzatoe [Chino: Zadoi], Yushu, Qinghai, was arrested in September 2012, during a raid on his monastery by security forces. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison 12 July 2013, apparently for participating in a self-immolation protest in Dzatoe in June 2012. According to reports, his health was poor at the time.
61. Gendun Gyatso , a monk in the Bora monastery, in Sangchu County [Chino: Xiaohe], Kanaal, Gansu, was one of five people arrested following the Sungdu Kyap self-immolation protest in Bora in December 2012. He was sentenced to 6 years in prison for “intentional homicide” he 10 December 2013.
62. Phagpa de Rebkong [chino: Tongren], Mallet, Qinghai was sentenced to 13 years in prison 8 February 2013, for encouraging Dolma Kyap of Dowa Monastery in Rebkong and others to commit self-immolation.

63. – 65. Lhamo Dorje, Come Sonam y Tsezung Khyab from Luchu County [Chino: Luqu], Kanaal, Gansu were sentenced to 15, 11 and 10 years in prison respectively, for influencing the self-immolation of Tsering Tashi in Luchu in November 29 of 2012. They were sentenced by the Luchu County Court on 28 February 2013.

66. Drolma Kyab by Dzorge [chino: Ruoergai], Can, Sichuan was sentenced to death, 2 years suspended, he 15 August 2013, for allegedly murdering his wife and claiming that he had committed self-immolation.

 

Post-2008 Long Sentences

67. Thabkhe Gyatso , a monk at Labrang monastery, He was arrested after the protest 14 March 2008. Acusado de "poner en peligro la seguridad del estado", was sentenced to 15 years in prison 21 May 2009. Was described in 2011 como "medio paralizado y con problemas de vista".
68. Tsultrim Gyatso , a Labrang monk, was arrested in May 2008 and sentenced to life imprisonment 21 May 2009 por "poner en peligro la seguridad del estado". According to a recent report , Tsultrim Gyatso was taken to a Lanzhou hospital for surgery on 2017, and Thabkhe Gyatso was in the prison hospital in Tianshui for a long period in 2018.

69. – 70. DJ's  and  Sonam Gonpo were arrested for alleged involvement in an attack on a government building in Tangkyi township, Driver [chino: Xinlong], Kandze, Sichuan, he 28 February 2009. Pema Yeshe given a suspended death sentence and Sonam Gonpo sentenced to life imprisonment (17 November 2009).

71. – 75. A group of mostly elderly monks from the Denma Choekor monastery in Jomda county [chinos: Jiangda], Chamdo, TAR was arrested for his involvement in the alleged attack on the municipality's local government office on 5 of January of 2009. Ngawang Tashi , Tenzin Gyaltsen  and  Tashi DorjeThey were later sentenced to 15 years, Jamyang Sherab a 13 years and Tsering Palden a 12 years.

76. Konchok Tsephel from Machu County [chino: Maqau], Kanaal, Gansu, He is the founder of the popular Tibetan literary website,  Chomei  (o butter lamp ). He 26 February 2009, was arrested at his home, and the 12 November, was sentenced to 15 years for political positions. Friends at the sentencing reported that he appeared to be in poor health.. This has been confirmed by information further recent . 
77. Dorje Tashi is a businessman arrested after the March protests 2008 in Lhasa, accused of financing Tibetan groups abroad and sentenced to life imprisonment on 26 June 2010.
78. Karma Samdrup He is a prominent environmentalist and philanthropist condemned he 24 June 2010 to a sentence of 15 años por cargos de "robo de tumbas y tráfico de reliquias culturales". He and his brother Rinchen Samdrup were arrested on 7 August 2009, after his efforts to conserve wildlife in his native Gonjo [chino: Gonjue], Chamdo, TAR displeased local authorities. At his trial, in which he was defended by an independent lawyer, claimed to have been tortured in custody .
79. Sonam Lhundrup by Drakgo [chino: Luhuo], Kandze, Sichuan, was arrested for participating in a mass protest in the county town 23 of January of 2012 and sentenced to life imprisonment 26 April 2012.
80. Punch, a monk from Ngaba Kirti, was taken from his room in the monastery on 17 October 2011. He was sentenced to 8 years in June 2012, apparently for communicating with people outside the country, and his whereabouts are unknown.

 

Prayers of life pre-2008

81. Choeying Khedrup , a monk from Tsanden Monastery in Sog County [Chino: His], nagchu, TAR was one of at least six men arrested in March 2000, for printing and distributing pro-independence leaflets. He was sentenced to life imprisonment 29 of January of 2001 por "incitar al splittism".
82. Bangri Choktrul Rimpoche (Jigme Tenzin Nyima), the director of the former Gyatso boys' school in Lhasa, was arrested in August 1999, regarding a one-man protest in Lhasa, and  condemned to life imprisonment. According to reports, He is in poor health.
83. Chatral Rinpoche (Jampa Trinley), former abbot of Tashi Lhunpo monastery and leader of the quest for reincarnation of the 10 ^º Panchen Lama, was arrested in May 1995, shortly after the Dalai Lama announced his choice of candidate. He 21 April 1997, was sentenced to 6 years de prisión por cargos de "separatismo" y "secretos de estado que se filtran" and was then detained indefinitely. It is believed that died in custody some years later, but this has never been confirmed. His co-accused, Jump Chungla, sentenced to 5 years in 1996, died allegedly In November of 2010.