[CHRB] Courts Sentence 12 Tibetans on Trumped-up Charges (April 11-18, 2013)

[CHRB] Courts Sentence 12 Tibetans on Trumped-up Charges (April 11-18, 2013)

on Apr 18, 2013

China Human Rights Briefing

April 11-18, 2013

Contents

Arbitrary Detention

Qinghai Courts Sentence 12 Tibetans for “Inciting Splittism,” “Illegal Demonstration”

Guangdong Activists Detained for Seeking Release of Fellow Activist

Special Notice

CHRD Submits Allegations of Abuses to UN on Behalf of Activist Zhou Decai

 Arbitrary Detention

Qinghai Courts Sentence 12 Tibetans for “Inciting Splittism,” “Illegal Demonstration”

Two courts in Qinghai Province have sentenced a total of 12 ethnic Tibetans on trumped-up charges, handing down punishments ranging from three to six years. According to a report in Qinghai Daily News, the Huangnan (Tibetan: Malho) Intermediate People’s Court has issued sentences for “inciting splittism” to Choepa Gyal (six years), Namkha Jam (six years), Chagthar (four years), and Gonbey (three years). Without specifying a trial date, the report stated that the Tibetans were punished for allegedly distributing materials online with “separatist” content, including photographs and information about self-immolations.[1]

On April 10, eight Tibetan students were sentenced on charges of “illegally holding a demonstration” for their alleged roles in a protest in late November 2012. In its verdict, the Gonghe (Tibetan: Chabcha) County People’s Court said that the students had “caused harm to social stability,” and sentenced Sangye Bum (four years), as well as Kunsang Bum, Lhaten, and Jampa Tsering (42 months each, apparently the same punishment given to two other unidentified defendants). In addition, Wangyal Tsering and Choekyong Kyap were each given 39 months in jail. The protest on November 26, which was violently put down by armed police, was triggered by local authorities’ distribution of political questionnaires and propaganda booklets that vilified the Dalai Lama, as well as other official propaganda that blamed him for self-immolations. Police detained and injured many student protesters, including some whose whereabouts remain unknown.[2]

Guangdong Activists Detained for Seeking Release of Fellow Activist

Four Guangdong activists have been administratively detained for showing support for activist Liu Yuandong (刘远东), who has been in police custody since late February for protesting North Korea’s nuclear test conducted earlier that month. On April 12, Jia Pin (贾榀) and Nie Guang (聂光) were seized in Dongguan City as they held banners with slogans calling for Liu’s release. Yuan Xiaohua (袁小华) and Chen Jianxiong (陈剑雄) were taken into custody after they went to the scene of the rally to try to locate Jia and Nie. All four individuals fell temporarily out of contact, and their lawyers only learned on April 16 that they each had received detentions of between 10 and 20 days. Based in Guangzhou, Liu Yuandong has been a longstanding supporter of democracy activists in the city.[3]

Special Notice

CHRD Submits Allegations of Abuses to UN on Behalf of Activist Zhou Decai

On April 8, CHRD sent a letter of allegations to UN Special Procedures on behalf of Zhou Decai (周德才), a Henan activist serving a five-year sentence for “assembling a crowd to disrupt social order.” In September 2012, Zhou was imprisoned after flawed court proceedings that led to his conviction. Authorities likely have retaliated against him for his longtime activism on land and labor rights. Zhou reportedly has been harassed in prison, where his health has declined. Zhou was initially taken into custody in February 2012 while preparing to attend a labor rights seminar about laid-off tobacco industry workers.[4]

Edited by Victor Clemens and Ann Song

[1] “China confirms sentencing four Tibetans for ‘inciting separatism’,” April 15, 2013, TCHRD

[2] “Chabcha student protesters sentenced up to four years,” April 17, 2013, TCHRD; “China alienates, angers Tibetan students with political education,” November 29, 2012, TCHRD; “Thousands of Tibetan students protest China’s political education,” November 26, 2012, TCHRD

[3]“Strength Of Suppressing Rights Activists Increasing in Guangzhou, Beijing Lawyer Conducting Real-name Reporting Seized ”(广东加大对举牌活动的打压力度，北京实名举报的律师被抓), April 17, 2013, WQW; “Several Guangdong Netizens Supporting Liu Yuandong Detained” (广东声援刘远东的数位网友被拘留), April 16, 2013, WQW

[4] Submission to UN on Zhou Decai – April 8, 2013, CHRD