Gonpo Tsering

An 32-year-old expedition guide known for leading treks in Tibet and for taking part in mountain rescues, Gonpo Tsering was sentenced to three years imprisonment in 2009 for 'inciting separatism'. He had sent texts containing information about the protests in Lhasa on 14 March 2008. Reports stated that the verdict read "defendant Gonpo Tsering used the internet to deliberately fabricate rumours, distort the true situation and incite separatism."

Gonpo Tsering was apparently not given legal representation at his hearing, making his sentencing unsound. His case is another example of the lengths the Chinese authorities will go to in order to create a climate of fear in Tibetan where people are forced into self-censorship. Bloggers such as Norzin Wangmo and Tibetans who email the outside world such as Wangdu have also recently been given harsh sentences.