Current prisoners |
30 Tibetan protesters arrested in Lhasa
They are the first Tibetans sentenced for taking part in the protests which began in Tibet on 10 March. The protests which swept across Tibet in Spring 2008 constituted the largest uprising against Chinese rule in Tibet since 1959, and invloved over 100 separate protests across all Tibetan regions.
The sentences:
Pasang, Sonam Tsering and Tsering were sentenced to life imprisonment.
Jigme, Kalsang Bagdro, Karma Dawa, Dorje, Migmar, Ngawang Choeyang and Bagdro were sentenced to fixed terms of 15 years or more.
Yargyal, Choephel Tashi, Dorje Dargye, Ngawang, Kalsang Tsering, Migmar, Sonam Tsering, Kelsang Samten, Tseten, Palsang Tashi, Lhagpa Tsering Chewa (Sr.), Lobsang Tashi, Lhagpa Tsering, Darchen, Thubten Gyatso, Tashi Gyatso, Kalsang Dondrub, Tenzin Gyaltsen, Kalsang Nyima and Yeshe were sentenced to fixed terms of between three years and 14 years.
A monk, Pasang, Sonam Tsering, a driver, and 30-year-old businessman, identified only as Tsering, were all sentenced to life. Two other monks were sentenced to 20 years and three others to 15 years. Human Rights Watch said on 30 April that contrary to Chinese claims the trials were not open and public and were based on secret evidence.
According to HRW, the sentenced Tibetans were also denied their own lawyers.
Free Tibet is outraged by these bogus trials and the harshness of the sentences handed down.
Read more about the 2008 uprising here.
