Urgent Action Update |
22 April 2009
Jigme Gyatso
Source: Filming for Tibet
Jigme Gyatso was temporarily released from Kachu (in Chinese: Linxia) prison on October 15, 2008 and was allowed back to his monastery in Labrang Tashikyil. It is not clear, according to information from Tibet, if all charges against Jigme Gyatso have been dismissed. He was told by the authorities that he will stay under observance and his probation will last one year. On 17 March 2009 he was rearrested, only to be released again on 22 April 2009.
Jigme Gyatso told sources that he was severely tortured after his arrest in March 2008. The interrogators beat him continuously and hanged him by his feet from the ceiling for hours and kept him tied for days on the interrogation chair. During the interrogations he fainted several times due to the beatings. After May 12 when the region was shaken by strong earthquakes beatings stopped and after August 11 there was a noticeable improvement.
A big crowd of fellow monks and nearby Tibetans gave him an emotional welcome at Labrang Tashikyil monastery on October 15. According to sources in Tibet who were present, the crowd cheered him and thanked him for filming the documentary "Leaving Fear Behind".
The welfare and whereabouts of Dhondup Wangchen remain unknown.
Many thanks for all those who took urgent action for the filmmakers. Please continue to campaign for Dhondup Wangchen.
TAKE ACTION for Dhondup Wangchen here
Background
Dhondup Wangchen and Jigme Gyatso were arrested following the completion of their documentary film "Leaving Fear Behind’ in March 2008. The film was shot inside Tibet and smuggled out at great risk.
The filmmakers traversed thousands of miles in Tibet, asking ordinary Tibetans what they really feel about the Dalai Lama, China, and the Olympic Games. They gave their subjects the option of covering their faces, but almost all of the 108 people interviewed agreed to have their faces shown on film, so strong was their desire to express their feelings to the world. For the filmmakers, revealing their own identities was always a part of the plan. Fully aware of the risks they took, they rejected anonymity as an option. In order for the film to be made, fear had to be truly left behind.
The case
The film Leaving Fear Behind was shot by Dhondup Wangchen, assisted by his friend Jigme Gyatso. They began as complete amateurs, with no filming experience, but with extraordinary determination and courage.
Dhondup Wangchen was detained by Chinese security authorities on 26 March 2008, only days after delivering his taped interviews to a safe location. He was held in Ershilipu Detention Center, in Xining (Qinghai) for three months. From there he was moved to unofficial detention in Guangsheng Binguan, in Xining. He was last seen in Guangsheng Binguan around 12 July, 2008. On 31 August, Wangchen Dhondup’s brother-in-law went to Ershilipu Detention Centre to meet him but was denied access. He was told that Dhondup Wangchen had committed a serious crime and was a very special case.
You can view a trailer of the film here:
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