UCS 02/05/08: Outrageous sentences follow show trial |
May 2 2008
Thirty Tibetans, including six monks, were sentenced in Lhasa on 29 April to imprisonment ranging from three years to life during a one-day show trial at the Intermediate People's Court of Lhasa. They are the first Tibetans sentenced for taking part in the protests which began in Tibet on 10 March. A monk, Pasang (Chinese: Basang), Sonam Tsering, a driver, and 30-year-old businessman, identified only as Tsering, were all sentenced to life. Pasang was accused of leading 10 people, including five other monks, to destroy local government offices, burn down shops and attack policemen. Two other monks were sentenced to 20 years and three others to 15 years.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) 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. The Chinese lawyers who had offered to defend them were threatened by the authorities in Beijing and were forced to withdraw, demonstrating the lack of fair trial standards.
Observers regularly find Chinese criminal procedural law to be ineffective and abusive of the right to fair trial and particularly the right to appeal.
Free Tibet Campaign is outraged by these bogus trials and the harshness of the sentences handed down. We are also is extremely concerned about the thousands of Tibetans who have been arrested since the protests began. Any prison sentence can amount to a death sentence in Tibet where torture of political prisoners is well documented. In the photos released by Xinhua, one man is seen sitting while the verdict is being delivered, which could suggest he was unable to stand due to torture.
Free Tibet Campaign has received an eye witness report from a Tibetan man who was imprisoned in Lhasa during the protest that all prisoners were bound with ropes and thrown on to the floor of cells. The prisoners were further weakened by the lengthy denial of food.
According to chinanews.com:
· Basang [Pasang], Suolang Ciren [Sonam Tsering], and Ciren [Tsering] were sentenced to life imprisonment.
· Jinmei [Jigme], Gesang Bazhu [Kalsang Bagdro], Gema Dawa [Karma Dawa], Duojue [Dorje], Mima [Migmar], Awang Quyang [Ngawang Choeyang] and Bazhu [Bagdro] were sentenced to fixed terms of 15 years or more
· Yajie [Yargyal], Qupei Zhazi [Choephel Tashi], Duoji Dajie [Dorje Dargye], Awang [Ngawang], Gesang Ciren [Kalsang Tsering], Mima [Migmar], Suolang Ciren [Sonam Tsering], Luoang Sangdan [Kelsang Samten], Cidan [Tseten], Peisang Zhaxi [Palsang Tashi], Laba Ciren (Sr.) [Lhagpa Tsering Chewa (Sr.)], Luosang Zhaxi [Lobsang Tashi], Laba Ciren [Lhagpa Tsering], Taqing [Darchen], Tudan Jiacuo [Thubten Gyatso], Zhaxi Jiacuo [Tashi Gyatso], Gesang Dunzhu [Kalsang Dondrub], Danzeng Jiancai [Tenzin Gyaltsen], Gesang Nima [Kalsang Nyima] and Yixi [Yeshe] were sentenced to fixed terms of between three years and 14 years.
TAKE ACTION!
Express your dismay at the unfair trials and your concern for the thousands of Tibetans arbitrarily detained throughout Tibet who are awaiting such trials.
Demand an investigation into the standards of evidence used, access to the sentenced prisoners to ascertain whether they were tortured in detention, and the inclusion of international observers at appeals, which should be provided to all in accordance to international procedures.
1. Write to your MP and urge him or her to raise these issues with Foreign Secretary David Miliband and demand to know what the UK Government is doing to denounce this travesty of justice.
Name of MP
House of Commons
London SW1A 0AA
You can also e-mail your MP via www.writetothem.com.
2. Please also contact the United Nations’s High Commissioner for Human Rights to raise your concerns:
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Louise Arbour
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