News and Views on Tibet

Nine Tibetans slapped with separatism charges in Kardze

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Map of Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in the so called Sichaun Province in occupied Tibet. (freetibet.org)
Map of Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in the so called Sichaun Province in occupied Tibet. (freetibet.org)

By Tenzin Dharpo

DHARAMSHALA, Sept. 15: Nine Tibetans have reportedly been sentenced for “inciting splittism” by the Kardze (Chinese: Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture Intermediate People’s Court in the so-called Sichuan province in eastern Tibet.

According to San-Francisco based humanitarian group Dui Hua which cited a “reliable Chinese government source”, the nine Tibetans were sentenced on separate dates between June 30 to August 31 of this year.

The prisoners rights group revealed that six Tibetans were convicted of inciting splittism; Choethar (Ch. Qute), who was sentenced on Aug. 31, Dolma Tsering (Ch.Zhuoma Zeren), Drakpa (Ch. Zhaba), Tsering Yeshi (Ch. Cili Yixi), who were sentenced on Aug. 28, Bhutruk (Ch. Buzhu) who was sentenced on July 2, and Bhudhar (Ch. Buda), who was sentenced on June 30.

Three remaining Tibetans, Penpa (Ch. Bingba), Namkha Gyaltsen (Ch. Langka Jiangze), Pema Tsethar (Ch. Baima Zeta), who were sentenced on Aug. 7, were charged with arson in addition to charges of inciting splittism.

“Aside from their names in Chinese characters, the names of the crimes for which they were convicted, and the dates of their judgments, little else is known about those convicted. Their ages, genders, the time and reasons for their arrest and trial, and the length of their sentences remain unknown at this time. It is not known if the cases are related to each other,” Dui Hua said in a release on Monday. The group also said that since 2016, they have recorded 48 convictions of Tibetans for inciting splittism in its Political Prisoner Database.

The charge of inciting spilttism, rights group say, is vague and a blanket charge for convicting native Tibetans who raise voice against the ruling Chinese government inside Tibet.

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