By Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, Jan. 19: The plight of Tibetan anti-corruption activist and community leader A-Nya Sengdra continues to be in limbo as per his defense lawyer, Lin Qilei, who visited the Sixth Circuit Court of the Supreme People’s Court in Xi’an to inquire about the status of the appeal on January 8, 2024. Lin was informed that the appeal is still under review, with no definitive timeline provided for its resolution. A-Nya Sengdra has already served six years of a seven-year prison sentence, which was handed down by the Golog People’s Intermediate Court on December 6, 2019.
Sengdra, was initially detained by the Gade County Public Security Bureau in September 2018 under the charges of “gathering people to disturb public order” and “picking quarrels and provoking trouble,” whose appeal process seems to be progressing slowly, according to recent statements from his lawyer, Lin Qilei.
When initially detained, Lin Qilei, acting as A-Nya Sengdra’s defense lawyer, asserted that the charges were false and likely connected to a government-led campaign targeting Tibetans involved in political activities or cultural celebrations. The Chinese government portrayed this campaign as a crackdown on ”underworld forces.’’
He endured beatings during his year-long detention before being sentenced in December 2019. His wife, Yangkyi, was denied access to visit him during his detention period, rights groups said.
Lin Qilei’s efforts to inquire about the progress of A-Nya Sengdra’s appeal, as documented in his X (formery Twitter) posts from July 10, 2023, revealed obstacles and discrepancies in the information provided by court personnel. While his lawyer has diligently pursued information regarding the appeal, there is still no information available about A-Nya Sengdra’s current condition after six years in prison.
