Dharamsala, December 18 – A Chinese court in Kanlho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture has sentenced a Tibetan monk to four years imprisonment for engaging in “separatist” activities, reported the Tibet Times. The exact date of the sentencing is not known.
Jigme Gyatso, a monk of of Drakar monastery in Kanlho, was arrested during protests in 2008 along with 30 other monks of the monastery. The Chinese authorities had found anti government posters and pamphlets in the monastery premises in 2008. 30 monks of the monastery were arrested following which they were subjected to rigorous interrogation by the Chinese authorities. All 30 monks except Jigme were released on bail against payment of 2000 Yuan each.
Jigme, according to a source, could not tolerate the harsh interrogations and torture to which the monks were subjected and took the blame on himself. He told the authorities that he was responsible for pasting the anti government posters in the monastery.
Jigme is currently held in a detention centre near Lanzhou City in Gansu.
