DHARAMSHALA, Oct. 15: Tibetan activists who were jailed prior to the Chinese President’s visit to Chennai last week have been released after their bail application was approved by the court there. All Tibetan activists have now been released barring Tenzin Tsundue, a prominent Tibetan poet and activist who is still under judicial custody in the Puzhal Central Jail in Chennai.
The Tibetan Youth Congress on Tuesday posted on their Facebook page that 14 Tibetans including the members from the Tibetan Students Association of Madras (TSAM), Tibetan Youth Congress, Students for a Free Tibet India National Director Rinzin Choedon and her colleagues as well as Hindustan University associate professor Tenzin Norbu, have been released late on Tuesday evening from the Puzhal Central Jail.
On Monday 25 TYC and TSAM activists including the TYC President Gonpo Dhondup were released on bail. The Tibetan activists were provided legal help by the Delhi-based Human Rights Law Network, which is a collective of Indian lawyers and social activists who provide legal support to the vulnerable and disadvantaged sections of society on pro-bono basis. Central Tibetan Administration’s Chief Representative Officer, South Zone also provided assistance to the Tibetan activists through out the judicial custody, TYC said.
The released activists will however not be allowed to leave Chennai city for the next 15 days as they have to make daily appearance at the local police station as per the bail conditions, SFT India Programs Director, Tenzin Dakpa told Phayul.
In total 40 Tibetans were arrested and detained by the Tamil Nadu police prior to the arrival of Chinese President who touched down in the South Indian city for a two-day (October 11-12) informal summit with Indian PM Narendra Modi.
