By Tsering Dhundup
DHARAMSHALA, August 2: In the ongoing campaign to protest against her brother’s unjust imprisonment, Gonpo Kyi, the sister of Tibetan businessman Dorjee Tashi, has released two new online videos. The videos shared by research group Tibet Watch on July 31, show Kyi expressing frustrations with the authorities’ over broken promises while demanding answers regarding her brother’s detention. The videos were circulated on social media platforms including Weibo and WeChat. However, the videos appear to have been censored online.
In the first video, Kyi expressed her disappointment with officials who had promised her the opportunity to meet her brother. Kyi questions the integrity of the state’s law enforcement, stating, “In the state’s law, is this your official duty – to cheat people? To fool us is your duty.” She recounts that in July, officials assured her she could visit her brother in prison, but she has not been allowed to meet him.
In the second video, Kyi addresses the authorities again, condemning their actions in prison and court proceedings. She questions their adherence to Chinese law and calls for a clear explanation of their duties, saying, “If this is your duty, explain to me: ‘Chinese law is like this and we follow Chinese law,’ then I will respect the state. I will respect the law.”
Dorjee Tashi, also known as Yak Tashi, is a prominent businessman and philanthropist in Tibet before his arrest in March 2008, following the pan-Tibetan uprising in Lhasa. He remains imprisoned to this day, prompting his sister to take a stand and fight for his justice.
Gonpo Kyi’s determination has been evident through her continuous efforts in releasing videos and protesting outside the Tibet Higher People’s Court in Lhasa. However, police have attempted to obstruct her protests, leading to her detention and physical assault.
In a video message on July 5, Kyi passionately pleaded for visitation rights to see her brother, highlighting the emotional toll and uncertainty caused by the authorities’ repeated cancellations and restrictions. She also raised concerns about the lack of fairness and impartiality she faced in her interactions with the authorities.
Despite the global attention on Dorjee Tashi’s case, both the United States and the European Union expressed concern over his arbitrary detention during the 51st session of the UN Human Rights Council from September to October 2022. There has been little progress in securing his release. The family’s appeals have been met with delays, and physical visits have been prohibited since 2021.
The efforts of Gonpo Kyi and Dorjee Tashi have not gone unnoticed, as they were recently awarded the annual ‘Tenzin Delek Rinpoche Medal of Courage’ in Dharamshala. The award honours their dedication to enhancing the rights of the Tibetan people and their role as Tibetan human rights defenders.
