By Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, Aug 12: The United Nations experts on Thursday issued a demand to the Chinese government, urging them to provide comprehensive information on nine Tibetan environmental human rights defenders who were imprisoned between 2010 and 2019 for their peaceful efforts to safeguard the plateau’s fragile environment and are serving prison sentences ranging up to 11 years.
The Special Rapporteurs expressed their concerns over the lack of information coming from Chinese authorities regarding the current status and well-being of these imprisoned defenders, stating that this lack of transparency “could be seen as a deliberate attempt to make the world forget about these human rights defenders as they spend year after year in isolation.” Furthermore, the families of these defenders have been left without any information.
The experts have also highlighted the issue of these defenders being denied access to legal representation during their imprisonment. Additionally, they are advocating for proper medical care for the activists while in custody and the allowance of visits from their family.
The nine imprisoned Tibetan environmental human rights defenders Anya Sengdra, Dorjee Daktal, Kelsang Choklang, Dhongye, Rinchen Namdol, Tsultrim Gonpo, Jangchup Ngodup, Sogru Abhu, and Namsey, were detained for their involvement in protesting against illegal mining activities that occurred in Qinghai Province, Sichuan Province, and the Tibetan Autonomous Province.
The Chinese government has not disclosed the length of sentences for six of the activists: Dhongye, Rinchen Namdol, Tsultrim Gonpo, Jangchup Ngodup, Sogru Abhu, and Namsey. Additionally, the exact locations of the activists who are being held and the conditions under which they are serving their sentences remain unknown.
The UN experts are urging the Chinese government to provide detailed information regarding the whereabouts of the detainees’ locations, health conditions, and the reasons behind their detention. “If China is committed to tackle the impacts of climate change, it should refrain from persecuting environmental human rights defenders and release all nine immediately,” the experts added.
