US Special Coordinator calls for “immediate and unconditional release” of Go Sherab Gyatso

By Tenzin Nyidon 

DHARAMSHALA, Nov 2: The United States Special Coordinator for Tibetan issues Uzra Zeya on Tuesday took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to urgently demand the “immediate and unconditional release” of Go Sherab Gyatso, a Tibetan political prisoner whose health is deteriorating. 

Zeya tweeted, “Over 3 years ago, PRC authorities detained Tibetan monk Go Sherab Gyatso and sentenced him to 10 years in prison based on peaceful advocacy. As his health continues to decline, the U.S. renews our call for his immediate and unconditional release and reaffirms our support for the human rights of all Tibetans. #WithoutJustCase.” 

The “Without Just Cause” is a political prisoners campaign launched by the U.S. Department of State, advocating for the release of individuals who have been imprisoned for exercising their human rights. This initiative documents a series of individuals who have been incarcerated due to growing authoritarian efforts aimed at silencing dissent and suppressing fundamental freedoms. Among the 22 political prisoners listed in the #WithoutJustCause Political Prisoners Campaign database is Go Sherab Gyatso. 

Go Sherab Gyatso, also known as Gosher, is a prominent Tibetan writer, educator, and public intellectual known for his passionate advocacy for Tibetan culture and rights. In October 2020, he was detained for the fourth time by the Chinese authorities. He was subjected to incommunicado detention for over a year, culminating in a secret trial in December 2021 that resulted in a harsh 10-year prison sentence.

In August 2021, the Chinese government responded to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights by denying his “enforced disappearance” and asserting that Gosher was under suspicion for “inciting secession.” Unlike other persecuted Tibetan writers and intellectuals from Kham and Amdo, he was apprehended in Chengdu, Sichuan, by secret security personnel from the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR), and subsequently handed the verdict in Lhasa. Despite these developments, Gosher’s current whereabouts remain undisclosed, adding to the concerns about his well-being and the transparency of the legal proceedings against him.

Go Sherab Gyatso was born on September 9, 1976, in Khashi village, Ngawa. At the age of ten, he entered Kirti monastery in southern Amdo, initiating his elementary monastic education. He gained prominence with the publication of “Wake Up” in 2007. Gosher’s literary contributions extend to over 10 books, which have garnered a substantial following, not only within Tibet but also beyond its borders. They bear witness to his extensive knowledge of Tibetan traditional education, as well as his profound engagement with diverse subjects, including the history of science, Western philosophy, and modern political theories. 

Before his arrest in late 2020, Gosher had reportedly completed two manuscripts. However, the whereabouts of these valuable manuscripts remain unknown.