Tsering Dhundup
DHARAMSHALA, Feb. 21: Chinese authorities have extended the prison sentence of Tibetan activist Tsongon Tsering by an additional eight months after he refused to accept the charges against him, according to the report by research outfit Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) on Thursday.
The 29-year-old activist, a resident of Tsaruma village in Kakhog County (Chinese name: Hongyuan) in Ngaba, Amdo province of Tibet was initially sentenced to eight months in prison in October 2024 on charges of “disrupting social order.” Such charges are commonly employed by the Chinese Communist Party to silence dissent, instill fear, and preserve a culture of censorship amongst Tibetan dissidents.
Tsering’s arrest followed his posting of a video on October 15, 2024, exposing illegal sand and gravel mining operations in his village. In the video, he publicly displayed his ID card while explaining how Anhui Xianhe Construction Engineering Company was engaging in unauthorised mining under the guise of road construction. The footage, which quickly gained public attention, highlighted severe environmental damage caused by the company’s operations.
The exposure of these activities led to a crackdown by Chinese authorities, who detained Tsering along with members of his family. After he refused to plead guilty, the Kyungchu County People’s Court imposed an eight-month extension to his prison term. Authorities then transferred him to a prison in Barkham County (Chinese name: Maerkang), the prefectural capital of Ngaba.
Reports indicate that Tsering has been denied any contact with his family, who are also facing strict restrictions. Authorities have placed his relatives under close surveillance, explicitly warning them against discussing his case. Furthermore, his family members have been prevented from visiting him and barred from participating in religious activities during the Tibetan New Year, which is from Feb 28 to Mar 2, with celebrations lasting 15 days.
TCHRD has condemned the extension of Tsering’s sentence and called on Chinese authorities to overturn his conviction, also urging the Chinese government to uphold fundamental human rights, particularly the rights of Tibetans to express their opinions without fear of persecution.
Tibetan environmental activists frequently face persecution, harassment, torture, and even death for their efforts to protect Tibet’s environment and natural resources. Those who raise concerns about illegal mining, deforestation, and river pollution often face severe retaliation from Chinese authorities. Many are arbitrarily detained, subjected to violent interrogations, and denied their basic legal rights.
A prominent example is A-Nya Sengdra, a Tibetan nomad and environmental activist from eastern Tibet, who was sentenced to seven years in prison in December 2019 on fabricated charges of “gathering people to disturb public order.” His crime was advocating for environmental protection and exposing local corruption. Detained in September 2018, A-Nya was brutally beaten by Chinese security forces and held without trial for over 14 months. His peaceful activism, which challenged China’s destructive environmental policies in Tibet, was the direct cause of his harsh treatment. In June 2020, a court rejected his appeal to overturn the charges, further demonstrating the authorities’ intolerance for dissent.
A 2022 report by the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) revealed that out of 50 documented cases of Tibetan environmental defenders over the last two decades, 21 are currently serving prison sentences, with an average term of eight and a half years. While five have completed their sentences, it remains unclear whether all have been released. The whereabouts of 20 remain unknown, highlighting the difficulties in accessing information under China’s strict control. Additionally, four Tibetan environmental defenders have died due to abuse by Chinese state agents. Three were in custody and one was fatally shot during a protest.
2 Responses
Tibetans have no rights at all under imperialist Chinese communist occupation! There never was justice for the last seventy years and there never will be as long as Tibet is under Chinese occupation! Through out history, any country that is under occupation means, the ENSLAVEMENT of the occupied people. The Indians were enslaved by the British, Indonesia by the Dutch, Ivory Coast by the French etc Any country that is under foreign domination is enslaved and therefore there will never be justice, because there is no equality. The victims of dominations are always at the receiving end! The dominant power used it’s discretion of meting justice to the victims according their whims. If there was justice and equality, there wouldn’t be the need to dominate. Dominate means have control or power to defeat! The CCP has total control over the lives of every Tibetan in occupied Tibet! Their security apparatus of police, informers, the Chinese occupation forces which number half a million plus the millions of cameras control the Tibetans for 24/7. There are spies and cameras in every monastery, and every corner including private homes because it is fearful of rebellion by the Tibetans who are oppressed for not fault of theirs! They look to the Tibetans as their enemies that have to be controlled by force or they will rebel against the occupier! The Chinese are a racist people in general but because of historical prejudices and the constant propaganda by the CCP of Tibetans being barbarians, uncultured, superstitious and dirty have created extreme racial prejudice against the Tibetans. The racial vilification of Tibetans by communist China by peddling lies of “serfdom” during independent Tibet have all created a sense of total dehumanisation of Tibetans and shaped Chinese people’s perception of Tibet and Tibetans. That is why you will find many Chinese talking of Tibetans being “ungrateful” to the Chinese State for the supposed “good” things they have done! The Chinese treatment of Tibetans and the apartheid regime of South Africa’s treatment of black people and Israel’s treatment of the Palestinian people are EXACTLY THR SAME! They looked to the black African as subhumans and Israel looks to the Palestinians as animals while communist China looks to Tibetans as barbarians! As it were they believe they don’t deserve empathy! They are to be killed, incarcerated and tortured for being what they are! Therefore, no Tibetan will ever get justice under a Chinese occupation! Environmental activist Tsongon Tsering courageously showed his identity card and exposed the crime committed by the Chinese occupiers. He knew what the Chinese are doing is wrong but in the Chinese communist system, there is no independent judiciary. The judge, jury and executioner are one and the only CCP! There is only rule by law in communist China and NO rule of law! Even the Chinese people are not getting justice! For Tibetans it is out of question! The CCP is utterly corrupt. So, there are many illegal miners who are protected by powerful CCP officials. These CCP high officials are untouchable! They are a law unto themselves. Therefore, no body in the toothless judiciary would ever go against such CCP officials! They take orders from these CCP thugs snd not the other way round. Communist China is a monster of a country where the elite communist officials are untouchable and can do anything without any consequences. It is the most dangerous and unequal society! The law applies ONLY TO THE POOR AND THE WRETCHED WHILE THE COMMUNIST ELITE HAVE A FREE HAND FOR MURDER, EMBEZZELMENT, ILLEGAL MINING, HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND ORGAN HARVESTING!!!
Plz don’t be afraid for fight