China sentences a monk to life imprisonment term
23 May 2009
The Kanlho Intermediate People’s Court today sentenced a Tibetan monk to life imprisonment term, according to confirmed information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD).
Numerous sources informed TCHRD that Gannan (Tib: Kanlho) Intermediate People’s Court sentenced Tsultrim Gyatso, a monk of Labrang Monastery for life imprisonment term under the crime of “endangering the state security.” Tsultrim Gyatso, 37, hails from a village called Yig-jang, in Labrang (Ch: Sangchu) County, Gannan “Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture” (TAP), Gansu Province.
Tsultrim Gyatso was involved in a peaceful protest that took place on 15 March 2008 in Sangchu County. He immediately left Sangchu County after the demonstration to avoid arrest but was eventually tracked down and arrested by Drugchu County Public Security Bureau (PSB) personnel on 22 May 2008.
Tibet witnessed massive and unprecedented demonstrations and pro-Tibet agitations in various parts of Tibet which were clamped down by violent crackdowns and suppression. Consequently hundreds and thousands of Tibetans were detained and imprisoned for peaceful exercise of their fundamental human rights and self-determination.
TCHRD expresses its serious concern over the secretive and closed nature of trial under which Tsultrim Gyatso was tried. TCHRD urges the Chinese government to honour the fundamental human rights of the Tibetan people.
