Chinese Authorities Extend Tsongon Tsering’s Prison Term for Defying Guilty Plea Pressure
The 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.
The Kyungchu County People’s Court imposed the extension after Tsering refused to accept the charges against him. He has since been transferred to a prison in Barkham (Ch: Maerkang) County, the prefectural capital of Ngaba (Ch: Aba) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (TAP). Tsogon Tsering has been denied any contact with family members, who themselves have been subjected to severe restrictions. Authorities have explicitly warned his relatives against speaking about his case, and their movements have been closely monitored. His family members have also been prevented from making visits and barred from participating in religious activities during the Tibetan New Year.
29 year-old Tsongon Tsering from Tsaruma village in Kakhog (Ch: Hongyuan) County in Ngaba, was initially sentenced to eight months in prison in October 2024 on charges of “disrupting social order” after posting a video exposing illegal sand and gravel mining in his village. On 14 October, he filed a public complaint, holding his ID while describing how Anhui Xianhe Construction Engineering Company was conducting mining operations under the guise of road construction, causing severe environmental damage. The video went viral, prompting authorities to summon and detain Tsering and his family.
The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy calls on the Chinese authorities to immediately overturn the conviction and sentence of Tsongon Tsering. It is imperative that the authorities uphold and respect the fundamental rights of all Tibetans, including human rights defenders and activists, allowing them to freely express their opinions without fear of persecution. Freedom of expression is a cornerstone of human rights, and no individual should face imprisonment or punishment for voicing their beliefs. The Chinese government must take immediate action to protect these rights and demonstrate its commitment to international human rights standards.
