Three Tibetans sentenced to prison for ‘inciting separatism’
China has sentenced three Tibetans to prison on charges of ‘incitement to split the country’, reported the official Qinghai People’s Daily. (Click here for the full report in Chinese)
On 18 March 2013, the Intermediate People’s Court in Tsoshar (Ch: Haidong) Prefecture sentenced Jigme Thabkey to five years imprisonment and three years’ deprivation of political rights, while Kalsang Dhondup was sentenced to 6 years with four years’ deprivation of political rights. The court, located in Ping‘an County, also sentenced Lobsang to four years in prison with two years’ deprivation of political rights.
The court said the three Tibetans used self-immolation incidents in sending out and distributing texts and photographs related to Tibetan separatist activities and thus, inciting to split the country.
The court invoked article 103 of the Chinese Criminal Law to punish the so-called offenders. The said provision deals with those who “organize, plot or carry out the scheme of splitting the State or undermining unity of the country.”
There are no other details available on those sentenced.
