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17/05/2023 Arbitrary Detention / Freedom of religion and belief / Involuntary Disappearance / News / TCHRD Statements / Top Story

28 years since the enforced disappearance of Tibet’s Panchen Lama by the Chinese government

On the 28th anniversary of the Chinese government’s arbitrary detention and subsequent enforced disappearance of the 11th Panchen Lama Jetsun Tenzin Gedhun Yeshi Trinley Phuntsok Pal Sangpo, widely recognised by his lay name Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) reiterates its call to the Chinese government to immediately and unconditionally release the Panchen Lama, his family members, and all the Tibetan political prisoners. TCHRD emphasises that without ensuring the Tibetan people’s fundamental human rights, including freedom of belief and religion, Chinese authorities can never hope to win the hearts and minds of Tibetans, let alone earn any legitimacy for its repressive policies and campaigns in Tibet.

12/05/2023 Arbitrary Detention / Freedom of Opinion and Expression / News

Gonpo Kyi’s struggle to free her brother continues despite police coercion and threats

On 3 May, Gonpo Kyi shared a video condemning the unjust verdict against her brother, Dorje Tashi, stating that leaders do not follow the law while the masses are subject to punitive measures. Despite peaceful protests, such as wearing a shirt with slogan and holding a copy of the verdict, authorities detained and physically abused her. In response, Gonpo Kyi stated that she would continue to protest until justice was served. Her brother’s case has been marred with allegations of false conviction and judicial irregularities, and despite numerous appeals, he remains behind bars for false loan fraud charges. The Chinese authorities’ repeated detention and intimidation of peaceful protesters like Gonpo Kyi violate fundamental human rights.

07/02/2023 Freedom of Opinion and Expression / Freedom of religion and belief / News / religious-repression

China bans display of Buddhist flags at Tibetan New Year show, detains and fines organiser

Information received by TCHRD confirmed that Gephel, a Tibetan student from Muge Township in Zungchu (Ch: Songpan) County, Ngaba (Ch: Aba) Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, in the Tibetan province of Amdo, was detained on the evening of 24 January from his home for displaying Buddhist flags instead of Chinese flag as the backdrop on the stage during ‘Losar’ New Year celebration show.

06/01/2023 Degrading treatment or punishment / News / political-prisoner / torture

“Dorje Tashi is innocent”: Sister of Tibetan entrepreneur serving life imprisonment stage protest outside Chinese court

Information obtained by at least two sources in Lhasa confirmed that on the morning of 19 December, around 10:30 am local time, Gonpo Kyi stood outside the Lhasa Intermediate People’s Court holding a placard with a slogan in Chinese: “Dorji Tashi is innocent.” In less than 5 minutes, security personnel swooped down on her even as she continued shouting slogans for her brother’s innocence. She was eventually taken behind the court building following which her condition and whereabouts remain unknown.

19/12/2022 abitrary-detention / Involuntary Disappearance / News / torture / zero-Covid policy

China’s zero-Covid policy claims the life of persecuted Tibetan businessman and philanthropist Nangchen Tashi’s grandson

TCHRD calls on the Chinese authorities to put an immediate end to the zero-Covid policy in all its forms and hold government officials responsible for the avoidable death of Nangchen Tashi’s grandson. A thorough and impartial investigation must be launched into this tragedy so that similar violations and unnecessary loss of life can be prevented in the future.

06/12/2022 abitrary-detention / Freedom of Opinion and Expression / News / political-prisoner

Tibetan writer Goyon believed to be released from detention even as China sentenced six more writers and former Tibetan political prisoners

The news about Goyon’s release comes close on the heels of another major development: sentencing of six former Tibetan political prisoners, writers and public intellectuals on the trumped-up charges of “inciting separatism” and “endangering state security” in Kardze (Ch: Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province.

29/11/2022 Freedom of Opinion and Expression / News / zero-Covid policy

Tibetans subjected to discrimination and detention amid massive protests against China’s zero-Covid policy

As reports emerged of massive protests staged by Chinese public against the government’s zero-Covid policy, sources in Tibet informed TCHRD about the discriminatory treatment and arbitrary detention of local Tibetans in the last three months in both Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) and other Tibetan areas.

15/10/2022 Freedom of Opinion and Expression / News

Singer and musician among five detained for Dalai Lama song on Chinese social media

Chinese authorities detained five Tibetan men on the evening of 13 October in Golog (Ch: Guoluo) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, in the Tibetan province of Amdo for Dalai Lama song on Chinese social media.

28/08/2022 Arbitrary Detention / Freedom of Opinion and Expression / News

Two monks sentenced to prison for challenging Chinese government propaganda

The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) strongly condemns the sentencing of two monks, Tenzin Dhargay and Rigtse, to prison for merely exercising the right to freedom of expression, a right protected in the Chinese Constitution as well as in major international human rights instruments that the government of People’s Republic of China is party to.

25/07/2022 extrajudicial summary or arbitary executions / News

Tibetan entrepreneur and philanthropist Tenzin Choephel sentenced to 18 years in prison for “inciting separatism”

The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) strongly condemns the unjust sentencing of the Tibetan entrepreneur and philanthropist Mr Tenzin Choephel to 18 years in prison on the trumped-up charge of “inciting separatism” in Tarchen (Ch: Daqen) Township in Sernye (Ch: Sèní) District, Nagchu (Ch: Nagchu) City

03/05/2020 Campaign / Freedom of Opinion and Expression / TCHRD Statements

Tibetans Defend #RightToProtest: TCHRD Campaign on Peaceful Assembly launched

The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) launched today the #WhyProtest digital campaign to promote and protect the right to freedom of peaceful assembly or the right to protest. The right to protest is universally recognised as a fundamental human right that is crucial to creating a tolerant and pluralistic society in which groups with different beliefs, practices, or policies can coexist peacefully. This fundamental right is necessary for the exercise of other human rights.