Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
HRC 20th Session (4 June 2012) Symbol No. A/HRC/20/17
The Special Rapporteur voiced grave concern over reports of restrictions of fundamental rights of monks, who have been calling for religious freedom in and around the area of the Tibetan Buddhist Kirsti monastery in Sichuan province, China.
HRC 17th Session (27 May 2011) Symbol No. A/HRC/17/27/Add.1
The Special Rapporteur sent an urgent appeal concerning the death of three people that occurred after Chinese security forces opened fire on Tibetan protesters in Palyul County Sharchu Gyashoed village, Sichuan Province.
Mr. Dhondup Wangchen, also known as Dunzhu Wangqing and Dangzhi Xiangqian, co-director of the film documentary “Leaving Fear Behind,” was sentenced to 6 years of imprisonment. The trial was reportedly held in secret. The Chinese authorities reportedly did not inform Mr. Dhondup Wangchen’s relatives about the trial, nor about the verdict.
Mr. Teng Biao, a prominent human rights defender and lecturer at the Chinese University of Politics and Law in Beijing, was not permitted to renew his lawyer’s license allegedly in reaction to his offer to defend Tibetans subject to criminal prosecution following the March 2008 protests in Tibet.
Mr. Jigme Gyatso was sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment and five years of deprivation of political rights by the Lhasa Municipal Intermediate People’s Court on 25 November 1996, on charges of “planning to found an illegal organization and to seek to divide the country and to damage its unity” for his activities in support of Tibetan independence, including setting up a group called the “Association of Tibetan Freedom Movement” and distributing pro-independence leaflets.
HRC 14th Session (1 June 2010) Symbol No. A/HRC/14/23/Add.1
The Special Rapporteur sent an urgent appeal regarding Mr. Lobsang Lhundup, 38 years old, born in Gemo Village, in Litang County, Ganzi, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Provincer, Mr. Sonam Tenpa, 29 years old; Mr. Jampa Thokmey, 30 years old; Mr. Gelek Kunga, 26 years old; Mr. Lobsang Tenzin, 23 years old; Mr. Lobsang Phendey, 37 years old; Mr. Jampa Yonten, 30 years old; Mr. Sanggey, 29 years old; Mr. Jampa Tsering, 28 years old; Mr. Lobsang Wangchuk, 30 years old; Mr. Lobsang Tashi, 21 years old; Mr. Gendun Choephel, 30 years old; Mr. Dargye, 37 years old; Mr. Gedhun, 29 years old; Mr. Jampa, 40 years old; Mr. Amdo Gyaltsen, 41 years old; and Mr. Damdul, head of Dekyi village, all of them residing in Litang County.
The Special Rapporteur sent a letter of allegations concerning the death of Mr. Phuntsok Rabgay, a 27- year-old monk, in Drango County, Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province.
The Special Rapporteur sent a letter of allegations in relation to the arrest and detention of four writers from Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), Mr. Kang Gongque, Mr. Gang Ni, Mr. Zhuori Cicheng, and Mr. Tashi Rabten.
The Special Rapporteur sent a letter of allegations to the Government concerning the sentencing of Mr. Palden Gyatso, Mr. Tsultrim, Mr. Sangpo, Mr. Jamyang Khedrub, Mr. Gendun, and Mr. Shrab Sangpo, six monks from Ragya Monastery in Qinghai Province, Tibet.
Further concern was expressed regarding the physical and psychological integrity of monks in the region, in light of the reported rise in the number of suicides committed by monks. Reports claimed that psychological trauma have been inflicted on the monastic community due to the imposition of “patriotic education”, requiring them to denounce the Dalai Lama
HRC 11th Session (27 May 2009) Symbol No. A/HRC/11/4/Add.1
The Special Rapporteur sent an urgent appeal to the Government concerning reports of violence during 2008 demonstrations in the Tibet Autonomous Region and surrounding areas in China, killings of an unconfirmed number of people and arrests of hundreds of demonstrators. There is a state response.
The Special Rapporteur sent an urgent appeal to the Government regarding Ms. Jamyang Kyi, a well-known Tibetan writer and musician. Ms. Jamyang Kyi, aged 42, is an internet writer and has published articles on women’s issues in Tibet.
The Special Rapporteur sent a letter of allegations to the Government in relation to Ms. Amanda McKeown, a British charity worker, along with US nationals Mr. James Powderly, an artist and graphic designer, Mr. Brian Conley, an independent video journalist, and bloggers Mr. Jeffrey Rae, Mr. Michael Liss, Mr. Jeffrey Goldin and Mr. Tom Grant. All are members of the New York based Students for a Free Tibet, an organization which was founded in 1994. g. The group had travelled to Beijing to document a pro-Tibet protest during the Olympic Games. According to a statement issued by Public Security Bureau officials in Beijing the six men had been “apprehended for upsetting public order”. All were released from detention on 24 August and deported by Chinese authorities on a China Air flight to the United States.
HRC 7th Session (25 February 2008) Symbol No. A/HRC/7/14/Add.1
The Special Rapporteur brought to the attention of the Government about the situation of Mr Jigme Gyatso, detained at Qushui Prison on the outskirts of Lhasa. Mr Jigme Gyatso was sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment and five years of deprivation of political rights by the Lhasa Municipal Intermediate People’s Court on 25 November 1996 on charges of “planning to found an illegal organization and to seek to divide the country and to damage its unity”. There is a state reply for this particular case.
The Special Rapporteur brought to the attention of the Government about the situation of Mr. Jamyang Gyatso, a monk at Bora Monastery in Xiahe, Northwest Gansu. According to the information received, he was arrested on 8 January 2007, by plain clothed Chinese security officials outside Bora Monastery. Mr Gyatso was detained at an unknown location at the time the communication was sent. There is a state reply for this particular case.
The Special Rapporteur brought to the attention of the Government about information they had received concerning Mr. Runggye Adak, of the Yonru nomadic group, as well as reportedly 200 people allegedly involved in a protest to release him from prison. According to the information
received, on 1 August 2007, Mr. Adak took the stage during the annual horse racing festival in Lithang, in the Kanze autonomous prefecture in the Suchuan province. He allegedly made a statement defending the Dalai Lama’s return and the release of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima who has been recognized as the eleventh reincarnation of the Panchen Lama by the Dalai Lama. There is a state reply for this particular case.
The Special Rapporteur brought to the attention of the Government about information they had received concerning Melanie Raoul, Sam Price, Leslie Kaup, Nupur Modi, Duane Martinez, Pete Speller, Lhadon Tethong and Paul Golding, human rights activists. According to the information received, Melanie Raoul, Sam Price, Leslie Kaup, Nupur Modi, Duane Martinez and Pete Speller, citizens of Canada, the United State and the United Kindom, were arrested by the Chinese Police on 7 August 2007 during a demonstration at the Great Wall of China.
The Special Rapporteur sent an urgent appeal regarding Kunkhen, an artist, and Mr. Lobsang Phuntsok, a 30 years old monk of the Lithang Monastery. Kunkhen was arrested on 22 August 2007 by Lithang County Public Bureau Security officials for having taken pictures of Mr. Ronggay A’drak [Runggye Adak] on 1 August 2007 when he was addressing a large Tibetan crowd gathered for the annual Lithang horse-race festival. Mr. Lobsang Phuntsok was arrested on 15 September 2007 following a raid carried out at his residence in the monastery by officials from the Lithang County Public Bureau Security. He was arrested on allegations of having established close ties with an artist named Kunkhen.
HRC 62nd Session (27 March 2006) Symbol No. E/CN.4/2006/55/Add.1
The Special Rapporteur sent an urgent appeal concerning five Tibetan monks: Tashi Gyaltsen, Lobsang Dhargay, Thoe Samden, Tsultrim Phelgay and Jampel Gyatso. According to information received, on 16 January 2005, they were arrested for having published a journal containing poems and articles of a political nature. They were sentenced to two to three years of re-education through labour and were being detained at Qinghai labour camp, close to Xining, north central China, at the time this communication was sent.