Central Tibetan Administration
August 27, 2009
Dharamshala: Four Tibetan men who took part in the peaceful protests in Lhasa last year were sentenced to imprisonment with terms ranging from two-and-a-half to fifteen years by the Lhasa Intermediate People’s Court in the beginning of this year, sources said.
They have been identified as Wangchuk or Lobsang Wangchuk, Tsultrim, Choephel and Lhakpa Tsering.
Three of them joined peaceful demonstration against the Chinese government’s repressive policies in Tibet in Takste County, while one protested in Lhasa in March 2008.
They are believed to be serving their jail terms in a prison located in Chushul County near the Tibetan capital of Lhasa.
Lobsang Wangchuk, aged 26, son of Sonam Tsering, belongs to Dechen township in Taktse County. He received imprisonment up to 15 years for his role in the peaceful protests in Taktse last year. He had studied at Sangag monastery in Dechen township and later worked as taxi driver.
Tsultrim, aged 23, who is the elder of Lobsang Wangchuk and Choephel, aged 24, were sentenced to two-and-a-half years in jail.
Lhakpa Tsering, aged 22, who was a painter by profession before he was arrested for participating in the peaceful demonstration in Lhasa. He is serving five years imprisonment.
The security clampdown by Chinese security forces and police across Tibet since 10 March last year left more than 220 Tibetans dead and over 1,294 were seriously injured. Over 5,600 were arrested, 290 sentenced and more than 1,000 have simply disappeared, as per information received by the Central Tibetan Administration.