Five Tibetan Monks Jailed in Western China

February 16th

thanks to Friends of Tibet

Five Tibetan Monks Jailed in Western China
(RFA | February 13, 2005)

Authorities in the western Chinese province of Qinghai have jailed five Tibetan
monks for two to three years each, apparently for publishing politically
sensitive poems, Radio Free Asia (RFA) reports. All five were arrested around
Jan. 16 and sentenced 20 days later, sources told RFA.s Tibetan service on
condition of anonymity. They are now serving their sentences near Xiling in
Qinghai Province, several sources said.

The monks were identified as the monastery.s lead abbot, Gen (teacher) Tashi
Gyaltsen, Tsultrim Phelgyal, Tsesum Samten, Jhamphel Gyatso, and Lobsang
Thargyal. All had been living at the Dakar Treldzong monastery in the Tsolho
area of Qinghai, the sources said.

In 1995, the monastery began publishing a newsletter, of which Tashi Gyaltsen
was chief editor. Chinese authorities alleged that some poems in the newsletter
carried tacit political messages, the sources said. The newsletter.s lead
editors -- Tashi Gyaltsen, Tsultrim Phelgyal, and Jhamphel Gyatso -- received
three-year sentences, while Tsesum Samten and Lobsang Thargyal were handed
two-year jail terms, the sources said.

The government argued that the newsletter contained poems and articles in
praise of three other monks from the same monastery who are now completing
their own jail terms. Tashi Gyaltsen "studied at the Tashi Khel monastery for
many years and came back... and started teaching," one source said, adding, "He
is highly respected in the monastery."

Chinese authorities familiar with the case couldn't immediately be reached for
comment, and the identity of the sentencing body was unclear. In its 2005
report on human rights around the world, Human Rights Watch said "the Chinese
leadership continues to limit Tibetan religious and cultural expression and
seeks to curtail the Dalai Lama's political and religious influence in all
Tibetan areas."

"Severely repressive measures limit any display of support for an independent
Tibet," Human Rights Watch said.

...............
Friends of Tibet (INDIA)
PO Box 16674, Bombay 400050
Email: support@friendsoftibet.org
...............
Friends of Tibet (India) is a support group formed on March 9, 1999 to
spread awareness about the issue of Tibet among the people of India.
We support the Tibetan struggle for independence.
To know more, visit: www.friendsoftibet.org