By Phurbu Thinley
Dharamsala, May 3: The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has called for the immediate and unconditional release of Tagyal, a renowned Tibetan writer whom Chinese authorities detained last month.
Tagyal, who writes with pen name “Shogdung” (morning conch), was detained less than a week after he signed an open letter urging people wishing to help victims of the April 14 earthquake in Kyegudo in the traditional Kham province of Tibet to send food, clothing and medical supplies as well as money directly to trustworthy contacts.
He was among eight Tibetan authors and intellectuals who signed a letter dated April 17 that expressed sorrow for the disaster, but also urged wariness of Chinese government’s relief efforts.
The letter suggested that the Central Government’s relief efforts for earthquake survivors, the vast majority of whom are Tibetans, are not sufficient or clear from corruption.
Tagyal, 45, was taken from his office by police on April 23 to a Xining Prefecture police station, where he is still reportedly detained. His house was subsequently ransacked and his wife, Lhaso, interrogated.
According to Radio Free Asia, a bookstore owned by Lhaso was also searched by police on April 12, when they seized several copies of a Tibetan-language book written by Tagyal, as well as two computers and other personal documents.
The police even reportedly questioned Lhaso about the book and ordered her to close down the business. She was again interrogated on April 25 at a police station two days after Tagyal’s detention.
Expressing concern over the “unexplained detention” of Tagyal, the IFJ on Friday issued a statement asking Chinese authorities to release Tagyal “immediately” and “without conditions”.
Almost two weeks after the detention, IFJ said it was still unclear whether Tagyal’s detention was related to his book or signing of the letter.
“Under Article 35 of China’s Constitution, all individuals are guaranteed the right to free expression, regardless of their religious or ethnic background, or the content of their message,” IFJ General Secretary Aidan White said in the statement.
Representing around 600,000 members in more than 100 countries, IFJ is the largest global union federation of journalists’ trade unions in the world. The organization aims to protect and strengthen the rights and freedoms of journalists. It is also dedicated to working for solidarity, social justice, democracy, human rights, and fighting poverty and corruption.
