Dharamsala, October 18 – China has released on Friday a Tibetan writer jailed in July for circulating a Video Compact Disc (VCD) containing ‘banned contents‘.
Kalsang Tsultrim, who calls himself Gyitsang Takmig in the video, from Kanlho “Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture” (‘TAP’), Gansu Province, was arrested on 27 July 2010 Dzoge County, Sichuan Province on ground of committing what the Chinese authorities termed “Political Error.”
Gyitsang Takmig’s relative based here confirmed the information with the Voice of Tibet radio service saying that the authorities warned of strict action against Gyitsang if he got involved in political activities.
Gyitsang Takmig was told to retain his old cellular phone number and a relative of him was made to sign a letter accepting the conditions set by the Chinese authorities for Gyitsang. “They (authorities) told him that they would be keeping an eye on him for six months during which if he is found to be involved in anything he would be arrested again.”
In August 2009, months after the widespread anti-China unrest in Tibet, the video appeal recorded by Kalsang managed to slip out through the Chinese border security. In the video, Kalsang urges the international community to “act swiftly on behalf of the Tibetan people” to end repression in Tibet and also called for the return to Tibet of the Dalai Lama.
He gives detail account of Tibetan history since the flight of Dalai Lama into exile, suffering of Tibetan people, the hopes and aspirations of Tibetan people inside Tibet and his appeal to the outside world.
Besides glorifying Tibet’s past history, Kalsang talks about his fears for the survival of Tibetan religion and culture, the crackdown over the past year and the general human rights abuses perpetrated by the Chinese authorities.
According to TCHRD, the video testimony, which is one hour long, was recorded on July 18 2009. It was later edited with extra input of related video footage and pictures for a final version in a VCD that was widely distributed in many Tibetan areas in Gansu, Qinghai and Sichuan provinces that are part of the traditional Tibetan provinces of Amdo and Kham.
According to sources Kalsang wanted to distribute the video as widely as possible inside Tibet to “educate primarily the illiterates and general Tibetan public” with the “true history of Tibetan struggle for freedom, the Dalai Lama’s call for the genuine autonomy through middle-way approach and human rights situation in Tibet” to counter the “daily dose of government-sponsored propaganda”.
Kalsang is a monk of Gyitsang Gaden Choekorling Monastery in Sangchu County (Ch: Xiahe), Kanlho (Ch: Gannan) “Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture” (‘TAP’), Gansu Province. The region was one of the main focal points of the 2008 anti-China protests in Tibet.
Kalsang is said to be well known locally for his writings and even published a book in 2008 called “Miyul la phulway Jamba,” or “Love dedicated to the human realm,” a book that highlights the concerns and aspirations of the Tibetan people.
Kalsang’s arrest came amid prosecution of several other prominent Tibetans that included writers, bloggers, singers, artists and influential cultural figures, and lately even successful businessmen.
