DHARAMSHALA, February 10: Chinese authorities in Tibet’s Driru County have sentenced two Tibetans up to 11 years in prison in January for “illegally gathering crowd” and “leading a demonstration against mining activities”.
According to Dharamshala based right group Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, Kelsang Choklang, a monk from Tarmoe Monastery, was sentenced to ten years in prison on charges of “illegally gathering a crowd”. Local Tibetans say he was likely charged of “illegally gathering a crowd” although they believe the charges are false, according to the TCHRD. “Kelsang Choklang is known for his great love and respect for traditional Tibetan culture. He has always called for protection of Tibetan culture and harmony among different nationalities,” TCHRD quoted its source.
Dorje Dragsel, a layman, was sentenced to 11 years in prison for leading an anti-mining protest at the sacred Naglha Dzamba Mountain in Driru last year. Dorje Dragtsel was allegedly involved in many anti-China protests including protests against government’s forced expression of loyalty whereby Tibetans were forced to raise the Chinese national flag atop their houses.
Since his arrest on October 3, 2013, Dorje Dragtsel went missing. Hundreds of Tibetans sat on a hunger strike outside the Chinese police station on Oct. 6 demanding his release. However, police fired upon the protestors injuring several Tibetans.
The right group also noted that hundreds of Tibetans have been targeted, arrested or disappeared since crackdown began last year in Driru County in the name of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s “mass line” campaign last year. “Many are targeted and arrested on false pretext and the fate of many more remain unknown due to restriction on communication lines.” The right group cited its sources saying that communication lines have been blocked in at least three counties in the eastern part of Nagchu Prefecture including Diru.
