By Tenzin Tsetan
DHARAMSHALA, Dec. 23: A prominent Tibetan political prisoner has been arbitrarily detained earlier this month by local State security bureau officers in Tsojang (Ch: Haibei), ‘Tibetan autonomous prefecture’ in Qinghai province.
According to TCHRD, “Former Tibetan political prisoner Tsegon Gyal has been held incommunicado since Dec. 9 at Kangtsa county detention center, after his arrest the same day in Dashi County, Tsojang.”
In a press statement yesterday, TCHRD said that there is a grave concern for security and safety of the 53 year old political prisoner who has been arrested on unknown charges and whose family consisting of wife, daughter and aging parents have not been allowed to meet him.
The Tibetan human rights monitoring organization called on the Chinese authorities “to guarantee his physical and psychological integrity at all times in accordance with the international human rights law… and to immediately grant access to his family members and provide legal representation.”
“One of the greatest concerns of Mr. Gyal’s family and friends is that the local authorities might again use Mr. Gyal as a scapegoat in the name of ‘endangering state security’ to get more funding and seek promotion,” said the statement.
Tsegon’s friend and former political prisoner, Namlo Yak Dhungser, stated that he fears Gyal who has prior history of sitting on hunger strike in prison, might do the same again which could harm his health.
In 1993, Tsegon Gyal was arrested with two others, Lukar Jam and Namlo Yak Dhungser, by the provincial state security officers for setting up a group, which reportedly conspired with outsiders for Tibetan independence activities in Tibet. In 1994, Gyal was convicted for ‘espionage and counterrevolutionary crimes’ and sentenced to 16 years, with deprivation of political rights for four years.
Gyal spent six years in jail without political rights for two years, and was released in 1999. Since then he has been known to devoting his life towards welfare of his community and fellow Tibetans.
There’s also concerns for the family of Tsegon Gyal especially his aging parents, who are ‘shocked and pained’ at his arbitrary arrest and detention.
TCHRD has urged upon all intentional community, civil society groups, individuals and all the Tibet support groups to organize support for worldwide campaigns for the release of Gyal and all the other Tibetan political prisoners.
