By Kalsang Rinchen
Dharamsala, February 9 – A Chinese court in Kanlho Tibet Autonmous prefecture has sentenced 2 Tibetans including a juvenile to varying prison terms for anti government protests, Dolkar Kyab, a Tibetan with contacts in the region told the Voice of Tibet radio.
Thupten Dhargye, 16, was sentenced to one and half years’ imprisonment for an anti – China protest that he carried out with his friend Dorpel, 15, on November 14, 2010 in Machu County. Thupten and Dorpel chanted anti – China slogans and called for free Tibet. “Long live His Holiness the Dalai Lama,” they chanted before being arrested by Chinese security forces. Dorpel, however, was not sentenced, according to Kyab, who added that Dorpel is said to be in a poor physical state after being tortured by prison authorities while in detention. Dorpel has been handed over to his family who were not informed of their son’s arrest.
Kyab said that the sentence was passed by Kanlho Intermediate People’s Court without carrying out the due legal procedures the juvenile was entitled to. “Thupten’s family members were not even shown any document or arrest warrant which is the law. His family members were not even allowed to meet him in detention or be present at the hearing,” Kyab added.
Meanwhile, another Tibetan named Goshul Lobsang, 38, was slapped 11 years in jail on November 26, 2010 by the same court for his alleged role in anti – China protests of 2008. He was arrested on September 10, 2010. Goshul belongs to a poor family and has a wife and a 9-year-old son.
