DHARAMSHALA, October 3: A well known Tibetan writer jailed in 2010 for a video message has been released earlier today after completing four years’ sentence in Sangchu County.
Kalsang Tsultim, also known by his synonym ‘Gyitsang Takmik’, was sentenced to four years in jail by the Kanlho Intermediate People’s Court on December 30, 2011.
Gyitsang Takmik, also the author of the book Miyul La Phulwai Sempa (A Mind Offered to Exile) released in October 2009, following his first arrest. The officials had warned him that he remained subject to re-detention for six months if he engaged in any political activity.
Gyitsang Takmig was first arrested in July 27, 2010 and released in October the same year. He was arrested again in December 2010.
Takmig had made a video which the Chinese authorities termed as “Political Error.” He had widely circulated the Video Compact Disc (VCD) containing ‘banned contents’ that later made its way into exile as well.
In the hour-long video, Gyitsang urges the international community to “act swiftly on behalf of the Tibetan people” to end repression in Tibet while calling for the return of the Dalai Lama from exile.
He provides a detailed account of the suffering of the Tibetan people under Chinese rule and expresses his fears for the survival of Tibetan religion and culture and the general human rights abuses perpetrated by the Chinese authorities.
The message recorded somewhere in July 2009 was later edited with video footages and pictures for the final version which was widely distributed in many Tibetan areas of the traditional Tibetan provinces of Amdo and Kham.
Kalsang’s arrest came amid prosecution of several other prominent Tibetans that included writers, bloggers, singers, artists and influential cultural figures, and businessmen.
He was a monk at the Gyitsang Gaden Choekorling Monastery in Sangchu, Kanlho – a region which witnessed major pro-freedom protests during the March 2008 uprisings.
