By Phuntsok Yangchen
DHARAMSHALA, October 8: The 80th PEN International Congress has passed a resolution on ‘Right to freedom of speech and state of writers in Tibet’ calling on the Chinese government to restore the right to freedom of speech and rehabilitation of imprisoned writers in Tibet.
The resolution also called on the Chinese government to release Tibetan writers and artistes without any condition, respect theirfright to have instruction and communication in Tibetan language, freedom to pursue Tibetan Studies including monastic education among many others.
Over 200 delegates from more than 80 regional centers of PEN including two-member from China PEN attended the congress from 29 September to 2 October 2014. A three member delegation of PEN Tibetan Writers Abroad consisting of Lobsang Chokta, Vice President; Woser, General Secretary and Lokdun, Education officer attended the four day Congress held in Bishkek, the capital city of Kyrgyzstan.
“In accordance with the proposal submitted by PEN Tibetan Writers Abroad, a resolution was passed on China to the effect that freedom of speech in Tibet must be allowed, Tibetan writers and academics in prison must be released and the Tibetan language must be used as medium of instruction in Tibet,” said Woser, General Secretary of PEN Tibetan Writers Abroad today at a press conference.
Other resolutions were also passed on other 23 countries including North Korea, Iran, Syria and Mexico where PEN believes freedom of speech was denied.
The writers’ group further noted that over 40 Tibetan writers, academics and artistes have been imprisoned and tortured since 2008 and also condemned the recent arrests of Tibetan writer Tsultrim Gyaltsen and Yugyal.
PEN International was started in London in 1921. Currently, it has 144 branches all around the world. PEN Tibetan Writers Abroad was recognized as a PEN branch in 2002 and presently, it has over 90 members.
