By Phuntsok Yangchen
DHARAMSHALA, October 21: The Students for a Free Tibet, the student organization headquartered in New York, renewed its commitment to campaign for the release of a jailed Tibetan monk who was recently sentenced to two and half years in prison by a Chinese court n Chamdo.
“With the news of Khenpo Kartse’s sentence, SFT renews its commitment to advocate for his safe and immediate release. Khenpo Kartse continues to battle with health issues and we have serious concerns about his medical and prison treatment. We will continue to advocate to bring more international scrutiny and accountability on the Chinese government from the provincial officials to the highest decision makers for the immediate and safe release of Khenpo Kartse,” said SFT in a statement.
Since his arrest last year, Students for a Free Tibet has been campaigning for Khenpo Kartse’s release and his medical condition.
“We strongly condemn such harsh sentence on an innocent person whose only crime is promotion of Tibetan culture, language and religion. This act once again shows the reality of China’s repressive rule in Tibet. Therefore, it is a responsibility of every individual living in a free world to campaign for the release and well being of Tibetan political prisoners in Tibet” said Dorjee Tseten, Asia Director of Students For a Free Tibet. “
Dorjee said his organization will continue to support and amplify Khenpo Kartse’s work for Tibet with its campaigns such as Lhakar in honor of him and other “Tibetans who are the core of the Tibetan people’s powerful nonviolent movement for freedom.”
Khenpo Kartse, the abbot of Jhapa Monastery, was arrested by Chamdo Police from Chengdu where he had traveled with regard to a purchase of a new idol for his monastery on December 6, 2013. On December 21, sixteen Tibetans including monks were detained for their involvement in a protest demanding his release.
Following the abbot’s arrest, hundreds of monks and lay people in Nangchen walked with placards and banners demanding the release of the abbot. “Please look at the anguish of students separated from their teacher,” read a banner carried by the monks.
The Amnesty International has also initiated a campaign for the release for 17 Tibetans including Khenpo Kartse. The global rights watchdog has appealed the international community to write to the Director of Tibet Autonomous Region Public Security Bureau appealing Chinese authorities to release Khenpo Kartse and the 16 Tibetans arrested in the aftermath of a protest march by local Tibetans seeking Kartse’s release.
