By Tenzin Monlam
DHARAMSHALA, April 8: The Tibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy has called on the Chinese authorities to revoke the harsh and unjust sentence passed on Tibetan writer Drukar Gyal, (pen name Shokjang), who wrote an eloquent appeal letter from his prison cell four days after the verdict was announced.
“Shokjang’s sentencing is discriminatory, unjust and politically motivated with no basis in Chinese law,” said the rights group.
The Malho Intermediate People’s Court on 17 February 2016 sentenced Shokjang for allegedly ‘inciting separatism’ to three years’ imprisonment and two years deprivation of political rights.
He wrote in the appeal letter from inside the jail dated 24 February, addressed to Qinghai Higher People’s Court. The 12-paged hand written letter circulating on the social media refutes and challenges all the charges put against him.
In his letter, he writes, “Any citizen has the right to comment on developments in society according to legally guaranteed rights, while conveying awareness of the law to others is a responsibility. I have only exercised my right and responsibility according to the constitution, and made no mention of separatism as they allege.”
The letter also accounted how he was arrested from his hotel room in Rebkong at a gunpoint by two Chinese police and ransacked his room without proper legal authority.
The Tibetan writer was arrested on March 19, 2015 for writing about the restrictions imposed by the Chinese government and security beef up in Rebkong County around the March 10 uprising anniversary.
He is currently confined in a detention center on Rebkong and is awaiting his transfer to a prison.
