By Tenzin Tsetan
DHARAMSHALA, Dec. 29: Chinese prosecutors handling the case of Tibetan education activist Tashi Wangchuk charged with “inciting separatism” have asked the court for more time to further investigate the case before it’s put on trial.
Earlier in September Chinese prosecutors had transferred the case to the Yushu Intermediate Court in Qinghai province but this month prosecutors had asked the court to transfer the case back to them for further investigation.
According to defense lawyer Lin Qilei, it is a “very rare” move saying prosecutors expect the additional investigation by the police to be finished by Jan. 4, 2017. A judge with the Yushu Intermediate Court confirmed that the court has sent the case back to prosecutor who wants to conduct more investigation.
If the court does accept the case for trial, Tashi Wangchuk will most likely be convicted, for “inciting separatism”, a common charge that is leveled against Tibetan political prisoners.
The Tibetan language rights campaigner has been in detention for almost a year since his arrest in January 2016. by the police in Yushu town, Qinghai. Tashi was charged with separatism and kept in secret holdings for weeks after the publication of his interviews in a video by the New York Times.
Liang Xiajun, another lawyer for the detained Tibetan said in August that the police files showed Tashi was investigated because of his interviews with the New York Times.
Tashi has been accused of advocating for Tibetan independence which he denies saying he was simply promoting ‘greater Tibetan language education’ a right guaranteed by the constitution of China.
