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Tibetan writer Tashi Rabten sentenced to four years |
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[5 June] Tashi Rabten, a student who wrote about the 2008 protests in Tibet, has been given a four year prison sentence for “inciting activities to split the nation”. According to Radio Free Asia, the sentencing took place on 2 June by Ngaba Intermediate Court following a trial which was closed to family and friends. Tashi Rabten was one of six prisoners and detainees whose cases were highlighted during the Tibet Mass Lobby in the UK in March.
 Tashi was detained on 6 April 2010 and has been held in custody since. At the time the reason for his arrest was not clear, but was believed to have been related to his political activities. Under the pen name 'Theurang' Tashi edited "Shar Dungri" (Eastern Snow Mountain), a literary magazine on the 2008 protests in Tibet which was banned by the Chinese authorities. Tashi also wrote a book of political esays entitled “Written in Blood”, which was also banned and copies of which confiscated.
Tashi is from Dzoege County in Ngaba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province and was a student at the Northwest Nationalities University in Lanzhou at the time of his detention.
In December 2010, the same court sentenced three Tibetans whose articles were published in "Shar Dungri". The three writers, Dhonkho (pen name: Nyen), Bhudha (pen name: Buddha the Destitute) and Kelsang Jinpa (pen name: Garmi), all wrote essays in 2008 about the crackdown in Tibet. According to Radio Free Asia, Dhonkho and Bhudha were sentenced to four years in prison, and Kelsang Jinpa to three years, for "incitement to split the nation". The defendants, their lawyers and families were all denied the opportunity to speak in court during the time of the sentencing.
Further reading:
Phayul: 4 year prison term for Tibetan writer (4 June 2011)
ICT: Three more Tibetan writers sentenced to prison (21 Jan 2011)
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