FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 28 May 2010

Dharamshala: On 25 May, 2010 the Intermediate People's Court in Lhasa, capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region handed down death sentence to Sonam Tsering under article 289 and 263 with 2 years reprieve. The same court also sentenced five other Tibetans to lengthy imprisonment term between 3 to 7 years under Article 310 of the Criminal Law of the People’s Republic of China for alleged involvement in the anti-China unrest in March 2008 and identified as Tashi Choedon, Kelyon, Yeshi Tsomo, Tayang, Tsewang Gyurmey according to Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD).

The official media reported that Sonam undertook leadership role in inciting hundreds of people in rioting by setting cars and shops on fire and overturning police vehicles. He also wielded knife in the air
and loudly shouted anti government slogans atop a police vehicle and damage of around 40 million Yuan has been done due to the rioting. The other five Tibetans were charged of secretly hiding him by providing a hiding place to a wanted criminal and providing him help in escaping overseas.

Sonam Tsering, 23 years old, was born to father Tsering Samdup and mother Yangkyi in a semi nomadic family in Rachap Township, Payul County, Kardze “Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture”, and Sichuan. In late
2007 Sonam arrived in Lhasa on pilgrimage and stayed back. When popular peaceful protest broke out in Lhasa in March 2008, he took active participation in it. he was arrested in mid October 2009, 17 months after the Uprising in Lhasa.

With the passing of death sentence on Sonam Tsering, a total of seven Tibetans have been given the capital punishment and two actually executed. Around 450 Tibetans have been given various imprisonment terms for their participation in the Peaceful protest against People’s Republic of China. The government and its propaganda department have been repeatedly painting the popular Tibetan uprising with an image of criminal activities to the international community.

The unjust and unlaw sentencing of the Tibetans is also being used to create an atmosphere of fear within Tibet. By widely publicizing the excessive punishment received by the protesters, the Chinese government is further suppressing and terrorizing the Tibetan population by inflicting mental torture.

TYC strongly condemn the inhumane approach towards people who dare to express themselves either individually as writers or together in a peaceful mass demonstration and appeal to International Communities and Concern government to immediately investigate such unfair trial and violations of prisoner rights, especially torture and ill-treatment.

At the same time, we urge the People's Court to respect the constitutional rights of these Tibetans under the present Chinese regime, and grant them the rights to which they are entitled under
international law.

Tibetan Youth Congress is a worldwide organization of Tibetans, united in our common struggle for the restoration of complete independence for the whole of Tibet

Issued by: The Office of Tibetan Youth Congress (Centrex).