Background
Tashi Wangchuk, a 31-year old Tibetan shopkeeper, is an advocate for greater Tibetan language education in schools in Tibet where Mandarin has become the sole language of instruction.
He has expressed his anxieties on social media about Tibetan children being unable to speak their native language fluently, and the gradual extinction of Tibetan culture.
In November 2015, Tashi was the feature of an online New York Times short documentary, “A Tibetan’s Journey for Justice” (see video below). The nine-minute film follows Tashi as he travels to Beijing in an attempt to file a lawsuit against local officials over the lack of Tibetan language education in schools.
In November 2015, Tashi was the feature of an online New York Times short documentary, “A Tibetan’s Journey for Justice” (see video below). The nine-minute film follows Tashi as he travels to Beijing in an attempt to file a lawsuit against local officials over the lack of Tibetan language education in schools.
In an interview, also published in the New York Times, Tashi said, “My goal is to change things a little bit, to push to preserve some of our nation’s culture. The entire Tibetan ethnic nationality and culture is at risk of disappearing.” He also said he was thankful to “all the Chinese people who truly protect minorities”.
On 27 January 2016, Tashi was detained by Chinese police in Jyekundo (Chinese: Yushu), in the eastern Tibetan region of Kham (now part of China’s Qinghai province).
Tashi was held in secret for weeks at the main detention centre in Jyekundo. His relatives only learned of his detention on 24 March. The family were given an official document, dated 4 March, which stated Tashi was being charged with “inciting separatism”. They were only allowed to visit him in September 2016.
Tashi has only been allowed to see a lawyer twice, in June and September 2016.
In early January 2017, Tashi was indicted after his case was resubmitted to the courts. This followed a request last year by Chinese prosecutors for more time to investigate the case.
Though critical of the threats to Tibetan language and culture, Tashi has never written about Tibetan independence. His language campaign is in line with China’s Constitution, of which Article 4 states, “Ethnic minorities’ right to learn, use and develop their own spoken and written languages is guaranteed in accordance with the law”.
It is feared Tashi will not receive due process, as many Tibetans facing ‘political’ charges are denied legal representation of their own choosing, that he will be subject to torture and ill-treatment whilst in detention, and faces a sentence of up to 15 years imprisonment if found guilty.
Amidst China’s current crackdown, Tashi Wangchuk’s case is an example of how Tibetans face additional persecution for any activity perceived as a threat to Chinese rule, through charges of “separatism”.
Tashi Wangchuk could face up to 15 years in prison and is at risk of torture. In China, defendants are almost always found guilty once a case is brought to court. The conviction rate in 2015 was 99.92% according to official statistics.
Note: Tibet Society has raised the case with the UK Foreign Office and asked for the British Embassy in Beijing to make representations on behalf of Tashi Wangchuk.
Mr. Tashi was charged with inciting separatism, which can bring up to 15 years in prison, after appearing in a news report and a video documentary by The Times in 2015.
His defence lawyers said the prosecution’s case rested largely on the video, which was shown during the trial.
Mr. Tashi was charged with inciting separatism, which can bring up to 15 years in prison, after appearing in a news report and a video documentary by The Times in 2015.
His defence lawyers said the prosecution’s case rested largely on the video, which was shown during the trial.
TAKE ACTION
The petition is directed to Foreign Ministers around the world, including Boris Johnson, urging them to call for Tashi’s release. https://actions.tibetnetwork.org/release-tashi-wangchuk
Write to the Chinese authorities
Please write to the authorities listed below, urging them to:
► Release Tashi Wangchuk immediately and unconditionally as he has been detained solely for peacefully exercising his right to express his views;
► Provide assurances that he has regular, unrestricted access to his family and lawyer of his choice, without delay;
► Guarantee his safety and provide assurances that he will not be tortured or ill-treated whilst in detention;
► Respect the fundamental right to freedom of expression, as guaranteed in China’s own Constitution and in international treaties such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
i. Chinese Ambassador to the UK
Name: Ambassador Liu Xiaoming
Address: Chinese Embassy
49-51 Portland Place
London W1B 1JL
Email: press_uk@mfa.gov.cn and/or zj_uk@mfa.gov.cn. Put “For the attention of Ambassador Liu Xiaoming” in the subject line. (If these email bounce please send a letter. Note: the embassy-listed address ambassador@chinese-embassy.org.uk is currently refusing emails.)
Salutation: Your Excellency
Outside the UK: check the Chinese government’s webpage listing embassies for contact details of your nearest ambassador and embassy.
ii. Yushu Police Chief
Name: Qiao Yanpei
Address: Public Security Bureau
Yushu People’s Government
Shengli Lu
Yushu
Qinghai 815000
People’s Republic of China
Salutation: Dear Police Chief
iii. Director of Qinghai Security
Name: Wang Zhengsheng
Address: Qinghai Provincial Administration of Security
50 Bayi Zhonglu
Xining
Qinghai 810007
People’s Republic of China
Salutation: Dear Director
iv. Governor of Qinghai
Name: Hao Peng
Address: Qinghai Provincial Government Office
12 Xi Dajie
Xining
Qinghai 810000
People’s Republic of China
Email: qhsxxgk@163.com
Fax: +86 0971 8252135
Salutation: Dear Governor
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