“Tibetans do not wish or aspire to create conflict and violence among nationalities in China; they solely aspire for an autonomous Tibetan nationality within China… If a federal system of autonomous administration of provinces based on the principles of liberty and equality is established, which I think is feasible, internal conflicts between ethnic groups would simply subside and disappear.” (Shokjang, March 2014)

Take Action | Background | Examples of Shokjang’s writings | 
Shokjang appeals sentence (7 April)

Take Action

1. Sign the international petition
The petition calls on the Chinese government to release Shokang, It is produced by the International Tibet Network, a global coalition of Tibet groups of which Tibet Society is a member. Click here to sign the petition, 

2. Write directly to the Chinese authorities
Please write to the authorities below, calling on the Chinese government:

► to immediately release Druklo (pen-name Shokjang) as he was arrested for peacefully expressing his views, a right which is guaranteed under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;

► to ensure Druklo is not ill-treated or subjected to torture whilst in prison;

► to allow Druklo regular visits by his family and has access to a lawyer of his own choosing;

► to respect the fundamental right of Tibetans and all citizens to freedom of expression, including those who peacefully express criticism of the government or views that are contrary to state policies.

Chinese Ambassador to the UK
Ambassador Liu Xiaoming
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 addressambassador@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.

Head of Tongren County PSB
Ma Yajun
Tongren County Public Security Bureau
22 Xiaqiong Middle Road
Tongren County
Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture
Qinghai Province 811300 
People’s Republic of China
Salutation: Dear Ma Yajun               

Secretary of Tongren County Party Committee
Jiang Shucheng
Tongren County Government
Dehelong Middle Road                    
LongWuzhen, Tongren County 
Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture
Qinghai Province 811300 
People’s Republic of China 
Fax: +86 0973 8722440 
Salutation: Dear Secretary
                
Director of Qinghai State Security
Li Dongping
Qinghai Provincial State Security Department
48 Gonghe South Road
Xining 810007
People’s Republic of China
Salutation: Dear Director

If you receive a reply to your email or letter, please send a copy to Tibet Society, as this helps us to monitor the situation. Click here for Tibet Society contact details.

Background

Shokjang, real name Druklo, was arrested on 19 March 2015 in Rebkong (Chinese: Tongren), Malho (Ch: Huangnan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Amdo (now part of China’s Qinghai province). His arrest came shortly after he wrote articles about local school conditions and the massive deployment of Chinese security forces in the Rebkong area. Shokjang had already gained popularity amongst fellow Tibetans with his candid essays and poetry, in which he commented on social issues and injustices affecting the Tibetan people.

On 17 February 2016, after almost a year’s detention, the People’s Intermediate Court in Rebkong sentenced Shokjang to three years’ imprisonment. According to exiled sources, Shokjang was charged with “inciting separatism” for writing articles critical of Chinese policies in Tibet as well as for organising protests and making contact with foreign organisations. Sources also say that Shokjang denied the charges and has vowed to appeal.

Shokjang is from Labrang Sangchu county, Gansu province and is a father of a four year-old child. In 2010, he was detained for leading a student protest at Northwest University for Nationalities in Lanzhou, Gansu province. He was released after one month without charge but was banned from taking his final exams at the university.

Former political prisoner, Golog Jigme, who recently gave testimony at the UK Parliament, said, “We believe that Druklo challenged the court ruling, saying that he had not done anything against the Chinese Constitution or against Chinese laws and regulations. Like so many Tibetan political prisoners, he has been sentenced on baseless charges due to the Chinese Communist Party authorities exerting their power.”

The Committee to Protect Journalists said of the sentencing that “suppressing reporting about what is happening in Tibet only leads to further misunderstanding between Tibetans and Chinese”. Druklo is one of 49 journalists imprisoned by China, the most of any country in the world.

Since the Tibetan uprising of 2008, the Chinese government has sought to eradicate all forms of dissent. This has included peaceful expressions of nationalism in the form of essays, poetry and songs, displays of Tibetan culture and even non-state sanctioned teaching of the Tibetan language.

Further reading: Phayul | RFA | ICT

Examples of Shokjang’s writing

1. In March 2014, Shokjang responded to an article by a Chinese scholar on China’s ethnic policies. Shokjang wrote:

“Tibetans do not wish or aspire to create conflict and violence among nationalities in China; they solely aspire for an autonomous Tibetan nationality within China. I would hazard that the same applies to Uyghurs too. So, the strategy of annihilating the rights of nationalities is a seriously harmful and a thoughtless scheme. On the contrary, with the current model of autonomous nationalities as a basis, if a federal system of autonomous administration of provinces based on the principles of liberty and equality is established, which I think is feasible, internal conflicts between ethnic groups would simply subside and disappear.”
Translated by High Peaks Pure Earth. Click here to read the full article.

2. Just days prior to his detention in March 2015, Shokjung wrote the following verse entitled “316” (i.e. 16th March):

316
Armed police searching ordinary people in the streets,
Is this being done for the people’s safety, or to shatter their peace?
And what way is this to create social stability?
Whose agents are the police that carry arms against the people?
Is this a way of protecting the people’s universal human rights?
And are these the actions of a country ruled by law? 
Translation provided by Voice of America

Tibet Society, the world’s first Tibet support group, was founded in 1959. Funded by its members, it has been working for over 50 years to seek justice for Tibet through parliamentary lobbying, campaigns and actions. Help keep Tibet alive by joining Tibet Society today. Annual membership £24; Family £36; Life £500.