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Write to the Chinese Ambassador
Please write to the Chinese Ambassador (address below), calling on the Chinese government:

► to immediately release Lobsang Jamyang (pen-name Lomik) (pictured right) as he has been imprisoned for peacefully expressing his views, a right which is guaranteed under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;

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

► to allow Lobsang Jamyang 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 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.

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

Lobsang Jamyang (pen-name Lomik), 28, was arbitrarily detained on 17 April 2015, in Ngaba county, Amdo (now incorporated into China’s Sichuan province). After he was taken into police custody, 20 Tibetan writers wrote a joint article stating they believed Lomik’s essays on the lack of freedom of expression and the 2008 Tibetan Uprising were the reason for his detention.

Until his trial, Lomik was held incommunicado with no information provided on his whereabouts or the charges being brought against him. Lomik is understood to have been subjected to beatings, torture and interrogations whilst being held in detention.

The trial was held behind closed doors in Lunggu county, Ngaba prefecture on an unknown date. Given the secretive nature of the judicial procedure – Lomik’s family were not informed of the trial or sentencing – it is likely Lomik did not receive due process.

On 9 May, Lomik’s family were granted permission by the authorities to see him (pictured right). They were only allowed 30 minutes, during which time they learned of his sentence and the charges brought against him: “leaking state secrets” and “engaging in separatist activities” over the period of 2009 to 2015. Lomik said he refused to accept the charges. 

Lomik is a monk from Kirti monastery in Ngaba township, an influential monastery in Tibetan Buddhism and where the wave of Tibetan self-immolations began in 2009. He joined Kirti monastery at a young age and also studied at the Larung Gar institution in Serthar and the Northwest Minorities University in Lanzhou. 

In 2010, he wrote a book called The Yellow Fog(pictured right). He also organised public debates, including one entitled Denial of Free Expression, and contributed to popular Tibetan language websites. The titles of some of his articles include Story Shackled By Iron Chains, Weapons Target Writers of Ngaba and Until I Die, I Will Express My Views.

Lomik is the second Tibetan writer to be imprisoned this year, after Shokjang was given a three-year sentence in February. Lomik and Shokjang had participated together in a number of panel discussions at the Qinghai Nationalities University, a minority nationalities’ university in Xining.

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: TCHRD | ICT | RFA

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.