Arbitrary detention and disappearance since March 2014 of Mr. Choeying Kalden, a 20 years old Tibetan monk from Tsenden Monastery. OMCT fears for his safety

Arbitrary Detention/ Disappearance/Fear for the safety

The International Secretariat of the WorldOrganisation Against Torture (OMCT)requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in the People’s Republic of China.

Brief description of the situation

TheInternationalSecretariat of OMCT has been informed by The Tibetan Centre for Human Rightsand Democracy (TCHRD), a member of OMCT SOS-Torture Network, about the arbitrarydetention and disappearance since March 2014 of Mr. Choeying Kalden, a 20 years old Tibetan monk from TsendenMonastery, in Sog County in Nagchu Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR). OMCTfears for his safety since his fate and exact whereabouts remained unclear atthe time of writing this urgent appeal.

According to the information received, on 16 March2014, Mr. Choeying Kalden was arrested at the Tsenden Monastery by PublicSecurity Bureau officers of Sog County without any explanation about thereasons of his arrest and he was taken to an unknown location. It is believedthat he was arrested after sending emails entailing his writings criticizingChinese rule, to Chinese officials stationed at Tsenden Monastery. In histexts, he notably protests against the Chinese policies to silence andviolently repress Tibetan monks, and he condemns the repressive campaignscarried out by the Chinese authorities in recent years such as the on-goingcampaign of forcing Tibetans to fly the red-starred Chinese flags on rooftops

According to the same information received, Mr.Choeying Kalden’s relatives tried to find information about his whereabouts butin vain.

The International Secretariat of OMCT is gravelyconcerned about the safety of Mr. Choeying Kalden. OMCT urgesthe competent authorities to guarantee his physical and psychological integrityat all times, in accordance with international human rights law, in particularthe Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman orDegrading Treatment or Punishment, and to immediately locate and disclose his whereabouts.

OMCT further urges for his immediaterelease since his arrest appears to be solely based on the peaceful exercise ofhis right to freedom of expression.

Background information

In recent months, Sog County has witnessed aconcerning number of arbitrary arrests and arbitrary searches. Many monasticand lay Tibetans have been detained and disappeared.

OMCT has also been informed about the case of Mr.Asang, Mr. Margong, Mr. Sisium Dorje, Mr. Lhakpa and Mr. Jamyang Gyatso, fiveTibetan youths from Village No. 3 in Trido Township, who were arrested on 3February 2014 as police expanded their search for those responsible for writinga message on a boulder near an iron bridge. Mr. Sisum Dorje, Mr. Lhakpa and Mr.Jamyang Gyatso were released and ordered to report daily to the Trido Townshipgovernment office. The whereabouts and fate of the other two has remainedunknown despite persistent efforts by family members and local Tibetans tolocate them.

On 17 March 2014, four monks, Tsangyang Gyatso, Twewant,Atse and Gyaltsen, all from Drilda Monastery, were reportedly arrested and theycontinue to be detained incommunicado. Six other monks approached the TridoTownship government to ask for their release, but instead, they were alsodetained. Although, those last six monks were released on 20 March 2014, they werereportedly severely beaten up during their brief detention.

OMCT has also been informed about the situation of Mr.Gawa Sangpo, a Tibetan man, who has been in police detention since January 2013without being charged with a crime. He was arrested for penning a ‘three-pointnote on Tibet’ expressing his faith in the Dalai Lama, recognising LobsangSangay as the political leader of the Tibetan people, and requesting theindependence of Tibet. He has been held in Sog County Detention Centre sincehis arrest.

Actions Requested

Please write to theauthorities in the People’s Republic of China urging them to:

i. Immediatelylocate and disclose the whereabouts of Mr. Choeying Kalden, Asang and Margong;

ii. Guarantee,in all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity of Mr. ChoeyingKalden, Asang, Margong and of all the above mentioned individuals;

iii. Grant themaccess to a lawyer of their choice and their family, as well as guarantee that theyare examined by independent doctors and receive adequate medical care ifnecessary;

iv. Order their immediate release sincetheir arrests appear to be solely based on the peaceful exercise of their rightto freedom of expression;

v. Carry out a prompt, effective,thorough, independent and impartial investigation into the aforementioned facts in accordance with internationalhuman rights standards, the result of which must be made public,in order to bring those responsiblebefore a competent, independent and impartial tribunal and apply penal, civiland/or administrative sanctions as provided by law;

vi. Guaranteetherespect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms, including the freedom ofexpression, throughout the country in accordance with national laws andinternational human rights standards.

Addresses

· Mr. Li Keqiang Guojiazhongli, Prime Minister of thePeople’s Republic of China, Guojia Zongli, The State Council General Office, 2Fuyoujie, Xichengqu, Beijingshi 100017, People’s Republic of China, Fax: +86 1065961109 (c/o Ministry of Foreign Affairs) Email: notice@scio.gov.cn

· Minister of Justice of the People’s Republic ofChina, Wu Aiying Buzhang Sifabu, 10 Chaoyangmen Nandajie, Chaoyangqu, Beijingshi100020, People’s Republic of China, Fax: +86 10 6529 2345, Emails: minister@legalinfo.gov.cn / pfmaster@legalinfo.gov.cn

· Ambassador Wu Hailong, Permanent Mission of thePeople’s Republic of China, Chemin de Surville 11, P.O. Box 85, 1213Petit-Lancy 2, Geneva, Switzerland, Fax: +41 22 7937014, E-mail: chinamission_gva@mfa.gov.cn

Please also write to the embassies of the People’s Republic of China in your respective country.

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Geneva, 16 May 2014

Kindly inform us of anyaction undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.