Arbitrary detention of four Tibetans in Qinghai Province_Fear for safety

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

Brief description of the situation

The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), member of OMCT SOS-Torture network, about the arbitrary arrest and detention of four Tibetans from Nangchen County, Jyekundo "Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture" ('TAP') in Qinghai Province, namely Mr. Asang Bersatsang (21 years old), Mr. Ngoesoe Konkyaptsang, (35 years old), Jamsang and Gadho (age unknown) on 26 July 2008.

According to the information received, the four Tibetans were arrested by the Chinese Public Security Bureau (PSB) officials from Drokshog Township by Nangchen and detained at Nangchen County PSB Detention Centre, after having protested against the Summer Festival planned by the Chinese government to greet the upcoming 2008 Beijing Olympic Games[1]. At the time of issuing the appeal, there is no information on the current condition of the four arrested individuals.

According to the same information, on 26 July 2008, just three days before the actual commencement of the Summer festival, Asang Bersatsang, Ngoesoe Konkyaptsang, Jamsang and Gadho reportedly voiced their disapproval of the summer festival to greet the Olympic Games in the presence of a large number of local government officials and people at the site of the planned festival in Drokshog Township. They reportedly said "this is not the year to celebrate as Tibetans have suffered untold repression under the Chinese regime, rather it is time to mourn and offer prayers (for those died and imprisoned in recent protests across Tibet)," "we want freedom" and "the Dalai Lama should return to Tibet". After their protest, while distributing pamphlets, the four reportedly requested Tibetans at the festival site to return to their respective villages.

The International Secretariat of OMCT is gravely concerned for the safety of the four above mentioned individuals, whose conditions of detention are currently unknown and who, according to the information received, were arrested and detained solely for their rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly. OMCT fears that they may be subject to torture and ill-treatment. OMCT recalls that China is a State party to the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment which prohibits torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. OMCT urges the authorities to conform with China’s international human rights obligations, commitments that were reaffirmed on the occasion of its election as a member of the new United Nations Human Rights Council.

Actions Requested

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

1. Guarantee, in all circumstances, the physical and psychological integrity of Asang Bersatsang, Ngoesoe Konkyaptsang, Jamsang and Gadho;
2. Guarantee immediate and unconditional access to legal representation, their families and any medical treatment they may require;
3. Order their immediate release in the absence of valid legal charges, or, if such charges exist, bring them before an impartial, independent, competent and fair tribunal and guarantee their procedural rights at all times;
4. Order a thorough and impartial investigation into these events in order to identify all those responsible, bring them to trial and apply the penal and/or administrative sanctions as provided by law;
5. Guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards.

Addresses

• Mr. Wen Jiabao, Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of China, Guojia Zongli, The State Council General Office, 2 Fuyoujie, Xichengqu, Beijingshi 100017, People’s Republic of China, Fax: +86 10 65961109 (c/o Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
• Mr. Wu Aiying, Minister of Justice of the People’s Republic of China, Buzhang Sifabu, 10 Chaoyangmen Nandajie, Chaoyangqu, Beijingshi 100020, People’s Republic of China, Fax: +86 10 6529 2345, minister@legalinfo.gov.cn / pfmaster@legalinfo.gov.cn
• Mr. Yang Jiechi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, Buzhang Waijiaobu, 2 Chaoyangmen Nandajie, Beijingshi 100701, People’s Republic of China, Fax: +86 10 6588 2594, Email: ipc@fmprc.gov.cn;
• Mr. Meng Jianzhu, Minister of Public Security of the People’s Republic of China, Buzhang, Gong’anbu, 14 Dongchang’anjie, Dongchengqu, Beijingshi 100741, People’s Republic of China, Fax: +86 10 63099216
• Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China, Ch. De Surville, CP 85, 1213 Petit-Lancy 2, Suisse, e-mail: mission.china@ties.itu.int, Fax : +41 22 793 70 14
• Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Brussels, Avenue de Tervuren, 463 1160 Auderghem, Belgium, Tel: + 32 2 663 30 10 / + 32 2 663 30 17 / +32 2 771 14 97 / +32 2 779 43 33; Fax: +32 2 762 99 66 / +32 2 779 28 95; Email: chinaemb_be@mfa.gov.cn

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

Geneva, 30 July 2008

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

[1] According to sources, the Chinese authorities of Nangchen County, Jyekundo (Ch: Yushu) "Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture" ('TAP') in Qinghai Province, have ordered all the township and villages authorities under its administration to prepare and bring out a festive spectacle/performance during the planned summer festival in Drokshog Township, Nangchen County, to greet the upcoming 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The planned five days Summer Festival with song and dance, and custom competition among villages at Drokshog Township in Nangchen County was officially announced about two months ago ordering allegedly compulsory participation from each family with rehearsal date set on 25 July 2008.