Enforced disappearance of Lobsang Tsering, a monk from Kirti Monastery_Fear for his safety

Enforced disappearance/ Fearfor 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 enforceddisappearance of Lobsang Tsering, a21-year-old monk from Kirti Monastery in Ngaba (Chinese: Aba) Prefecture,Sichuan Province.

According to the information received, on 26 June2012, Lobsang Tsering, originally from Bato village, was arrested at KirtiMonastery by Public Security Bureau (PSB) officers from Ngaba Prefecture andtaken to an unknown location. His family and relatives reportedly approachedrelevant security offices in the region inquiring about his whereabouts andfate but to no avail. The reason for his arrest also remains unclear.

The International Secretariat of OMCT is gravelyconcerned about the safety of Lobsang Tsering, as his whereabouts and fate remain unknown. OMCT urges the competentauthorities to guarantee his physical and psychological integrity at all times,in accordance with international human rights law, in particular theConvention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment orPunishment, and to immediately locate anddisclose his whereabouts.

OMCT further calls on the competent authorities to order his immediaterelease in the absence of valid legal charges that are consistent with international law andstandards, or, if such charges exist, bring him promptly before an impartial,independent and competent tribunal and guarantee his procedural rights at alltimes, including immediate and unconditional access to a lawyer of his choice.

Actions Requested

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

i. Immediatelylocate and disclose the whereabouts of Lobsang Tsering;

ii. Guarantee,in all circumstances, his physical and psychological integrity;

iii. Granthim immediate and full access to a lawyer of his choice and his family, as wellas guarantee that he is examined by independent doctors and receives adequatemedical care if necessary, in accordance, interalia, with the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners;

iv. Order his immediate release in the absence of validlegal charges that areconsistent with international law and standards, or, if such charges exist,bring him before an impartial, independent and competent tribunal and guaranteehis procedural rights at all times;

v. Guaranteetherespect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms throughout the country inaccordance with national laws and international human rights standards.

Addresses

• Mr. Wen Jiabao, Prime Minister of thePeople’s Republic of China, Guojia Zongli, The State Council GeneralOffice, 2 Fuyoujie, Xichengqu, Beijingshi 100017, People’s Republic ofChina, Fax: +86 10 65961109 (c/o Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
• Ms. WuAiying, Minister of Justice of the People’s Republic of China, BuzhangSifabu, 10 Chaoyangmen Nandajie, Chaoyangqu, Beijingshi 100020, People’sRepublic of China, Fax: +86 10 6529 2345, minister@legalinfo.gov.cn / pfmaster@legalinfo.gov.cn
• Mr. DaiBingguo,Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, BuzhangWaijiaobu, 2 Chaoyangmen Nandajie, Beijingshi 100701, People’s Republic ofChina, Fax: +86 10 6588 2594, Email: ipc@fmprc.gov.cn;
• Mr. MengJianzhu, 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
• PermanentMission of the People’s Republic of China, Chemin de Surville 11, P.O. Box85, 1213 Petit-Lancy 2, Geneva, Switzerland, Fax: +41 22 7937014, E-mail: mission.china@ties.itu.int;

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

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Geneva, 19 July 2012

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