Enforced disappearance of monk Dorgay

Enforced disappearance/Arbitrary arrest/ Risk of torture and ill-treatment/ 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 enforceddisappearance of 22-year-old monk Dorgay (he is commonly called Dorgayonly), from Shabten Monastery in Dickyi, Nagchu County, Nagchu Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), since 6 July 2011.

According to the information received, on 6 July2011, Dorgay tiedwhite scarves, among other locations, on trees and electric poles in the Nagchuregion to celebrate the Dalai Lama's 76th birthday. Soon afterreturning to the Shabten Monastery, the Nagchu county police arrived andreportedly inquired about the white scarves. Dorgay was subsequently arrestedand taken by the police to an unknown location. His family and the monks of theShabten Monastery have reportedly tried to locate him but to no avail.

The International Secretariat of OMCT isgravely concerned about the safety of monk Dorgay, as his whereabouts and fate remain unknown.OMCT fears that he may besubjected to torture or other ill-treatment. 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. Enforced disappearance and torture and otherill-treatment constitute serious human rights violations and are strictlyprohibited under international law.

OMCT is also preoccupied withregard to his arrest, as according to the information received, it seems solelybased on his peaceful political and religious beliefs and the exercise of hisrights to freedom of expression. Finally, OMCT urges theauthorities to conform with China’s internationalhuman rights obligations, commitments that were reaffirmed on the occasion ofits election as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

ActionsRequested

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

i. Immediatelylocate and disclose the whereabouts of monk Dorgay;

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

iii. Grantmonk Dorgay immediate and full access to a lawyer of his choice and his family,as well as guarantee that he is examined by independent doctors and receivesadequate medical care if necessary, in accordance, inter alia, with the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment ofPrisoners;

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. WenJiabao, Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of China, Guojia Zongli, TheState Council General Office, 2 Fuyoujie, Xichengqu, Beijingshi 100017,People’s Republic of China, Fax: +86 10 65961109 (c/oMinistry of Foreign Affairs)

· Mr. Wu Aiying, Minister of Justice of thePeople’s Republic of China, Buzhang Sifabu, 10 Chaoyangmen Nandajie,Chaoyangqu, Beijingshi 100020, People’s Republic of China, Fax: +86 10 65292345, minister@legalinfo.gov.cn / pfmaster@legalinfo.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’sRepublic of China, Fax: +86 1063099216

· Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China, Ch. De Surville, CP 85, 1213Petit-Lancy 2, Suisse, e-mail: mission.china@ties.itu.int, Fax : +41 22 793 7014

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

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Geneva, 22 July 2011

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