Dear Team Tibet Supporter,
We know it is many months since the Beijing Olympics, but since you care deeply about Tibet we are writing to ask you to take action - as a matter of urgency - about one of Tibet´s highest profile political prisoners; film-maker Dhondup Wangchen, about whom we have just heard some worrying news. We request you to send an email to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who is in China until 25 May, asking her to press China for his release. Please read on and we will tell you how you can help.
Dhondup Wangchen was arrested a few months before the Beijing Olympics, in March 2008. With the Games on the horizon, he had decided to film interviews with ordinary Tibetans, in which they talked about life under Chinese rule, the Dalai Lama and about the Olympic Games. The interviews were later made into a powerful documentary, "Leaving Fear Behind" which has been screened in more than 30 countries (see www.leavingfearbehind.com).
el cineasta tibetano Dhondup Wangchen ha sido sentenciado a seis años de cárcel por filmar entrevistas con tibetanos cualesquiera en las que les pedía su opinión sobre la vida bajo el gobierno chino, el Dalai Lama y los Juegos Olímpicos. Recientmente ha sido transferido a un Campo de Trabajo.
FIRMA TU APOYO al
Appeal to Secretary Clinton to press China
for the release of Dhondup Wangchen
Dhondup Wangchen was held in detention from March 2008 until December 2009, when he was sentenced to a six-year jail term. Two Chinese lawyers, who offered to represent him, have been prevented from seeing him by the Chinese authorities and one of them has been threatened with the closure of his law firm. Dhondup planned to appeal against his sentence, but now his family, who live in exile, have learned that in April he was transfered to Xichuan Prison (a Labour Camp in Qinghai Province) in April 2010. They presume that his appeal must have failed. According to the Washington DC based Laogai Research Foundation, Xichuan Prison is a labour camp that manufactures aluminum alloy windows, ordinary bricks, porous and hollow bricks and sinter concrete blocks.
During his detention, Dhondup Wangchen has been tortured and has not received medical treatment despite having contracted Hepititis B.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will be in China from 22 - 25 May, and Dhondup´s family have just released an appeal urging her to press the Chinese leadership about Dhondup during her visit. A copy of their appeal is pasted below.
To support this appeal, please visit the following link and send an email to Secretary Clinton. http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5380/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=3128
Then please forward this message to your friends and family and request that they take action too.
Many thanks for supporting Dhondup Wangchen
Mandie, Jigme, Choedup, Exa and Alison,
The International Tibet Support Network
Appeal from Dhondup Wangchen´s Family.
Zurich, May 19, 2010: Tibetan filmmaker Dhondup Wangchen who was sentenced to 6 years´ imprisonment on 28 December 2009 for "subversion of state power", has been transferred from his previous detention centre in Xining to a labor camp [1] both in Western China´s Qinghai Province. Wife and family members of Dhondup Wangchen called today on Hillary Clinton who is going to China next week to press the Chinese government to release those who are arbitrarily imprisoned for political reasons.
Although Dhondup Wangchen formally appealed his 6 year sentence, it is assumed that the appeal failed and the verdict was upheld as he was transferred to Xichuan prison on April 6, 2010. Chinese lawyer Chang Boyang who travelled in February 2010 to Xining to represent Dhondup Wangchen was not allowed to meet with him and then was threatened in March with the closure of his law firm if he did not drop the case [2].
Dhondup Wangchen´s wife in India, Lhamo Tso, said today, "We are absolutely desperate now. We are indebted to the brave Chinese lawyer Chang Boyang and also the previous lawyer Li Dunyong who both risked a great deal to help my husband. However, China has made it clear that it is impossible for us to work inside their legal system. Therefore I appeal to foreign governments to intervene to secure the immediate and unconditional release of Dhondup Wangchen, who did nothing more than exercise his right to freedom of expression."
Dhondup Wangchen´s cousin in Switzerland, Gyaljong Tsetrin, himself a former political prisoner said today, "It is very dangerous for Dhondup Wangchen´s health to carry out hard labour in this facility. We already heard last year that he was suffering from Hepatitis B with no medical treatment. I also know several Tibetans who have been imprisoned there in the past who testify to the harsh living and working conditions. I´m extremely worried for Dhondup Wangchen".
Notes:
1. Xichuan prison is a labour camp concealed as an industrial manufacturer under the name of "Qinghai Xifa Water and Electricity Equipment Manufacture Installment Limited Liability Company". The complex of Xichuan Prison can clearly be seen here on this Google Maps image: http://tinyurl.com/xichuan-prison.
2. See Amnesty International´s public statement of April 21, 2010: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/ASA17/018/2010/en/5578278e-7772-487e-a1d4-93802bb6c50b/asa170182010en.html
3. The following information is given on page 37 of the Laogai Handbook 2007-2008: http://laogai.org/books
Enterprise: Qinghai Xifa Water and Electricity Equipment Manufacture Installment Limited Liability Company
Prison: Xichuan Prison
Details: Location: 108 Xichuan South Rd., Xi´ning City
Postal Code: 810029
Tel: 0971-5219370 / 5219352
Est. in Mar.1956. Orig. called Prov. No. 5 LRD. 1995 changed name to present. Houses minorities. Beside Tibetan, Uyhgur, also Miao, Bai and Yi prisoners. 40% inmates are minorities. Enterprise formerly Qinghai Hydroelectric Equipment Factory, controls Qinghai Gaoyuan switchgear plant, Qinghai Xifa, Jian´an limited co., Qinghai Xifa Gaoyuan machinery, Qinghai Xifa water and electricity, and Qinghai Xifa goods and utilities co. Companies have 560 equipment types including tertiary levels of electricity installation and LBAC construction quality. Produce 35KV high and low voltage switching cabinets and control equipment, aluminum alloy windows, ordinary bricks, porous and hollow bricks, sinter concrete blocks, etc. Annual production 140 mil. sinter blocks.
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