Release the Lithang 4
On 20 November this year four Tibetans from Lithang in Eastern Tibet received very high sentences for exercising their right to the freedom of expression. Join our petition to President Hu Jintao that calls for the immediate release of the Lithang 4 and to express our shock at the disrespect China shows for its own laws with regard to the right to the freedom of expression, less than one year ahead of the Beijing 2008 Olympics.
Sign this petition and urge President Hu Jintao to immediately release the Lithang 4.
Aan: President Hu Jintao Your Excellency, I have been shocked by the news on 20 November this year of the severe sentences given to four Tibetans from Lithang in Eastern Tibet by the Intermediate Court of Kardze prefecture in Sichuan Province for exercising their right to freedom of expression. Runggye Adak is a Tibetan nomad who on August 1st this year, during the horse race festival in Lithang, went on stage and called for the return to Tibet of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and for the release of the Panchen Lama and Tenzin Delek Rinpoche. Runggye Adak was sentenced to eight year imprisonment for 'inciting to split the country', Runggye Adak's nephew, Adak Lupoe received an even longer sentence of ten years, while Tibetan art teacher and musician Kunkhyen was jailed for nine years, both for attempting to provide pictures and information to 'overseas organizations' which were judged to 'endanger national security'. A fourth Tibetan, Jarib Lothog, was sentenced to three years in prison linked to the same case. Article 35 of the Chinese Constitution stipulates that the "Citizens of the People's Republic of China enjoy freedom of speech, of the press, of assembly, of association, of procession and of demonstration." It is inconceivable that Runggye Adak, Adak Lupoe, Kunkyen and Jarib Lothog received sentences of such proportions for exercising their right to the freedom of expression as enshrined in the constitution. I respectfully urge you, Mr. President, to unconditionally release Runggye Adak, Adak Lupoe, Kunkyen and Jarib Lothog. We are also concerned about censorship and restrictions on the free flow of information and the freedom of expression in Tibet. I ask the Chinese leadership ensure that China is a worthy host of the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008 by protecting the Human Rights of the Tibetan people. Yours Sincerely,
p/a Embassy of the People's Republic of China
Willem Lodewijklaan 10
2517 JT Den Haag
The Netherlands