Renewed Call for Release of Dolma Kyab

08/08/07: Sydney PEN is seriously concerned for the health of teacher and writer Dolma Kyab (aka Lobsang Kelsang Gyatso), whose health is said to have deteriorated in detention. PEN believes Dolma Kyab, who is serving a ten-year sentence for his writings, is held in violation of his rights to freedom of expression as guaranteed under Article 19 of the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which China is a signatory, and is calling for his immediate and unconditional release. PEN is also seeking assurances that he is receiving all necessary medical care.

According to information received in July 2007, Dolma Kyab (pen-name Lobsang Kelsang Gyatso) was transferred to Seilong (Xining) prison, about 400 kilometres from Lhasa, on 19 July 2007 where he is serving the remaining of his ten-year prison-sentence for his critical writings. Seilong prison is a labour camp where prisoners undergo ‘re-education through labour’. A former detainee reports to have met Dolma Kyab there a few days before he was released. He also stated that Dolma Kyab seemed to be in very poor health and that he appeared to be suffering from some medical condition.

Dolma Kyab is imprisoned for writing a comprehensive study about Tibet. The manuscript, written in Chinese, is entitled The Himalayas in Turmoil (Saodong de Ximalayashan) and is reportedly a compilation of 57 chapters covering various topics including democracy, the sovereignty of Tibet, Tibet under communism, colonialism, and religion. Dolma Kyab is also said to have started another manuscript on the geographical aspects of Tibet, which was comparatively short yet touched on sensitive topics about the location and number of Chinese military camps in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR).

Dolma Kyab was reportedly arrested on 9 March 2005 in Lhasa, where he was teaching History at a Middle School. He was held pending trial at the Public Security Bureau Detention Centre, on charges of ‘endangering state security’, and sentenced on 16 September 2005 by Lhasa Intermediate People’s Court to ten years in prison. The sentence was upheld on appeal on 30 November 2005. In March 2006 he was transferred to Chushul Prison on the outskirts of Lhasa. While in the Public Security Bureau Detention Centre, Dolma Kyab contracted tuberculosis for which he received medical treatment before his transfer to Chushul Prison.

Please send appeals to the Chinese authorities:

- Expressing concern for detained teacher and writer Dolma Kyab’s health following reports that it has considerably worsened in recent weeks, and seeking assurances that he is receiving all necessary medical care;
- Protesting the ten-year prison sentence handed down to Dolma Kyab, and calling for his immediate and unconditional release in accordance with Article 19 of the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which China is a signatory.

Government addresses:

His Excellency Hu Jintao
President of the People’s Republic of China
State Council
Beijing 100032
P.R.China.

Procurator General Mr. Jia Chunwang
Supreme People's Procuratorate
Beiheyan Street 147
100726 Beijing
P.R.China

Dolma Kyab (aka Lobsang Kelsang Gyatso)

Sydney PEN protests the detention of teacher and writer Dolma Kyab (aka Lobsang Kelsang Gyatso), who has been detained since 9 March 2005 and is serving a ten-year prison sentence for his critical writings. PEN calls for his immediate and unconditional release in accordance with Article 19 of the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which China is a signatory. Following reports that he contracted tuberculosis while in pre-trial detention, PEN is seeking information about his health and assurances that he is receiving all necessary medical care.

According to information received in July 2006, Dolma Kyab is serving a ten-year prison sentence for writing a comprehensive study on Tibet. The manuscript, written in Chinese, is entitled The Himalayas in Turmoil (Saodong de Ximalayashan) and is reportedly a compilation of 57 chapters covering various topics including democracy, the sovereignty of Tibet, Tibet under communism, colonialism, and religion. Dolma Kyab is also said to have started another manuscript on the geographical aspects of Tibet, which was comparatively short yet touched on sensitive topics about the location and number of Chinese military camps in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR).

Dolma Kyab was reportedly arrested on 9 March 2005 in Lhasa, where he was teaching History at a middle school. He was held pending trial at the TAR Public Security Bureau Detention Centre, popularly known as “Seitru”, on charges of “endangering state security”, and sentenced on 16 September 2005 by Lhasa Intermediate People’s Court to ten years in prison. The sentence was upheld on appeal on 30 November 2005. In March 2006 he was transferred to Chushul Prison. Dolma Kyab reportedly contracted tuberculosis while in “Seitru” prison, for which he received medical treatment before being transferred to Chushul Prison.

Please send appeals to the Chinese authorities:

- Protesting the ten-year prison sentence handed down to teacher and writer Dolma Kyab, and calling for his immediate and unconditional release in accordance with Article 19 of the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which China is a signatory

- Expressing concern for his health following reports that he contracted tuberculosis in pre-trial detention, and seeking assurances that he is receiving all necessary medical care.

Government addresses:

His Excellency Hu Jintao
President of the People’s Republic of China
State Council
Beijing 100032
The People's Republic of China
(Your Excellency,)

Procurator General Mr Jia Chunwang
Supreme People's Procuratorate
147 Beiheyan Street
Beijing 100726
The People's Republic of China
(Dear Mr Jia,)

Airmail postage from Australia to the PRC is $1.25, or you may wish to ask the PRC's ambassador to Australia to forward your appeal:

Her Excellency Madame Fu Ying
Embassy of the People's Republic of China
6 Dalman Crescent
O'Malley ACT 2606
Fax: (02) 6290 1652