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Six monks sentenced in Chamdo

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The 2008 annual installation ceremony for graduation of new monks of Jampaling monastery in Chamdo Town, eastern Tibet. The monastery was founded in 1444 by one of Tsong Khapa’s disciples. A Chinese court in Chamdo has sentenced six Tibetan monks to varying prison terms on 22 May 2009 for staging demonstrations in January 2009. File photo/Trevor Sofield/Tibet

A Chinese court in Chamdo, eastern Tibet, has sentenced six Tibetan monks to varying prison terms from 12 to 15 year for protests in January this year.

The six monks of Dhen Choekor Monastery, in Chamdo, were sentenced by Jomda County People’s Court on 22 May 2009, according to the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD).

The monks have been identified as abbot Tenzin Gyaltsen (37), Nyi-chig (50), ex-treasurer Ngawang Tashi (51), and, Tashi Dorjee (30), each receiving 15 years of rigorous imprisonment. Chant Master Jamyang Sherab (42) and Tsering Palden (36) were given 13 and 12 years respectively.

A bomb exploded in Choekor Township in Chamdo on 5 January 2009. The explosion was followed by few sporadic protests in the area. The six monks of Dhen Choekor Monastery were arrested on 9 and 10 January 2009 in Jomda County for staging protest demonstrations.

TCHRD says that the prime reason for monks’ arrest was their suspected role in the bomb blast.

The court convicted the monks with various offences related to the bomb blast, taking part in protests, committing political crimes and their refusal to sign documents denouncing the Dalai Lama as a “separatist”.

Little is known about the court proceedings, whether the accused received free and fair trials and adequate legal representation and defence.

TCHRD condemned the harsh sentences given to the monks.

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