UN Urges China to Clarify Status of Imprisoned Tibetan Human Rights Defenders

Geneva – UN experts have called on the Chinese government to provide transparency and information regarding the status of nine Tibetan environmental human rights defenders who are currently serving prison sentences of up to 11 years. These experts stress the importance of shedding light on the circumstances surrounding their imprisonment and ensuring their well-being.

Between 2010 and 2019, these nine Tibetan activists were incarcerated for their peaceful efforts to safeguard the fragile environment of the region. Expressing concern over the lack of information provided by Chinese authorities, the experts emphasized that such a lack of transparency could be interpreted as an attempt to obscure the plight of these human rights defenders, who continue to endure isolation year after year.

These environmental human rights defenders – Anya Sengdra, Dorjee Daktal, Kelsang Choklang, Dhongye, Rinchen Namdol, Tsultrim Gonpo, Jangchup Ngodup, Sogru Abhu, and Namesy – were arrested for their protests against illegal mining activities and the hunting of endangered species in Qinghai Province, Sichuan Province, and the Tibetan Autonomous Province.

While the details of their detention, trial, and sentencing remain largely undisclosed, the experts have managed to ascertain that some of these activists have been sentenced to prison terms ranging from seven to 11 years. Concerns have been raised over their access to legal counsel and medical care during their detention.

In six of these cases – Dhongye, Rinchen Namdol, Tsultrim Gonpo, Jangchup Ngodup, Sogru Abhu, and Namsey – the Chinese government has not made public the lengths of the sentences, and uncertainty surrounds the locations and conditions under which these activists are being held.

“There is very little information available about the circumstances of their detention, trial and sentencing, but with cases where we do have sufficient information, we know these activists were sentenced to between seven and 11 years in prison,” experts said.

The experts are calling upon the Chinese government to provide detailed information about the activists’ circumstances, locations, and health conditions. They also urge the Chinese government to grant these defenders adequate medical care and to allow their families to visit them.

“The lack of information provided by Chinese authorities could be seen as a deliberate attempt to make the world forget about these human rights defenders as they spend year after year in isolation,” the UN experts said. “Their families have been kept in the dark about their fate,” they said.

Since the sentencing of these human rights defenders, the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment has been internationally recognized by both the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly. The experts argue that if China is truly committed to addressing climate change, it should cease persecuting environmental human rights defenders and release all nine individuals immediately.

The UN experts, including Ms. Mary Lawlor, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders; Mr. Clément Nyaletsossi Voule, Special Rapporteur on freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; and Mr. David Boyd, Special Rapporteur on human rights obligations relating to a safe, clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, have engaged in communication with the Government of the People’s Republic of China on this issue.

The experts highlighted that they operate under the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council, an independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanism. These experts work voluntarily and independently of any government or organization, serving in their individual capacity.

“If China is committed to tackle the impacts of climate change, it should refrain from persecuting environmental human rights defenders and release all nine immediately,” the experts said.

The UN experts have been in contact with the Government of the People’s Republic of China regarding the issue.