http://in.reuters.com/article/southA...37145220081222
Tibetan NGO worker given life in jail - report
Mon Dec 22, 2008 5:47pm IST
BEIJING (Reuters) - A Chinese court has jailed a Tibetan who worked for a non-governmental organisation for life for passing on information about the situation in the restless region to the outside world, a rights group said. Wangdu was given the sentence last month, the International Campaign for Tibet said in a emailed statement, quoting a report in a regional Tibetan newspaper published on Nov. 8.
Six other Tibetans were also given long prison terms, it said.
"The sentences are unprecedented in their severity for Tibetans accused of passing on information to people outside Tibet," the group said.
"This new development indicates a harder line approach to blocking news on the current crackdown in Tibet and also appears to represent a challenge to NGOs working on the plateau."
Chinese troops marched into Tibet in 1950 and the region's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, fled into exile in 1959 after a failed uprising against Beijing's rule.
Mountainous and remote Tibet was rocked by anti-Chinese protests earlier this year, which China blamed on the Dalai Lama, whom it brands a separatist. He has repeatedly denied the claims.
Rights groups say hundreds remain in jail following the protests where they are subjected to harsh treatment and even torture.
Still, the government expects the region's economy to grow 10.1 percent this year, the official Xinhua news agency said, faster than the national average, though tourist numbers will be down due to the unrest.
"To cope with the challenges, the local government published a series of regulatory measures to keep the economy growing steadily and rapidly," it quoted Tibet's governor Qiangba Puncog as saying.
*please note, I only posted one such case, but this is 100% rampant in Tibet. Chinese won't believe Tibetans, because Tibet is treated as the most obstinate region of China. Admittedly, China is slowly changing, I agree with foreigners who have visited or live in China about this. I agree with Chinese about this, however they have to realize Tibet and Tibetans are treated differently, you have to travel there to know. This dichotomy is really at the crux of the misunderstanding between Tibetans and Chinese. We have to work together to clear this up, and not allow the Chinese government to drive a wedge between the Tibetan and Chinese people. The educated Tibetans living in Beijing and Shanghai have realized this and are trying to effect change, but no one is listening. Then when Tibetans protested this past spring, and unsurprisingly the popular sentiment of Canadians and the world at large was to support the Tibetans plight to freedom. There was unprecedented backlash against foreigners and even Canadians (recall the great wall of China-Free Tibet stunt by Canadians) by Chinese for suppporting Tibet. To this I say, yes there are people who support Tibet, because it is a fad and because it is a non-violent struggle (largely). There are some people who have another agenda against China, and the Chinese people have a right to be upset about that. However, when Tibetans in Tibet are continually silenced, and when their only way to let the world know is through foreigners visiting Tibet or calling relatives outside (as internet or picture technology is limited in Tibet), then how can the Tibetans live? If they seek Chinese help, some will listen, but most will feel Tibetans want to split China. To this I say, Tibetans lost their country, at least give them human rights, and equality amongst Chinese. It's really a no win situation for Tibetans.
http://www.phayul.com/news/article.a...death+in+Tibet
Tibetan Given Life In Jail for Passing Information to World About Tibetan Protest
