Updates on '08 Tibet Protest: Two Tibetan Social Activists get 14 to 15 Years Jail Term

File photo of Migmar Dhondup

Dharamshala: Among those hundreds of Tibetans who were tortured and arbitrarily sentenced to jail for voicing strong indignation against 50 years of China's repression in Tibet last year, a people's court in Lhasa last year had handed down rigorous prison sentence of 14 to 15 years on two Tibetan social activists, according to information received by the Central Tibetan Administration.

Migmar Dhondup, aged 36, and Tenchoe alias Tenzin Choedak, aged 23, were arrested by the Public Security Bureau at separate locations in connection with the peaceful protests in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, in March last year.
  
Migmar Dhondup was sentenced to 14 years in jail on charges of espionage on 27 October. 

While, in September or October, Tenchoe was imprisoned to 15 years in jail and slapped with a fine of 10, 000 renminbi. Tenchoe is currently serving hard labour in Chushul prison, located near Lhasa. Tenchoe was forcibly detained by Lhasa city's Public Security Bureau days after the peaceful protest on 10 March last year, as police said they have pictures of Tenchoe taking part in the protest. During his detention till mid-April, Tenchoe was interrogated using his father's background as a pretext.  His father identified as Mr Khedup took active participation in political activities in Tibet for many years until he was compelled to leave Tibet for exile in Dharamsala in 1993. The police grilled Tenchoe to get evidence of instigation from his father.

Tenchoe alias Tenzin Choedak/File

Both were engaged in social works in Tibet after completing their school education from the Tibetan Children's Village in Dharamsala, India.

Migmar Dhondup was born in Dingri district in Shigatse Prefecture in 1973. He left Tibet in 1982 and received admission at the Tibetan Children's Village in Dharamsala, India, and completed his senior secondary school from TCV Bylakuppe in 1995. He chose business studies at a college in south India, following which he returned to Tibet to dedicate his service for the welfare of Tibetans living inside Tibet. He worked in Lhoka and Lhasa to help local Tibetan farmers and nomads in improving health condition and made plans for social development. He sought to get support from people living in western countries who are interested in the projects.

Tenchoe alias Tenzin Choedak, aged around 23, was born in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. He came to India around 1990 and completed his formal education up to class 11 from the Tibetan Children's Village in Dharamsala.  In 2005, he returned to Tibet and associated with an European NGO working for Red Cross. He dedicate his efforts in environmental protection projects in many areas, particularly in Lhasa and Shigatse.

According to the information received by the Central Tibetan Administration, as of 31 August 2009, about 223 Tibetans died and over 1,294 were seriously injured since the Chinese authorities brutally clamped down the peaceful demonstrations in Tibet since 10 March 2008.  Over 4,657 were arrested, 371 sentenced and more than 990 have simply disappeared.      

source tibet.net