Delays to Tibetans’ Appeals Exacerbated by the Pandemic

By Corinne Dobinson / May 10, 2020;

Anya Sengdra

The imprisoned Tibetan activist Anya Sengdra’s appeal hearing has been postponed indefinitely; the reason reported as being due to a judge suddenly being taken ill. He was detained in September 2019 for “gathering people to disturb public order” and “picking quarrels and provoking trouble”. Sentenced in December 2019 for seven years, his appeal hearing was due on April 27.

The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), a non-government organisation which supports the human rights of Tibetans and promotes democracy, criticises the Chinese government, saying Sengdra and his associates are “[…] victims of the corrupt government practices and a fettered judiciary that uses law as a weapon to crush peaceful dissent and criticisms against the Party-state.” It claims that charges of “provoking trouble” and “public order disturbance” are used frequently to persecute activists and are conveniently vague.

Tashi Wangchuk

TCHRD suggests the delay could signal attempts to prolong the appeal processes of Tibetan prisoners held by China and says there are concerns that the pandemic is being used as an excuse. TCHRD also cites the case of Tashi Wangchuk, imprisoned for five years on a charge of inciting separatism. His appeal has been delayed due to his lawyers being denied access to him because of the pandemic, even though restrictions are easing.

Tashi Wangchuk’s imprisonment is related to an interview with the New York Times in November 2015, where he expressed concerns regarding the potential disappearance of the Tibetan language in Tibet. Detained in January 2016, he did not stand trial until May 2018. Two previous attempts by his lawyers to gain access were also refused: in August 2019 they were asked to produce a letter of introduction from the Beijing Justice Bureau, a demand TCHRD claim is illegal; in January 2019 they were ordered to obtain approval from a higher authority.

TCHRD claims each denial has been an attempt to obstruct the appeal. It has also called for the immediate and unconditional release of Anya Sengdra and his associates.