Sentenced to Four and Half Years for Calling for Panchen Lama’s Release

By Samten / May 10, 2019;

Wangche with his sister Dolkar
Photo: tibettimes

Sershul County People’s Court in Kardze handed a jail term to a Tibetan youth on May 8 for calling for the release of Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Panchen Lama. His aunt was also accused of spreading the news of his arrest, reports Radio Free Asia(RFA).

Wangchen, 20, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison while his aunt Dolkar was given a one year and three month prison term for sharing news of Wangchen’s protest outside the region. Lobsang and Yonten, who were arrested with Wangchen on April 29, were each fined 15,000 yuan (US$2,200 / £1,700) and ordered to attend political re-education classes on “issues of national security” for six months, said RFA’s source.

Wangchen made his living in horse riding competitions. During a prayer flag hanging session, he prayed loudly for the release of Gendhun Choekyi Nyima – the 11th Panchen Lama – and for the reunion of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama in Tibet while there were other Tibetans around. The incident took place on a hillside near a monastery in Sershul.

Along with Wangchen, three other Tibetans were arrested as his accomplices once they had returned from the hill to the town.

Police called his aunt Dolkar for questioning on May 3 and announced that no more than five family members would be allowed into the court hearing on May 7. RFA’s Tibetan source said that Wangchen walked unsteadily to court making them believe that he had been tortured while in police custody. However, no one was allowed access to him to confirm his wellbeing.

Speaking to RFA, the source said “We don’t know where Wangchen and his aunt were taken after they were sentenced, and his family was not allowed to provide lawyers to represent him in court,” He added that the situation is tense as the place is under a security clampdown.

Last seen photo of the 11th Panchen Lama – Gendhun Choekyi Nyima

On May 17, 1995, His Holiness the Dalai Lama recognised six year old Gendhun Choekyi Nyima as the 11th reincarnation of Tibet’s spiritual leader Panchen Lama. Three days later, Nyima and his parents were abducted by the Chinese government and have been missing since then. The last seen photo of him was at the age of six. This year marks the 30th birthday of Gendhun Choekyi Nyima. Tibetans across the world marked the day with calls for his release.

The Chinese government picked another boy, Gyaltsen Norbu, and installed him as the 11th Panchen Lama; he currently serving as the Vice President of the Buddhist Association of China.