Also on www.rfa.org:
Multimedia Journey Down the Mekong
www.rfa.org/english/multimedia/MekongProject
<http://www.rfa.org/english/multimedia/MekongProject>
China Jails Tibetan Filmmaker
HONG KONG, Jan. 6, 2010-Authorities in the northwestern Chinese province
of Qinghai have handed a six-year jail sentence to a Tibetan filmmaker
who returned from exile to make a documentary about his homeland, Radio
Free Asia (RFA) reports.
The Xilin People's Court handed the sentence to Dhondup Wangchen, the
producer of the documentary "Leaving Fear Behind," in a secret trial
that found him guilty of "splitting the motherland," Tibetan sources
told RFA's Tibetan service.
"Dhondup Wangchen, the producer of 'Leaving Fear Behind,' was sentenced
six years to prison," a Tibetan from the Amdo region identified as
Thardrub said.
"We were checking around about it...later, we were able to confirm that
he was sentenced secretly by Xilin People's Court in Qinghai on Dec. 28,
2009."
Dhondup Wangchen's relatives were given no information about his trial
or sentencing, he added.
"They were not informed about the sentencing," Thardrub said. "The
relatives argue that he is innocent and he did not commit any
crime...They are planning to appeal his sentence in the higher courts."
Jamyang Tsultrim, a relative of Dhondup Wangchen now living in
Switzerland, said the sentencing of Dhondup Wangchen was a clear
indication of how Tibetans were deprived of freedom of expression in
China.
"His relatives made arrangements for a lawyer to represent him, but the
lawyers were not allowed to represent him," Jamyang Tsultrim said.
"He was also suffering from liver problems and was denied any kind of
medical treatment," he added.
Short documentary
Jamyang Tsultrim also said Dhondup Wangchen's relatives weren't informed
about his detention, his health problems, or his sentencing.
The Paris-based press freedom group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) ran
a petition campaign following Dhondup Wangchen's detention on March 23,
2008, calling him "a courageous man who took the risk of returning to
his country to interview other Tibetans."
Dhondup Wangchen's film, "Leaving Fear Behind" (
www.leavingfearbehind.com), is a 25-minute documentary including
interviews with Tibetans in the Amdo region expressing their views on
Tibet's exiled leader the Dalai Lama, the Beijing Olympics, and Chinese
laws.
The authorities also detained Jigme Gyatso, a monk from the Kham region,
at the same time, but released him on Oct. 15. He later said he was
tortured in detention.
"Leaving Fear Behind" was produced outside China after Dhondup Wangchen
managed to send footage out of Tibet before the authorities caught up
with him.
It was shown to foreign journalists in Beijing during the Olympic Games.
Many Tibetans have chafed for years under Chinese rule.
Rioting rocked the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, in March 2008 and spread to
Tibetan-populated regions of western China, causing official
embarrassment ahead of the August 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Chinese officials say 21 people-including three Tibetan protesters-died
in the violence.
The India-based Tibetan government-in-exile estimates that 220 Tibetans
were killed and 7,000 were detained in a subsequent region-wide
crackdown.
Original reporting by RFA's Tibetan service. Translated by Karma Dorjee.
Written for the Web in English by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Sarah
Jackson-Han.
Radio Free Asia is a private, nonprofit corporation broadcasting and
publishing online news, information, and commentary in nine East Asian
languages to listeners who do not have access to full and free news
media. RFA's broadcasts seek to promote the rights of freedom of opinion
and expression, including the freedom to seek, receive, and impart
information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. RFA
is funded by an annual grant from the Broadcasting Board of Governors.
If you no longer wish to receive RFA news releases, send an e-mail to
engnews-leave(a)rfanews.org
To add your name to our mailing list, send an e-mail to
engnews-join(a)rfanews.org #####
