A group of four United Nations (UN) Human Rights experts, together with the UN’s Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, issued a statement on May 19 calling for the release of Tibetan community leader Anya Sengdra. Expressing “deep concern” about the criminalisation of Sengdra’s legitimate work, the group have urged “[Chinese] authorities to comply with their obligations under international law, including by lifting the charges against Sengdra”. Sengdra was originally arrested on September 4, 2018 by Chinese officials in Gade County.
Anya Sengra, a Tibetan environmentalist and human rights defender, and a respected Tibetan civil society leader, was sentenced to seven years on December 6, 2019 for “provoking agitation” and gathering people “to disrupt public order,” according to a report by the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT), a United States based advocacy group who work to promote freedom for Tibetans and ensure their human rights and protect Tibetan culture and environment. Sengra campaigned against government corruption and environmental destruction caused by mining activities and was accused of forming two Wechat groups which included the words “anti-corruption” and “environmental protection”.
Sengdra was awaiting his appeal hearing which was scheduled to take place on April 27at the Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture Intermediate Court in Qinghai Province but it was postponed and there is no further update on his case. UN experts have expressed concern about reports on Sengdra’s declining mental and physical health while he held in detention.
A report by Free Tibet, a London based non-government organisation, has published quotes from various rights groups:
“The detention and sentence of A-Nya Sendgra are entirely politically motivated to intimidate the Tibetan people and their identity and the Chinese authorities must heed calls by UN experts, and the international community, to immediately and unconditionally release him and cease the criminalisation of Tibetans for peacefully exercising their human rights”- Padma Dolma, Co-Coordinator of Tibet Advocacy Coalition – a project developed to increase Tibet advocacy at the United Nations.
“China’s widespread attempts to criminalise Tibetans legitimate activities must be seen for what they are; blatant abuses of an authoritarian government hell bent on stamping out any criticism of the failed Tibet policies”- Lobsang Yangtso from the International Tibet Network.
“This intervention from five United Nations experts is a necessary counterweight to China’s rampant disregard for human rights in Tibet. Tibetans like A-Nya Sengdra are regarded as heroes in their community for their willingness to challenge wrongs such as environmental destruction and government corruption. It is this bravery that has caused Chinese authorities to panic, to detain, mistreat and sentence him to prison after a sham trial. China must heed the call of these experts, release A-Nya Sengdra and listen to Tibetans’ calls for human rights and freedom”– John Jones, Free Tibet.
“The Chinese authorities have exploited the definition of ‘terrorism’, ‘separatism’, ‘extremism’ and ‘undermining ethnic unity’ to encompass peaceful protests, the sharing of information online and legitimate activities, resulting in peaceful Tibetan activists being treated as enemies of the state”– Gloria Montgomery from the Tibet Advocacy Coalition.
The UN experts are Mr Fernand de Varennes, Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues; Mr David Kaye, Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression; Ms Mary Lawlor, Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders; and Mr Nils Melzer, Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention members are Ms Leigh Toomey (Chair-Rapporteur), Ms Elina Steinerte (Vice-Chair), Mr José Antonio Guevara Bermúdez, Mr Roland Adjovi and Mr Seong-Phil Hong.
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