According to media reports, a local court official confirmed that Lobsang Dhondup was executed yesterday. If this it true, this would be the first known case of the execution of a Tibetan for alleged political offences in many years. Until now, the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR), home to the mainly Muslim Uighur minority, was the only place where Amnesty International has recorded executions of political prisoners in recent years.
"This case could signal a move by the Chinese authorities to extend the use of the death penalty to those branded as political opponents, 'separatists' or 'terrorists' beyond the XUAR," Amnesty International said.
Lobsang Dhondup’s co-defendant, the Tibetan religious leader, Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche, had been given a death sentence with a two-year suspention of execution in connection with the same case. His appeal was also rejected by the Sichuan High People’s Court yesterday.
Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche was reportedly held incommunicado for eight months following his arrest. On 21 January, Radio Free Asia reported having received a secret tape recording made by Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche in his prison cell in which he claims he has been falsely accused and protests his innocence.
"This case could signal a move by the Chinese authorities to extend the use of the death penalty to those branded as political opponents, 'separatists' or 'terrorists' beyond the XUAR," Amnesty International said.
Lobsang Dhondup’s co-defendant, the Tibetan religious leader, Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche, had been given a death sentence with a two-year suspention of execution in connection with the same case. His appeal was also rejected by the Sichuan High People’s Court yesterday.
Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche was reportedly held incommunicado for eight months following his arrest. On 21 January, Radio Free Asia reported having received a secret tape recording made by Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche in his prison cell in which he claims he has been falsely accused and protests his innocence.