Urgent Action Update: TIBETAN MONK HELD INCOMMUNICADO FOR 2 YEARS (China: UA 72.21)

Tibetan monk Rinchen Tsultrim was sentenced to four years and six months’ imprisonment in a secret trial for “inciting secession” after expressing political views on his WeChat account. Held incommunicado since August 1, 2019, his family members only learned of the trial, his crime and whereabouts through a response from the Chinese authorities to the United Nations human rights experts in August 2021. According to international human rights law and standards, no one should be imprisoned solely for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression. Without access to family and legal representation, there are grave concerns for Rinchen Tsultrim’s condition and wellbeing.

TAKE ACTION:

1. Please take action as-soon-as possible. This Urgent Action expires on January 26, 2022.
2. Write a letter in your own words or using the sample below as a guide to one or both government officials listed. You can also email, fax, call or Tweet them.
3. Click here to let us know the actions you took on Urgent Action 72.21. It’s important to report because we share the total number with the officials we are trying to persuade and the people we are trying to help.

CONTACT INFORMATION

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SAMPLE LETTER Dear Director Chen, I am writing to express my concern about Rinchen Tsultrim (仁青持真), a Tibetan Monk who was sentenced to four years and six months’ imprisonment in November 2020 for “inciting secession” after a secret trial. His family members only learned of the trial, his crime and that he is held in Aba Prison in Sichuan Province through a response from the Chinese authorities to four United Nations human rights experts in August 2021. It is distressing to learn that Rinchen Tsultrim is imprisoned because of his expression of his political views on his WeChat account. According to international human rights law and standards, no one should be imprisoned solely for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression. I am alarmed to learn that Rinchen Tsultrim has been held incommunicado since he was arrested on August 1, 2019. No official information about his condition has been directly shared with his family to date. Without regular access to family and legal representation of his choice, I am gravely concerned about his condition and wellbeing. I therefore call on you to:

• Immediately release Rinchen Tsultrim unless there is sufficient, credible and admissible evidence that he committed an internationally recognized offence and is granted a fair trial in line with international standards;
• Pending his release, ensure that he has regular, unrestricted access to his family and lawyers of his choice and is not subjected to torture or other ill-treatment.

Sincerely, [YOUR NAME] ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

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