Dhondup Wangchen Action at Zurich Chinese Consulate

Posted by Nick on Jul 31, 2009 in General | 1 comment

From Phayul.com

Dharamsala, July 31 – Three Tibet activists associated with the group, Tibetan Youth Association in Europe chained themselves with handcuffs in front of the Chinese Consulate in Zurich today to protest against the imminent trial of the Tibetan filmmaker Dhondup Wangchen.

Dhondup Wangchen, 35, was arrested in March 2008 for making the documentary, “Leaving Fear Behind”. There is an apparent fear among Tibetans and activists alike that Dhondup Wangchen might be sentenced to up to 15 years of imprisonment.

According to information received from Qinghai’s provincial capital, Xining, the trial will start soon, more than eighteen months after Dhondup Wangchen and his helper Golog Jigme were first arrested in March 2008. By denying basic information to the family about the charges, the Chinese authorities have violated the minimum rights that Chinese law provides to accused persons, said TYAE . Moreover, the family appointed lawyer was forced to lay down his mandate in July 2009 and was replaced by a court appointed defense lawyer from Xining a few days ago, it said.

The Tibetan Youth Association in Europe pledges to launch more campaigns for the Tibetan filmmaker and other imprisoned Tibetans including an initiative with filmmakers, writers and artists in Europe and other parts of the world in solidarity with Dhondup Wangchen.

Dhondup’s film “leaving fear behind” documents the Tibetan resentment against Chinese rule and features interviews with Tibetans that sharply criticize the Chinese government policies in Tibet. The tapes of the film were smuggled out of Tibet to Switzerland where Dhondup’s cousin edited them and distributed around the world bringing a much needed boost for the Tibetan campaign against the Beijing Olympics, 2008.
Charged with “inciting separatism”, Wangchen was recently denied the right to be represented by the lawyer chosen by his family. His wife, living in Dharamsala, recently said she feared her husband who suffers from hepatitis B is not given proper medical care in the prison.

Tibetans and supporters worldwide have launched various campaigns to secure the release of Dhondup Wangchen.

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