Tibetans and Supporters Call for Jailed Filmmaker’s Release in Tokyo

By Tsering Dorje

Claiming the release of Tibetan filmmaker Dhondup Wangchen on 1st August,
SFT Japan(Student for a Free Tibet Japan, the representative Tsering Dorjee) made a protest to the Embassy of China in Japan on 1st August. It forms part of the campaign launched by SFT (Headquarters in New York City). About fifteen protesters gathered in Tokyo including three Tibetans: Kelsan Dhondup(KD), the representative of Tibetan Community Japan, and two Tibet supporters from Amnesty International Japan.

Five protesters at a time were permitted to chant in chorus in front of the Embassy main gate. Tsering Dorjee and other participants made appeals with photographs of Dhondup Wangchen’s face or other items in their hands and shouted the slogans, “Return Dhondup Wangchen to his family”, “Engage a lawyer”, “Let him receive medical treatment” or “Release innocent Dhondup Wanchen”.

Afterward, SFT Japan issued a statement; freedom of Expression is a part of fundamental human rights, which must be respected in international society and also secured by the constitution of China. Holding Dhondup Wangchen in custody shows that China is never ” a constitutional state”.

Tsering Dorjee dropped a five-point petition into the Chinese Embassy mailbox saying “prompt unconditional release of Dhondup Wangchen”, “guarantee of his safety and humanitarian treatment to him” and “guarantee of needed medical treatment to him”.

Original reporting by SFT Japan.

Click here to view the youtube video
Click here to view photos from the protest