Three Tibetan Writers Detained, One Sentenced

On 15 February 2012, popular Tibetan writer Gangkye Drubpa Kyab was detained by Chinese security personnel. In the night of 15 February, a team of around 20 police officers picked up 33-yr-old Gangkye Drubpa Kyab and raided his home in Serta (Chinese: Seda) County, Sichuan Province.

Sources say that Gangkye's wife Wangchuk Lhamo asked the security officers why and where they were taking her husband; to which the officers replied that they had to question him about something.. Gangkye has been a teacher for more than 10 years in Serta, Kardze TiAP. He is a prominent writer and author of 'Dhi Ring Ghi Mikchu' (rough translation: Today's Tears). Gangkye Drubpa Kyab is son of father Thupnye and mother Wanglo.

He is married to Wangchuk Lhamo and has a son and a daughter. In another incident, Dawa Dorjee, a well-known writer and a popular advocate of Tibet's traditional culture and language, was detained by Chinese security personnel. On 3 February 2012, Dawa Dorjee, in his 20's, was arrested from Lhasa Gonggar Airport and taken to an undisclosed location.

He was returning from Chengdu city, after participating in a cultural conference there. Dawa had published the book 'Lahm' (English translation: 'Road'). The book discusses democracy, freedom and human rights. He is from Deru County, Nagchu Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region. Dawa Dorjee's whereabouts remain unknown. Over a week ago, on 12 February, the Lhasa People's Intermediate Court sentenced a famous Tibetan writer, Norbu Tsering, to a two-year imprisonment. Norbu Tsering, 28-yr-old, from Pelyul (Chinese: Baiyu) County, Sichuan Province was arrested last year.

A monk of Rachap Monastery and a writer by passion, Norbu Tsering wrote ' If you have Oppression and Repression, Then I have Compassion and Truth' (rough translation) in 2008. After his sentencing, he was taken to Chushul prison where he is currently serving his sentence. Details are still not available on Norbu Tsering's exact charges. Nor it is known on what day and in what manner he was arrested and sentenced.

TCHRD PRESS RELEASE
20 February 2012, Dharamsala