Edited by Pema Tso
Reported by Kalsang Jinpa
Translated by TenGyal
Tsongon Tsering from Tsaruma town, Khyungchu County in Ngaba Prefecture, has been sentenced to eight months on the false allegations of “stirring unrest in society out of personal spite”
According to reliable information received on November 29th 2024, the Khyungchu County Court tried young Tibetan environmentalist Tsongon Tsering on October 27th. He faced charges of “stirring unrest in society out of personal spite” and was sentenced to eight months in prison. Tsongon Tsering is currently being held at Khyungchu County Prison.
The source described, “ The Khyungchu County Court, having changed the nature of the case, charged Tsering of “stirring unrest in society out of personal spite” The court initially planned to sentence him to a minimum of 18 months in prison. However, considering that Tsering has no prior criminal record, he was instead given an eight-month sentence. The court also indicated that this decision is not final, emphasising that they will closely monitor the actions and responses of both the accused and his family before making a conclusive ruling.
The local community has shown unwavering solidarity and unity with Tsering’s petition to higher authorities, advocating for environmental protection and condemning the unjust physical attacks he endured. In response, the authorities have intensified their measures, seemingly to pressure the public. They announced plans to convene a court session on October 29th, requiring attendees to submit proof of their right to participate two or three days in advance. This requirement has significantly deterred many from attending, with only about ten individuals ultimately submitting the necessary documentation.
The same source went on to describe that as information about Tsering’s petition has spread widely in society, the Khyunghcu local authorities have begun to impose restrictions on the movements of the monastic and lay population in Khyungchu County, in particular the town of Tsaruma. Furthermore, the authorities have issued a directive banning felling and logging of trees from November.
Last year, Tsongon Tsering was injured in a physical attack by a group of Anhui Xianhe Construction Engineering Company (安徽先河建筑工程有限公司) employees. The attack was a retaliation for Tsering’s efforts to appeal to the authorities about the serious damage caused by the company’s large-scale sand mining on the banks of Dhang Chu River in Tsaruma. Yet, the Khyungchu County Court has blatantly mischaracterized the case by changing the issue from the serious dangers caused by the Company’s sand mining in the Dhangchu River to “stirring unrest in society out of personal spite”
On October 15th, Tsering published an appeal video on his account on the social media platform Kuaishou.In the video, he is explaining in detail that from May 2023 onwards, the Anhui Xianhe Construction Engineering Company, while working on the construction of the new highway in Tsuruma village, began to engage in illegal rock and sand mining and transportation on the banks of Dhangchu River near the road. He further stressed that the large-scale mining and transportation had caused serious damage to the local ecology and the lives of the residents and domestic cattle.
Tsongon Tsering is currently 29 and the only son of Phurkho and Wangdon. His father, Phurko, is around 60 and Wangdon, his mother is around 50. Tsering has always actively shouldered responsibility for local public issues. He was arrested and has remained in detention since October 22nd.
