Published: March 21, 2013
BEIJING — Three Tibetans from Qinghai Province have been given prison sentences for “inciting state secession,” according to a statement on an official provincial Web site. On Monday, a court in Haidong Prefecture sentenced the Tibetans — Kalsang Dhondup, Jigme Thabkey and Lobsang — to terms of six, five and four years, respectively. The online announcement said that the men used self-immolations by Tibetans for publicity purposes and circulated texts and photographs related to Tibetan independence,
spreading “bad influence locally and internationally.” Since 2009, at least 109 Tibetans have set fire to themselves to protest Chinese rule, and most have died. To deter the act, Chinese officials are trying to prosecute people associated with those who commit self-immolation. Tibetans opposed to Chinese rule say those who self-immolated did it out of frustration with Chinese policies.
