Release Dhondup Wangchen

Dhondup Wangchen is a Tibetan filmmaker, who is in prison in Tibet. He was arrested in March 2008 for filming interviews with Tibetans, in which they were asked their opinions about living under Chinese rule, about the Dalai Lama and about the Olympic Games. The interviews were later made into a powerful documentary, "Leaving Fear Behind" which has been screened in more than 30 countries.

Dhondup Wangchen has been charged with "inciting separatism" and his trial could start any day in Siling, eastern Tibet (Chinese: Xining, Qinghai Province). The lawyer chosen by his family has been prevented by the Chinese authorities from representing him, causing great concern about whether his trial will be fair. During his detention Dhondup Wangchen has been tortured and has not received medical treatment; Dhondup Wangchen suffers from Hepatatis B.

Please send the urgent letter below to Qiang Wei, Party Secretary of Qinghai Province, calling for Dhondup Wangchen's immediate release.

I am writing to express my concern about Dhondup Wangchen (当知项欠, dangzhi xiangqian), a Tibetan filmmaker, and call on you to release him without bringing him to trial.

Dhondup Wangchen was arrested in March 2008 and charged with "inciting separatism," but he was committing no crime, merely documenting the views of ordinary Tibetans in the lead up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Dhondup Wangchen has been tortured whilst in detention, is in poor health and has been denied medical treatment. Your government has prevented Dhondup Wangchen's lawyer from representing him when his trial begins in Xining which leads me to doubt the fairness of his trial and the validity of China's judicial system. Tibetans are routinely denied their basic legal rights and sentenced to lengthy prison terms for the peaceful expression of their views.

I call on you to release Dhondup Wangchen immediately and unconditionally. I further call on China to guarantee that he is not tortured or otherwise ill-treated, and has access to family, legal assistance of his choosing, and any medical care he may require, while he remains in custody.

Qiang Wei

Secretary of the CPC
Qinghai Provincial Committee