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Chinese court sentences yet another Tibetan activist to three years
Paljor, 38, participated in anti-Chinese protests in March. The demonstrations had erupted after the death of the Tibetan young monk Phuntsok, who sacrificed himself in remembrance of the massacre carried out by the Chinese army in 2008. Since March, at least six other Tibetans arrested.
Dharamasala (AsiaNews / RFA) - A court in Sichuan, the south-western province of China, has sentenced Tibetan activist Paljor, 38, to three years in prison for taking part in anti-Chinese protests in Ngaba March 16 last. The news was reported by the Tibetan exiles to Radio Free Asia (RFA). The monks Kanyag Tsering and Lobsang Yeshe, from Kirti Monastery, report that the man is imprisoned in Mianyang (Sichuan).
Protests broke out after the death of a young monk, Phuntsok, who set himself on fire last March 16. The gesture was made in memory of anti-Chinese protests of March 16, 2008, bloodily repressed by the Chinese army who fired on the unarmed crowd. At that time, the death toll was at least 13 deaths in the area and over 200 throughout Tibet.
In addition to Puljor, other Tibetans - lay and monks – have been arrested and imprisoned. Among these, as stated by the monks, Tsering and Yeshe: Kalsang, taken on March 16, Gerig, March 19, 16 year-old Dorjee, and 30 year-old monk Kirt Tsekho since the beginning of April, the monk Lonsang Jigme, April 22, Gephel late May.
"But these - explain the two monks - are just some of the known cases of people arrested after 16 March. The fate of many others remains unknown. "