Lobsang Jamyang, Freelance
Medium:Internet
Charge:Anti-State
Imprisoned:April 17, 2015

Tibetan writer and blogger Lobsang Jamyang, also known as Lomig, was arrested by the Chinese police in Ngaba county in Sichuan province on April 17, 2015. In May 2016, the Wenchuan People's Court in Sichuan sentenced him to seven years and six months in prison in a secret trial after he was convicted of "leaking state secrets," the India-based Tibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy told CPJ.

According to an article on its website, people familiar with his case told the center that local authorities held Jamyang for more than a year without informing his family of his whereabouts and that he was beaten and tortured during this time. The article did not specify how he was allegedly tortured.

According to the website Tibet Express, Tibetan writers said they believe the conviction was over articles Jamyang published that were critical of the Chinese government's policies in Tibet, including on environmental degradation, restrictions on speech, and the causes of self-immolations and other protests in 2008. CPJ was unable to determine whether the articles were cited alongside his charge during the closed trial.

As well as writing for Tibetan websites such as Choeme, Sengdor and the blog Tsongon, Jamyang published a book titled "Surge of Yellow Mist," according to Tibet Express.

Jamyang was being held at Mianyang Prison in Sichuan province. After visiting him earlier in 2016, Jamyang's brother told the Tibetan Center for Human Rights that the writer is in poor health, but did not provide further details.

Disclaimer: © Committee to Protect Journalists. All rights reserved. Articles may be reproduced only with permission from CPJ.

This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.