Dharamshala: - The international community and Tibetans urged to demand an immediate release of Runggye Adak and other Tibetan political prisoners held in Chinese prisons in Tibet.
After serving six years of his eight-year prison sentence for a public speech calling the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet in protests, his close relative Ven Atruk Tseten told The Tibet Post International (TPI) that his relative has been suffering from a long-lasting health condition or illnesses, including an eye and kidney damage and severe leg pain with his continued abuse and torture in the Chinese prison.
Atruk Tseten, a Tibetan MP issued an unofficial statement on Thursday August 1, 2013. "Today is August. 1, I would like to remind you all that it is unforgettable day for us to remember Runggye Adak, a Tibetan man who has bravely raised calls for the unity of Tibetans and freedom for Tibet."
"The Chinese authorities in Lithang County are harassing Adak's family members and relatives by prohibiting them from any official job title and barring them from attending any official event taking place in their town, directly dealing with Runggye Adak's issue," said The Tibetan MP, citing recent sources in the region.
He has urged Tibetans and supporters around the world and international community to press the Chinese Government to release the Tibetan man who was jailed for making a public speech calling the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet and the release of Tibetan political prisoners.
Tseten is strongly concerned about the health of imprisoned Tibetan nomad who does not receive proper medical care in the Chinese prison. He said that that "Runggye Adak suffering from various long-term and serious medical conditions. Denial of the right to access medical treatment is a human rights violation, attempting to abuse the Tibetan prisoners."
During a crowd of thousands who had gathered for the Lithang horse racing festival in 2007, Adak, a brave Tibetan nomad who publicly called for the return of the Dalai Lama and release of the 11th Panchen Lama Gendhun Choekyi Nyima and Tulku Tenzin Delek Rinpoche.
Runggye Adak stepped onstage at the official function, boldly grabbed the microphone and addressed a crowd of several thousand Tibetans. He said: "If we cannot invite His Holiness the Dalai Lama home, we will not have freedom of religion and happiness in Tibet."
Following his arrest, thousands of Tibetans from all over the county and surrounding areas gathered near the local government office demanding his immediate release. The Chinese authorities responded by deploying thousands of paramilitary forces and police to crackdown on the peaceful protesters.
Less than a minute into his speech, Adak was immediately arrested and was later sentenced to eight years in prison on charges of "inciting to split the country" and for "severely disrupting public order."
At his sentencing, Adak told the court, "I wanted His Holiness the Dalai Lama to return, and I wanted to raise Tibetan concerns and grievances, as there is no outlet for us to do so. That made me sad and made me act."
Three others, Atruk Lobo, a respected senior monk from Lithang monastery, was sentenced to 10 years for "colluding with foreign separatist force to split the country," Tibetan singer, Jamyang Kunchen was sentenced to nine years, and Atruk Lothok received a three-year sentence for helping to send photos abroad.
Three of Adak's nephews and four other Tibetans were arrested and charged along with him, Lobsang Phuntsok, Atruk Lothok and Kalsanng Gyatso were released after receiving jail terms of one and a half, three years and five years, respectively. Jamyang Tenzin was re-arrested after serving a three-year jail term and he was sentenced to another three years in prison, increased to a six years of jail term.
"Imprisonment for peaceful expression is regarded throughout the modern world as a direct violation of human rights. If China is to maintain its place in the ever globalizing economy, it must learn to respect those rights and not to fear the peaceful voices of people in China and Tibet," Tseten said.
China's consistent use of excessive military force to stifle dissent has resulted in widespread human rights abuses including multiple cases of arbitrary arrests, political imprisonment, torture and execution.
