Sign Petition

Take action now by signing this petition which is adressed to Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Act now to help release Dhondup Wangchen!

Dear President Xi Jinping,

I am writing to express my deep concern about Dhondup Wangchen (当知项欠, dangzhi xiangqian), a Tibetan filmmaker, who I understand to have been given a six year in prison sentence on 28 December 2009.

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, 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.

Sincerely,