CHN 270412
Whereabouts unknown/ Fear for safety
The International Secretariat of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in the People’s Republic of China.
TheInternational Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), a member of OMCT SOS-Torture Network, about the arrest of Lo Lo, a well-known Tibetan singer, on 19 April 2012. His whereabouts and fate since then are unclear. OMCT is gravely concerned for his safety.
According to the information received, on 19 April 2012, Lo Lo, 29 years old, was arrested and taken to an unknown location by local police officers of Dhomda village, in Trindu (Chinese: Chengdu) County, Jyekundo (Chinese: Yushu) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province.
According to the same information received, Lo Lo released a few months earlier an album titled “Raise the Tibetan Flag, Children of the Snow land”. The album reportedly contains 14 songs with lyrics calling for Tibet’s independence, unity of the Tibetan people and the return of his Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet. It is believed that Lo Lo was arrested solely on the basis of his political songs.
The International Secretariat of OMCT is gravely concerned about the safety of Lo Lo, as his whereabouts and fate remain unknown. OMCT urges the competent authorities to guarantee his physical and psychological integrity at all times, in accordance with international human rights law, in particular the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and to immediately locate and disclose his whereabouts.
OMCT further calls on the competent authorities to order his immediate release in the absence of valid legal charges that are consistent with international law and standards, or, if such charges exist, bring him promptly before an impartial, independent and competent tribunal and guarantee his procedural rights at all times, including immediate and unconditional access to a lawyer of his choice.
Actions Requested
Please write to the authorities in the People’s Republic of China urging them to:
i. Immediately locate and disclose the whereabouts of Lo Lo;
ii. Guarantee, in all circumstances, his physical and psychological integrity;
iii. Grant him immediate and full access to a lawyer of his choice and his families, as well as guarantee that he is examined by independent doctors and receives adequate medical care if necessary, in accordance, inter alia, with the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners;
iv. Order his immediate release in the absence of valid legal charges that are consistent with international law and standards, or, if such charges exist, bring him before an impartial, independent and competent tribunal and guarantee his procedural rights at all times;
v. Guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards.
Addresses
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Please also write to the embassies of the People’s Republic of China in your respective country.
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Geneva, 27 April 2012
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.
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