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Urgent campaigns / Urgent Interventions / China / 2014 / March

China: Death of Mr Goshul Lobsang following torture suffered in detention_OMCT calls for an immediate investigation

CHN 270314

Death caused by torture

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.

Brief description of the situation

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 death of Mr Goshul Lobsang, a 43-year-old Tibetan political prisoner released on medical parole late 2013, following torture suffered in detention.  

According to the information received, on 19 March 2014, Mr Goshul Lobsang died at his home at Bhelban Township in Machu County in Kanlho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in China’s Gansu Province.

According to the same information received, Mr Goshul Lobsang was repeatedly tortured by the Chinese police and the prison authorities while in detention (see background information). The torture allegedly included severe beating and repeated piercing and penetration of tooth pick-like objects into the tops of his fingernails and cuticles. Mr Goshul Lobsang never received appropriate medical care during his detention. He was reportedly only given all kinds of pain-relief injections that only worsened his condition. On 27 October 2013, he was released on medical parole. It is believed that the authorities decided to release him since they feared that he would die in custody.

Upon release from prison, Mr Goshul Lobsang had reportedly lost a lot of weight. He was unable to speak, walk, eat or drink. He died less than five months after his release on medical parole.

The International Secretariat of OMCT is gravely concerned about the death of Mr Goshul Lobsang caused by torture and other ill-treatment suffered while in detention. OMCT urges the competent Chinese authorities to carry out a prompt, effective, thorough, independent and impartial investigation into the circumstances of the death of Mr Goshul Lobsang, the result of which must be made public, in order to bring those responsible before a competent, independent and impartial tribunal and apply penal, civil, and/or administrative sanctions as provided by law.

OMCT recalls that the authorities have to fulfil their obligations under international human rights law, notably the UN Convention Against Torture, to protect the right to life and the right not be subjected to torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and to bringing to justice those responsible for violating these rights.

Background information

Mr Goshul Lobsang was arrested on 16 May 2010 for allegedly leading a protest in 2008 against the Chinese authorities at Bhelban Township, in Machu County. In December 2010, the Gannan Intermediate People’s Court sentenced him to 12 years in prison and he was imprisoned in Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu Province.

Actions Requested

Please write to the authorities in the People’s Republic of China urging them to:

i.               Carry out a prompt, effective, thorough, independent and impartial investigation into the death of Mr Goshul Lobsang in accordance with international human rights standards, the result of which must be made public,in order to bring those responsible before a competent, independent and impartial tribunal and apply penal, civil and/or administrative sanctions as provided by law;

ii.              Ensure that adequate, effective and prompt reparation, including adequate compensation, is granted to the victim’s family;

iii.            Guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards;

iv.            Ensure that all persons deprived of their liberty are treated with humanity and respect for the inherent dignity of the human person as guaranteed by international human rights law;

v.              Ratify the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention Against Torture.

Addresses

·       Mr. Li Keqiang Guojiazhongli, Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of China, Guojia Zongli, The State Council General Office, 2 Fuyoujie, Xichengqu, Beijingshi 100017, People’s Republic of China, Fax: +86 10 65961109 (c/o Ministry of Foreign Affairs) Email: notice@scio.gov.cn

·       Minister of Justice of the People’s Republic of China, Wu Aiying Buzhang Sifabu, 10 Chaoyangmen Nandajie, Chaoyangqu, Beijingshi 100020, People’s Republic of China, Fax: +86 10 6529 2345, Emails: minister@legalinfo.gov.cn / pfmaster@legalinfo.gov.cn

·       Ambassador Wu Hailong, Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China, Chemin de Surville 11, P.O. Box 85, 1213 Petit-Lancy 2, Geneva, Switzerland, Fax: +41 22 7937014, E-mail: chinamission_gva@mfa.gov.cn

                                                                  

Please also write to the embassies of the People’s Republic of China in your respective country.

***

Geneva, 27 March 2014

Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.

Properties

Date: March 27, 2014
Activity: Urgent campaigns
Type: Urgent Interventions
Country: China
Subjects: Arbitrary arrests and enforced disappearances, Torture and violence

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