04 December 2007
Relatives of jailed nomads appeal convictions in Sichuan
(RFA) The relatives of four Tibetan nomads - Runggye Adak, his nephew, Adak Lupoe, Jamyang Kunkhyen, a musician and teacher, and Jarib Lothog - who were handed jail terms of up to 10 years following demonstrations in Lithang, (traditionally in Kham, now part of Sichuan province) in August have appealed against their sentences. An official at the People's High Court in the provincial capital of Chengdu told Radio Free Asia's (RFA) Tibetan service: "Both verbal and written information was received by the court". "You will learn the decision of the court in due course. One should trust in the law of China", the official said in response to questions about the appeal. Gyatso Adak and Chaktsa Lobsang travelled first to Chengdu to file the appeal. Sonam Dolma, wife of Runggye Adak, and Tsewang Dolma, mother of Adak Lupoe, followed on at the request of the Court, sources in the region said. Residents of Runggye Adak's nomadic village submitted an appeal asking for justice, and two representatives, Samten and Lobsang Norbu, reached Chengdu with the documents.