Voice of America, 5/7/97

By TOM KORSKI

Published by: THE WORLD UYGHUR NETWORK NEWS May 7, 1997

INTRO: CHINA HAS JAILED THREE TIBETANS ON CHARGES OF LEAKING

STATE SECRETS AND CONSPIRING TO "SPLIT THE COUNTRY." THE JAILED

DEFENDANTS INCLUDE QAZHA QAMBA CHILAI, A FORMER MEMBER OF THE

CHINESE PEOPLE'S POLITICAL CONSULTATIVE CONFERENCE. TOM KORSKI

REPORTS FROM BEIJING ALL THREE WERE IMPRISONED FOLLOWING A SECRET

TRIAL.

TEXT: CHINA ANNOUNCED THE PRISON SENTENCES IN A TERSE STATEMENT

ISSUED BY A PEOPLE'S COURT IN TIBET. AUTHORITIES SAY THREE

TIBETANS WERE IMPRISONED FOR UP TO SIX YEARS ON A RANGE OF

CRIMINAL CHARGES, INCLUDING DISCLOSURE OF STATE SECRETS AND A

CHARGE OF "PLOTTING TO SPLIT THE COUNTRY".

THE PRISONERS INCLUDE A FORMER VICE-CHAIRMAN OF TIBET'S

DELEGATION TO CHINA'S PEOPLE'S POLITICAL CONSULTATIVE CONFERENCE,

A SENIOR STATE ADVISORY GROUP. OTHER DEFENDANTS INCLUDE A

TIBETAN EXECUTIVE WITH A STATE-OWNED COMPANY, AND A FORMER LOCAL

ADMINISTRATOR. IN AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT, CHINA'S STATE NEWS

AGENCY XINHUA SAYS THE THREE TIBETANS "COLLUDED WITH SEPARATIST

FORCES ABROAD."

AUTHORITIES REFUSE TO DISCLOSE DETAILS. ACCORDING TO XINHUA, TWO

OF THE DEFENDANTS WERE TRIED WITHOUT A LAWYER, BY THEIR OWN

CHOICE. A THIRD DEFENDANT WAS GRANTED LEGAL COUNSEL. THE XINHUA

REPORT SUGGESTS THE THREE INDIVIDUALS WERE BELIEVED TO BE

SYMPATHETIC TO TIBET'S GOVERNMENT-IN-EXILE, HEADQUARTERED IN

INDIA AND LED BY THE DALAI LAMA.

OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION OF THE COURT'S VERDICT CAME WEDNESDAY. BUT

AUTHORITIES SAY THE THREE DEFENDANTS WERE SECRETLY PLACED ON

TRIAL APRIL 21 -- JUST TWO DAYS BEFORE PRESIDENT CLINTON MET WITH

THE DALAI LAMA IN WASHINGTON. AT THAT MEETING, THE WHITE HOUSE

APPEALED TO CHINA TO "ENTER INTO A DIALOGUE" WITH TIBET'S

SPIRITUAL LEADER. BEIJING REFUSES TO ATTEND DIRECT TALKS WITH

TIBET'S GOVERNMENT-IN-EXILE.

IN RECENT WEEKS, AUTHORITIES HAVE COMPLAINED OF INCREASING UNREST

IN TIBET. CHINA'S STATE MEDIA CLAIMS WHAT ARE TERMED "ILLEGAL

ACTIVITIES" HAVE BECOME RAMPANT, ALLEGING THAT TIBETAN BUDDHISTS

ARE ENGAGED IN "POLITICAL ACTIVITIES."

TIBET'S EXILED LEADERS ACCUSE CHINA OF WAGING A CAMPAIGN OF

"CULTURAL GENOCIDE" AND RELIGIOUS REPRESSION IN TIBET, WHICH HAS

BEEN OCCUPIED BY THE CHINESE ARMY SINCE 1950. (SIGNED)