China sentences Tibetan activist to 5 years for separatism
BEIJING — A Chinese judge sentenced a Tibetan shopkeeper to five years in prison for inciting separatism, based on his comments in a New York Times documentary in which the man talked about the erosion of his culture and language in the tightly secured region.
Tashi Wangchuk’s lawyer Liang Xiaojun told The Associated Press that his client earlier said he planned to appeal the sentence handed down by a judge in the western city of Yushu in Qinghai province.
Liang said he was unable to comment further due to a court-issued gag order.
Rights groups condemned the sentence, saying he had committed no crime either under international law or the Chinese constitution.