Three Tibetan youth get two years' jail for self immolation links, independence protests

undated picture of Lhamo, 20, who will be behind bars for two years.  AUGUST 19: China has sentenced three Tibetan youth to two years’ imprisonment for alleged links with a series of self immolations in Tibet’s Rebkong region. The three were among several Tibetans arrested last year during protests in Rebkong against the Chinese government in the aftermath of fiery self immolation protests by six Tibetans in just two days. Another Tibetan is held without trial. Malho People’s Intermediate Court announced the verdict in a secret trial, a source said. Tsondue Choeden, a 19 year monk of Rebkong Rongwo monastery, 20 year old Lhamo from Dowa Khyinga Dewa, and a Dong-dhe Samphetsang family’s 17 year old son were all sentenced to two years in prison while another Tibetan, 18 year old Sodhbum from Dowa Kharkya Dewa is currently held under detention but has not been tried. Tibetans demonstrating against Chinese rule in Rongwo region of Rebkong, eastern Tibet on November 9, 2012. Tsondue Choeden is accused of instigating Kalsang Jinpa, who died immediately after he set himself ablaze on November 8 last year at Dolma square in Rebkong. Tsondue was arrested by Chinese Public Security Bureau officials on November 16 while on his way with a fellow monk Kunchok Sonam to Rongwo monastery for the post death ritual (first seveth day – duentsik dhangpo) for Kalsang Jinpa. Lhamo is accused of taking part in pro-independence protests and for bringing down the Chinese national flag during the protests following Kalsang Jinpa’s death. Dongdhe Samphetsang’s son is accused of taking part in independence protests. Sodhbum is accused of filling gasoline repeatedly in the motorcycle owned by a Tibetan who self immolated. He is held without trial at a detention centre in Xiling. More than 5000 students took to the steets of Rongwo town raising slogans for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s return and demanding freedom for the Tibetan people, a day after Kalsang Jinpa set himself ablaze and died immediately thereafter. The deepening crisis inside Tibet has witnessed large scale anti-China protests that saw self immolations by 121 Tibetans since 2009, demanding freedom and the return of the Dalai Lama from exile.