Incarcerated Tibetan Monk’s Health At Grave Risk 

9-2-2022

Alexandros Anthis

Tibet and Human Rights Researcher,

Global Human Rights Defence

Tibetan monk and religious philosopher, Go Sherab Gyatso, imprisoned since October 26, 2020, faces serious health risks in custody. Sources claim that the monk’s health has recently deteriorated. Go Sherab Gyatso is suffering from a chronic lung illness that probably cannot be treated by the healthcare department of the prison facilities.

In 2020, he was arrested in Chengdu which is the capital of Sichuan Province. According to a statement in August 2021, Chinese authorities publicly announced his arrest, after a request from three United Nations human rights experts. After his apprehension, the monk was transferred to Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR).

In Lhasa, Go Sherab Gyatso was charged with inciting secession on February 3, 2021. Apart from the fact that his trial took place, the authorities did not reveal its date or progress. However, according to Tibetan sources, he was sentenced to ten years imprisonment, in Chushul Prison which lies 20 kilometers southwest of Lhasa.

It is reported that the monk is not allowed visitors, while his health remains frail. He has been subject to detention three times in the past. In one of those times, he was serving a three-year sentence for reasons that were not publicly disclosed from November 1998 to November 2001. During that time, he contracted the lung condition that has now greatly debilitated his health.

As sources support, Chinese officials have not substantiated the charge of secession. Commentators contend that there is no actual evidence of his involvement in any criminal activity in the TAR region or elsewhere. Yet, they believe that the real reason behind his arrest is the authorities goal to intimidate other Tibetan activists.

The late reports of his state of health have not been corroborated. Nevertheless, human rights organisations suggest that the past treatment of Tibetan prisoners by the Chinese authorities enhances the reports’ veracity. Commentators claim that Go Sherab Gyatso’s case will turn from wrongful imprisonment to a death sentence.

Sources and further reading:

Human Rights Watch (2022, February 9). China: Imprisoned Tibetan Monk’s Health in Peril. Retrieved February 9, 2022 from https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/02/09/china-imprisoned-tibetan-monks-health-peril 

Ani news (2022, February 9). China: Imprisoned Tibetan monk's health in peril. Retrieved February 9, 2022 from https://www.aninews.in/news/world/asia/china-imprisoned-tibetan-monks-health-in-peril20220209142210/