Tibetan Writer Goyon Released From Detention

Fleur Harmsen

Tibet and Human Rights Researcher,

Global Human Rights Defence.

Tibetan writer Go Yonten Sangpo, AKA Goyon, has been released from detention. He went missing in December 2021, and his detention was politically motivated, as  Go Yonten Sangpo’s work aims to uphold Tibetan culture and literary traditions (Lhamo, 2022). 

In November 2022, the writer shared a post on his WeChat account to announce the publication of one of his works of translation (Lhamo, 2022). Go Yonten Sangpo had already written about his previous detention in 2010, where he described the torture he was subjected to by Chinese authorities. He narrated China’s interrogation practices, where he was severely beaten chained to a metal chair (TCHRD, 2022). 

China’s treatment of Go Yonten Sangpo violates international law. Article 1 of the Convention Against Torture (CAT) explains the meaning of the term torture, explaining that the term encompasses all acts that intentionally inflict severe pain or suffering wether physical or mental for obtaining information, punishing or intimidating and coering an individual for any reason based on discrimination of any kind. This right to be free from inhumane treatment is reinforced by article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which states that no one shall be subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. China’s beatings and torture of Go Yonten Sangpo goes in direct violation of these two articles, amounting to a violation of a jus cogens principle. 

In addition, article 9 of the ICCPR also states that all individuals have the right to liberty and security of person, underlining that no one shall be subjected to arbitrary detention and arrest. In addition to this article, article 10 of the ICCPR writes that all people deprived of their liberty will be treated with humanity and with respect for the dignity of all human beings. Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) also states that all individuals have the right to life, liberty and security of person. The arbitrary detention of the writer violates article 9 and 10 of the ICCPR and article 3 of the UDHR as the arrest has no legal foundation in the national or international legal sphere. In this regard, China is seen to violate the ICCPR, the UDHR and the CAT.

NB: As a signatory of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) in October 1998, China is not bound by the covenant however it has the obligation to act in good faith and not defeat the purpose of the ICCPR.

Sources and further reading:

Lhamo, C. (2022, Decembre 7). Tibetan writer Goyon believed to be released from detention. Phayul Newsdesk Retrieved Decembre, 7, 2022, from https://www.phayul.com/2022/12/06/47769/ 

 The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy. (2022, August 2). Tibetan writer Goyon believed to be released from detention even as China sentenced six more writers and former Tibetan political prisoners. Retrieved  Decembre, 7, 2022, from https://tchrd.org/tibetan-writer-goyon-believed-to-be-released-from-detention-even-as-china-sentenced-six-more-writers-and-former-tibetan-political-prisoners/