Thupten Lodoe, also known as Sabuche, a writer, translator, and advocate for the preservation of the Tibetan language, has been serving a prison sentence under harsh conditions of more than four years in Kangding for writings that were allegedly a threat to national security. His imprisonment would appear to be in retaliation for peaceful advocacy of the use of the Tibetan language and any retention of Tibetan culture and religion.
President Xi Jinping
President of the People’s Republic of China
Zhongnanhai
Xichangan’jie
Xichengqu, Beijing Shi 100017
July 20, 2024
Dear President Xi Jinping:
The Committee of Concerned Scientists is an independent organization of scientists, physicians, engineers, and scholars devoted to the protection and advancement of human rights and scientific freedom for colleagues all over the world.
We are writing regarding Mr. Thupten Lodoe, also known as Sabuche, a writer, translator, and advocate for the preservation of the Tibetan language. He is from Shiqu County in the Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in the Sichuan province. He was initially arrested in October 2021 and has since been serving a prison sentence of more than four years in Kangding for writings that were allegedly a threat to national security. This imprisonment is said to involve hard labor and lack of adequate food and living conditions. In addition, his family is said to have suffered retaliation from the authorities as well.
The Committee is especially concerned to hear Mr. Lodoe is being treated in an unknown hospital for a serious illness. The Committee requests the nature of his illness and the location of the hospital to be disclosed. If his illness is related to the conditions of his imprisonment, he must be released immediately on humanitarian grounds. Additionally, his family should not be harassed by the authorities, and his children should be allowed to attend school.
The Committee is also concerned Mr. Lodoe’s imprisonment is part of a recurring, politically motivated pattern of retaliation against peaceful advocacy of the use of the Tibetan language and any retention of Tibetan culture and religion. It also appears to be retaliation for refusing to have worked for the government.
Thank you for your attention to this serious matter. We will be closely following developments in this case.
Sincerely,
Joel L. Lebowitz, Paul H. Plotz, Walter Reich, Eugene M. Chudnovsky, Alexander Greer
Co-Chairs, Committee of Concerned Scientists
CC:
Anthony Blinken
Secretary of State
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20520
X: @SecBlinken
Wang Yi
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
No. 2, Chaoyangmen Nandajie,
Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100701
President of the People’s Republic of China
Phone: 86-10-65961114
X: @MFA_China