Chinese court sentences one more Tibetan to deathTuesday, 21 April 2009, 12:37 p.m.Last updated: 21 April 2009, 4:03 p.m.

Chime Lhamo, sentenced to 10 years     imprisonment

Dharamshala: One more Tibetan has been given suspended death sentence with a two-year reprieve by a Chinese court in Lhasa, China’s state media reported Tuesday.Penkyi, of Sakya County, received the suspended death penalty for starting fires in two downtown clothing shops on 14 March last year, an unnamed spokesman of the Lhasa Municipal Intermediate People’s Court was quoted as saying by the Tibet Daily.She is 21-year-old and hails from Norbu village, Dogra township in Sakya County.She was convicted for allegedly setting a blaze in Hongyu Trousers on the Qingnian road, which left the shop owner Zuo Rencun dead, the spokesman said.The court has also slapped harsh jail terms to other Tibetans for setting fires at Yishon clothing store on the East Beijing Road in Lhasa.

Penkyi, sentenced to life in jail

Another Tibetan named Penkyi of Nyemo County, was sentenced to life imprisonment and Chime Lhamo, aged 20, was jailed for 10 years, the spokesman said.Penkyi, aged 23, is from Thantoe village, Margkyang township in Nyemo County.The spokesman said the trials had been open and strictly abided by the Criminal Procedure Law of the People’s Republic of China. The defendants were provided with Tibetan language interpreters and their attorneys had expressed their arguments in full.The report did not say when the sentences were delivered not did it give other details of the defendants and their arguments.All of them were arrested in March 2008. Although the three women permanently reside in Lhasa, it is difficult to ascertain their professions. But according to sources they are believed to be working as sweepers.

Penkyi, sentenced to death

Sources said the third convict, Chime Lhamo, is from Sholtoe village, Namling township in Shigatse Namling County.Earlier on 8 April, the court sentenced two Tibetans – Losang Gyaltsen and Loyak – to death. Two other Tibetans, Tenzin Phuntsok and Kangtsuk, were given death sentence with a two-year reprieve, while Dawa Sangpo got life imprisonment.Expressing its deep concern over the verdict on 9 April, the Kashag of the Central Tibetan Administration said this kind of arbitrary sentences meted out to Tibetans is exacerbated by the fact that there is no due process of law and the courts in the People’s Republic of China are political instruments of the authorities.The Kashag urged the Chinese authorities to free all Tibetan prisoners of conscience.The Kashag said it believes that the China’s massive and continued repression of Tibetans is fuelling even deeper resentment. The best way to resolve the issue of Tibet is to address the just concerns of the Tibetan people based on honesty and sincerity, the Kashag added.Related reports:CTA Concerned About Death Sentence to Two TibetansTibetan Parliament-in-Exile Calls on International Community to free Tibetans from Death PenaltyAmnesty International Urges China to Overturn Death Sentences for TibetansFORUM: Death In LhasaHuman Rights Group Condemns Death Sentence to Two TibetansFACT SHEET: Tibetan Deaths Under China’s Crackdown since March 2008China’s Brutality in Tibet Exposed