In a distressing update from Lhasa, Gonpo Kyi, sister of the incarcerated Tibetan entrepreneur Dorjee Tashi, was reportedly subjected to police brutality this past weekend. The incident occurred during her peaceful protest outside the Tibet Higher People’s Court, according to Tibet Watch, a watchdog organization committed to monitoring human rights in the region.
Gonpo Kyi has been vocal and persistent in her efforts to secure a fair retrial for her brother, Dorjee Tashi, who was arrested in 2008 under controversial charges of loan fraud. Over the years, her protests have been met with increasing hostility from local authorities, culminating in this weekend’s violence.
During her demonstration on March 19 and 20, which was one of several she has conducted, Gonpo Kyi was assaulted by police. The attack was particularly egregious as it involved the destruction of her mobile phone, which she claims contained evidence of the police’s excessive force. “You [the authorities] robbed my mobile phone and broke it to conceal the evidence, illegally arrested me and illegally beat me,” Gonpo Kyi stated in a video obtained by Tibet Watch.
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This recent assault follows a pattern of harassment against Gonpo Kyi, who has faced detention and threats in the past for her activism. Despite these challenges, she remains resolute in her fight for her brother’s legal rights, emphasizing the lack of evidence against him and the political nature of his charges.
The international community and human rights organizations have periodically highlighted the oppressive tactics employed by Chinese authorities in Tibet, but incidents like these underscore the ongoing struggles faced by Tibetans on the ground. Gonpo Kyi‘s case not only brings attention to her brother’s plight but also to the broader issues of judicial fairness and political repression in the region.
As Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits China, advocacy groups like the International Campaign for Tibet have urged him to address such human rights abuses. With Tibet’s global freedom score being a stark zero out of 100 by Freedom House, the urgency for international dialogue and intervention remains critical.
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