China Continues Repression Of Tibetans, Throws Musicians In Jail For Song Praising The Dalai Lama

A Chinese court has sentenced two Tibetans to prison for alleged involvement in "state subversion" and "leaking state secrets" after they composed, sang and circulated a song praising Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama.

Khando Tsetan and Tsego were sentenced to seven years and three years in prison respectively by a Chinese court in north-eastern Tibet in July, reports Tibet.net.

The duo was detained along with an unknown woman by the local authorities in 2019 after their song praising Dalai Lama was circulated on Chinese social media.

The song, written by Tsetan and sung by Tsego, was later shared to social media by the unknown Tibetan woman.

Khando Tsetan and Tsego hail from Tsekhog county, Malho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai Province.

The report quoted Tibet Times as saying that Tsetan was handed a total of seven years prison term including five years for the subversion of state and an additional two years for leaking state secrets.

Tsetan earlier took part in a Tibetan student protest in 2010, following which he spent one and half years in detention.

According to the report, this is not the first time Tibetans have been imprisoned for songs praising Dalai Lama.

"Over the years, there are several cases in which Chinese authorities have detained and sentenced Tibetans who have sung songs in praise of His Holiness the Dalai Lama," the report said.