Dhondup Wangchen
Dhondup Wangchen is the filmmaker of Leaving Fear Behind, a documentary which provides a rare glimpse of the thoughts, feelings, and struggles of Tibetans living under occupation. The footage for the film was smuggled out of Tibet in early March 2008. Dhondup and his cameraman, Jigme Gyatso were fully aware of the risks they took in not concealing their identities, but wanted to speak out openly about the situation in Tibet. In order for the film to be made, fear truly had to be set aside.
In Dhondup’s own words:
“At a time of great difficulty and a feeling of helplessness, [the idea of our film is to] get some meaningful response and results. It is very difficult [for Tibetans] to go to Beijing and speak out there. So that is why we decided to show the real feelings of Tibetans inside Tibet through this film.
Nowadays, China is declaring that they are preserving and improving Tibetan culture and language ….. If they really want to preserve and improve Tibetan culture and language in Tibet then they should withdraw Chinese people living in Tibetan areas. Tibetan culture and language has to be practiced in all Tibetan areas. If it’s not practiced, how can it be preserved?”
Dhondup Wangchen was detained on 26 March 2008 in Siling in eastern Tibet (Ch: Xining, Qinghai Province). According to his family and Amnesty International his trial could be carried out very soon with the likelihood of getting a very severe sentence. It is likely that his trial will be carried out behind closed doors with a lack of due legal process after his lawyers were forced by the Chinese authorities to stop representing him. Dhondup, who is being held in Xining City No.1 Detention Centre, is in seriously poor health suffering from the affects of torture he received while under interrogation and Hepatitis B, for which he has received no medical treatment.
To express your support for the release of Dhondup Wangchen:
please write to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Micheál Martin T.D. (michealmartintd@eircom.net).
Sign an online petition on this link http://www.rsf.org/en-petition33442-Dhondup_Wangchen.html
