Runggye Adak, a Tibetan leader in the Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan Province, was arrested for openly supporting the return of the Dalai Lama. He was charged with the crime of subverting state power.
According to the Information Center for Human Rights and Democracy based in Hong Kong, 53-year-old Adak was arrested in Litang County of Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan Province, during an Aug. l ceremony held to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the People’s Liberation Army.
During the ceremony, Adak seized a microphone on stage and delivered a speech calling on people to support the return of the Dalai Lama. He was immediately arrested.
Adak’s arrest subsequently led to a clash between approximately 1,000 local Tibetans and hundreds of police officers in Ganzi. Police arrested at least 30 people. The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China classified this incident as “a major political event.”
The Information Center quoted an official of China’s Procuratorate as saying, “The sentencing was delayed because the Deputy Chief of the Indictment Department in charge of Adak’s case was on a business trip this week.” He also indicated that the government would specify the defense lawyer.
According to the Information Center’s source, the Ministry for State Security in Ganzi would only allow a lawyer of its choice to defend Adak even though other lawyers had expressed interest. The sentence is expected to be announced next week.
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