United Nations human rights experts called on China on Tuesday to release and drop charges versus Anya Sengdra, a Tibetan community leader in Qinghai’s Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture now serving a seven-year jail term for grumbling online about corrupt authorities, prohibited mining, and the searching of safeguarded wildlife.

” We are deeply worried by what appears to be the criminalization of the genuine work of a minority community member and human rights protector,” the Might 19 declaration launched by 5 unique rapporteurs and members of the U.N.’s Operating Group on Arbitrary Detention stated.

“We are also concerned about the reports of deterioration of his physical and mental integrity due to poor detentions,” the U.N. experts stated, including, “The charges against Mr. Sengdra stem from a wider crackdown on Tibetan minority rights defenders.”

“We urge the authorities to comply with their obligations under international law, including by lifting the charges against Mr. Sengdra. The human rights of the Tibetan minority must be fully respected,” the experts stated.

U.N. signatories to the May 19 declaration are now awaiting an action from Chinese authorities, Unique Rapporteur for Minority Issues Fernand de Varennes informed RFA’s Tibetan Service on Tuesday.

” And especially we are awaiting an action that those authorities will totally abide by their responsibilities under international human rights laws,’ de Varennes stated.

“The intervention from five United Nations experts is a necessary counterweight to China’s rampant disregard for human rights in Tibet,” added John Jones at London-based Free Tibet in a declaration on Tuesday.

“Tibetans like A-Nya Sengdra are regarded as heroes in their community for their willingness to challenge wrongs such as environmental destruction and government corruption,” Jones stated.

“It is this bravery that has caused Chinese authorities to panic, to detain, mistreat and sentence him to prison after a sham trial.”

“China must heed the call of these experts, release A-Nya Sengdra and listen to Tibetans’ calls for human rights and freedom,” Jones stated.

Reported by Tashi Wangchuk for RFA’s Tibetan Service. Composed in English by Richard Finney.

The post UN Human Rights Experts Call on China to Free Jailed Tibetan Community Leader appeared first on World Weekly News.