On 8th April 2009, China sentenced two Tibetans, Lobsang Gyaltsen and Loyak, to death for their alleged involvement in last year's protests in Lhasa. They were charged with "setting fatal fires". Without a reprieve, Lobsang Gyaltsen and Loyak could be executed any day now. Help save their lives by taking action now.

Three others, Tenzin Phuntsok, Kangtsuk and Penkyi have also been sentenced to death but with a two year suspension, and Penkyi of Nyinmo and Dawa Sangpo have been sentenced to life imprisonment. All the trials were conducted in secret and it is likely that all the accused were denied basic legal rights (as is routinely the case for Tibetans).

These harsh sentences signal an alarming escalation in the Chinese government's campaign to punish and intimidate Tibetans who dare to speak out against Chinese rule.

Please take action now by sending an email to the Chinese Minister of Justice demanding that the death sentences are quashed with immediate effect. To take the email action and read further details go to the following link:

TAKE ACTION NOW: http://tinyurl.com/action-23april09

You can also access the urgent action from the home page of the International Tibet Support Network's website at: http://www.tibetnetwork.org.

Thank you for your help.

The ITSN Secretariat

campaigns@tibetnetwork.org