Geneva, 29 March 2025: Three UN Special Rapporteurs—Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Mary Lawlor; Special Rapporteur on the human right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, Astrid Puentes Riañ; and Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Irene Khan—released a joint communication to raise concerns over the summoning and questioning of Tibetan environmental activist Tsongon Tsering (alternatively spelled “Tsogon Tsering”), as well as his subsequent detention due to his activism against sand mining in Ngaba (Chinese: Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous) Prefecture, Sichuan.
According to the communication, “Tsongon Tsering is a 29-year-old environmental human rights defender and resident of Tsaruma Village in Kakhog County, Ngaba, Sichuan Province. He has often led online campaigns advocating for the importance of environmental preservation and is a member of the ‘Environment Protection Group,’ a volunteer-driven initiative with around 50 members who volunteer to clean their local environment. This group has also initiated several efforts to ban single-use plastics in their communities.” He was arrested after protesting against sand extraction by the Anhui Xianhe Construction Engineering Company Ltd. The construction company’s activities were directly related to road construction and reportedly caused severe environmental damage, harming local rivers and posing risks to residential areas.
The communication further stated that Tsongon was initially interrogated from 15 to 17 October 2024, after he shared a video online about the environmental damage caused by the construction company. He was then held incommunicado from 18 to 27 October, after which his family was informed that he would face trial. The Special Rapporteurs expressed concern that the requirement for all court attendees to submit identification information in advance might prevent public monitoring of the trial process.
On 28 October of last year, the Kyungchu County People’s Court sentenced Tsongon to eight months of imprisonment on charges of “disrupting social order.” His current whereabouts are unclear, and his social media accounts have been deleted.
UN Special Rapporteurs have urged the PRC to clarify the circumstances of Tsongon’s detention, provide detailed information about the charges and legal proceedings, and ensure he has access to legal representation and family contact. They have also requested information about the environmental impact of the sand extraction project and the government’s response to concerns raised by local residents.
This UN communication follows previous concerns expressed by the UN Human Rights Office regarding the persecution of Tibetan activists. The Special Rapporteurs indicated that Tsongon’s detention was a direct response to his environmental advocacy and exercise of freedom of expression. They strongly urged Chinese authorities to implement measures to prevent further human rights violations and to hold those responsible accountable. The Chinese government was also given 60 days to respond to this communication before it is made public.
The Tibet Bureau in Geneva welcomed the UN Special Rapporteurs’ intervention and strongly condemned the wrongful detention of Tsongon Tsering. “This case is another example of the ongoing harassment of Tibetan human rights defenders, especially those speaking out for the environment. China must honour its international human rights responsibilities, release Tsongon Tsering immediately, and stop targeting Tibetan activists who peacefully stand up for their people and the environment.”
