On 24 May 2019, Mr Tenzin Choephel was sentenced to 18 years in prison on the charge of “inciting separatism” in Tarchen (Ch: Daqen) Township in Sernye (Ch: Sèní) District, Nagchu (Ch: Nagchu) City, Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), in the traditional Shak Rongpo area of Kham province.

Tenzin Choephel, a native of Nakchu County, was taken into custody at Gongkar airport on a return flight from Chengdu, capital of western China’s Sichuan province. He was sentenced for was sentenced for allegedly committing various crimes including “inciting separatism”, “illegally sending intelligence overseas”, and “financing activities that endangered state security”. Chinese authorities also confiscated all of his personal property.

Mr Choephel was detained on 30 March 2018 and had been held incommunicado for more than a year before his sentencing. He is known for his notable work on protecting Tibetan culture and environment, promoting unity among Tibetans, and other philanthropic activities such as helping the poor and needy in the community.