He had been sentenced for spearheading the protest that took place in March 2008 at Utsu Chugrar village in Bhelpan (Ch: Awangcan) township, Machu (Ch: Maqu) County, Kanlho (Ch: Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture), Gansu Province). Prior to his conviction for ‘inciting separatism’, Gonpo Tseten was held incommunicado for months during which he was severely interrogated and tortured. He served his prison term at a prison near Lanzhou City.