Namlo Yakh, a 28-year-old Tibetan and a senior official in the Xinhai Education Department in Qinghai (Amdo), was also known by the pen names Dong She and Melnu. He was arrested on 9 May 1993 and initially interrogated by the Qinghai National Welfare Department. He was formally imprisoned on 2 September 1993.

On 28 September 1993, Namlo Yakh was charged by the North Qinghai Intermediate People’s Court, along with other investigative departments, on allegations of counter-revolutionary activities and disseminating political information. He was accused of sending so-called “separatist letters” and of encouraging Tibetans to resist Chinese rule—acts classified under Chinese law as separatism and espionage.

He was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment on counter-revolutionary charges and an additional five years for spreading political information, bringing his total sentence to thirteen years. Subsequently, his punishment was extended by a further four years, followed by one year of restricted movement and speech under constant surveillance even after his release from prison.