Dhondup Wangchen, detained in Tibet in March 2008 for documenting the plight of Tibetans under Chinese rule, is awaiting trial on charges of "inciting separatism." He is being denied access to his lawyers and is in poor health due to the torture he has suffered in detention.

U.S. Secretary of State Clinton and Secretary of Treasury Geithner will be meeting with top Chinese officials on Monday, August 27th in Washington, D.C.

Please send the letter below urging Secretary of State Clinton to raise the plight of Dhondup Wangchen with her Chinese counterparts. Your letter will also be copied to Secretary of Treasury Geithner and your Congressional Representatives, alerting them to this urgent case.

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I am outraged that the Chinese government has charged Dhondup Wangchen, a Tibetan documentary filmmaker with "inciting separatism." He is awaiting trial in Siling, in eastern Tibet (Chinese: Xining, Qinghai). I call on you to urgently raise his case with your Chinese counterparts during the first joint meeting of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue in Washington, D.C. on Monday, July 27th.

Dhondup Wangchen and a colleague created the film "Leaving Fear Behind," which documents ordinary Tibetans expressing their views on Chinese government policies on Tibet, the Dalai Lama, and the Beijing Olympics. On March 26, 2008, shortly after filming was completed, Dhondup Wangchen was arrested. I am gravely concerned about his health and well-being as he has suffered torture while in detention and has been denied treatment for Hepatitis B.

Dhondup Wangchen's family appointed Li Dunyong, a lawyer with the Beijing Gongxin law firm, to represent him. Li Dunyong met with Dhondup Wangchen and stated that he believes Dhondup has not committed a crime. However, Chinese authorities have barred Li Dunyong from representing Dhondup, casting serious doubts over the fairness of his impending trial.

Dhondup Wangchen is a prisoner of conscience, unjustly persecuted for exercising his right to freedom of expression. His case also highlights the weaknesses of the Chinese legal system that the U.S. government has sought to strengthen. Chinese authorities have moved against lawyers who have taken up politically sensitive cases, most notably in the recent de-licensing of 53 Beijing lawyers, including two (Li Fangping and Jiang Tianyong) involved in cases of detained Tibetans.

When you meet with Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo and Vice Premier Wang Qishan, I urge you to press for the immediate and unconditional release of Dhondup Wangchen.

I also ask that you instruct the Department of State to take the following actions on Dhondup Wangchen's behalf:

*Ask Chinese authorities for information about his trial, including the date, the place, and a list of charges against him; *Ask the Chinese government to permit U.S. Embassy personnel to meet with Dhondup Wangchen and to observe his trial; allow his family members to visit him and observe his trial; *Demand that Dhondup Wangchen be given appropriate medical assistance, and not be subject to torture or ill-treatment; *Demand that the Chinese government allow him or his family to appoint the defense attorney of their choice; *Screen the film "Leaving Fear Behind" in the U.S. Embassy in Beijing in order to provide embassy personnel with a better understanding of this case.

I hope and trust that you will take these actions in your upcoming meetings with the Chinese government.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
July 24, 2009