Canada's Finance Minister Jim Flaherty is set to lead a high profile trade mission to China from August 8-14th. In an effort to improve trade relations with the Chinese government, Flaherty will be joined by the heads of Canada's banking industry.

Flaherty's trip comes as Tibetan filmmaker, Dhondup Wangchen, awaits trial on severe charges in a Chinese court in Xining (Qinghai Province). Dhondup Wangchen is being persecuted for making the film, Leaving Fear Behind, which documents the views of ordinary Tibetans in Tibet. His lawyer has been barred from representing him, casting serious doubt over the fairness of his trial, and the legitimacy of China's judicial system.

Please send a letter urging Minister Flaherty to raise Dhondup Wangchen's case during his trip to China.

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

Dhondup Wangchen is a Tibetan filmmaker, charged with "inciting separatism," but he has committed no crime. I call on you to urgently raise his case during your trade mission to China from August 8th to 14th.

Dhondup Wangchen was arrested on March 26, 2008 for making the film Leaving Fear Behind, which documents ordinary Tibetans speaking their views on Chinese government policies in Tibet, the Dalai Lama and the Beijing Olympics. He is awaiting trial in Siling, in eastern Tibet (Chinese: Xining, Qinghai).

I am gravely concerned about Dhondup Wangchen's health. 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 he has not committed a crime, however, Chinese authorities have barred Li Dunyong from further representation of Dhondup Wangchen, casting serious doubts over the fairness of his pending 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 Canadian government has sought to strengthen. Chinese authorities have moved against lawyers who have taken up politically sensitive topics, most notably 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 government officials, I urge you to press for the immediate and unconditional release of Dhondup Wangchen.

I also call on you to instruct the Canadian embassy to take the following actions on Dhondup Wangchen's behalf:

- Ask Chinese authorities for information about the trial of Dhondup Wangchen, including the date, the place, and a list of charges against him; - Ask the Chinese government to permit Canadian Embassy personnel to meet with Dhondup Wangchen and to observe his trial; allow his family members to visit him and observe his trail; - Demand that, while he remains in custody, Dhondup Wangchen be given appropriate medical assistance, not be subject to torture or ill-treatment; - Allow Dhondup and/or his family to appoint a defense attorney of their choice; - Screen the film "Leaving Fear Behind" in the Canadian Embassy in Beijing in order to provide embassy personnel the ability to independently assess whether the film incites separatism.

I trust that you will raise this urgent human rights case while you are in China; upholding your government's commitment to make human rights a central issue in Sino-Canadian relations.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
August 06, 2009