Outspoken in Tibet   The Wall Street Journal, November 23, 2007  How long does someone have to spend in jail for saying "long live the Dalai Lama" in China? Eight years, apparently. This was the sentence meted out on Tuesday to Runggye Adak, a Tibetan nomad who called for the return of Tibet's exiled religious leader at a horse-racing festival on August 1. The Chinese government has struggled for decades to quell the unrest in Tibet, and its heavy-handed tactics have been on full display in the city of Lithang, in Sichuan province, in recent months. Runggye Adak isn't the only one imprisoned because of that day's events. After his remarks, which were made in front of thousands of spectators, and his subsequent detention, hundreds of people staged a demonstration near the police center where he was being held to call for his release. Scores of Tibetans in the community were later arrested and three were sentenced on Tuesday to between three and 10 years in jail. In an Orwellian twist, the court verdict found Runggye Adak guilty of inciting the demonstration that called for his release -- even though it occurred when he was already behind bars. The charges for the other three Tibetans sentenced on Tuesday appear equally bizarre, although the trial was conducted in complete secrecy so it's hard to know the whole story. Xinhua reported that the court verdict convicted the three of leaking "intelligence that endangers national security and interest." More specifically, they were found guilty of taking pictures, burning them on to CDs and sending them to foreigners. Meanwhile, those who are not under arrest are being subjected to a "patriotic campaign" that requires participants to denounce the Dalai Lama. So much for the freedom of religious belief enshrined in China's constitution. Runggye Adak has left behind 11 children, the youngest of whom is less than a year old. Although two of his daughters are safe and free in India, life for the others will not be easy with their father in jail. As China attempts to whitewash its human-rights record in the run-up to the 2008 Olympics, the government will become more concerned about erasing the appearance of dissent in areas like Tibet. Tuesday's convictions show how far the government will go to silence those who dare to speak out.

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