7 elected politicians and 2 leaders of the independence movement have been arrested and convicted for the ‘crime’ of holding a referendum. Up to 13 years in prison.
They spent public money on the referendum, didn't they? If the subordinate government could do whatever they wanted, they wouldn't need a referendum, would they.
> "being put in jail because you say publicly that tibet should be free"
and if merely pointing that fact out is getting me downvoted, that's the problem of the people who are doing that.