Ngawang Sangdrol, has become the latest to be added in the list of recent release of political prisoners in Tibet in this year alone. So far, the Chinese authorities have released seven Tibetan political prisoners.

Ngawang Sangdrol, a 24-year-old nun was released nine years early from Drapchi Prison by Chinese authorities last Thursday (17 October 2002) reportedly for "good behaviour". In October 2001, it was reported that prison authorities reduced her total 21 years' prison term by 18 months for having shown "genuine repentance and willingness to reform" thereby bringing her sentence at 19 and half years. The release happens just days prior to the impending visit of Chinese President Jiang Zemin in Crawford, Texas, at US President Bush's ranch

Jampel Tenzin, brother of the released nun based in India, disproves the prevailing facts about Sangdrol's early release for "good behaviour". His testimony to TCHRD sheds light on another aspect of Sangdrol's release. He told TCHRD, "I called my family members in Lhasa on 10 October 2002. As part of the regular prison visits, my sister, Rinzin Dolkar, had visited Sangdrol on 20 September 2002. She was shocked to find Sangdrol hospitalised in Drapchi Prison hospital in a critical health condition. My sister found Sangdrol extremely weak. She was not given proper medical treatment. Her health condition looked critical needing immediate medical attention. Dolkar also noticed that Sangdrol could hardly move or eat."

Passang Lhamo, one of Drapchi inmates currently in Dharamsala, recounted to TCHRD, "Sangdrol had endured extensive beatings and torture for having taken part in the May 1998 Drapchi Prison protest. She fell unconscious for several hours. Since that time, she has had frequent bouts of headaches."

Chinese authorities employ this long-standing strategy of releasing prisoners whose critical health condition is beyond recovery and recuperation. This tactic of late release of critically ill prisoners usually on medical parole, is to shun responsibility for their deaths and to avert criticisms against denial of adequate, timely and effective medical care. Torture in Tibet is endemic in every stage of incarceration process. In documented cases, most of the injuries leading to victim's illness and death were caused by the torture and maltreatment meted out to them in prison and detention centres. Notwithstanding the diplomatic dealings and China's image building process, TCHRD believes that Sangdrol may have been released more on medical grounds than for the stated reasons of "good behaviour".

"The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy applauds Ngawang Sangdrol's courage for consistently standing by her inner conviction and personal beliefs in the face of harsh Chinese repression. The Centre salutes her indomitable spirit and courageous sacrifices. We are happy for Ngawang Sangdrol and her family", said Mrs. Tsewang Lhadon, Executive Director of Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy.

In a press statement released by the Duihua Foundation, John Kamm, the President of the organisation stated that Sangdrol's release was "due to a regulation that makes prisoner who enter prison as juveniles eligible for early release".

On the one hand, these releases could be positive indications that Beijing government might be in the process of a major policy shift in general and more particularly with regard to incarcerating Tibetans on "endangering state security" charges. On the other hand, these recent gestures are viewed with skepticism for being China's ploy to deter international pressure as well as to bolster their image in the international arena.

Besides the upcoming Jiang-Bush tryst, several other factors could also have acted as a catalyst in compelling the Beijing bureaucracy to re-think, review and re-do these Tibet policies that are under such intense international scrutiny. But in the overall human rights situation, there has not yet been any obvious improvement. To name a few factors, impending reshuffle in the Chinese leadership, hosting of the 2008 Olympics in China, extensive lobby and campaign activities worldwide for the prisoners' release, and governmental pressure in the form of resolutions passed in both the European Union Parliament and US Congress to recognise Tibetan government-in-exile (TGIE) as the legitimate government of Tibet if China fails to negotiate with the TGIE within next year i.e. 2003.

Ngawang Sangdrol's case history

Born in 1977 in Lhasa, Ngawang Sangdrol, layname Rigchog, joined Garu Nunnery at a very young age.

In 1987, 10-year-old Sangdrol participated in a peaceful pro-independence demonstration and was subsequently detained for 15 days. On 28 August 1990, she was detained for nine months for participating in another demonstration. A year later, she was sentenced to three years' imprisonment in Drapchi Prison for once again staging a demonstration.

In 1993, Sangdrol and 13 other nuns in Drapchi Prison made a tape-recording of the brutal treatment suffered and of their unfaltering commitment to Tibetan independence. The tape was smuggled out and circulated throughout Tibet. Sangdrol was found guilty of "spreading counter-revolutionary propaganda" and had her sentence extended by an additional six years.

On 31 July 1996, Sangdrol received an additional eight years on her prison term, raising her total sentence to 17 years on alleged charges of failing to clean her room. Actually, she refused to rise to her feet when a communist party delegation visited her cell. Her physical condition deteriorated due to torture, with her right leg seriously injured.

During the Drapchi prison protest in May 1998, all prisoners were beaten with particular ferocity meted out to Sangdrol. She was severely beaten and tortured. Lhasa Intermediate People's Court extended Sangdrol's sentence. Despite conflicting reports about the length of this sentence extension, TCHRD maintains by the fact that Sangdrol received four years sentence extension bringing her total sentence to 21 years.