In a follow up to the Press Release Mass silent protest in Tibet’s Drepung Monastery following China’s continued implementation of "patriotic education" issued on 29 November 2005, the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) obtained the names of the five monks arrested following the "patriotic re-education" session on 23 November 2005 in Drepung Monastery in Lhasa, Tibet’s capital.

The monk arrestees are Ngawang Namdrol from Tsotod Township, Phenpo Lhundrup County, Lhasa Municipality, "Tibet Autonomous Region" ("TAR"), Ngawang Nyingpo from Khartse Township, Phenpo Lhundrup County, Lhasa Municipality, "TAR", Ngawang Thupten a.k.a Shogbu Metok from Lhasa Inner City, Lhasa Municipality, "TAR", Ngawang Phelgey from Rinpung County, Shigatse Prefecture, "TAR", and Phuntsok Thupwang from Gongkar County, Lhoka Prefecture, "TAR".

The aforementioned monks were expelled from the monastery and handed over to the Public Security Bureau (PSB) of their respective places of origin after they stood up against the "work team" officials who required all monks to sign a document denouncing the Dalai Lama and recognising "Tibet as a part of China". The incident happened on 23 November 2005 during a session of the "patriotic education" campaign that has been going on in Drepung monastery since early October 2005.

TCHRD fears that they might be tortured during interrogation sessions and detention in the PSB Detention Centres. The Centre requests the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture currently on mission in China and Tibet (from 21 November to 2 December 2005), to raise the five monks’ cases with the Chinese authorities and to ensure that they do not undergo any inhuman treatment.

The monks of Drepung Monastery, and in particular the five monks arrested, have received severe setbacks for the simple exercise of their fundamental human rights of freedom of expression and freedom of religious beliefs. The Chinese authorities’ conduct of "patriotic education" in the monasteries of Tibet and the recent crackdown on the peaceful mass protest in Drepung Monastery on 25 November 2005 which lasted from 10 am till 7 pm violates Articles 18, 19 and 20 of the United Nation’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). According to the UDHR, everyone has the right to "...freedom of thought, conscience and religion...", "...freedom of opinion and expression...", and "...the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association..."

For related information, click the following links:

Mass silent protest in Tibet’s Drepung Monastery following China’s continued implementation of "patriotic education" (29 November 2005)

A young monk dies under mysterious circumstances following the "patriotic education" campaign in Drepung monastery (8 November 2005)

China recommences "patriotic education" campaign in Tibet’s monastic institutions (13 October 2005)