The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) received confirmed information from reliable sources that a farmer Lhundup, imprisoned at Chusul Prison was released from the Chinese prison after completing his 15 years prison term on 29 June 2007.
Lhundup hailed from Dashang Township, Gyama County, Meldrogungkar is a humble farmer. He is now 38 years old. He was arrested along with four other farmers Thupten Yeshi, Sonam Rinchen, Kunchok Lodoe and Sonam Dorjee.
On 30 June 1992, a large assembly of around 1200 people including prominent leaders of Gyama Township and County were gathered for a meeting. During the meeting, the four farmers Lhundup, Sonam Rinchen, Konchok Lodoe and Sonam Dorjee suddenly came forward with a huge Tibetan National Flag and stormed the stage while the meeting was in progress. On the stage they shouted slogans such as "Free Tibet", "Chinese Leave Tibet" and "Long Live His Holiness the Dalai Lama".
Their protest created disruption and chaos amongst the crowds and the meeting was unable to continue. After fifteen minutes of protest, the police came to the scene and immediately arrested them. Later during the interrogations, they were subjected to severe torture and beatings.
When polices asked them about the reasons for their protest, they replied in unison that, "the Chinese government is forcing the Tibetan farmers to buy fertilizers at an exorbitant price which resulted in putting tremendous burden on the livelihood of Tibetan farmers."
They also cited that, "the implementation of birth control measures and forced sterilization of women, the huge influx of Chinese settlers into Tibet and Tibetan people fast loosing hold of their jobs and employment prospects" as another reasons for the protest.
In addition to that the Tibetan people were subjected to bully and their market areas were forcefully taken away. The implementation of unfair polices by the Chinese government and Tibetan people unable to determine their own affairs and opportunities as prime reasons for their protest.
Their bold reply angered the Chinese polices calling them as "separatist" and landed flurry of inhumane and severe beatings on them with electric prods and batons on the scene of arrest.
On the same day, they were then taken to Gutsa Prison, located east of Lhasa city and imprisoned them in separate cells. In Gutsa Prison they were again subjected to numerous torture sessions.
Later on 4 July 1992, four days after the protest, Thupten Yeshi, a farmer from Gyama County was also arrested on charges of being the prime plotter as well as the 'ring leader' of the group. He was then taken to Gutsa Prison and received similar torture sessions.
After period of thorough interrogations and tortures in Gutsa prison, the Lhasa People's Intermediate Court on 18 October 1992 convicted all five of them of offenses ranging from "counter revolutionary plot", "inciting reactionary propagandas". Thupten Yeshi, Lhundup and Sonam Rinchen were sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment and Sonam Dorjee and Konchok were sentenced to 13 years of imprisonment.
On 20 November 1992, they were shifted to Drapchi Prison. Immediately after their arrival in Drapchi, Thupten Yeshi was put in a solitary confinement cell.
In back drop of inhumane and severe beatings and tortures inflicted to five of them, the farmer Konchok Lodoe became very weak and ill. In order not to bear for his medical expenses, he was released from prison and made his relatives to take care of his well-being and health. On 13 March 1994, it was announced through out Tibet that he was released on a medical parole and currently he is in a state of poor health.
Likewise, his mate Sonam Rinchen's health deteriorated in prison due to beatings and torture he was subjected to. In course of time, his health worsens alarmingly and on 23 September 1999, he died in the prison due to lack of timely treatment and medication.
Sonam Dorjee also received inhumane torture and beatings in the prison and was reported to have fainted numerous times during the torture sessions. Due to his poor state of health, he too was released on medical parole on 22 November 1998. However, on 21 November 2000 Sonam Dorjee was again arrested and put in Drapchi Prison.
Lhundup while in prison regularly suffered from kidney illness and chronic headaches due to numerous torture and beatings received in prison. In April 2005 he was shifted to Chusul Prison. At present he heavily relies on medicines and treatments to keep him alive and healthy.
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