A 35 year-old Soe Lhatso,nun of Pangri Na Nunnery

Four Tibetans detained for their participation in the last year's protests in Kardze County were sentenced by the County Intermediate People's court to varying prison terms, according to information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD).

According to sources, out of 55 nuns who were arrested following peaceful protest at Kardze County government headquarters on 14 May 2008, two nuns were sentenced by the County Intermediate People's Court.

Soe Lhatso, a 35 year-old, born to Yeshi Gyaltsen (father) and Drukdung (mother) in Gechung Village, Kardze County, Kardze "Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture" ('TAP') and nun of Pangri Na Nunnery was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment term whereas another nun, Bhumo, a 36-year-old born to Tenzin Thinley (father) and Sheymo (mother) and nun of Pangri Na Nunnery was sentenced to 9 years in jail for their participation in a peaceful protest demonstration in Kardze last year. The exact date of their court sentence is not known. The two are said to be held currently at a prison in an area called Trimon, about 140 Kms from Chengdu, the provincial city of Sichuan Province.

A 36-year-old Bhumo, nun of Pangri Na Nunnery

According to sources, "out of 55 nuns detained on 14 May, between 12- 13 nuns are still being held in a detention Centre whereas the remaining nuns were released between 15-17 September 2008. Nuns who are still held in detention centre are said to be 'important members' of Pangri Na Nunnery referring to those who are responsible members of the nunnery.

In yet another incident of sentencing, Ngawang Tashi, 18 years-old, born to Sangay Tsering (father) and Kelwang (mother) in Jesungda Village, Kardze County was sentenced to three years imprisonment term. Whereas Dorjee Tashi, 18 years-old, born to Gonpo Dadul (father) and Dungtso Dolma (mother) in Jhelingda Village, Kardze County was sentenced to three years' in prison. Both were arrested for their participation in 18 March 2008 protest in Kardze County and were detained at Kardze County Public Security Bureau ( PSB) Detention Centre before being shifted to Drango County PSB Detention Centre for few months before the court sentence. The verdicts, sources say, were passed by the Kardze County Intermediate People's Court. The exact date of their court sentence and current place of detention is not known.

The Centre expresses its grave concern over the fate of detainees who were sentenced and urges the international community to take up their case to press the Chinese government to obtain their immediate release and also of all individuals imprisoned and detained for exercising rights guaranteed under Chinese and international human rights law. The Centre also calls upon the Chinese government to respect the fundamental rights of the arrested nuns and in no case they should be subjected to torture and ill-treatment as torture and inhuman treatment of prisoners and detainees are regular feature in the Chinese administered prisons and detention centers in Tibet.