30 December 1996
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1996: The Year in Tibet
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Deaths in custody
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Cases of torture
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Extended sentence of Ngawang Sangdrol
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Disappearances of four student monks
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Arrests and demonstrations in 1996
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"Yan Da" - China's strike hard campaign in Tibet
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The Chinese criminal justice system
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Strike Hard campaign in Tibet
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"Patriotic re-education" campaign
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Work teams
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Arrests and deaths in custody
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Voluntary depopulation
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This Special end-of-year issue of the Human Rights Update
reviews the grave human rights violations which continued
in occupied Tibet throughout 1996 as political arrests,
or torture, deaths in custody and religious crackdowns were
carried out by the authorities of the Peoples Republic of
China with renewed vigour.
[ top ]
In 1996, TCHRD recorded three Known cases of deaths in
custody in Tibet tortured by prison Officials
On 6 May 1996, 19-year-old Sangye Tenphel (lay Name:
Gonpo Dorjee) died due to torture whilst in Drapchi
Prison. He was a monk of Khangmar Monastery in Djamshung,
162 north-west of Lhasa. Sangye Tenphel was severly beated
up with an eletric baton and a cycle pump by two prison
officials. His ribs were broken during the course of his
interrogation and he was reportedly suffering brain damage
before his death.
Sangye had been arested on 15 April 1996 for a
demonstration around the Bharkor area in Lhasa. Kalsang
Thutop, a 49-year-old Drepung monk, died on July
1996. Kalsang could not speak when he returned from a
two-hour interrogation session in Drapchi Prison. That
night he was rushed to the hospital where he died a few
hours later.
Kalsang Thutop was given a sky burial. It was observed
by the Topdhen (the person who performs the sky burial)
that one of Kalsang Thutop's testicles had been brutally
squeezed. Kalsang was serving an 18 year sentenced for
his involment in the 1989 Lhasa demonstrations.
On 14 September 1996, Tenchok Tenphel died while
in Sakya detention centre just two weeks after
his arrest. 2-year-old Tenchok was a monk of Sakya
onastery,152km west of Shigatse. He had been arrested on
1 September 1996 during a ritual dance performance before
Chinese officials.
Tenchok Tenphel's body was cremated on 17 September before
his family could see him. His family was told that he had
committed "suicide"
[ top ]
In July 1996, Dorjee (Family name; Khangtsiri), a 66
year-old man of Tse-Gorthang, 124 km south-west of Chabcha
Dzong in Amdo (ch: Qinghai Province), died after he was
beaten up by members of the people's Armed Police and the
public Security Bureau.
The authorities who visited the town raided all of the
houses and imposed fines on those Tibetans in whose houses
photos of His Holiness the Dali Lama were found. Dorjee,
who was incapable of paying the heavy fine ranging from
5000 to 6000 yuan, was told to either pay the amount by
1997 or else half of his land would be confisticated.
When he challenged the authorities Dorjee was severely
beaten and had to be hospitalised. Twenty days later
he died.
On May 1996 a monk of Ganden Monastary was shot dead by
Chinese troops who opened fire after the monks refused to
fall in with the orders regarding the ban of photographs
of the dalai Lama. A bullet entterred the lower back of
40-year-old Kalsang Nyandrak who died several days later.
Five other monks of Gaden Monastery are reported to have
received bullet wounds including Gelek Jinpa a 14-year-old
monk who was also severly beaten up by the police.
Kunchok Tenzin is a 31-year-old primary school teacher of
Tibetan lamguage from Yakla sub county of Sog District,
Nagchu. In April 1996 he was released from Nagchu
Detention Centre.
Konchok Tenzin's release was prompted by his critical
physical condition. While in detention Kunchok was
repeatedly tortured which caused severe swelling in his
body. Today Kunchok Tenzin cannot walk without support.
Kunchok Tenzin had been arrested in February 1995 on
suspicions of his role in the pasting of wall posters
calling for a "Free Tibet" in 1995.
On 27 October 1996 Yungdrung, a 24 to 25-year-old
Tibetan artist was found in a state of severe shock in a
public toilet in the Bharkor area of Lhasa. Yungdrumg ws
described as "cowering with terror" when he was discovered,
apparently as a result of having been torured in custody.
Yungdrung had been arrested in connection with his
portraits of the Dalai Lama and had spent the previous 58
days in Gutsa Detention Centre.
On April 1996 Jamyang Yeshi, a student monk of the "Nga-rig
Kye-tselling" school at Kumbum monastery was released for
medical reasons after two weeks of detention. Jamyang
Yishi was among the group of 25 students of the school
who were arrested and detained for pasting independence
posters and leaflets in the monastery.
Jamyang Yeshi was reported to be in coma when he was
released earlier than the other student monks and is
said to have remained unconcious for some days following
his release.
[ top ]
Ngawang Sangdrol
is a 19-year-old nun from Garu Nunnery
who is presently in Drapchi Prison. On 3 July 1996 she was
sentenced to an additional nine years imprisonment. Ngawang
had reportedly refused to stand an official entered her
prison cell and later, when she and other nuns were
punished for not cleaning their rooms, had shouted
"Free Tibet".
Ngawang Sangdrol was first sentenced to three years
imprisonment in June 1992 for attempting to stage a
demonstration in the Bharkor area of Lhasa. In September
1993 her sentenced was incresed by six years for singing
and recording nationalistic songs while in Drapchi Prison
with 13 other nuns.
Ngawang Sangdrol is now serving a total sentence of 18
years, the longest known sentence of any Tibetan female
political prisoner.
Ngawang Pekar,
a 34-year-old Drepung monk, was halfway
through an eight-year sentence in Drapchi Prison when it
was extended by six years. In August 1995 Ngawang had been
caught trying to smuggle a list of political prisoners
and a document describing human rights violations in
the prison out of Drapchi. He was subsequently placed in
solitary confinement for four months at Outridu Detention
Centre after which he was moved once again to Drapchi.
Ngawang Pekar was originally arrested on July 1989 for
putting up independence posters and participating in a
demonstration. Following his sentence extension on 13 March
1996. Ngawang is now serving a total sentence of 14 years
[ top ]
Four student monks of Nga-rig Kyetse-ling school
(English translation: Flourishing Garden of Five Knowledges)
at Kumbum Monastery in Amdo region have disappeared since
their arrest in mid-March 1996. The monks had been arrested
along with 21 other student monks ot the monastery who
were later released in early May 1996.
The four monks -- 27-year-old Dhamchoe Gyatso, editor
of the magazine, Jigme Tendar aged 29; Dhaamchoe Kalden
aged 31 and Phuntsok aged 25 been accused of publishing a
literary magazine which whas now been labelled as
"counter-revolutionary" and banned. Almost 10 months after
their arrest, the whereabouts of the monks remain unknown.
The following political prisoners have disappeared since
their arrest in 1995 and their whereabouts remain unknown.
- Jangchub Gyaltsen, 31-year-old tailor at Sera monastey,
arrested in April 1995
- Lungtok a 21-year-old monk of of Ronbo Monaster
arrested in July 1995
- Lobsang Namgyal, a former monk of Nechung Monastry,
arrested in Feb 1995
- Ngawang Thonglam, a former monk of Ganden Monastry,
arrested in Feb 1995.
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Ngawang Choephel, a Tibetan musician and scholar,
travelled to Tibet in 1995 to research music and performing
arts. He was arrested on suspicion of "illegal separatist
activities", but 15 months later has yet to be charged
or tried. The PRC has not responded to enquiries as to
his whereabouts.
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Other cases of disappearance include Gedun Chokyi and his
parents and Chadrel Rinpoche. This case is detailed in
this update.
[ top ]
January - Nine Monks of Palgon Chorten arrested in
January for burning photos of Gyalstsen Norbu, the Chinese
appointed Panchen Lama rival. One monk and one layperson
arrested in Shigatse on Jan. 18. 1996 "communicating with
the Dalai Lama regarding the Panchen Lama reincarnation
issue'.
March - Jigme Gyatso (also known as Gangya Jigme),
a 3-year-old Amdo Businessman, and Jamyang Tsultrim
(layname - Tashi Tsering), a 27-year-old Amdo monk arrested
in Lhasa in March for distributing leaflets demanding
independence. They are reported to be in Sangyip ("TAR's
Prison No. 3)
25 student monks arrested from "Nga-rig Kye-tsel-Ling"
school at Kumbum Monastery, Amdo, in March of this year. 21
of the monks were released on 5 May 1996, however Dhamchoe
Gyatso(27), Jigme Tendar (29), Dhamchoe Kalden (31) and
Phuntsok (25) are believed to still be in detention. The
monks were arrested for pasting wall posters and leaflets
and for producing a literature magazine which was banned.
May - Between 85 and 90 monks of Ganden Monastery
werearrested for protesting the ban on the possession of
display of pictures of the Dalai Lama
May/June - Bhu hung, a 25-30-year-old teacher at
Gyangtse PrimarySchool was arrested for printing and
distributing long life prayers for Gendun Choekyi Nyima
( the child recognised by His Holiness the Dalai Lama as
the 11th reincarnation of the Panchen Lama) composed by
the Dalai lama. Bhu Chung was detained at Dun-Chog Dre
Detention Centre, Gyangtse.
June - Lobsang Jamyang, a 50-year-old monk of Kirti
Monastery from Thawa village and Gonpo, a 43-year-old
Layperson, were arrested in Amdo ngaba for pasting
wall posters and distributing pamphlets calling for
independence. Wooden printing blocks inscribed with
"Tibetan Independence" were found in Gonpo's house.
Four nuns of Lhasa Tsang Khung Nunnery were arrested on 13
or 14 June. Namdol Choesang (16) from Toelung; Phuntsok
(18) fromPhenpo; Yangdrol(18) from Phenpo and Pema (16)
from Kongpo. They were arrested for demonstrating in the
Bharkor area, raising slogans of "Free Tibet" and detained
in Drapchi Prison.
July - Four nuns of Chubsang Nunnery were arrested on 1
July. Phuntsok Youdron (20) from Meldro Gongkar; Thinley
Yangkyi (18) from Rading; Nyida Wangmo (17) from Lhoka
and a fouth unnamed nun were arrested for demonstration
in the Bharkor area of Lhasa.
Four more nuns of Chubsang Nunnery were arrested the
follwing day on 2 July. Jamphel (22) and Lobsang Choedon
(17), both from Taktse; Tsering Lhamo (20) from Rading
and a fouth umknown nun were arrested for demonstrating
in the Bharkor area.
Seven monks of Karz Monastery were arrested in uly for
ditributing "Free Tibet" pamplets. Two of the monks- Pasang
(32) and Togyal (20) are from Yokzok village in Karze. Five
of the arrested monks released after a week.
Lama Jigme Sangpo of Golok Sethar Nubsur Monastery was
arrested on 5 July for pasting wall posters calling for
"Free Tibet". On 6 July eight nuns of Garu Nunnery, north
of Lhasa, were arrested by PSB (Public Security Bureau)
and PAP (People's Armed Police) offcials who beat up the
nuns before taking them to prison. The nuns were arrested
for staging an independence demonstration coinciding with
the 61st birth anniversary of the Dalai Lama,in front of
the Jokhang temple in Lhasa.
Four more monks of Sera Monastery were arrested at some
time in July. Lobsang Nyima ( layname : Migmar Yugyal),
aged 40 from Tsang Rinpung; Bhu Tsering (30) from Phenpo;
Lobsang Samten (25) from Meldo Gongkar and Tashi Pheldar,
the caretaker at Sera, were arrested for protesting
against the Work Inspection Team's campaign of "patriotic
education"
Five people (three monks and two lay people) were arrested
at Sera Monsatery on 18 July. Lobsang Sherap (lay name:
Norbu), the caretaker; Ngawang Woser (layname: Buchung)
from toelung; Kalsang (33) from Nyemo; and a boy and a girl
working as printers at the monsatery (names not known),
were arrested for pasting wall posters with slogans of "
Free Tibet, "Denial of religious freedom and "Human Rights
in Tibet"
August - Yungdrung, a 24 or 25-year-old Tibetan artist
was detained in Gutsa for 58 days and later found in a
traumatised conditon in a public toilet in the Bharkor,
Lhasa on October 27. Yungdrung was arrested in connection
with his portraits of the Dalai Lam and the Tibetan
national flag and, after being severely tortured in prison,
is presumed to have been released on 27 October, the same
day he was found.
On 23 August, Gendun Gyaltsen, a monk from Sakya Monsatery
was arrested for possession of pictures and cassette tapes
of the Dalai Lama in his room. He was released after a
week of detention and expelled from the monastery.
Three Tibetans in Chamdo region were arrested for
"counter-revolutionary activities" on 25 August. A Lhasa
Radio broadcast of 6 October mentioned the arrest of
164 "criminals" (a term which is also used to describe
political activists or "splittists") in Chamdo region,
however we have included only 3 cases as it is not
clear whether the other were arrested in connection with
political activity.
Aug/Oct - The arrest of 13 monks of Drepung Monsatery
occured sometime between August and October. Yeshi Jangchub
(23), Ngawang Sangpo (30) and Gyaltsen Yeshi (20), all from
Meldro Gongkar county; Ngawang tharchin (25) and Ngawang
Lhundrup from Dhamshung county; Ngawang shakya and Jamphel
Wangchugfrom rinpung county; Phuntsok Tashi, Phuntsok
Jamdhen and Ngawng Gyatso (340 from Phenpo Lhundrup county;
Thinley Kalden from Chushul county; Ngawang Thupwang
from Lhoka Danang cunty and Ngawang Choegyal from Kham
( Eastern Tibet) were arrested during the "re-education"
campaign of the Chines "Work InspectionTeam". the monks
were arrested for disagreeing with the work Inspection Team
in particular for refusing to denounce the Dalai Lama and
for pasting wall posters calling for a "Free-Tibet".
September
- Tenchok Tenphel, a 27-year-old monk of Sakya Monastery,
was arrested at a political re-education session on
1 September. He died two weeks later on 14 September in the
Sakya Detention Centre due to torture. The cause of death
was given as "suicide"
November - Six monks of Sera Monastery arested for
disagreeing with the "Work Inspection Team" stationed in
the Monastery.
Nov/Dec - Lhundrup Palden, a monk of Ganden Choekar
Monsatery in Ringon, Namling county, 50 km north-east
of Shigatse, and two of his students were arrested for
distributing long prayers for Gendun Choekyi Nyima composed
by the Dalai Lama.
[ top ]
In April 1996, the government of the PRC launched the
nation-wide "Strike Hard" or "Crack Down Severely On
Crimes" campaign (Chinese: Yan Da), targeted at crushing
corruption and crime. Within Tibet Chinese authorities
have focused on the so-called "splittists" - individuals
who support Tibetan independence and the leadership of His
Holiness the Dalai Lama. Implementation of sub-campaigns
such as the "Patriotic Re-education"campaign in Tibet
has led to widespread arrests and expulsions of monks and
nuns who have refused to be "re-educated" along Chinese
communist lines.
Strike Hard has been made possible by the serious lack
of justice prevailing in the PRC's judicial system; its
judiciary, lawyers and criminal procedure. The Chinese
Communist Party (CCP) exerts a pervasive influence on
the judiciary. By law, all members must be members of the
CCP and all Political cases are adjudicated by a Political
and Law Commission comprised of members of the judiciary,
the Public Security Bureau (PSB) and the Procuracy.
Judges are not required to have any formal legal training
and most judges have a PSB or Army background. The
judiciary is expected to actively take part in Government
campaigns with the result that thedegree of punishment
received often depends upon whether a campaign is in
progress.
As with the judiciary, lawyers are under the pervasive
influence of the CCP and the Provisional Regulations
on Lawyers 1980 describe lawyers as "servants of the
State". Lawyers may not defend their clients against
"justified" legal charges with the result that their
role is often limited to merely arguing for a lighter
sentence. To do otherwise is to risk punishment.
A number of proposed changes to the criminal procedure
purporting to strengthen the rights of the accused are
due to be introduced in January 1997. However there is
widespread concern that the new legislation will similarly
provide for arbitrary detention and politically motivated
prosecution.
The main sub-campaign of Strike Hard within Tibet is the
so-called "Patriotic Re-education Campaign" and follows
from the earlier campaign which banned photographs of the
Dalai Lama.
On 26 January 1996 the order was given by the "Tibet
Autonomous Region's" Department of Culture to the
Norbulinka and Potala Palace to remove all photographs
of H.H. the Dalai Lama. Following this order, the ban was
extended to public institutions and private homes.
On 7 May 1996 a Chinese "Work Team" (Chinese : gongzuo dui)
arrived at Ganden Monastery, tasked with removing all
photographs of H.H. the Dalai Lama. The monks refused
to co-operate and the riot sparked off resulted in two
deaths and around 100 arrests of monks. A fewmonths later
a number of monks were expelled as "fugitives".
While some of those arrested were released in the
following months (eight in June, three on 23 July and 15
on 30 August), 15 are known to be still in custody with 45
unaccounted for. In the subsequent months similar incidents
occurred systematically throughout Tibet.
The "Patriotic Re-education" campaign aims not just to
strike at the heart of Tibet's spiritual culture, but also
to clamp down on the powerful dissident movement that has
taken root in many monastic institutions.
The campaign has enforced laws restricting entrance to
monasteries and introduced a political pledge with five
principles:
- Opposition to separatism
- The unity of Tibet and China
- Recognition of the Chinese appointed Panchen Lama as
the true one
- Denial that Tibet was or should be independent
- Agreement that the Dalai Lama is destroying the unity
of the people
The effect of both of these measures is to de-populate
the monasteries.
Monks are given red-cards if they assent to these
principles, are subsequently allowed unrestricted
travel within China and are seen by the Chinese as,
"[having] great belief and love for their country and
religion". Those who refuse receive a green (sometimes
described as blue) card which restricts travel to within
the region of domicile.
As part of the re-education process, it is common practice
for Chinese,"work teams" to be sent into monasteries to
instruct monks on the evils of the Dalai Lama and Tibetan
nationalism. Should the monks refuse to be "re-educated",
they may suffer harassment, expulsion or arrest.
Four books, issued by the 'Office for the Promotion of
Education in Patriotism of the Monks and Nuns in the
Tibetan Autonomous Region' are used in the "Education
in Patriotism to be Conducted in the Monasteries and
Nunneries of the Whole Region".The books are entitled:
"The Essence of How to Read Out and Explain the Religious
Policy"; "... Anti-Splittism"; "... the History of Tibet";
and "... the Law".
In August 1996 information was provided by an unofficial
source to the Tibet Bureau for Southern Central Europe
Affairs who had observed work teams in the following
monasteries:
Drepung - a 180 person team (some Tibetans but mostly
Chinese) which arrived on 1-2 August 1996 was holding
group lectures and also engaging in private tutoring
whereby a group of officials focus on a single monk;
putting questions, issuing threats and inquiring about
the activities and attitudes of other monks. Work team
officials were pressuring young monks to give up their
studies and return home. TIN reports that some Drepung
monks resigned in advance of written examinations requiring
the denunciation of the Dalai Lama.
Gyantse - a 15 member work team had been in residence They
were lecturing three evenings a week and were planning to
stay for 3 months since early July .
Shalu - a team of five in residence.
Sakya - a 20 member work team had been there for one month
conducting daily "political" sessions from 3 to 7 p.m. TIN
has confirmed this information, reporting that the sessions
were due to end in mid- October. Sakya nunnery also has
a work team of three officials giving daily lessons.
Sera - a work team of 70 officials (confirmed by Thupten
Tsering, a former monk who says they arrived in June)
with main sessions being held three times a week. There
are attendance slips which must be kept, and monks must
write their own biography, give a thumbprint and sign the
five points. TIN reports that, in order to illustrate the
benefits of Chinese rule in Tibet, officials at Sera employ
educational techniques such as visits to Lhasa's military
hospital and modernisation projects in Lhasa. Armed
officials or police are said to be deployed on rooftops
around the monastery during all sessions. According to
Thupten Tsering, in November 1996, five Sub-Committees
- Health, Finance, Culture, Security and Education -
were added to the Democratic Management Committee of
Sera Monastery. Thupten believes the formation of these
sub-committees is a ploy to remove the last vestiges of
power from the monks.
Nechung - a work team comprising seven officials, all
Tibetans.
Ganden - For six months from May 1996 to October 1996,
Ganden Monastery was closed to outsiders. Chinese military
personnel camped in tents at the foot of the hill where
the monastery is situated. No communication was allowed
between the monastery. and the outside
Samye - A work team was sent in July August
Sangog Palre - Four member "work team " in resdence.
They are to remain for 3 years
Unofficial media figures report at least 2,200 executions
and thousands of heavy prison sentences across China since
Strike Hard's launch. Within Tibet, TIN reports 111 arrests
and at least one death in custody in 1996 in connection
with the campaign. In late September when the 300 monks of
Sera monastery near Lhasa refused to sign oaths denouncing
His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Chinese police arrested
seven monks for allegedly leading the rebellion. It was
reported by TIN in November that nine Sera monks, plus
a woman involved in the attempt by five monks to paste
posters criticising the campaign, have been arrested.
In Drepung monastery, five monks are known to have
been arrested during the re-education campaign, at
least one of whom has been sentenced to three years
imprisonment. Ngawang Tharchin, aged 21, was detained
in September apparently as a result of contesting a
statement that Tibet has been part of China since the Yuan
dynasty. Ngawang was arrested two weeks later, sentenced
without trial to three years re-education through labour
on about 25 October 1996 and is believed to be in Trisam
Prison, 10 km west of Lhasa.
An unconfirmed source reported to TIN that another
monk from Drepung, Gyaltsen Yeshe aged about 20, was
sentenced to three years at the same time for a related
offence. The fate of two other Drepung monks; Yeshe
Changchub, detained on 20 August, and Ngawang Choegyal
(layname Gyatso) detained on 30 August, both aged about
23 years, remains unclear.
There are unconfirmed reports of deaths in an incident at
Gander Choekor monastery in Ringon, Namling county. A monk
called Lhundrup Palden is said to have been arrested along
with two of his students after he distributed a long-life
prayer for the child recognised by the Dalai Lama as the
reincarnation of the Panchen Lama. Another unverified
report said that two student monks had drowned after they
had jumped into a river to escape from police. (TIN News
Update, 27 Nov. 1996).
TIN has reported two arrests and one death in custody
resulting from the re-education sessions at Sakya
monastery. On 23 August the caretaker-monk of Sakya's main
chapel, Gendun Gyaltsen, was arrested during a political
meeting after pictures and cassettes of the DalaiLama
were found in his room. Gendun Gyaltsen was placed
in "thumbcuffs" and led away by police. One week later,
after his release, he was expelled.
Tenchog Tenphel, a 27-year-old monk, was reportedly
arrested at Sakya monastery on 1 September 1996 in front
of a re-education session. He was held in the Sakya County
Prison where he died on 14 September. While police said
that he had committed suicide, local sources allege that
he had died as a result of abuse in prison and no autopsy
was carried out.
Thupten Tsering from Sera monastery reports that in
November 1996 six monks of Sera Monastery were arrested
following a disagreement with the Work Inspection Team.
Sometime in September 1996, according to a former monk,
14 monks of Ganden monastery were transferred to Drapchi
Prison after sentences were imposed on them. The highest
sentence passed was eight years. Another 12 to 13 monks
were moved to Trisam Detention Centre. The highest sentence
imposed on the monks detained in Trisam was 3 years.
Many monks have chosen to voluntarily leave monasteries
rather than renounce their spiritual leader.
Tsering Dawa, who was working at Samye monastery
during the re- education campaign reported to TCHRD
that in July / August 1996, a "work team" was sent in
to Samye monastery. Tsering's brother, Ten"work team"
distributed questions to zin Dorjee, was a 25-year-old
monk and disciplinary in charge of the dialectical class
at Samye. The the monks testing their beliefs. On 10
September 1996 Tsering found his brother missing and his
whereabouts unknown. He said this "was presumably as a
result of Tenzin Dorjee's vehement opposition to these
questions."
Tenzin Bhagdo, aged 23, from Drepung monastery told TCHRD
that a "work team" was sent in to Drepung monastery on
2 August 1996. "During the campaign each monk was called
to a secluded place and was individually interrogated by
a member of the "work team". The questions aim to oppose
His Holiness the Dalai Lama and to denounce the Panchen
Lama reincarnation recognised by His Holiness. Each monk
was interrogated three times. If one does not give a
satisfactory answer on the third time, he will not only
be debarred from the monastery but is also sure to be put
behind bars", he said. Tenzin left the monastery before
his third interrogation for fear of being imprisoned.
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