15 October 1997
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Seven more Serwa monks arrested
[ read ]
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Editor disappeared
[ read ]
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Three Amdo men sentenced for "espionage"
[ read ]
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Popular singer disappeared
[ read ]
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Tashi Lhunpo monks continue to face harrasment
[ read ]
In July this year seven monks from Serwa monastery in
Chamdo region were arrested by the Communist China's
Public Security Bureau. This is the second known case of
arrest of Serwa monks. Earlier in March 1994 five monks
from the same monastery were arrested and are presently
serving prison sentences of 12 to 15 years in Powo Tramo
Labour Camp. Their only crime was that they dared to raise
their voice against the repressive rule of the Chinese
authorities.
According to a
young Tibetan farmer
who recently
escaped from Pashoe County of Tibet, seven monks from
Serwa monastery in Pashoe county under Chamdo Region
were arrested. Apparently the monks of Serwa monastery
left their monastery in the early morning of 30 June
1997. Around dusk that same day they reached Lingkha
subcounty. Upon their arrival there, they took down
the nameplates of the headquarters of the People's
government of the Lingkha sub county in Pashoe county and
in its place pasted wall posters that read:
"Tibet is an independent country".
They later marched towards Pashoe county and around dawn on
1 July, 1997, they reached Pashoe county where they staged a
demonstration, shouting, "Tibet is an independent country,
basic human rights of the Tibetans must be respected",
etc. Soon all seven were immediately whisked away by the
PSB officials of the Pashoe county.
They were kept in detention for about a month during which
they were said to have been tortured indiscriminately. They
were later transferred to Chamdo prison in Chamdo
proper. Nothing is known of their health condition nor or
how long they are sentenced to.
The seven monks are 25-year-old
Tashi Phuntsok,
Rinzin Choephel (24),
Sherab Tsultrim (25),
Dawa Dorjee (24),
Lobsang Damchoe (26)
and
Ngawang Choephel (16).
All the seven are from Lingkha sub county.
According to the informant, along with seven monks, the
artist of the same monastery 36-year-old Rinzin Choephel
was handed over to the Chamdo authorities for further
actons to be taken against him. He was suspected of having
links with the seven monks and their activities. Earlier
in March 1994 five monks were arrested for breaking
the nameplates of the government offices and raising
their voice for the Independence of Tibet showing their
opposition to the Chinese rule. They were Chemi Dorjee,
Lobsang Tsegyal, and Pema Tsering, all sentenced to 16
years imprisonment and subsequent deprivation of political
rights for 5 years. While, Lobsang Palden and Jampa Tashi
were sentenced for 12 years with subsequent deprivation
of political rights for four years. They are now serving
their prison term under pathetic prisons condition in one
of the most notorious prison in Tibet.
(Refer Volume II Number 2 of the Human Rights Update)
[ top ]
Chakdor Tsering,
editor of the Tibet journal "Daser"
has reportedly been detained in June 1997 for political
reasons. However, nothing is known of his whereabouts
till now.
Chakdor Tsering,
30 years old, is from Amdo Lharang. He acquired his
education in the Sangchu District Primary School in the
Kan-Lho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. In 1989, he joined
the Tibetan Teacher's Training school in the Tsoe City
of the region and completed his study in 1992. During his
study, he was under much scrutiny by the District Security
officials and the Chinese teachers in the University. His
moves were always observed as they suspected him of holding
anti-Chinese views and they feared he would create some
unpleasant stir in the university. After the completion
of his studies he worked as the editor of the "Daser",
a quarterly Tibetan journal of the Kan-Lho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture,
in Gansu province. Recently, around the month of June,
he was arrested for political reasons and since
then his whereabouts remain unknown.
[ top ]
Collective trial followed by sentencing is very common in
Chinese courts in Tibet. This allows the court authorities
to decide cases at their own free will. Many political
prisoners have had their sentence decided as such. This
weakens the scope for any accused to prove themselves not
guilty. The following issue represents such a court scene.
The Intermediate Peoples' Court of the Tso-Nub Tibetan
Mongol Autonomous Prefecture under Qinghai Province
has sentenced three Tibetans for a considerable long
term. They were charged with "spying" and "forming
Counter-revolutionary groups" as issued in their court
verdict paper.
On 16 June 1994, the Intermediate People's Court of the
Tsonub Tibetan Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, (Chinese:
Hai-Shi) under the Qinghai Province, has sentenced three
Tibetans to nine, seven and six years respectively. The
court revealed false eveidences and verified that the
accused three were involved in espionage activities
for the Tibetan Government in exile and formed a
Counterrevolutionary group.
Lukar Jam,
a 26-year-old man, is from Sangnak township
in Shinhai county of the Tso-Lho (Chinese: Hai-Nan)
Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province. He was
sentenced on 16 June, 1994 to eight years imprisonment
for "espionage activities", one year for forming the
"Counterrevolutionary group" and additonal five-year
deprivation of political rights.
He had earlier visited India in December, 1991 and was a
student for one year at the Transit School in Dharamsala,
India. He returned to Tibet the next year. He was arrested
on July 13, 1993, alleged for inciting the local Tibetans
by distributing reactionary literature and forming a
pro-independence group. Despite all these charges by the
court, Lukar never accepted the alleged crime of being a
"spy" for the "Dalai Clique".
Tse-Gyon Gyal,
30 years old,
from Tri-Kha County in Tso-Lho Tibetan autonomous
Prefecture under the Qighai Province, was also sentenced
on 16 June, 1994 to six years imprisonment for "espionage
activities", one year for forming "Counter-revolutionary
Groups" and additional four years deprivation of political
rights. Prior to his arrest, he worked as a staff in the
Public Security Bureau of Themchen (Chinese: Tian jun)
County in Tso nub (Chinese: Hai-Shi) under the inghai
Province. He was charged with having "contacted the Exile
Tibetan Government". He too refused to accept the crime
charged against him.
Namloyak,
25-year-old from Thangnak township,
in the Tse Ghor Thang (Chinese: Xing Hai) County,
under the Tso-Lho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture was
sentenced on 16 April, 1994 to five years imprisonment
for "espionage", one year imprisonment for forming
"Counter-revolutionary Groups" and deprivation of politcal
rights for an additional four years. The court charged
him for "spying" and "distributing independence leaflet"
and as part of the evidence they exhibited some books
which were published by the Xinhua Publication (government
authorised).
Such provision of irrelevant evidences is mainly aimed
at trying hard to prove the defendants guilty. In such
cases where people are charged for "espionage" crime,
an unfair trial is held whereby the convicted are charged
and sentenced to lengthy prison terms.
[ top ]
According to an account provided by a tourist who recently
visited Tibet, Yadong, a popular Tibetan singer, is believed
to have disappeared since July last. He is the Khampa
singer from Chengdu who sings in Chinese besides singing in
his mother tongue, Tibetan. He is apparently very popular
in Chengdu. His song "Khampa Han" (roughly translated as
Brave Khampa) is not very approved by the officials.
In July just before a public performance of his song
in Lhasa, a government official gave an anti Dalai Lama
speech. Yadong is known to have gone over to his fellow
partner in the evening an apologised saying he will not
perform after what was being said about His Holiness. He
walked out of the performance in the last moment. Last
week, TCHRD heard from an unconfirmed source that Yadong
was arrested in Chengdu, and his present whereabouts is
not known.
This is one of the second known case of Tibetan singer,
who was believed to have been arrested and taken to an
unknown place after Ngawang Choephel who was arrested
while researching on de-phasing Tibetan music and dance.
Ngawang Choephel was detained for over a year without any
formal trial and is now currently serving 18 years prison
term after being charged with 'espionage'.
"Yadong and several other popular Tibetan singers
were called in Lhasa for the felicitation of Hongkong
reversion to China in July 1997, since that day Yadong
was not seen in public", says a group of young Tibetan
who recently arrived from Derge region of Tibet. Although
there are no confirmed reports about his arrest, the majority
of the people with whom TCHRD interviewed spoke of his
disappearance. Various other rumours that are spreading
in Lhasa relates of his death due to a road accident
and that of his trip to a foreign country.
"Yadong is known for his melodious voice both in Mandarin
and Tibetan. His compositions are mainly related to
religion, with many of his songs in praise of the Buddha
and the enlightened one. He was once acclaimed as the
second best male singer of China during one of the major
song competitions. It is believed that he has many Chinese
fans from mainland China" says another group of Tibetan
who arrived India in early October 1997. Many of his album
are also abundantly available in India for sale.
Upon asked about Yadong's present whereabouts, a Chamdo
man said, "I heard people saying that he escaped to a
foreign country from prison after he was imprisoned for
singing song in praise of H.H the Dalai Lama." "He is a
giant looking man, with a beard and long hair", added the
Chamdo man.
"Yadong is said to be from Karze Tibetan Autonomous
Prefecture but he no longer lives in Karze", said another
new comer from Tibet. According to another recent arrival,
he is from Derge, Penta.
It is also said that Yadong was a member of the Karze
Dance Troupe during which time he was imprisoned for three
months for reasons unknown. This resulted in his dismissal
from the dance troupe upon his release from the prison..
He even went on an official trip to Taiwan and USA once.
Whatever the case may be it is an undeniable fact that
Yadong is not seen in public anymore. His absence is
quite conspicuous in context to his periodic appearance
in the Television.
Tibetans are being continuously suppressed for exercising
their freedom of expression in any form, thereby denying
the Tibetan people of their basic right of expression.
[ top ]
Monks in Tashi Lhunpo Monastery are still not free from
harrasment by the Chinese Officials. Strict vigillence
is observed over the entire administration of the
Monastery. Monks who show allegiance to the Chinese
government have a better possibilty of being appointed
in place of those who oppose the Chinese authorities
presence in the monastery. Two monks of Tashi Lhunpo
recently escaped to Dharamsala, India in July 1997. Upon
their arrival they accounted on the present condition of
Tashi Lhunpo Monastery.
"Since 1995, hundreds of Chinese have arrived in
the monastery to systematically carry out political
re-education campaign. The primary aim of the education
session is to directly oppose H.H the Dalai Lama and
Chardral Rinpoche, the Chinese appointed head of the
search committee who is now in prison and the Panchen lama
reincarnate recognised by H.H the Dalai Lama. In case we
refuse to pledge such political vows we face the threat of
being heavily punished or taken to prison where atrocious
tortures are carried out by the Chinese authorities.
At present
Phuntsok, the deputy head of the democratic
management committee of the monastery, is held in detention
since July 1995. Tendor, a monk of Gyupa sub monastery,
a branch monastery of Tashi Lhunpo monastery was arrested
on the night of 13 July, 1995. He is now kept incommunicado
in Ngari prison in Shigatse.
Also
Gyatrul Jampa Tenzin,
Chairman of Monastery Democratic Disciplinary committee
was arrested and taken to prison on the night of 13 July
1995, he was beaten indiscriminately while being taken
to the prison. He is now kept in a secluded cell where no
one is allowed to have contact with him. He is physically
permanently disordered as a result of series of torture
inflicted on him.
Upon his release from prison on 7 March, 1997, he was
expelled from the monastery, allowing only three hours
to pack up his belonging. He now lives in his native
town Lhatse.
Personal secretary of the previous Panchen lama,
Ven. Thupten Kalsang
was expelled from monastery after
being imprisoned for one year. He lives now in Shigatse
area. Many such cases of imprisonment followed by expulsion
from the monastery is as follows :
16-year-old
Lobsang Tsultrim,
25-year-old
Gedhun,
27-year-old
Sonam Phuntsok,
17-year-old
Lhakpa Tsering,
28-year-old
Chemi Tsering,
24-year-old
Tseshon Chungdak,
21-year-old
Lobsang Gyatso,
27-year-old
Tsering Gonpo,
and 25-year-old
Gelong.
They were all expelled from the monastery after levying a
fine of 3500 to 4700 yuan from each individual. They are
now no longer allowed to wear the traditional monk's robe.
For any religious prayers to be conducted in lay houses,
they are reqiured to obtain a pass from the Chinese
authorities. Furthermore, those who are expelled
are debarred from joining any school, monastery or
government offices.
Unable to live in such a restrained situation,
Penpa,
personal attendant to the previous Panchen Lama died of
heart failure. He could not bear to see such atrocities
inflicted upon the monks.
In mid April, 1997,
Ngagchen Lobsang Chodak,
the abbot of Sangchen Gyudpa monastery, a sub-monastery of the
larger Tashi Lhunpo monastery, was expelled from the
monastery. Upon his expulsion he was kept in the house
of the previous Panchen Lama in Shigatse under strict
surveillance of the Public Security Bureau where he was
denied any contact with the public. Nganchen Lobsang Chodak
is now 67 years old.
In his position,
Tsering,
Deputy chairman of the monastery management committee who
is "loyal", and display positive allegiance of the Chinese
Communist Party was appointed. Tsering's appointment was
met with vehement opposition from the monks which was
crushed with threats by the Police.
Gyatrul Jampel Tenzin,
Nganchen Lobsang Lobsang Chodak,
Phuntsok
and
Thupten Kalsang
are all amongst the 8-member Chinese-appointed search
committee headed by Chadral Rinpoche.
"At present nine-member work team are still in the
monastery. They conduct education sessions on Tuesdays
and Fridays. They hold classes dividing the monks into
four to five different groups from 4 pm to 7.30 pm. In
this session we are ordered to oppose H.H the Dalai lama
and Panchen lama reincarnate recognised by H.H the Dalai
lama. Besides this regular sessions, we would be suddenly
called for a general meeting. Such sessions prove extremely
disturbing and damaging for our general religious study.
"The present administration of the monastery is looked
and controlled by the Shigatse Religious Department. This
department appoints management of the monastery through
the process of secret ballot. However, the list of the
candidates are already selected by the Chinese authorities
in Shigatse. The general monks of the monastery has no
say in the administration of the monastery."
[ top ]
In Tibet today, it is a very sorry picture for women.
The most natural phenomenon of becoming a mother has
to be authorised and sanction sought.
Dreams of parents who want more than one or
two child is crushed. Various cases of women fined for
pregnancy, pregnancy being forced to terminate, forced
sterilisation is becoming a common day ritual. This is
becoming an alarming issue as it threatens the survival
of Tibetan people coupled with the massive transfer of
Chinese population in Tibet.
291 women within the past few years underwent sterilisation
in Madiu township under Nagchu Region of the "Tibet
Autonomous Region". In 1996 alone, 53 women were
sterilised. These figures came out in the official Chinese
newspaper "Tibet Daily" of 4 August, 1997 edition.
The Nomads of the region are educated about the importance
of birth control for the prosperity of the nation and
family. This is based on these books, "Tibet Autonomous
Region Provisional Birth Control Policy" and "Resolution
to generate the Birth Control Policy and prevention of
premarital birth studying the marriage law". These are
distributed specifically as guidelines for the proper
implementation of the Policy.
Of the eleven villages under the Madiu township, 50 percent
of the women population are of the child-bearing age.
The various Offices of the township, Peoples' Government
and Women Association has built awareness within the
people about the importance of birth control. The Birth
Control Office has established a special committee for
the implementation of this policy.
The Committee has even honored those women who "accepted
to conform to the principles of the policy" resulting in
a total of 291 women having undergone sterilisation within
the past few years. In 1996, the birth rate of the region
was 16.78% which compared to 1990 census has dropped by
3.72%. Therefore, the entire population of the region has
decreased by 2.08% compared to the 1990 population census.
This report coincides with an account by a recent arrival
from Tibet on China's birth control policy. She herself
underwent the rules laid down by the policy. She reported
that the child bearing age legalised for Chinese women is
21, whereas it is 18, for Tibetan women. Every pregnant
woman is required to declare her pregnancy or she will
face the consequences of being refused the legal
document of registration (citizenship) and ration card. The
government officials are allowed to have just one child,
whereas the farmers can have two but not more. The
informant herself was 18 years old when she delivered her
first child and she had to pay 2000 yuan to the officials
of the birth control office. She was not aware of the
policy when she became pregnant.
However, her son still does not have the identity
certificate which implies that he cannot attend schools nor
enjoy any rights that are laid down by the government. The
age gap between the first child and the second should be
6 years failing of which will mean another fine ranging
from 500-2000 yuan.
After every second child born they will conduct the forced
contraceptive method, preferably the intra-uterine device method.
They are not educated on the implications and
consequences of such a method. The informant was concerned
about few women in her village who has bad cramps, and
there are some cases of dangerous complicatons due to
this IUD. Some of the device inserted get rusted due to
negligence and other cases where flesh grew around the
coil. With the insertion of this metal women can not do
hard labour which is a part of their peasant life. They
often suffer severe pain around their hips and abdomen.
Those working in the government undergo a more easier
method of insertion of a pill in the arm, which is expensive
but has no side effects nor pain. Some people in the
village side who have no knowledge about the entire policy
conceive their third child and when government officials
come for checkings they will either have to pay a huge fine
or have the child aborted, some of them even in their 8th month.
For many Tibetans they are not aware of the implication of
this policy. They feel that the policy is also implemented
in China so it is not a special occurrence. However, they
are not aware of the difference in the population of China
and Tibet. Not aware that this could marginalise ominous state.
[ top ]
In June, 1997, 20 monks of Gongkar Choede Monastery
participated in a heated debate about the re-education
session that was being held in their monastery.
One of the monks, Jampel Tender exhibited his disgust
by pasting posters speaking against the presence of the
workteam. This resulted in him receiving severe beatings
and ill treatment.
Jampel Tendar
is a 20-year-old monk from Gongkar Choede monastery in
Gongkar county under Lhoka region in the Tibet Autonomous
Region. This monastery which is about 60 kilometers south
of Lhasa consists of 78 monks. He was reportedly detained
some time in June, 1997 when a 28 membered work team was
carrying out the re-education session at the monastery. The
work teams had been there since the past one year and the
monks were being instructed to denounce the Dalai Lama and
speak in support of the fact that Tibet is part of China.
The incident took place when at the night of June 16,
1997 Chinese officials called a meeting. This meeting led
to a heated argument with 20 monks involved. As soon
as the meeting was over, Jampel Tendar put up handwritten
posters around the monastery condemning the Chinese rule
and declaring support for the Dalai Lama. The posters also
included a handwritten drawing of the forbidden Tibetan
national flag.
This was subsequently followed by his detention at the
monastery for the night. He was reportedly taken to
the detention centre inTsethang in Nedong county under
Lhoka region the following day after which he was again
transferred to Gutsa detention centre. From the time he was
initially arrested Jampel suffered and continued to receive
beatings and ill-treatment. Reports indicate that he
may have received administrative sentence and nothing is
known whether he was given any medical care or if he is
in proper health condition.
Since this incident broke out, the monks of Gongkar Choede
Monastery continue to receive harsh treatment and subjected
to strict scrutiny.
[ top ]
Fourteen nuns had their sentences increased while in
prison on 8 October 1993. Despite being behind bars they
were courageous enough to voice their feelings and belief
on a smuggled tape recorder and distribute it outside
prison complex. They were subjected to harsher torture and
beatings and their sentence increased. Yet, they refuse to
stay chained. They say: "Torture can not destroy us: we did
not die". Below is the profile of Ven. Jigme Yangchen who
dared to offend the Chinese authorities with her courage
and determination to speak for the sufferings of Tibetan
people.
Jigme Yangchen
is 27 years old and she is from Lhoka Kyeshe. She joined
Shungseb nunnery when she was 17 years old in 1987. Her
parents are very old, apparently in their late 60's. They
are farmers. She has two older brothers and a sister. She
also has a younger brother who is staying with her parents
in her hometown. Her sister is married and does not stay
with them anymore. One of her elder brother who is a
carpenter is in Lhasa and the other brother was a monk
at the Sungrabling Monastery. However, his political
enthusiasm and involvement in political activities cost
him expulsion from the monastery. The younger brother who
is currently staying with her parents also has a wife.
Jigme is described by an ex-nunnery and prison mate as
a very gentle person. She is known to be extremely shy
but intelligent. She is very determined and will strive
to get what she wants and believes is hers. Apparently
this determination and will wound her up in one of the
most notorious Chinese Prison in Tibet, Drapchi, for
an outrageous lengthy prison term. Jigme is currently
serving 12 years imprisonment. Six nuns, including Jigme
Yangchen, from Shungseb nunnery made plans to stage a
demonstration in Bharkhor market place. They left together
for Lhasa on the same day from their nunnery.
On 28 August, 1990, Jigme Yangchen along with other nuns of
Shungseb nunnery held a demonstration shouting independence
slogans. They started to walk from Tsuklakhang (Central
cathedral) to Barkhor. Hardly 15 minutes passed after
starting with their protest when Public Security Bureau
officials came and arrested them. They were immediately
taken to Gutsa where they were harshly beaten and
tortured. After about 6-7 months in Gutsa their prison
term was settled and they were transferred to Drapchi
Prison. All the elder nuns in the group were sentenced
to a higher prison term. Jigme Yangchen was one of those,
she was sentenced to 7 years in prison. They were charged
with "counterrevolutionary" activities. Mid way through her
prison term, in 1993, she was involved with other 13 nuns
in making a recording on a crude tape recorder smuggled
into the prison. The recording consisted of all their names
dedicating a song or a poem to friends or supporters.
Their message conveyed gratitutes to those who had not
forgotten them in prison, of the brutal sufferings they
undergo and of their dedication to the common goal of
Tibet and to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
This act of theirs was deemed "counter-revolutionary"
by the PRC authorities and on 8 October 1993 all the nuns
were tried. Jigme yangchen received an additional 5 years
prison term totalling her sentence to 12 years. Today
Jigme Yangchen is reported to be in extremely poor health
condition. She is reduced to skin and bone and is very
pale. She suffers from various complications plainly
due to the numerous inhumane torture and beatings
she has sustained from the prison officials while
interrogation. Her brother in Lhasa comes to visit her
during visitation periods. This is one of the songs/poem
that they recorded on the crude tape recorder.
From my embittered mind
I sing a sad song
The Chinese have transformed our land of Dharma (religion)
Into a giant prison
The unending torture
which the Chinese have
inflicted upon us
Could not destroy us: We did not die.
Add your appeal to ours: address your letters to Mr. Jiang
Zemin, President of PRC and
send them to TCHRD
for forwarding.
[ top ]
A monk named
Dorjee,
aged 19, from Lhatse Choede Monastery in Lhatse County
in Shigatse Region, was expelled from the monastery in March-April, 1997.
He was expelled from the monastery
because he refused to accept the principles laid down
by the workteam members in his monastery. As a result he
was expelled from the monastery. After his expulsion he
went to his home town and made an attempt to visit India
in June 1997 but failed because of heavy snowfall. In his
second attempt he succeeded and is now currently residing
in India.
According to him the workteam came to his monastery in
March-April 1997 and stayed for three months. During the
re-education session the work team did not distribute any
materials but they handed two copies to the head of the
monastery. The work-teams conducts clase regularily from
12-3 p.m. and 4.30 - 6 p.m. with an hour and half for lunch
break. The monks are not allowed to go out of the monastery
during the re-education sessions. In case of urgent matter
they have to seek permission from the head of the workteam
member. During the re-education session the monks have to
answer accordingly to the questions thrown by the workteam
members. It can either be answered verbally or in written
form. According to the source, he is so far the only monk
who was expelled from his monastery.
Certain rules are laid down by the authorities regarding
recruitment of new monks. The age limit of admission
is from 13-17 yrs. No monks below the age of 13 are
admitted. The qualifications to be a monk are Age, County
Officials authorisation, Parents consent is not neccessary,
should not have any political affiliation, and the monk
should not have any relatives in India.
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