30 November 1997
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Tortured for defending Panchen Lama
[ read ]
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Comedian suffers mental breakdown
[ read ]
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Compulsory slaughter
[ read ]
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Forced recruitment
[ read ]
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Profile:
Body broke, spirit strong
[ read ]
Since the Dalai Lama announced the discovery of the
reincarnate Panchen Lama in May 1995, Chinese authorities
have waged a brutal campaign against those who openly
support him.
Lobsang Shakya, a monk at Tashi Lhunpo
Monastery - the seat of the Panchen Lama - was among those
who refused to denounce the Panchen Lama in favour of the
boy chosen by Chinese authorities. He suffered a series
of prison interrogations, torture, hospitalisation and
hospital interrogations.
"They suspended me from the ceiling and beat me with blows
and kicks all over my body while they interrogated me
about why I had not criticised the Dalai Lama and why 1
had refused the Panchen Lama's reincarnation selected by
the Chinese government. When I did not respond, they hit
me in the stomach with their elbows and fists and kicked
me like an animal. This went on for several hours. When 1
had to go out to the toilet, I was always accompanied by
security officers, and my vision was completely covered,"
remembers Lobsang Shakya, who suffered more than two months
of interrogations and torture.
"I was bleeding excessively and frequently fell
unconscious. They beat me most on my stomach. As I fell
unconscious, they would splash my face with drain water. I
heard them say, 'Do not hurt him on the outside; disable
him with internal injuries.'"
Lobsang, aged 24, says,
"I was interrogated by four to five Public Security Bureau
(PSB) officials at a time which would last from 10 a.m. to
3 p.m. Two meals were served; one in the morning and one at
night. The interrogation session would run continuously for
a week, and then there would be a break for 5 to 6 days.
"During that time, my relatives and many people from
Shigatse came to visit me. They brought with them food
and clothes, but 1 was never allowed to receive any of
it. When some of them tried to insist, they were detained
for up to 15 days. After more than a month my mother was
allowed to see me, but we were not permitted to speak."
Threatened with a two year sentence and a 3000 yuan fine
for being a "counter-revolutionary", Lobsang escaped while
in hospital being treated for torture-related injuries.
"All of the monks who were expelled from Tashi Lhunpo were
fined between 3000 and 10000 yuan. They were also forbidden
to join any other monastery or to conduct prayers in lay
houses," Lobsang reports.
In April 1995, 13 work teams arrived in Tashi Lhunpo
Monastery and 'patriotic re-education' began.
When the Dalai Lama announced Gedhun Chockyi Nyima as
the XIth Panchen Lama on May 14, 1995, the people of
Shigatse celebrated and offered prayers for his quick
enthronement. On May 16, "TAR's political leaders denounced
the decree as "totally illegal and invalid".
The next day it was declared that Tashi Lhunpo must be
made a true patriotic monastery and that "all monks must
respect the order of the authorities; the reincarnation of
the Panchen Lama is a political matter and the Golden Urn
must be used for the selection of the Panchen. You all
need to be re-educated".
On May 20, Pasang, the head of the work team, asked
the monks' opinions on the reincarnation. Lobsang Shakya
wrote,"the reincamation of the Panchen Lama is a religious
matter and all monks believe in Gedhun Choekyl Nyima
as chosen by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The Chinese
Government, in the pretext of politics, wants to select
their own boy by using the golden urn, but there are not
two Panchen Lamas. If this happens there will be no peace
in the world."
Says Lobsang,
"The work team was angered by my letter and that night
Pasang and Yung, head of the Religious Affairs Bureau,
arrived at my room and asked who had written the letter. I
replied that I had. Pasang told me, 'You are foolish, you
never listen to our words. You have the wrong view and all
the contents of your letter are false. You must confess
your mistaken believes and you must be re-educated'." In
the subsequent months he was again threatened to change
his way of thinking.
On 25 November, Gyaltsen Norbu, the boy selected by the
Chinese government, was taken to Tashi Lhunpo. All monks
were ordered to put on their good robes, to carry a khata
(a scarf offering) and to "exhibit good expression'. At
1.30 am, when the PSB became aware that Lobsang was absent,
six People's Armed Police officers went to his house.
"They dragged me out and took me to Shigatse Nyari prison,
my vision blocked with black fabric over my head and my
hands manacled. I was kept in Nyari for just 15 minutes
before being taken to Karkhang prison, Shigatse." The
next day Palden, the local head of the PSB, and Sotop,
the head of the Home Depaertment arrived at Lobsang's cell
and the torture began.
After six days of uninterrupted interrogation, they told
him, "if you confess to your crimes, your sentence may
be reduced from two years. We are advising you out of
sympathy, so you must think carefully". When Lobsang
did not comply, another two months of interrogations and
torture followed.
"After my relatives and the Shigatse people learned of
my health condition, they tried persistently to have me
admitted to hospital. 1 was finally admitted to Shigatse
People's Hospital where I diagnosed with problems of
the stomach, pancreas and intestine. Even while I was in
hospital, my interrogations were continued. With the help
of the hospital head and a doctor from the Tibetan Medical
Institute (TMI), I was able to receive treatment in TMI
for more than two months" Lobsang says.
"At the recommendation of a Tibetan medical officer,
I was allowed one week's treatment without harassment
from PSB officials. He advised me to use that period
to escape. 'There is no hope of you being readmitted
to hospital, you will remain in prison', he told me.
I remained in hiding for more than two years before
escaping to India on 10 October 1997."
"After my escape, PSB officials went daily to harass my
family and relatives, inquiring about my whereabouts. Later
I learned that the officials had even stuck my photograph
up at the border region of Dram. After they failed to find
me, the officials presumed that I had died."
Lobsang also reported the use of red and blue cards in the
hospital. Holders of a red card received free medication
and those with a blue card paid half-price. Lobsang said
the local Tibetans were required to pay full cost for
medication, whereas the Chinese who crane to the hospital
did not have to pay.
Tibetans were also required to pay 800 to 1000 yuan as
a deposit, 20 yuan for a bed per night, 200 yuan for a
bottle of glucose plus check-up expenses. "During my stay
in the hospital," Lobsang reports, "two Tibetans died after
doctors refused them treatment for having no deposit."
"Gyalpo, a 47-year-old man from Shalu district, Shigatse
region, died from serious injuries to his lung and
liver. Another man from Tsongdu district, Shigatse, also
died when he couldn't pay 1000 yuan."
"Tibetan doctors are being expelled and replaced with
Chinese doctors. China claims that they have built
hospitals in Tibet, but in reality these benefit only the
Chinese settlers. Tibetans have no right of health care."
"Chinese medical teams have sterilised women aged 16 to
45 in the region by various means. Those who refused were
fined up to 500 yuan."
[ top ]
Menlha Kyab,
a famous Tibetan comedian and writer from Tsolho (Ch:
Hamm) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture Tsongon (Ch: Qinghai)
Province, was recently reported to have suffered a serious
mental breakdown as a result of his imprisomnent for
six months. Twenty eight Tibetans including Menlha Kyab
were believed to have been detained in June or July 1993,
just prior to a visit by Chinese President Jaing Zemin
to the province. The detainees were thought to have been
suspected of distributing pro-independence leaflets during
the President's visit.
[ top ]
Tibetan Buddhists consider the slaughter of any living
creature a sin. Yet recent reports from Tibet's rural
areas reveal that Chinese authorities are forcing Tibetan
farmers and nomads to do exactly that.
Lobsang Gyaltsen,
a recently-arrived refugee from Tibet, report that his
family and the others In his village are forced each year
to kill 30 Percent of their livestock.
"We are allowed to keep only 70 percent of our animals and
must kill the other 30 percent. Some animals are "worth"
more than others. For example, every cow is worth six sheep
and so, if we have 100 cows, we must kill 30 cows or 180 sheep,"
says Lobsang, who comes from a village called Drog under
Yaama township in Toe Nyabring county, Shigatse region.
"There are 25 families in my village with a population of
100 people. The killing must be done every year. There are
11 members in my family and we lead a semi-nomadic life.
We were provided the land share of 8 people, but I do not know
how much land this equates to. We have between 150 to 160
sheep and goats, 10 cows and 15 yaks," says Lobsang who
arrived India in late November. Thus, Lobsangs's family
was required to kill 45 sheep and goat, 3 cows and 5 yaks.
If a family refuses to kill its animals, the animals are
nonetheless confiscated and the family is charged a fine
of 60 yuan per animal. In addition, for every hide of the
animals compulsorily killed, 1 yuan and 7 mosey must be
paid to the authorities as a tax.
Lobsang believes that this policy is an attempt by
Chinese authorities to exhaust the wealth of Tibetans and
ultimately create a situation in which Tibetan farmers
and nomads can no longer survive. Lobsang also says the
increase in supply of meat has distorted the market price
and the lower prices represent a further cut to farmers'
livelihood.
"The decrease in the number of the animals means we
suffer from a scarcity of manure for the farm land,"
says Lobsang. "We are unable to find meat, butter
and cheese for our consumption and we lead a miserable
life. Ultimately, we are compelled to buy butter from the
Chinese authorities. They also order us to kill our horse
and cow and try to force us to buy modern farming machinery
to replace them. So far none of the farmers have bought
any machinery other than a ploughing instrument, costing
about 1700, to which the farmers all contributed. Some
families are so desperate that they do not have even tsampa
(roast barley flour) to eat."
Lobsang's family must also pay school "taxes". He reports,
"There is only one school in our town. Every family in my
village is required to give the meat of a whole animal,
30 gyama of tsampa and two sacks of firewood to the school
authorities, regardless of whether their children attend
the school. Of the 40 children in my village only four
or five have gone to school. Although the school was
established by the government no funds were allotted and
the students must bear all the expenses.
It is also felt that even if children receive schooling
they will not get and so parents keep them at home to with
farming work.
"A seven-member family is required to pay 60 gyama (30 kg)
sacks of barley in tax for which they are paid only 7
mosey. The market price is 1 yuan and 5 mosey. For every
animal, we must pay 1 yuan 4 mosey. We must also sell at
a price which is below the actual market price for sheep
and goat's skin and pay tax on the grass.
Lobsang Gyaltsen was a former monk of the 12 monk
Panggon monastery. He and a friend voluntarily left the
monastery in July 1997 after "re-education" work-teams
arrived in April. Four monks below 18 years of age were
expelled. Lobsang believes the nearby 40-monk monastery of
Chonang was closed down after the entry of the work teams
in the monastery. Chonang's spiritual head, Lama Yeshi la,
reportedly disappeared after advising the monks not to
ever oppose and criticise H.H the Dalai Lama religious
relies, artifacts were all looted to China, leaving only
the statues and idols made of mud.
[ top ]
To strengthen the military power inside Tibet, the Chinese
government is reported to have begun forcefully recruiting
young Tibetans into army service. At the same time Chinese
authorities have commenced mass propaganda on radio and
television emphasising the need young Tibetans to join the
army after graduation from secondary school, choosing to
serve the "nadon" rather than pursuing further study.
According to a source from Tibet, Chinese authorities have
been recruiting soldiers from six districts of Keygudo
region, in Tsongon province (Ch: Qinghai). Every year 60
Tibetans are recruited from two alternating districts in
the region. The men recruited should be aged from 18 to
21 and must satisfy certain height and weight criteria.
The number of Tibetans who choose to join the army
voluntarily is extremely low. Should someone refuse to
be "recruited", he faces a fine of up to 2000 yuan. In
addition, he will nonetheless be forced to join. Those
who attempt to evade recruitment by fleeing are arrested
and could face detention of two years and a fine of up to
3000 yuan.
[ top ]
Nuns in the Chinese prisons in Tibet are often targeted for
fatal punishment and torture. Many of them are permanently
scarred and disfigured. Gyaltsen Choezom is one such woman.
A Garu nun of 29 years, Gyaltsen is serving nine years
in Drapchi prison for exercising her right of freedom of expression.
Although she is due to be released in two years time
she will carry the painful reminder of her prison life.
Gyaltsen Choezom is a 29-year-old nun from Garu
Nunnery, near Lhasa. She is originally from Taktse
County. Gyaltsen's parents are farmers and she has two
older brothers and one younger brother.
On 22 August 1990, Gyaltsen participated in the
demonstration that took place in Norbulinka (Summer
Palace of the Dalai Lama) at the time of the Great Opera
Festival. It was led by a group of nuns from Michungiri
and Garu nunnery. Beginning some time around noon,
the group of nuns started shouting "Free Tibet" and
"Chinese leave Tibet".
The nuns were immediately arrested by some members of
the Public Security Bureau (PSB) and Gyaltsen was taken
to Gutsa Detention Centre in Lhasa where she underwent
a series of interrogations accompanied by beatings and
torture. After spending four months in Gutsa, Gyaltsen was
transferred to Drapchi prison in Lhasa. She, along with the
other twelve nuns, was charged with 'counter-revolutionary'
activities and was sentenced to four years in prison.
On 10 March 1992,the first day of the Tibetan New Year
and also coinciding with Tibetan National Uprising Day
(commemorating 10 March, 1959), the nuns in Drapchi wore
new clothes to celebrate the occasion. When they were
ordered to remove them by the prison officials, the nuns
refused to comply.
Gyaltsen was one of the 23 nuns who were then beaten
continuously for three days by 50 to 60 members of the
People's Armed Police (PAP). She received severe beatings
from five or six PAP members who also kicked her and used
electric batons and belts. During the course of one beating
Gyaltsen's hip was stamped on and crushed, leaving one
side of her leg permanently damaged. Today she drags her
leg when she walks.
Some report that the prison officials held a particular
malice for Gyaltsen and that she was frequently subjected
to unnecessary punishments. On one occasion she was accused
of breaking a door and was brutally beaten.
In 1993, whilst in prison, Gyaltsen and 13 other nuns were
discovered to have recorded Tibetan songs and messages
of peace to their family and friends on a smuggled tape
recorder. Some of the songs were also devoted to the Dalai
Lama calling for his return to his homeland.
Gyaltsen's sentence was increased by a further five years,
making her total prison term nine years. Gyaltsen's former
prison inmates are today gravely concerned about her well
being as she has already sustained a severe leg injury.
Express your concern and support by writing an
appeal letter addressed to the Chinese premier, Mr Li
Peng, requesting the immediate and unconditional release
of Gyaltsen Choezom and send it to the Chinese Embassy
in your country or to
Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy
for forwarding.
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