15 August 1998
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Death toll rises in Drapchi Prison
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Hermitage closed and monk missing
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Political prisoners re-arrested
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Tibetan receives human rights award
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Profile:
Man sacrifices life in demonstration
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Ten or possibly eleven prisoners are now believed to have died as a result
of protests in Drapchi Prison on May 1 and May 4, 1998. Despite strict
measures by Chinese authorities to restrict the flow of information regarding
the violent crack down by prison and army officials, recent reports have
named two or possibly three dead nuns who were previously unidentified
and revealed the death of an additional three monks.
In an unprecedented display of violence, Drapchi Prison officials and army
forces opened fire on prisoners staging peaceful demonstrations on May
1 and May 4 this year. The protests were timed to coincide with prison
ceremonies marking International Labour Day and Chinese Youth Day respectively,
and the visit of a European Union delegation to the prison on May 4.
Previous reports had indicated that a nun named Tashi Lhamo and three unidentified
nuns were shot during the May 4 demonstration and died on June 7. The cause
of the three unidentified nuns" deaths was not known but those who saw
the dead bodies described them as swollen. A later report from family sources
identified one of the three nuns as 26 year old Ngawang Choekyi from Phenpo
Lhundrup County. Ngawang had been a nun at Sharbumba Nunnery in Phenpo.
Her parents were informed that she had hanged herself.
On August 4, 1998, Tibet Information Network (TIN), an independent monitoring
organisation based in London, reported that 24 year old Choekyi Wangmo,
24 year old Tashi Lhamo, Dekyi Yangzom, 21, and Khedron Yonten, all died
on June 7. TIN reported that authorities said that Choekyi Wangmo from
Sharbumba Nunnery hanged herself and that Tashi Lhamo, Dekyi Yangzom and
Khedron Yonten, who were all from Nyemo County 150 km west of Lhasa, suffocated
themselves by stuffing their mouths with scarves. A mark was reportedly
visible on Choekyi's neck and the bodies of the other nuns were said to
be bloated.
TIN noted that the official cause of death did not explain why the nuns all
apparently died on the same day, particularly as they were reportedly being
held in solitary confinement and had no contact with each other. The
report suggested that the nuns may have been singled out for harsh treatment
as protest ringleaders.
The reports of the death of Choekyi Wangmo and Ngawang Choekyi are almost identical
and it is therefore unclear whether there were two such deaths on June
7 or whether one of the identifications is incorrect. Other sources had
earlier reported Chokey Wangmo (reported as age 21 from Sharbumba, Phenpo)
as having been subjected to severe torture for taking part in the May 1
demonstration.
TIN also refers to an unconfirmed report that a fifth nun, Lobsang Wangmo,
has also died following beatings in the prison after the two demonstrations.
Lobsang Wangmo may be from Phenpo in Lhundrup County.
Two monks from Gaden Monastery, Khedrub, 26, and Ngawang Tenkyong (lay name
Lobsang Wangchug), 28, were also reported to have died after beatings
following the protests. TIN refers to an unofficial source who said that
after the May 4 incident, Khedrub was transferred from Drapchi to solitary
confinement in Outridu, a re-education through labour centre on the outskirts
of Lhasa. The details of his death are not known but it was reported that
although his body was not returned to his family his relatives were forced
to acknowledge the cause of his death as suicide. Khedrub, from Meldrogongkar
area near Lhasa, was arrested in March 1994.
Ngawang Tenkyong, also from Meldrogongkar, was reported to have died following
severe beatings on May 5. He had been serving a ten-year sentence
after participating in an independence demonstration in May 1996.
Another unconfirmed report received by TIN stated that a fourth monk, Ngawang Tenzin
from Nalanda Monastery, 25 km north of Lhasa, died on June 7.
Sources had earlier reported the death of Karma Dawa (or Kardar),
a layman imprisoned on criminal charges, who was said to have led the May 1 protest.
The cause of his death was unknown,
although it had been rumoured within the prison
that he might be executed. Other reports have since stated that Karma Dawa
was executed within two weeks of the protest. If so, Karma Dawa may be
one of the three male Drapchi prisoners who were earlier report to
have been executed on May 12.
The other prisoner known to have been killed in association with the protests
was 24 year old Lobsang Gelek (whose lay name is possibly Tenzin Choephel).
He is thought to have been shot dead in the May 1 demonstration (other
reports say it could have been on May 4), although prison officials told
his father that he had committed suicide.
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One monk is missing following the closure of Karchung hermitage in northern
Tibet in March 1998 due to "counter-revolutionary" activities. The monk,
27 year old Norsang, was one of three arrested at the time. Dupa Tharchin,
a high lama who founded the hermitage, fled to exile to escape his own
arrest and recounted the events.
Dupa Tharchin
was born in 1967 in Zachu Kha, Sirshui County, Kham (Ch: Sichuan Province).
He was discovered as a reincarnation of the high lama,
Nyingma Lama Rinzin Drangaling, at the age of 18. In 1990 Dupa founded
the Karchung Retreat near Namtso Lake in northern Tibet where his previous
incarnation had taught and practised religion. The hermitage housed 36
monks and nuns.
Each autumn, Dupa initiated an annual occasion to pray for the long life of
His Holiness the Dalai Lama and world peace. Up to 1000 local people
would join the prayers which lasted a month.
However in 1997, the Chinese authorities from Damshung County Public Security Bureau
banned the ceremony. Dupa was charged as a "counter-revolutionary",
a "separatist" (a term for those who support Tibetan independence) and
a follower of the "Dalai Clique", referring to those who support the Dalai Lama.
Realising his arrest was imminent, Dupa fled to India, leaving Norsang, a 27 year
old monk, in charge of the hermitage. Dupa did not take Norsang with
him, fearing it would cause trouble for the other monks and nuns.
When Dupa reached Nepal he broadcast the news about the religious restrictions
in his area. Following this, in March 1998, the PSB of Palgon County closed
down the hermitage, expelling all 36 monks and nuns, and arresting Norsang
and two nuns.
The nuns were Gyaltsen Choephel, aged 23, the hermitage chant-master, and
Phakchog Dupa, 22, the religious in-charge. All three were detained
at the Palgon County PSB Office and both nuns were released after seven
days. However, Norsang was taken to Lhasa and his whereabouts are currently
unknown.
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The Chinese government is tracking released political prisoners through spies,
a source in Tibet has reported. It is believed that these former
prisoners may be involved in political affairs and "a danger to society"
and they are therefore strictly controlled by authorities. They are prohibited
from re-entering monasteries and have difficulty finding jobs. The following
four former political prisoners have been re-arrested on suspicion of "endangering
state security":
Ngawang Dipsael
(layname Penpa), 29, a monk from Drepung Monastery originates
from Phenpo Lhundup County in Lhasa City. On May 13, 1992, he and
nine monks demonstrated in Lhasa and were arrested. Ngawang Dipsael was
sentenced to four years in Drapchi Prison and was released on May 16, 1996.
He was re-arrested on December 22, 1997 by the Lhasa City Public Security
Bureau (PSB), suspected of involvement in political activities. Ngawang
was taken to Tsethang Prison in Lhoka Region and later sentenced to three
years of labour through reform in Lhasa's Toelung Trisam Prison.
Tsultrim Sherap
(layname Penpa), 23, of Sungrabling Monastery, comes from Gongkar
County in Lhoka region. He was arrested in January 1992 for pasting
pro-independence posters and was sentenced to three and a half years in
Drapchi Prison. He was released in January 1996 and returned
to his home. In the meantime, a "re-education" work-team had arrived
at Sungrabling Monastery and expelled many monks. In 1997, Tsultrim
was charged with transmitting this news of Sungrabling Monastery abroad
and was arrested by the Lhoka PSB and sentenced for five years in
Drapchi Prison.
Paljor Choegyal, 31, from Gongkar County in Lhoka Region
was a monk at Sungrabling Monastery.
In March 1989, Paljor ripped down Chinese posters banning
independence demonstrations and replaced them with independence leaflets.
In May 1989 he and six other monks from Sungrabling were arrested. The
monks were sentenced to three to five years in Drapchi Prison. Paljor Choegyal
was sentenced to four years imprisonment and released in February 1993.
He spent most of his time in Lhasa and then in 1997 the Lhokha PSB authorities
discovered some documents from India in his possession. He was arrested
again, taken to Lhoka Prison and sentenced to one year. In Lhoka Prison
he was reportedly beaten and tortured by the prison guards and was denied
medical care.
Paljor became very weak and was eventually, upon appeal by his parents,
he was released on medical parole and hospitalised. His family is required
to report to the local PSB about his medical condition from the hospital.
Dawa Tsering, 27, from Phenpo County in Lhasa City
was a monk of Dha Lobu Monastery.
He made a Tibetan national flag, hoisted it on the monastery and
in 1989 he demonstrated with four other monks from Gaden Monastery in Lhasa.
They were arrested by Lhasa PSB and Dawa was sentenced to three years.
In December 1989 he was taken to Drapchi Prison.
Dawa was released in May 1992, after which he stayed in Lhasa. In 1995, he was
suspected of involvement in political activities and was arrested by Lhoka
PSB while he was in Gyatsa County in Lhoka Region. Dawa was charged with
having compiled a list of political prisoners and sending it to India as
well as circulating documents from India in Tibet. He was detained and
later the Lhoka court sentenced him to six years imprisonment and deprived
him with his political rights for three years. At present he is in
Drapchi Prison.
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Palden Gyatso
was awarded the 1998 John Humphrey Freedom Award of the
International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development
on August 5, 1998. He received the award for his tireless
efforts to shed light on the human rights abuses committed against Tibetan
political prisoners by China. Palden Gyatso will receive the award in Montreal
on December 10, 1998 at a special ceremony to mark the 50th Anniversary
of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Palden Gyatso, now 67, has been a monk since the age of 10. He was arrested
in late 1959 after participating in the first Tibetan national uprising
against Chinese occupation and was held for a total of 33 years in various
prisons, labour camps and administrative detention centres in Tibet until
his release in August 1992.
When Palden Gyatso left Tibet in September 1992 he smuggled out a variety of
torture instruments that are commonly used in Chinese prisons in Tibet.
Since his release Palden Gyatso has testified about his experiences
before parliaments, the US Congress and the UN Human Rights Commission.
He currently lives in Dharamsala, India.
Following the award ceremony, Palden Gyatso will make a speaking tour of Canada.
He said recently,
"When I left Tibet, I never intended to lead a normal,
happy life as my aim was to create international awareness of violations
of Tibetans" human rights. This is the first human rights award that has
been awarded to a Tibetan and so I consider it a great honour. I intend
to continue to struggle for the human rights of all Tibetans which have
been continuously violated since the Chinese occupation."
The award includes a CN$25,000 grant and Palden Gyatso has decided to donate
$5,000 to the Universal Responsibility Foundation, a Delhi-based organisation
set up after the Dalai Lama won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989; $5,000 to
Amnesty International for its work for the release of political prisoners;
$5,000 to the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy; and $5,000
to the Security Department of the Tibetan Government in-exile for the benefit
of former political prisoners living in-exile.
The award is named in honour of John Peters Humphrey, the Canadian who wrote
the first draft of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
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Sherab Tenzin
was only 23 years of age when he was violently killed during a pro-independence
demonstration in Lhasa. One of hundreds of Tibetans who participated in
the mass demonstration of March 5, 1988, Sherab, who had already been shot
in the leg, was attacked by a group of armed police who pummelled and stabbed
him to death.
Sherab Tenzin was born in Lhasa Meru in 1965. His father, Sonam Topgyal, and mother,
Yangzom, had five children. Sherab Tenzin was the third son. Tsering Topgyal
and Sonam Wangyal are his two elder brothers and Chungdak and Phurbu Kalsang
are his two younger brothers. Sherab's father worked for the government.
Sherab attended school from a very young age but, when he was 10 years old, his
father fell ill with a severe kidney infection and became bedridden.
His condition never improved and he later died. It then became much more difficult
for the family to survive, and Sherab and his brother Sonam Wangyal were
forced to drop out of school in order to work in the same governmental
department as their father.
Sherab worked in the department for four years. At the age of 19 he joined another
department as a driver. In 1983 his mother died from an illness. In 1986
Sherab married Nyima, who was working as a cook in the Lhasa People's Hospital.
On March 5, 1988, during a demonstration in Lhasa led by monks from Gaden
Monastery, hundreds of Tibetans staged a peaceful demonstration around
Ramoche Street. They called out, "Tibetan independence", "Chinese quit
Tibet" and "Long live His Holiness the Dalai Lama". When the demonstration
began Sherab was standing on a corner in the Barkhor (Lhasa's central market)
with a friend. As he saw the demonstration he said to his friend, "We are
all Tibetans, we all eat tsampa (roasted barley flour), so it is our duty
to participate in the demonstration."
Sherab and his friend joined in with the hundreds of other Tibetans
who were demonstrating.
At about 11 o"clock in the morning, People's Armed Police (PAP) forces
marched into the street carrying guns, sticks and various weapons. The
PAP rushed towards the unarmed demonstrators, most of whom quickly scattered.
In the ensuing chaos, the armed forces opened fire on the demonstrators.
Sherab was shot in the leg and was unable to run away. PAP forces immediately
surrounded him. One armed officer hit him over the head with all his strength
and Sherab fell to the ground. Around 15 army officers then fell on him,
covering him with blows. One of the policemen stabbed his back with an
iron rod so forcefully that it almost completely pierced his body. One
of his eyes was almost torn out.
As he was being beaten the Chinese officers continued to ask him,
"Where are you from?" Sherab could only answer,
"I ... I ..." in a very low tone before he died.
For some time Sherab's wife, who was pregnant, did not know of his death nor
his whereabouts. After about two weeks Nyima was called and informed of
her husband's death by the hospital superintendent. Police took her to
the funeral parlour and showed her a dead body covered with blood.
Nyima looked closely at the bloodied body but still found it impossible to recognise
her husband. When she finally recognized him by his clothing she fainted.
Later she discovered that her husband's gold ring and watch were missing.
It was reported by someone who knew Sherab and is now in exile that it was
frightening to see Sherab's dead body and that there was a large wound
on his head. "He was mercilessly killed," said the source.
The authorities demanded 400 yuan (US$50) from Sherab's relatives for having
"stored" the dead body.
Sherap's brother Tsering Topgyal was forced to sign an agreement, promising to pay.
One week later, the police station called Tsering Topgyal and demanded
the payment of the 400 yuan.
Tsering Topgyal again agreed to pay but told the police,
"Before I make the payment, I have something to tell you."
Before saying anything further he told the police that he was fearful
they would handcuff him but they agreed not to do so and asked him to speak.
Tsering Topgyal then asked, "Why did my brother die? How did he die? Why
do I have to pay 400 yuan? If you announce the answers to these questions
in public, than I will go to Barkhor to beg for money to pay this charge."
After that the Chinese authorities began to target Sherab's family and they were
often harassed. On one occasion local policemen went to the family's house
and Sherab's elder brother Sonam Wangyal was dragged from the house and
beaten. No reason was given.
When Sherab's wife Nyima was seven months pregnant she was told that she must
get rid of the child because it was the "son of a counter-revolutionary".
Nyima ignored the threats and gave birth to a daughter whose name is
Namdrol Kunsang.
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