31 August 1998
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11-year-old arrested, beaten and imprisoned
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Imprisoned for poster
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Expulsion of all the nuns at Toerong Nunnery
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New restrictions imposed in Toeshung Choephel Monastery
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"Strike Hard" and expulsions continue
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Profile:
Young monk beaten to death
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Monks expelled from Pashoe Monastery
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Our sponsor for this issue
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Sixteen-year-old
Tenzin Tsedup
of Taktse County in Thangkar township recounts
his life's bitter experience at the hands of Chinese Police. A former
monk of Taktse Phagmo monastery, he joined the monastery when he was only
seven years old. He was at the monastery for only four years when
he was arrested for involvement in political activities followed by his
arrest and detention.
On August 17, 1993, Tenzin and his friends Tsetan Ngodup (19) and Pasang
(23), left for Lhasa from their monastery to demonstrate at the Drepung
Shoton (yogurt) festival held on August 18, 1993 in Norbulinka, Lhasa.
At about 11 pm in the night by bicycle they carried the national flag and
several independence leaflets and headed for Lhasa. On their way, they
hoisted the flag and pasted wall posters on the gate of Thangkar township
People's Government Office and then proceeded for Lhasa.
At the festival there were many people gathere.Taking advantage of the situation,
the three of them went up on the stage, and started shouting slogans such
as ěTibet is independentî, ěLong live His Holiness the Dalai Lamaî and
ěChinese quit Tibet". They were immediately arrested by the officials of
the Public Security Bureau (PSB) and taken to Gutsa Detention Centre. At
the time of their arrest, they were brutally beaten.
Upon reaching Gutsa, a Chinese police kicked Tenzin on his chest and he fell
unconscious. When he regained his consciousness, he was provided with a
little water and moments later, they started to interrogate him.
On September 13, 1993 when the monks were in Gutsa, three PSB officials from
Thangkar county came to them. The officials found out about the trio"s
involvement in the earlier flag and the poster incident again beat them
severely. They splashed hot boiling water on Pasang's right arm and
threw a chair after that on the same arm. Today, he still has a prominent
scar on his arm and he is not able to lift anything heavy.
On September 14, 1993 the monks were formally arrested and their sentences were
passed. Pasang was sentenced to six years, Tseten Ngodup to four and Tenzin
to one year. Tseten and Pasang were transferred to Drapchi whereas Tenzin
continued to serve his term in Gutsa, working in a vegetable garden.
On August 18, 1994 Tenzin was released. He was not allowed to rejoin
any other monastery. So, he had to stay at home.
In early 1998, he tried to escape to India along with 23 people, but was arrested
at the Tibet-Nepal border near Shar Kumbu by Chinese patrolling police.
He was detained in Shigatse Detention Centre for about a month then returned
to his home town. He made his second escape attempt in April 1998 and was
successful. He finally reached India in August 1998.
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Migmar Tsering
was only 19 when he and his other young friends were involved in
political activities for which they served time in prison.
Having completed his term Migmar is today in exile.
"My name is Migmar Tsering,
aged 25, from Lhoka Gongkar Chideshol, Toephues Choekhor Monastery. I joined
the monastery when I was 13 years old in 1986.
"On 31 July 1992, along with two other monks from the same monastery, Tsering
(18) and Lhakpa Tsering (17), we made independence posters and a Tibetan
flag and pasted them in Chideshol township to correspond with the next
day celebration of the founding anniversary of the People's Liberation Army.
or almost a month our involvement was undiscovered. However, on August 28,
1992, we were arrested by PSB officials of Lhoka region. We were taken
to Lhoka Tsethang Detention Centre where we were kicked, boxed and beaten
while being interrogated.
"On November 9, 1992 our sentences were passed by the Lhoka People's Intermediate
Court charged with ěcounterrevolutionaryî propaganda. I was sentenced to
four years and six months and Tsering to four years. We were both sentenced
to two years deprivation of political rights whereas Lhakpa Tsering was
sentenced to two years and one year deprivation of political rights. After
our sentencing, we were transferred to Drapchi prison fifth unit.
"In Drapchi, we did prison labour which involved working in the vegetable garden.
Regulations are very strictly controlled. Prisoners who fail to meet with
the expectations of the authorities receive severe repercussions. I remember
one time when I was beaten for getting delayed for the garden work. After
the completion of my prison term on February 7, 1997, I was released.
"However, I was debarred from rejoining any other monastery. Life outside prison
was extremely difficult for me and I was subjected to strict vigilance
and restrictions were imposed on my every movement. Not being able to bear
all this, I was compelled to leave Tibet and come to India."
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Toerong Nunnery in Sho Re township in Lhoka Region faced similar fate at the hands
of the "work-team". All the nuns at the nunnery were expelled and their
rooms were demolished with help from the local villagers to ensure that
the nuns would not return after their expulsion.
Tashi Paldon, 25 years old, is from Danak County in Lhoka Region. She was
a nun at the Toerong Nunnery in Danak County in Lhoka region. This
nunnery was constructed by Pawoe Rinpoche of Nyingma (a sect in Tibetan
Buddhism) Lama.
This nunnery had been completely destroyed by the Chinese during the Cultural
Revolution. However, it was rebuilt in 1996 by 20 nuns. Tashi was
among the nuns who had rebuilt the nunnery.
In July-August, 1997, a four member "work-team" came to the nunnery to conduct
a "patriotic re-education" campaign. The nuns were told to oppose the Dalai
Lama and his "splittist" activities.
Not one of the nuns accepted the principles posed by the work-team.
As a result, the infuriated the members expelled all 23 nuns and told them
to return to their places of origin. The "work-team" also ordered
the demolishment of the rooms of the nuns by the local people living near
the nunnery. The nuns were left with no place to stay therefore, they were
compelled to leave for their respective homes.
Tashi Paldon, along with Lhakyi and Norzom went to Samye Chee Gur Waen Tsa Monastery"s
Retreat Centre, where they planned to build a small house for their meditation.
However, in February 1998, their plans were crushed when "work-team" members
came to the monastery to conduct a 're-education campaign'. The "work-team"
members recognised Tashi and her friends and told them leave that
place immediately and return to their respective houses.
They were also threatened that if they were found at some other place,
then they will have them arrested and put behind bars.
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New restrictions were introduced with regard to the "patriotic re-education"
campaign in Toeshung Choephel Monastery in Chael Dae township in Lhoka
region.
Migmar Gyaltsen
(27), a former monk from the same monastery faced
expulsion for refusing to follow the instructions of the "work-team".
New regulations were imposed upon the monks of Toeshung Choephel monastery.
The monks are not allowed to wear their monastic robes or conduct any religious
ceremonies.
On March 20, 1996, a Chinese "work team" entered the monastery to conduct
a "patriotic re-education" campaign. They stayed at the monastery for nine
months and attempted to force the monks to oppose the Dalai Lama and denounce
the Panchen Lama recognised by the Dalai Lama.
Migmar Gyaltsen could not follow these principles and refused to comply.
This resulted in his arrest followed by detention for a month after which time,
he was expelled from the monastery.
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Chungwang
is a 21-year-old nun from Gongkar County in Lhoka region. She was
a nun at Lhoka Samye Chee Gu Lhakhang Ser Po Nunnery. Chungwang relates
the expulsion of thirteen nuns from her nunnery.
A six membered "work-team" came to their nunnery to conduct a "re-education"
campaign. All six men were Tibetans.
Prior to the arrival of the "work-team", there were about 51 nuns in the nunnery.
The "work-team" ordered the nuns to oppose the Dalai Lama and all the pictures
of His Holiness to be brought down from the altar. The nuns were told that
his pictures were totally banned.
The "work-team" members held "re-education" sessions. During one of these sessions,
some of the nuns expressed dissatisfaction about the presence of the "work-team"
and their instructions in the nunnery.
This resulted in the expulsion of 13 nuns. Some of them were: Chungwang,
Tsering Wangmo (22), Tashi Paldon (25), Dechen Dolma (26), Pasang (20),
Kalsang (19), Pasang (20), Dawa and Wangmo (22).
All these nuns were told to return to their respective homes. Some of them
even fled to India.
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Sangye Tenphel's story exemplifies a case of a horrific death in custody ignored
by prison officials. His intrepid behaviour of expressing his views cost
him his life. Sangye Tenphel whose layname is Gonpo Dorjee was from Khangmar
Monastery in Damshung County, in Lhasa City. Arrested for his involvement
in political activities, Sangye died within the first year of his prison
term. He was 19 years old.
On April 10, 1995, Sangye Tenphel, along with four other monks from Khangmar
Monastery, held a pro-independence demonstration in Lhasa.
All the monks were immediately arrested and detained in the Gutsa Detention Centre.
Sangye and his companions were subjected to severe interrogation sessions where
they were badly beaten. Their sentences were later passed by the Lhasa
People's Intermediate Court. Lobsang Gelek and Tenzin Choedak were sentenced
to five years; Lobsang Choephel to four years; Tenzin Choephel and Sangye
Tenphel to three years respectively.
In October 1995, the five monks from Khangmar Monastery were transferred
to Drapchi Prison. Upon their arrival in Drapchi, they were reported to
have been subjected to torture and beatings.
One day in November 1995, all the prisoners in the fifth unit were called for
a random inspection. At that time one of the prisoner was found missing
out of the 64 inmates. Paljor, the prison authority of the fifth unit enquired
about the missing person and the head of the prisoners, Ngawang Tensang,
affirmed there were no absenties. Ngawang was reprimanded by Paljor
for negligence and kept in solitary confinement.
After the incident when the prisoners were later sent back to their cells, the
prisoners refused to leave. They requested for the release of Ngawang
Tensang. This was seen as an act of misconduct by prison officials who
made them stand up with their faces against the wall while the prison warden
scolded them. After some time, Phuntsok, the chief warden of Drapchi prison
came and dispersed them.
Sangye was persistent and raised concern over Ngawang Tensang's confinement and
asked why he was singled out for punishment. His comments were held in
contempt and he was later called for interrogations by the prison official
where he was beaten all over his body. From then on Sangye was singled
out under strict scrutiny.
On January 30, 1996 the annual meeting of the Drapchi prison was held. The
prisoners were all issued with a form to fill in. The prisoners were evaluated
in accordance to the answers that appeared on their forms. Three monks
wrote negative answers and were put in solitary confinement. They were
Bhuchung (21) from Gaden Choekor Monastery; Thinley Ngawang from Tashi
Gang Monastery in Phenpo, and Drubthog (21) from Chongyal County in Lhoka
Region.
The prisoners of the fifth unit demanded that the three prisoners be taken
out of isolation or else they would convene a hunger strike. All the prisoners
stood in the courtyard of their prison unit. The prisoners were immediately
surrounded by police and People's Armed Police (PAP) officials. An
order came from the chief prison official that the prisoners would be given
five minutes to vacate the area. If they refused, the PAP men would
take immediate action against them. The prisoners had no choice but
to comply. At the time when the prisoners dispersed, Sangye was overheard
by one of the prison guards saying, "today we could not do anything".
He was immediately summoned to the prison office and subjected to interrogations.
He faced harsh beatings and torture over his entire body. He was held from
both his arms by two men, one on each side when another two struck on his
head several times with a stick.
Inmates from Drapchi later saw him staggering towards his cell. Not long after
the beatings Sangye started to have health complications. When he was taken
to the doctor at the prison hospital, he was told he had no health problems
and given no medication. However, his health worsened to such an extent
that for almost a week he lay insensate on his bed.
Finally, he was allowed to visit the PSB hospital on May 5, 1996. He was assisted
by a few prison hospital officials.
He died the next day on May 6, 1996. His dead body was not handed over to
his relatives but was taken to Sera Cremation ground with the help of a
prisoner.
On May 9, 1996, Phuntsok, the chief warden of Drapchi prison called on the
prisoners of the fifth unit, and held a meeting. He announced in
the meeting that Sangye Tenphel died as result of brain hemorrhage.
The prisoners in Drapchi appealed to the chief prison guard to take all the
necessary actions against the people who had beaten Sangye. However, so
far no action has been taken.
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40 monks whose parents are government officials face expulsion.
A "work-team" in Pashoe Monastery has introduced a new policy where monks whose
parents work for the government are subjected to expulsions. About 20 monks
and another 20 novice monks have so far been expelled.
Jampa Choeden,
24 years old, is from Kochen village in Pashoe County, Chamdo Region.
He was a monk of Pashoe Monastery where 370 monks lived in 1996.
On August 1, 1996, a ten membered "work-team" from the county came to the monastery
to conduct "patriotic re-education" campaign from the county.
Two of the members were Chinese and the rest were all Tibetans.
The "work-team" members stayed at the monastery for a month.
During this time, the monks were not allowed to perform any religious rituals
in the monastery. 70 monks from the monastery were also expelled because
they were not present when the "work-team" had arrived at the monastery.
They had gone for pilgrimage or to their villages to meet their relatives.
No reasons were provided for their expulsion.
Jampa Choeden was among those expelled.
He stayed with his family until the "work-team"
members left the monastery. When he rejoined the monastery, he was not
allowed to attend any of the meetings of the monastery.
On February 15, 1998, the "work-team" revisited the monastery for the second
time with 13 members including Chinese.
Upon their arrival, the "work-team" conducted a a roll call of the monks.
All the 54 novice monks below the age of 18 were expelled from the monastery.
The children of all government officials were also expelled including 20 monks
and 20.
The "work-team" stayed in the monastery for two months. All the expenses incurred
by the "work-team" members had to be borne by the monastery.
There are at present only 180 monks in the monastery.
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The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy would like to thank
Rev. Timothy J. Connor and his church in Oslo, Norway, for their contribution
towards sponsoring this edition of the Human Rights Update.
We thank you sincerely for keeping us in your thoughts and including us in
your prayers.
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