July 1999
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A nun's prison sentence extended to 21 years
[ read ]
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His Holiness the Dalai Lama's birthday banned
[ read ]
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Expulsion in Jha Khyung Monastery
[ read ]
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Closure of Gonsar Monastery
[ read ]
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Four Tibetan prisoners await verdicts
[ read ]
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Sera monk flees due to "re-education"
[ read ]
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Arrested monks sentenced
[ read ]
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Sera monks arrested
[ read ]
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Recipient of Reebok Human Rights Award receives another award
[ read ]
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Expulsion in Lamo Dechen Monastery
[ read ]
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Testimony of a former political prisoner
[ read ]
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A political prisoner tortured to death
[ read ]
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Death of an innocent man
[ read ]
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Religious institution in Lhatse County visited by "work team"
[ read ]
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Arrest update
[ read ]
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Tibetan lady oracle sentenced to eight years
[ read ]
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TCHRD condemns ban on the Fulan Gong sect by China
[ read ]
Ngawang Sangdrol,
who was serving 17 years" imprisonment in Drapchi Prison,
had her sentence extended for the third
time in October 1998 by the Intermediate Municipal Court
of Lhasa, bringing her total sentence to 21 years. She is
the longest serving female political prisoner in Tibet.
According to a reliable source from Tibet, Ngawang
Sangdrol's sentence was increased by four years due to
her participation in the May 1 and 4, 1998 prisoner
protests at Drapchi Prison. Earlier reports indicate
that since the protests in May last year Ngawang Sangdrol
and another nun, Ngawang Choezom from Chubsang Nunnery,
were subjected to harsh treatment and were placed in
solitary confinement. Sangdrol was suspected as a ìring
leaderî by Chinese authorities and singled out for
ill treatment. Following the Drapchi Prison incidence,
11 prisoners were reported to have died.
Ngawang
Sangdrol's prison sentence had previously been prolonged by
the Intermediate Municipal Court of Lhasa in October 1993
and July 1996. Born in 1977, Ngawang Sangdrol, now 22 years
old, was from Garu Nunnery. She was first arrested when
she was only ten years old in 1987 for participating in a
demonstration and was detained for 15 days. On August 28,
1990, at the age of 13, she again joined a demonstration
led by nuns from Norbulingkha in Lhasa. She was considered
too young to be tried that time and was detained for nine
months without charge.
On June 17, 1992, at the age of 15, she had originally
been sentenced to three years for attempting to stage
a demonstration in Lhasa along with other nuns from
Garu Nunnery. She was then charged with "subversive and
separatist" activities.
Whilst in Drapchi Prison, Sangdrol's sentence was extended
by six years on October 8, 1993 on charges of "spreading
counter-revolutionary propaganda". Along with thirteen
other nuns, she was accused of recording independence songs
and poems on a tape recorder and smuggling it outside the
prison. In July 1996, her sentence was further extended
by eight years for shouting "Free Tibet" while she and
other nuns were made to stand in the rain as punishment
for failing to clean their prison cells.
The latest extension of her prison sentence brought her
current sentence to 21 years.
"Article 69 of the Chinese Penal Code clearly stipulates
that the maximum sentence of a fixed-term imprisonment
cannot exceed 20 years. By extending Sangdrol's prison
sentence to 21 years, China has doubtlessly violated its
own law," commented Lobsang Nyandak, executive director
of the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy.
Nyandak urged the Chinese authorities to immediately
rectify their illegal action by releasing Ngawang
Sangdrol. He further stated that Sangdrol's continued
imprisonment will constantly remind the world of the
Chinese government's failure to uphold its own law.
Nyandak also said that the Chinese authorities have violated
Article 17 of the Chinese Penal Code, which states that
minors below the age of 16 will not be held responsible
for their infraction. Sangdrol was only 15 years old when
she was arrested and sentenced to 3 years on June 17,
1992 on charges of "counter-revolutionary" activities.
Her younger brother, Jamphel Tenzin, who resides in India,
testifies her year of birth as 1977.
Sangdrol"s entire family has endured Chinese
atrocities. Her father, Namgyal Tashi and brother Tenzin
Sherab, were arrested on June 12, 1991 by the Lhasa city
PSB after ransacking their house and confiscating pictures
of the Dalai Lama and political leaflets. Her father was
sentenced to eight years in Drapchi Prison on charges
of "counter-revolutionary" activities. His prison term
expires this year, and he is expected to be released if
his sentence is not prolonged. Sangdrol's mother, Jampa
Choezom, died just three days after her father and son
were imprisoned. Her brother was detained for 12 months and
after his release was forbidden to rejoin his monastery.
Ngawang Sangdrol (lay name: Rigchog) continues to be
subjected to harsh treatment. She was placed in solitary
confinement on two occasions: in March 1996 (6 months
and 10 days) and after the prisoner protests in Drapchi
Prison in May 1998. Sangdrol's prison mate, Lobsang Dolma,
who spent five years in Drapchi Prison with her, reported
that she has had longstanding kidney problems but was only
allowed treatment in the prison clinic. She is made to
weave wool and is never allowed outside prison to work.
Ngawang Sangdrol is due to be released in the year
2013 at the age of 36. By that time she will have spent
21 years of her prime life in prison.
[ top ]
Since February this year, security has been intensified in
Tibet to prevent any public protest on March 5 and March 10,
the 10th anniversary of the 1989 Tibetan demonstration
and the 40th anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan National
Uprising. It is reported that PSB and PAP officials and
local police stations in Lhasa were issued with emergency
orders to be alert in all politically sensitive areas in
Lhasa on these events. Orders were issued prohibiting
residents of Lhasa from assembling two or more people
in public places. An official circular was also
sent to all educational institutions and government
departments. Members of the institutes and departments
were ordered to remain inside the office and to refrain
from going outside. Any member who wished to travel was
required to seek permission from their local offices.
The Chinese authorities are also imposing heavy
restrictions on people coming to watch the National
Minorities Sports Meet, which is scheduled begin in Lhasa
on August 15, 1999. A large number of people from outside
Lhasa are expected to visit Lhasa for the event. Strict
vigilance is still being observed in Tibet to prevent
any disturbances.
A week before the Dalai Lama's 64th birthday, Chinese
authorities distributed leaflets prohibiting any
celebration. On July 6th, his birthday, movement of Tibetan
people was restricted, and Chinese police patrolled on the
way to Ngachen Township near Lhasa City to block every
Tibetan from going to the ìbirthday villageî (a place
specifically set aside for incense burning ceremony on
the birthday of the Dalai Lama).
A monk from Gyutoe Monastery in Lhasa City named Lobsang
Choephel attempted the trip but was reportedly arrested
on the way and received severe beatings.
Another 60 year-old man was returning to Ngachen when
he was stopped and his bags were searched. On finding
Tsampa (roasted barley flour often used as an offering
to dieties) in his bag, he was accused of planning to
commemorate the occasion and was beaten severely. The
leaflet stated "the celebration of the birthday is against
the law of the country as the Dalai Lama fled Tibet since
40 years and not only does he head his clique but also
never stopped his splittist activities." The custom of
celebrating the birthday is viewed as propagating acts
of splittism and instigating masses to oppose the Chinese
government. The document also warns that henceforth this
event is completely banned and failure to abide shall be
seen as ignoring Chinese law and dealt with accordingly.
[ top ]
Jha Khyung Monastery is the biggest monastery in Lha-Lung
County of Malho TAP. An eight-member "work team" visited
this monastery in summer 1998. At that time there were
around 500 monks. They stayed at the monastery conducting
"re-education" campaign for about a month. They also
distributed books and instructed monks to study them
thoroughly.
The second time a "work team" came to Jha Khyung Monastery
in Autumn 1998, there were 80 members. They stayed at the
monastery for about 15 days. A total of 200 monks were
expelled from the monastery, some of whom disagreed with
the "work team" member's orders and others who were below
the age of 18. ]
[ top ]
In July 1998, a 10-member "work team" visited Gonsar
Monastery in Jhangkar Township, Lhundup County. The members
started conducting "patriotic re-education" campaign to
the 20 monks of the monastery.
Most of the monks in the monastery were novice monks. The
members forced the monks to oppose His Holiness the Dalai
Lama. The monks vehemently refused to comply with the "work
teams" orders saying that they are men of robes and cannot
oppose ones own faith. Despite unanimous objection from the
monks, the members continued with their campaign. However,
they were faced with further aversions from the monks.
Finally, the "work team" members announced that they were
going to close down the monastery and that all monks must
return to their respective homes. Around the end of August
1998, all 20 monks were made to return to their villages,
and the monastery was closed down. Furthermore, the monks
were restricted from rejoining any other monasteries or
conduct prayer services in homes.
Gonsar monastery had been completely demolished during the
Cultural Revolution. In 1991, the monastery was renovated
with the help of the contributions made by Tibetan locals.
[ top ]
Ama Lhundup Wangmo, Pa Tashi, Mo Tsephel and Sonam were
arrested on August 20, 1998 on grounds of suspicion of
indulging in political incitement amongst elderly Tibetans.
The Court did not issue any verdict on them that day
and reportedly stated that their cases need further
investigation. An informant reported that they were all
held in Seitru in May 1999 since their arrest in August
1998.
Since early 1998, elderly Tibetans have been gathering
occasionally around Jokhang Temple in Lhasa to offer
prayer. Chinese authorities have attached political
significance to this gathering and imposed strict
surveillance on them since mid-1998. Ama Lhundup Wangmo
who is in her sixties, from Tsemonling, in Lhasa City was
arrested after officials from the Lhasa Public Security
Bureau raided her house on August 20, 1998. She is known to
be actively involved in visiting political prisoners. She
was arrested on two occasions on suspicion of involvement
in political activities in 1987 and 1993. Failing to
gather any evidence against her she was released after a
brief detention. Pa Tashi, from Lhasa Chingu, Ama Tsepak
(Tsephel) from Lhasa Shol and Sonam were also arrested on
similar ground.
[ top ]
Lobsang Tenpa
(24), from Jhema Township in Phenpo Lhundup County,
reached India on July 5, 1999. He was a former Sera
monk.
His attempt to flee Tibet once in February 1997
failed because he fell sick on the way in Dhingri and had
to return to Lhasa where his relatives were staying. He
was admitted in the People's Hospital for 15 days after
which he went back to his village in Phenpo as some of
his friends told him that he was being tracked by Chinese
officials. The Chinese authorities had discovered his
absence at the monastery when the religious management
committee was carrying out a task allocation for the monks.
In April/May 1997, Sera Monastery police and Lhundup
County Police visited his house in Phenpo. They started
interrogating him about his recent trips to places. They
were insinuating about his failed attempt to India. They
wanted to find out if any older monks at the monastery
had a hand in his escape plans.
After they finished asking him questions, they told him
that he was expelled from the monastery and told him to
return his "residential permit" card of the monastery. The
authorities reasoned that his expulsion was because of his
ìrefusal to accept the "work team" member's instructionsî.
He was prohibited from joining any other monastery or
going to places other than his village. A family member
was asked to guarantee and attest that Lobsang would not
indulge himself in any political activities. However, even
after that the County Police did not stop suspecting him
of political ties. In December 1998, authorities from
the township level who were dispatched by the county
authorities came to Phenpo County to check on political
suspects. They also called upon Lobsang's house to ask him
about his current situation and what he was doing. Such
constant restrictions and surveillance prompted him to
make immediate plans to flee Tibet at all costs.
Lobsang Tenpa had been detained for over a month in Gutsa
Detention Centre and Sangyip Prison for his participation
in the March 5, 1988 demonstration during the Great Prayer
Festival. He was only 15 then and had endured severe
beatings and punishments then. For a young growing child
of 15, he witnessed older monks being beaten brutally
everywhere on their heads with metal rods at the initial
time of arrest without any mercy. However, subsequent to
his release he rejoined Sera Monastery and continued with
his religious life.
In May 1996 "work team" members visited their monastery
to conduct the "patriotic re-education" campaign. The
monks were forced to perform and say things completely
against their will. By the end of 1996, Lobsang received
the residential permit to stay at the monastery. However,
he was not at ease and in March/April 1997, he planned to
flee Tibet with another friend from the monastery. That
was when he fell sick and had to return home.
[ top ]
The two Tibetan monks who were arrested on March 10, 1999
for staging a peaceful demonstration in Lhasa were recently
sentenced by the Lhasa City's Intermediate People's Court
on charges of "incitement and propaganda." The arrest of
the two monks were first reported by Tibet Information
Network the same day. However, the details relating to
the incident were not known.
Phuntsok Legmon (lay name: Tseten Norbu) and Namdol
(lay name: Sonam Choedak) were charged with ìincitement
and propagandaî activities by the Intermediate People's
Court of Lhasa City on July 9, 1999 and were sentenced
to three years and four years respectively. The monks
raised pro-independence slogans in front of Tsuglakhang,
the central cathedral of Tibet amid tight security. Within
minutes they were arrested by PSB. They were first taken
to the local police station in Barkhor and were later
detained in Gutsa Detention Centre. Reports received at
that time indicated that the monks were severely beaten at
the police station. It is believed that they are currently
held in Drapchi Prison.
Phuntsok Legmon (17) is from Toelung Dechen County and
Namdol (25)is from Phenpo Lhundhup County. They were also
deprived of their political rights for two and one year
respectively. Both the monks are from Taglungdrag Monastery
in Toelung County near Lhasa City. ]
[ top ]
In January and February 1999, in Sera Monastery, the
Religious Management Committee and the Sera Monastery
Police station arrested four monks under political
suspicions.
All the monks were arrested on different dates. Sonam was
arrested on January 18, 1999 and Lhakpa on February 11,
1999. Two days later Pasang was arrested on February 13
followed by Norbu a day later on February 14, 1999. It is
not known where they are currently being held.
[ top ]
Phuntsok Nyidron was honoured for her courageous sacrifice
in the field of human rights by The June 4th Anniversary
Committee and The China Peace.
On June 3, 1999 Phuntsok Nyidron, currently held in Drapchi
Prison, received an award for her selfless struggle
in advocating and promoting human rights situation in
Tibet. This award recognises her continued motivation
and determination.
Originally from Phenpo Gyalchoe County, west of Lhasa,
Phunstok joined Michungri Nunnery when she was 18 years
old. On October 14, 1989, Phunstok led a peaceful
demonstration in the Barkhor area. She was later
implicated as the "ringleader" and sentenced to nine
years" imprisonment. Whilst in Drapchi, Phunstok and 13
other nuns made a recording on a tape recorder smuggled
into the prison which was later secretly circulated in
Tibet. Phuntsok"s sentence was increased by an additional
eight years, bringing her current sentence to 17 years.
Phuntsok is also the recipient of the 1995 Reebok Human
Rights Award which honours people from all over the world
who have made a significant contribution to the cause of
human rights against great odds.
[ top ]
Thupten Monlam left his home on May 29, 1999 for Lhasa
to escape into exile. He desires to join a monastery
in India. Thupten is a 21 year-old monk of Lamo Dechen
Monastery in Chen tsa County, Malho Tibetan Autonomous
Prefecture, Tso-ngon Province.
Thupten left this monastery due to the constant harassment
by the "work team" members. In summer (May-July) 1998,
when they came for the first time there were around
30 members. During that time they distributed books
opposing His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the "splittists"
and calling for the unity of the "motherland". About 14
monks who refused to comply with the "instructions" of the
"work team" members were expelled from the monastery. The
members left after staying around 30 days in the monastery.
Then again in August/September 1998, a 25-member "work
team" came to Lamo Dechen Monastery. They distributed
the same documents and instructed the monks just as they
had done before. All the expenses for their stay at the
monastery were borne by the monastery. The monks of Lamo
Dechen Monastery tolerated the "work team" member's callous
instructions to a ceratin extent for they wished to remain
at the monastery. However, when the "work team" members
announced a total ban on the possession of pictures of
the Dalai Lama, the monks became infuriated. Approximately
90 monks voluntarily left the monastery. Thirty left the
monastery to flee into exile, and around 60 monks joined
Labrang Tashi Kyil Monastery. Many monks of which the
exact figure is not available, also voluntarily left
the monastery for their homes. When Thupten left the
monastery in the April/May 1999, there were only 75 monks
remaining at the monastery out of the 270 when he joined
the monastery in 1984.
After the 1999 Tibetan new year(during the "big-prayer"
festival), the "work team" came again to the
monastery. Thupten said that he heard there were around
30 members. He did not acquire any further information
but believes that the monks would have definitely been
subjected to harsh treatment.
[ top ]
Dolkar Kyap (28) is from Nyulra Township, Machu County,
Ganan TAP in Gansu Province. He reached India in February,
1999 after three years of imprisonment in Gansu Province.
In 1990, when Dolkar was 19 years old, he had visited
India and was admitted into Bir School where he studied for
two years and seven months. He later worked as a Tibetan
teacher at Chauntara School in Bir for one year. Upon
hearing that his father's health was critical, he returned
to Tibet in April 1994. By June 1994, Dolkar and his
two friends, Jigme Jamdruk(36) and Jigme Gyaltsen (36)
(both monks of Lhabrang Tashi Kyil) became politically
active. They distributed political leaflets and documents
and showed at Machu County hospital a videotape smuggled
from India.
On August 15 1994, they pasted leaflets on the gates of
offices in Machu County, lampposts, walls and notice
boards. In September 1994, because he had to attend
Nubchang Ethnic School, Dolkar gave documents such as the
Future Democratic Constitution of Tibet to Jigme Jamdruk
for distribution.
In January and February 1995, Dolkar, Jigme Gyalsten, and
Jigme Jamdruk distributed His Holiness the Dalai Lama's
March 10, 1994 statement and his 1993 Human Right"s Day
Speech. The statements were made available in such towns
and counties as Machu County, Nyulra Township, Marimey, and
gawang Tsang. On April 1, 1995, Gansu TAP security police
arrested Dolkar from his school. A few weeks later, Sha
kha County PSB arrested from the monastery Jigme Jamdruk
on May 19 and Jigme Gyalsten on May 21, 1995.
Upon his arrest, Dolkar was taken to Landrou Denchak office
where he was detained in a guesthouse for 17 days. His
detention involved long periods of standing, being slammed
against the wall and floor, and being suspended for few
hours a day in an aerial position for 12 days. He was
next transferred to Kanlho Detention Centre, where he was
kept for four months. He was thence taken to Machu County
Detention Centre, where he was held for three months and
thence to Ganan TAP Detention Centre until September 19,
1996, when he received the benefit of a trial. In all
the detention centres, he was intensively interrogated
and cruelly beaten. During his entire detention, he was
never allowed to receive any visitors.
Dolkar was convicted of propagating "counterrevolutionary"
activities namely "Tibetan independence ideology" and
"threatening the unity" of the Socialist State of People's
Republic of China. He was sentenced to three years"
imprisonment and two years deprivation of political rights
by the Khenlo Intermediate People's Court.
Jigme Jamdruk was sentenced to two years" imprisonment and
one year deprivation of political rights. Jigme Shedrup
(who fell ill after his arrest) was released on medical
parole. Dolkar served his three years in Kachu Prison,
which is in Lingshak Hoyrik Autonomous Prefecture. The
prison has eight units and four sub-units and has about
2000 prisoners comprising of Chinese, Tibetan, Uighurs,
Mongolians and Chinese Muslims. The forced labour at
the prison is mainly metal works, wood works, weaving,
mechanical, tailoring and shoe repairing in the prison.
Dolkar was kept in the fifth unit, where he worked
stitching hand gloves.
Dolkar reports that illness is very common in the
prison. The prisoners mustóexcept for lunch and dinner
breaksówork six days per week from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Many prisoners suffer severe cough and throat ailments
due to dusty working conditions in the mattress "weaving
and thrashing" units of the prison. Cases of prisoners
dying due to negligence and inadequate medical treatment
are common. For example, in August and September of 1997,
eight non-political prisoners died as a combined result of
intense forced labour and untimely medical treatment. The
prison doctors (absent a bribe, which is sometimes
provided) consider diseases like fever and influenza to
be minor ailments, which they will not treat until the
patient's health becomes critical. Prisoners who suffer
from infectious diseases are not isolated from the rest
of the medical unit.
During "Saka Dawa" (a special month for religious
practise), when Tibetan prisoners gather together for
prayers and food, the Prison authorities criticise and
physically assault the inmates for discussing "splittists"
news. Two Tibetans (Tatho and A-Dham) were thus severely
beaten and placed in solitary confinement. So too,
the Muslim prisoners are forbidden from observing their
religious fast.
When Province officials came for inspections, the prison
authorities strictly ordered prisoners to clean and
refurbish the units. The prisoners were not allowed to
use the toilets so that it would remain clean at the time
of inspection.
Dolkar, now in exile, aspires to continue his studies.
[ top ]
According to Jamyang Dhondup who arrived in Dharamsala in
January 1999, 25 year-old political prisoner named Lhadar
died while in detention centre in September 1993.
Lhadar was a thanka painter from Ghemo Monastery in
Lithang County, Karze Tibetan Autonomous prefecture. He was
arrested on August 20, 1993 for pasting posters calling
for independence of Tibet around his monastery. His
friends Jamyang and two other men from Lithang were
arrested on August 19, 1993, on similar activities. All
of them were held in Karze Prefecture Lithang District
prison around the same time and were kept in different
cells and interrogated separately. All of them have been
released except for Ngawang Choephel who contniues to be
incarcerated in Ngapa Prison serving his ten-year sentence.
Lhadar was reportedly severely tortured by prison
officials. He died a month after his arrest in the
detention centre. His arms and legs were manacled at
the time of his death. Fellow inmates later informed
his friends that he drew a picture of Guru Padmasambhava
on the prison wall and left a message that read: "I am
going to the realm of Padmasambhava. China cannot be
trusted. Therefore all Tibetans should be united." These
were the last words of Lhadar before his death.
Refugees from Lithang in 1994 had reportedly stated then,
ìFor two whole days, Tibetans refused to take custody
of Lhadar's corpse from the prison because the Chinese
authorities refused to give satisfactory explanation
for his sudden death. According to them, there seem to
be little doubt in their minds that Chinese police were
ìtotally responsibleî for Lhadar's demise. They would not
buy Chinese police story that Lhadar "Committed suicide"
while in custody. ]
[ top ]
Chimey Rinzin
was arrested on behalf of his father,
who had been absconding since committing a murder of a Chinese man.
Prison officials, reportedly with a hope that his
father would show himself to rescue his son, arrested the
23 year-old Chimey. He was brutally tortured when he failed
to disclose the whereabouts of his father. He reportedly
suffered from mental imbalance due to severe torture.
Whilst in Amdo Ngaba prison, Chimey had a quarrel with
one of the Chinese inmates which led to a fight and both
of them were injured. Chimey again sustained beatings for
the fighting and as punishment, he was kept in solitary
confinement. When he came out of the confinement, his
health had become completely frail due to internal injuries
and an hour later he died in the prison in April 1997.
After his death, his prison mates sent a message to his
family members but prison officials refused to hand over
the dead body.
[ top ]
In April 1998 an 11-member "work team" visited Lhatse
County to conduct the "patriotic re-education" campaign in
all the monasteries and nunneries of Lhatse County. They
were Kundhen Nunnery, Shenkhang Lhaka Monastery, Sharchen
and Lhatse Chatae Monastery. All the monks and nuns were
instructed to assemble in Lhatse Chatae Monastery. The
monks and nuns were ordered to denounce the Dalai Lama
and call for the unity of the motherland.
Tsering Chokey
and a fellow nun of Kundhen Nunnery
decided to voluntarily leave the nunnery as they were
not prepared to accept the principles of the "work team"
members. There are currently only nine nuns at Kundhen
Nunnery. This nunnery was built in August 1980 with the
help of donations collected by the nuns as well as
contributions from the locals in Lhatse County.
Another two monks were expelled from Lhatse Chatae
Monastery as they refused to comply with the orders of the
"work team" officials. The monks said that they could not
bear the idea of opposing His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
The "work team" members reportedly continue to visit the
monasteries and the Nunnery every month.
[ top ]
Kalsang Wangdu
and
Kalsang Tsering
from Pangsa Monastery, Meldro Gongkar,
were arrested in June 1997 for pasting pro-independence posters.
Kalsang Wangdu (lay name: Kardro), a 21-year-old monk, is the son of Ngawang Nyima
and Kalsang Tsering (lay name: Gyagdro), a 20-year-old monk,
is the son of Trebhu. They pasted posters around
their monastery on June 1, 1997. While Wangdu was arrested
on June 12, 1997 Tsering was arrested few days later on
June 17. Both of them were sentenced to six years and are
currently being held in Drapchi Prison.
Ngawang, 27-year-old and Nyima Tenzin, 23 year-old, both
from Meldro Gungkar were arrested in early June 1993 for
pasting posters calling for independence of Tibet. Ngawang
is the elder brother of Kalsang Tsering and was a monk
of Dagpa Monastery. Nyima Tenzin, son of Kunchok Palden,
was a monk of Pangsa Monastery. They were both involved in
pasting pro-independence posters on the evening of May 31,
1993. Both of them were sentenced to eight years and are
currently serving their sentence in Drapchi Prison.
Lobsang Tsundrue, 47 year-old nomad from Meldro Gongkar was
arrested sometime in June 1993 and was sentenced to eight
years in Drapchi Prison. His father's name is Sherab. He
was charged of hoisting the banned Tibetan national
flag on the Gaden Wangpo hill in early 1993. Tsundrue
was also arrested earlier in December 1989 for pasting
posters calling for independence of Tibet around Ruthog
township. At that time he was sentenced to three years
and was imprisoned at the prison in Meldro Gongkar County.
[ top ]
Dolma Tsamchoe is a 61-year-old from Hampa Village,
Ruthog Township in Meldro Gongkar County. She is serving
an eight-year sentence in Drapchi Prison for calling for
Tibet's independence in a stage of trance when medium of a
local diety entered her body. Her daughter, Zomkyi, who is
in exile is seriously concerned about her mother's health
whom she has not heard of since 1994.
Dolma comes from a nomadic background in Tibet.
She has six children: four sons and two daughters.
Dolma was a plain housewife and
her daily routine revolved around taking care of household
chores. She led a comfortable life as most of her children
were already independent of her livelihood. As they were
nomads, none of the family members had ever been to school.
Dolma's first encounter with the medium started since the
introduction of liberalisation policy towards the end of
1979. At that time many monasteries which were destroyed
during the Cultural Revolution were renovated and there
was reportedly religious freedom.
Her family members initially kept it a secret from the
other locals and even prohibited Dolma from stepping out of
the house. Dolma had no control over the medium's entrance
into her body and was constantly falling into trance.
However, gradually people came to know about the medium
and started to visit Dolma"s house. They came to seek her
blessings and also ask her to perform divinations for
household matters. Nobody knew which particular deity
it was but would listen to everything she uttered. She
started to make visits to the different villages in Meldro
and give them teachings.
Eventually she had many devotees and most of the people
would listen to her. According to Zomkyi, her mother in the
state of a trance, would make direct accusations against
culprits who committ theft and robbery, slaughter wild
lives and object to stopping such practices.
In 1993, Dolma reportedly toured seven villages around
Ruthog where in front of assembled crowds she shouted
"Tibet is independent, His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the
supreme leader leader of Tibet, Independence of Tibet
is coming soon, all Tsampa eating Tibetans, unite". She
had reportedly raised these slogans while in the stage of
a trance.
While the medium was successfully getting support from
the people for independence activities, Dolma's health
was deteriorating. Everytime the medium entered her body
it was draining her. Dolma was constantly complaining of
fatigue and was bedridden most of the time. All this while,
Dolma was never aware of what happened to her when the
medium entered.
In the village of Rinchen ling during the tour, she made
the people shout "Free Tibet" three times. Rinchen ling
has a population of little above 200 people.
Within the same month, Public Security Bureau (PSB)
officials of Meldro Gongkar arrested Dolma from her
house. Her son-in-law and her nephew were also arrested at
the same time. They were all detained in Meldro Gongkar
PSB Detention Centre. Despite her age and poor health,
none of the family members were allowed to visit her while
in detention. The police arrested her son-in-law and nephew
because they escorted her from Rinchen ling to her home.
After two months of detention, Dolma was transferred to
Gutsa Detention Centre and the other two were released
from prison.
Dolma was detained in Gutsa for two months after
which she was sentenced by the Lhasa City Intermediate
People's Court to eight years for "counterrevolutionary
propaganda". Thereafter, she was transferred to Drapchi
Prison.
While in Drapchi during the Winter of 1994, the medium
entered her body again. The prison officials came to
know about it, and locked her in solitary confinement for
roughly ten days.
In Drapchi, Dolma's responsibility is to water the plants
and sweep the prison. Her age and her poor health raise
serious concern to all her family members and relatives.
[ top ]
Press Statement: Lobsang Nyandak, the executive director of
the TCHRD, condemned the Chinese government's relentless
hounding of the followers of Fulan Gong, a mystical
sect which claims 70 million followers in China.
"This is a reflection of the leadership's nervousness
in losing the hearts and minds of the Chinese people
to organised religious groups, which these days are
mushrooming in China. China's ban on the Fulan Gong
sect is a clear deviation from the principles of the
Chinese Constitution that guarantee freedom of religious
worship. The practices of the members of the Fulan Gong
clearly fall within the legal framework of the Chinese
Constitution. The harassment of the followers and the
ban on the sect is a case of blatant trampling of the
fundamental rights of the Chinese people.This action
not only exposes China's insincerity in upholding the
international human rights instruments to which it is
a state party but also demonstrates that China does not
believe in religious freedom," added Nyandak. He said that
the ban on the Fulan Gong sect has received unprecedented
media coverage. Less covered by the media, though no
less harassed, are Tibetan monks and nuns who refuse to
denounce their religious leader, the Dalai Lama despite
arrest and expulsion.
The state of religious freedom in Tibet is far worse
than in China. In 1996 the authorities in Tibet launched
a campaign to strike at monasteries and nunneries to
"re-educate" Tibetans who continue to revere His Holiness
the Dalai Lama. Since the campaign, around 10,569 monks and
nuns have been expelled from their religious institutions
and over 500 arrested and jailed for defying Chinese
authorities. The campaign continues to be carried out in
various religious institutions and was extended to the
lay community in Tibet since late 1998.
Nyandak reiterated that the ban on the practice of religion
has to do more with the Chinese leadership's perception
of losing control rather than the legality of the practice
of religion.
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