September 2000
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Jigme Gyatso and Lodro Gyatso tortured in Drapchi Prison
[ read ]
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Deputy head detained under suspicion
[ read ]
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House arrest of Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok
[ read ]
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"Work team" in Raktsa Samten Phegyeling Monastery
[ read ]
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"Work team" in Shugang Monastery
[ read ]
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Solitary confinement and imprisonment for Posters
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Right to subsistence, education and birth control of Tibetan people
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ANNOUNCEMENT
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TCHRD organises Human Rights Week
[ read ]
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Conferences and visits
[ read ]
According to a former political prisoner,
Sonam Gonpo
(refer to August Update for his testimony), who reached
Dharamsala, India on 25 August, two political prisoners
in Drapchi were severely tortured in 1997.
Jigme Gyatso,
who was serving 15 years' imprisonment was
taken outside the prison complex by four security personnel
from Gansu Province in October 1997. The officers acquired
permission from the prison authorities stating that "they
needed to acquire further information from Jigme regarding
a political incident". The officers took Gyatso to a place
in Lhasa where he was detained and interrogated. The
investigation was regarding poster incidents in Gansu
prior to Gyatso's arrest, of which the authorities had
still not discerned the identities of the 'culprit'.
The officers tied Jigme's hand behind his back and struck
him with electric shocks over his body and forced him to
'confess to the alleged crime.' Jigme refused to accede
since at the time of the incident he was in Lhasa with a
friend. Despite producing an alibi, Gyatso was detained for
five days during which time he was not given any food and
water. Moreover, he was beaten and tortured intensively. At
the time of his return to Drapchi Prison, inmates saw him
barely able to walk by himself. He was supporting himself
to the wall and his body spoke clearly of severe thrashing
and illtreatement.
Jigme Gyatso from Gansu Province was a former monk of
Gaden Monastery and was arrested for political reasons in
1997. Jigme is currently held in Drapchi Prison serving
15 years' imprisonment.
Lodroe Gyatso
was reportedly brutally beaten on 20 November 1997
by prison guards during prison visiting day.
While waiting for their names to be called out,
Gyatso walked away from the group of prisoners to get
some sunlight. He was leaning against a wall when the
officer in charge immediately took him back inside his cell.
The other prisoners protested and said if Gyatso
was not allowed visitors, they would not too. The group
was taken in along with Gyatso and as a punishment, were
not permitted to receive visitors.
In the meantime, Gyatso was seen with his head covered
with a black cloth and beaten by prison guards after
which he was taken into solitary confinement. Following
his release from the solitary confinement, he was detained
along with the criminal prisoners.
Gonpo confirmed that Gyatso was held there until the day of
his release on 1 May 1998. He does not know if he continues
being held there.
Lodroe Gyatso is from Sog County in Nagchu Province and he
is serving 21 years' imprisonment. Initially implicated
for murder, Gyatso was serving 15 years when he received
additional six years for political activities while in
detention.
[ top ]
Despite strict repression during the celebration of
the Dalai Lama's birthday on 6 July 2000, several
poster incidents took place in Taktse County in Lhasa
Municipality. The posters read incriminating slogans
such as 'Free Tibet', 'Tibet belongs to Tibetans' and
China quit Tibet'. Following a series of investigation
into the matter, Taktse Public Security Bureau officers
detained
Tashi Phuntsok,
the deputy head of the township under suspicion.
According to the PSB officers, Phuntsok's handwriitng
matched with that on the posters. Phuntsok is 29 years old
and lives in Karma Kunsang town. No further details on his
condition nor of his place of detention is known to date.
[ top ]
Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok,
the founder of Ngarig Nangten Lobling Institute,
was reportedly kept under house arrest
by the Chinese government since the beginning of 1999,
for seeking an audience with the Dalai Lama somewhere
in the mid-nineties (1993-94). The Chinese government
imposed strict restriction on his movements within and
outside Tibet and even visits to the nearest counties
for any religious or personal purpose are denied to
him. Kandze PSB officials ordered Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok
not to keep any pictures of the Dalai Lama in his room and
the Institute. During house arrest, Khenpo was confined
in his three- storey building. Any further information
as to whether Khenpo Jigme is still under house arrest is
not available.
Ngarig Nangten Lobling Institute located in Lorok
township of Sertha County in Kandze 'Tibetan Autonomous
Prefecture'(TAP), was established by Khenpo Jigme
Phuntsok about 15 years ago. The financial assistance that
Khenpo Jigme obtained during his European tour of eleven
countries, helped the establishment of the Institute in a
big way. The Institute registered under the law of Chinese
government is one of the biggest Buddhist Institutes in
Kandze 'TAP'. Around 8800 monks and nuns from different
parts of Tibet including 500 Chinese monks and lamas from
China( Riwo-tse-nga) study in this Institute. Though the
students largely manage their own expenses in terms of
food and clothing, they also receive material help from
the local Tibetans as well as from the Chinese Buddhists
in China, through the Institute.
In 1999, approximately 70 'work team' officials from
Sertha County and Kandze 'TAP', came to the Institute to
conduct 're-education' to the students. During a mass
meeting held in the Institute, the 'work team' members
counted the number of monks and nuns after interrogating
them about their backgrounds. The monks and nuns were
ordered to return to their homes especially the Chinese
students. Tibetan students appealed to the officials to let
them remain in the Institute and study as they have nowhere
to go. Later, some monks and nuns voluntarily left the
Institute for their homes although the number is not known.
The second visit of the 'work team' officials was in April
2000, during which time officials from different counties
came to the Institute to take students belonging to
their own counties. As resistance followed the official
orders, no forced expulsion took place during both
the visits. Given the huge strength of the students,
the officials feared mass protest and commotion in the
Institute and later returned to their own counties.
Kelsang Gyatso, who reported on the house arrest and
'work team' visit in Ngarig Nangten Lobling Monastery, is
a 20-year-old former monk of Shugang Monastery in Kandze
'TAP'. He reached Nepal on 17 July 2000.
[ top ]
'Work team' officials from Ngaba County reportedly
ordered expulsion of monks below the age of 18 years and
set a limit of only 40 monks in Raktsa Samten Phegyeling
Monastery in 1999.
15 members who stayed for two days instructed the monks
to oppose the Dalai Lama and separatist activities. Bans
were imposed on photographs of the Dalai Lama. As the
monastery has no record of political activities, the
County authorities are not very restrictive about the
activities of the monks. The strength of the monks in
the monastery still remains the same as before. However,
regular meetings and inspections were held in the monastery
whereby the monks are given strict indoctrination against
political protest.
Raktsa Samten Phegyeling Monastery located in Mekor
township of Ngaba County was destroyed completely during
Cultural Revolution.
However after 1985, this monastery was rebuilt with help
and donations from the local Tibetans. The current strength
of the monastery is 160 monks. Ngawang Lodoe, a 30-year-old
former monk of Samten Phegyeling Monastery reported on the
'work team' visit in Samten Phegyeling Monastery.
Originally from Sichuan Province, Ngaba 'Tibetan Autonomous
Prefecture'(TAP), Ngaba County, Mekor township, he arrived
in India on 16 July 2000 by crossing the Solukhumbu border
to seek an audience with the Dalai Lama.
[ top ]
In Shugang Monastery, monks below the age of 18 years
were expelled, Dalai Lama pictures banned, and a limit of
120 monks was set in the monastery with the arrival of
'work team' in 1996. The authorities further announced a
ban on the admission of new monks and ordered expulsion
of monks staying beyond the limit set by the 'work team'
in the monastery. There were approximately 170 monks in
Shugang Monastery before the visit of the 'work team'.
Usually, around five to six 'work team' members come once
a year to 're-educate', examine and inspect the monks,
during their three to four days stay in the monastery. The
mass meeting involves examining the monks on their opinion
about the Dalai Lama, 'splittist' activities and Tibetan
freedom. The officials forced the monks to memorise and
write letters in opposition to the Dalai Lama.
However, none of the monks agreed to this denunciation
order against the Dalai Lama on a verbal basis.
Kelsang Gyatso, a 20-year-old former monk of Shugang
Monastery voluntarily left the monastery in order to
escape the repressive instructions and rejoin a monastery
in exile.
Originally from Tehor township, Drago County, Kandze
'Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture'(TAP), Sichuan Province,
Gyatso reached Nepal on 17 July 2000.?
[ top ]
Nyima Tenzin
is 24 years old, from Bharlok township in
Medrogungkar County in Lhasa. His family consists of ten
members including himself. They are farmers by occupation. When
he was eight years old, he studied in Bharlok township
primary school for approximately four years. After which
he was with his parents at home.
In 1990, he joined Pangsa Monastery which is located in
Bharlok township. Pangsa Monastery which was destroyed
during the Cultural Revolution was later reconstructed
with the help of contributions from the local Tibetan
residents. At the time there were 20 monks at the
monastery.
While still at the monastery, Tenzin with his friend,
Kunchok Tsering 37 years old and Nyima Wangdu 22 years
old were actively involved in political activities.
On the night of 31 May 1993, the three of them put up
independence posters and a hand drawn Tibetan national
flag on Tashigang bridge which is on the highway of Lhasa
to kongpo. At the time of putting up posters, they saw a
policeman patrolling the bridge. While one put up posters
the other two started throwing stones at the policeman.
Although the policeman ran away he was able to discern
their identities. Knowing that they had been discovered,
the three ran away and hid amongst the nomads of the
region.
The next morning, the policeman reported the incident
to the Meldro County Public Security Bureau officers.
Investigations started immediately for the three and the
PSB officers went to the monastery. When the officers
found out that they were not at the monastery, they came
to the nomads.
By five pm that day, the three of them were arrested by ten
PSB officers. They were initially detained in Medrogungkar
Detention Centre where they received severe torture and
punishment at the time of interrogation session.
Tenzin was detained along with the other two for three
months during which time he was kept for 20 days in
solitary confinement. He was not allowed to receive any
visitors for an entire month. His parents and relatives
did not know anything about his condition or whereabouts.
He was later transferred to Gutsa Detention Centre where he
was detained for ten months prior to his sentencing. Later
Lhasa City Intermediate People's Court sentenced Tenzin
to eight years' imprisonment, Kunchok Tsering to seven
years and Nyima Wangdu to four years.
Following his sentencing, Tenzin and his friends were
transferred to Drapchi Prison. While in Drapchi, Tenzin
like the rest of the prisoners was subjected to vigorous
exercise sesssions.
In 1997 Nyima Wangdu was released. Tenzin and Kunchok
Tsering continue to be detained in Drapchi Prison.
[ top ]
Kunchok,
27 years old, is from Chulong village Tsangkor
township, Gad e County, Golok 'TAP' in Tsongon Province.
His family consists of seven members and they are nomads by
occupation. Kunchok and his four siblings did not have
the opportunity to attend school. There is but only one
primary school in the township where there are three
teachers. However, due to the incompetent facility for
education, absence of discipline and the under-qualified
teachers, parents find it futile thus refraining from
sending their children to school. There are currently
about 20 children attending the school. In Chulong, there
are approximately 80 families and about hundred children
of school-going age. The reputation of the school is such
that most children voluntarily drop out after two to three
years. The better schools are in county and prefecture
but admission to these schools is extremely difficult
to acquire. The children of village head and the wealthy
families are the only fortunate ones to be able to go to
the schools in the county Village head children go for
further studies.
Kunchok's family has 50 yaks and three horses. Every year
in the month of October, they have to pay 700 yuan (8
yuan is equivalent to 1 US $) per person to the township
authorities as tax. If the nomads do not have sufficient
money then they have to pay in kinds (animals). This form
of cash taxation was introduced since 1999. Prior to that,
authorities collect animals as a form of tax. In Kunchok's
village, there are at least 30 families who are extremely
poor that they are in debt most of the time in order to
make the ends meet.
Sterilization is also a huge problem as after every third
child, women are sterilised. In Tibetan Nomadic culture, it
is customary to have many children and children are never
considered a problem however severe the hardships. Or do
they not know about birth control measures. Every year the
township authorities run a check on the number of women
eligible for sterilisation. And accordingly, they are
sterilised. Approximately, eight to nine women undergo
forced contraception annually in Chulong village. The
absence of skilled doctors, appropriate medical appliances
and method lead to severe physical injuries. In August
1998, in Kyangche village, Yangzo, a 28-year-old was
sterilised on after her third child. She took to bed
subsequent to the operation and died a month later. Like in
many remote villages and counties, the absence of even a
health centre is of serious concern. These villagers have
to travel to the counties to receive medical attention in
severe cases, investing huge amount of money, often their
entire life savings. Kunchok reached here 11 August 2000.
Ideology Taught in Schools:
As in almost all the Chinese-administered schools in Tibet,
the ideology indoctrination is high on the agenda of the
primary and middle level schools of Sangchu County in
Khenlo 'TAP'. Rare as the case might be, all the subjects
in these school except for Chinese and Music are taught
in Tibetan language.
Yitham Kyab, a 19-year-old recent arrival had studied for
three years in Gyusha township Primary School and two
years in Sangchu County Middle School. Of all the township
schools in Sangchu County, Gyusha township Primary School
is considered as cut above the rest, for it has well
qualified teachers and staff members. Only approximately
30 Chinese students constitute the approximately total
of 300 students in this school, and the Tibetan students
all have a family background of farmers and nomads. There
are around 40 teachers in the school and half of them are
Chinese. The annual school fees for a student is 500 yuan
with a cost of 250 yuan per session in a year, but there
is no boarding facility for the students. Subjects taught
in the school include Chinese, Tibetan and Mathematics.
In Sangchu County Middle School, the students have to study
10 different subjects besides Chinese and Tibetan. History
subjects mainly deals with the formation of People's
Republic of China, Tang Dynasty and Cultural Revolution but
no explanation is allowed on the Tibetan history. Concepts
of socialism and ideologies of Marxism, Angusism and
Leninism are dealt with as Political Subject. The
musical subjects are taught as per Chinese culture and
tradition. There are around 600 students in the school
and their annual fee is 400 yuan (200 yuan per session
in a year), in addition to 300 yuan as school admission
fee. Of the approximately 600 students, only around 20
Tibetan students can go to higher school after passing
the high school entrance exam from Sangchu County. Some
join Teacher's Training Schools in Khenlo 'TAP' whereas
others return to work with their parents and try next year.
Yitham escaped to Nepal on 17 July 2000 through Dram
border. He is originally from Omshi village, Sangchu County
in Khenlo 'TAP'. His parents are farmers.
No School for Tibetans:
In rural areas like Khese township, Malho County in
Tsongon Province, the school authorities charge 500 yuan as
admission fee and two sheep as tuition fee for the nomadic
Tibetan parents. Besides 30 gyama (equivalent to 500 grams)
of butter and cheese given to the authorities, the parents
have to buy school uniforms for their children. Owing to
unaffordable school fees, many poor Tibetan students are
left without school education. Furthermore, large numbers
of primary and middle school educated but unemployed youths
add to the widespread poverty. These unemployed youth
work with their parents either as nomads or as farmers
in different villages of Malho County while looking for
paid employment.
In Tsokha village of Khese township, only 10 children
from a total family of 150 Tibetans go to school. There
are no schools in Tsokha village but a primary school
exists in the township. The distance to travel to school
and the fees discourages parents to send their children to
school. The other children work with their parents on the
field or tend cattle. Four villages under Khese township,
inhabited by Tibetan nomads have no school. The township
authorities admit only 50 children from the above four
villages in the township schools.
18-year-old Thinlay's family consists of 12 members
including five siblings. His parents are nomads in Khese
township of Malho County in Tsongon Province. Except for
his eldest brother, no one in his family had ever been to
school. His family has 100 dri and yak and 500 sheep. As
his parents wanted him to study, he was sent to Lhasa
where he stayed for 20 days and then escaped to Nepal.
Forced Labour:
The local authorities forced compulsory labour on the
Tibetans above 18 years in Shekar township of Shigatse
Region for construction of roads, irrigation and
buildings. All the expenses incurred during compulsory
labour like food and travel has to be borne by the worker
himself as the authorities does not provide anything
to them.
However, after 1998, the authorities started paying six to
seven yuan per day for a worker. A penalty of 14 yuan per
day is imposed on any Tibetans failing to fill up family
work quotas during compulsory labour. Such high penalties
restrict the poor Tibetan villagers from avoiding work
even when they fall sick.
Reports of begging in Pelbar village in Shekar township was
also received. There are nine groups of villages in Shekar
township and in Pelbar village, there are approximately 85
Tibetan families with a population of 650 people. Around
35 families (190 people) in Pelbar village are poor and
they usually borrow or beg cereals from other farmers to
feed their family. Some of them go to Lhasa or Shigatse to
beg, as they need money to repay other farmers. However,
the township and County authorities ban begging which they
consider as a 'disgrace and shame on the nation'. The
irony of the situation is the authorities do not offer
aid to the impoverished farmers except for a few sacks
of cereals and pieces of cloth, but restricts them from
moving out of the village to Lhasa or Shigatse to make
their own living.
In October 1999, Dhingri County authorities had
announced restrictions on sending children to schools in
India. Penalties for sending children to India include
confiscation of the allocated land and animals and further
collection of heavy fines from the parents. In the past
20 years, it is said that only 15 Tibetan students from
Dhingri County had successfully completed their high
school study from Shigatse or Lhasa but these students are
children of County or township officials. Primary schools
are available in all the villages of Shekar township
besides a middle school in Dhingri County, where the
children of the farmers get their formative education. As
the poor farmers cannot afford the exorbitant expenses
incurred on further education, the school drop-out rate
of Tibetan children after middle school is quite high.
Dorjee Tsering who sheds light on compulsory labour,
begging and school in his hometown also talks about various
taxes levied on the farmers. He himself is a 54-year-old
farmer from Shekar township in Shigatse region. Dorjee's
family annually delivers around 150 gyama of cereals as
tax to the local Chinese authorities. This form of tax
is collected from all the farmers irrespective of the
nature of the yearly crop production. The farmers in the
region mostly cultivate dru (cereal) seyma (pea) and paykha
(rape seed)on their land. The annual yield of Dorjee's crop
cultivation ranged from 80 to 120 dru-khel (equivalent to
14 kg) of cereals per year. During a bad harvest season,
the local authorities provide six dru-khel of cereals per
member in a family. However, since 1996 there have been
no bad crop production in their villages.
There are nine members in his family including seven
children in Tibet. His family has four and half mu (one
mu is equal to 67 square metres) of land allocated to five
members in his family. Dorjee had sought an audience with
the Dalai Lama when he visited India in 1985 but returned
to Tibet after a month stay. This time, he escaped to Nepal
with his daughter Dawa Bhuti aged 17. Despite orders and
threats by Dhingri County authorities, Dorjee wants to
send her to a school in India. He reached Nepal in July
2000 and will return to Tibet after admitting his daughter
in a school. He fears that his land and animals might be
confiscated with heavy fines if the authorities find out
about his escape and the admission of his daughter in an
exile school.
Village Conditions:
Dechen village in Chentsa County in Malho 'TAP'
has approximately 40 families and all are farmers by
occupation. Tsering Dhondup, a former resident of Dechen
village fled his village and after almost a month of
travelling reached Dharamsala on 13 September 2000.
Dhondup is 28 years old and he lives with his parents
and two younger siblings. Dhondup reports on the general
living standard of residents of Dechen village setting his
as an example. For Dhondup's five-member family, seven
mu of land area was allocated. At the time of harvest,
his family has to furnish 200 gyama of their produce for
one mu of land amounting to 1400 gyama in total to the
county authorities. Moreover, as tax for animal feeds, 100
yuan for every animal is levied. This system of taxation
requires the authorities to pay a certain amount of money
in return for the produce, which is much lower than the
market price. However, this is covered as the cost of
fertilisers, which the farmers are issued with regardless
of its' necessity. Such a collection performed irrespective
of the quality of harvest and the number of family members
is an encumbrance to the farmers' livelihood.
Many of the farmers therefore indulge n other jobs such
as picking yartsa gunbu (medicinal plant) and working
on construction sites. The farmers buy food provisions
out of the income procured through these odd jobs from
the market at a much higher price. The medical fees at
the clinic in Dechen township is also not consistent to
the income of the villagers. This hinders villagers from
employing the medical services available to them. For
more serious cases, one has to visit the county hospital
which is far more expensive. Dhondup corroborates that one
has to have at least 1000 yuan (eight yuan is equivalent
to US 1$) to receive any medical attention at the county
level. However, any birth control procedures are free of
cost. The authorities have set the limit of two children
per couple. A third child is fined 500 yuan and the
amount increases by double. Usually, after the second
child the mother is required to undergo contraception.
Every year five to six women in Dechen township undergo
this procedure. This is strictly controlled by a group
consisting of the township and village doctor and the
heads of the two offices as well. This group constantly
instill the notion in the minds of the villagers that
they are poor because they have many children. Cases of
physical impairment due to incompetent operation performed
by semi-skilled doctors and health workers are common. In
1997 in Chentsathang village in Chatsang township in
Chentsa County, Dorjee Dolma, a 28-year-old died following
her sterilisation operation. Subsequent to her operation,
she became ill and never fully recovered.
The medical expenses are high for example, an intravenous
procedure one has to pay 140 yuan. This is in an area
where an approximate per capita income is approximately
2000 yuan for a family. There are approximately 70
children of school-going-age in Dechen township and
only one primary school. The education system, mainly
the course content coupled with the absence of a positive
future prospects and fees discourages parents from sending
their children to school. In a year only two or three
students pass the entrance exams for middle schools. The
rest of them return to farm work. Parents find the whole
process futile when the children end up becoming farmers.
The residents of Dechen township have been prohibited from
possessing any pictures of the Dalai Lama nor wear pendants
carrying pictures of the Dalai Lama around their neck.
Dhondup left home in July 2000 reached Nepal on August 2000
after walking for almost a month across the Himalayas.
Pema Dorjee, a 29-year-old nun of Dukka Nunnery reports
on enforced sterilisation and contraception in her village
called Dreka in Samyen township, Chenghai Country:
In Dreka village, the birth control policy was introduced
in 1993 whereby a two-child limit was set for all couples.
In Dreka village they are about 45 nomadic families. The
authorities made clear the consequences for failure to
comply to the orders. Dorjee recalls that a fine of 2000
yuan (US$300) was imposed for a third child born after
the announcement, with progressively higher fines for
each successive child. A fine of 500 yuan annually is
levied for the third child till she/he reaches the age of
13. Those who do not have money to cover the fine would
face confiscation of agricultural produce and animals
by the health officer. Dorjee recalls that, "the Chinese
health officers visit our villages and systematically check
all the families. The forced sterilisation (tubectomy)
procedures are conducted mainly twice a year, in April
and August. At the time we were approximately 16 of us
'eligible' for sterilisation and I was told to get rid
of my third child, which I was carrying at the moment
and fined 2000 yuan for conceiving. As i did not have
enough money, the authorities confiscated my animals
instead. However, I escaped abortion since i discreetly
delivered my child at my mother's country in Hotoe
township."
"In my village they are no clinics save for one in the
township. Medical expenses are high thus giving rise for
many villagers to receive home remedies. Also, we are
strictly instructed not to display photographs of His
Holiness the Dalai Lama. The head of our village is a
Chinese and his name is La shunyin. There are also many
Chinese traders who perform business in our village. The
Chinese children easily get admission in the township
school where it is more difficult for Tibetan children to
acquire admission.
Dorjee's immediate family consists of six members including
four siblings of which she is the eldest. She has two
younger brothers and a sister. All the siblings are
married now. Dorjee's youngest sister has two children
only due to the birth control policy. They are nomads by
occupation. Since they have 50 yaks and 200 goats, they
are required to pay land tax for the feeds as well as a
separate tax for possesing the animals to the township
officer. For a yak they have to pay six yuan, five yuan
for a goat and eight yuan for horses.
Dorjee joined the nunnery after being married for 20
years. She is currently a nun and her children are being
taken care of by her mother and relatives.
[ top ]
Torture and Ill-Treatment in Tibet: An Assessment of the
People's Republic of China's Compliance with the Convention
against Torture
This report evaluates China's compliance with the CAT and
Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,
relative to Tibet.
This report is based on information gathered from the
Chinese government and other non-governmental sources,
United Nations reports, interviews with Tibetans in
exile, reports from internationally recognised NGO's and
governmental reports, in addition to information compiled
by TCHRD.
This report which is available free of cost can be obtained
by writing to us or becoming a member of the Centre. For
details regarding membership procedures please refer
to our
support page.
[ top ]
As part of the activities to highlight the human rights
situation in Tibet and to educate the Tibetan community
on the concept of democracy and importance of people's
participation in the democratic set up, the Tibetan Centre
for Human Rights and Democracy organised a week-long human
rights awareness programme. This was held at the Tibetan
Community Centre, Mcleod Ganj, from 2-8 September 2000.
The first day of the programme coincided with the
Tibetan 'Democracy Day' where Mr. Thupten Lungrig, the
Vice-Chairman of the Assembly of the Tibetan People's
Deputies spoke on the concept of democracy and importance
of people's participation in the forth coming election
of the 13th assembly election. For the rest of the week,
the staff of the centre dealt with a specific human rights
issue and gave talks followed by video shows. The week
ended with a session with a panel discussion on the theme
'refugee: problems of adaptation and rehabilitation'. The
panelists included experts from various fields representing
different offices.
Alongside, a signature campaign calling for the release
of prominent political prisoners was organised.
[ top ]
The Executive Director of the Centre,
Mr. Lobsang Nyandak,
attended a training on Autonomy in Delhi as a resource person,
from the 20-27 of September. He gave talks on
Autonomy with examples of countries seeking the same
to two separate groups consisting of the teachers and
settlement officers.
Ms. Phurbu Dolma, the Accountant, visited the branch office
in Nepal to settle and renew accounts of the Centre. The
trip was also meant to introduce our new staff Dorjee
Damdul to the workings of our office there.
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