November 2000
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Sholpa Dawa Dies in Prison
[ read ]
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Tragedy at the Nepal-Tibet border: A Tibetan paid with life to trek to freedom
[ read ]
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Tibetan farmer weighed down by taxation and other dues
[ read ]
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Ngawang Dolma: A voice behind bars
[ read ]
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TCHRD releases a new report on racism
[ read ]
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A Tibetan Student arrested for posting leaflets containing freedom songs
[ read ]
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Monks forced to submit written opposition to the Dalai Lama
[ read ]
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TCHRD branch staff back from official visit to Japan
[ read ]
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Human rights talk by Tenzin Chokey
[ read ]
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Forthcoming events
[ read ]
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TCHRD hosted US Congressional staff delegation
[ read ]
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TCHRD members of the month
[ read ]
Sholpa Dawa, a 60-year-old tailor from Lhasa City died
at 7am on 19 November 2000. He was reportedly taken to a
hospital outside Drapchi Prison complex just a few days
before his death, after ample indications that he required
medical attention. The exact cause of his death is not
known. His body was apparently not handed over to his
family members to perform last rites. He is survived by
his eight children. His wife, Lhakpa Dolma died in August
1987 while Sholpa was still in prison.
Sholpa worked as a construction labourer and later
became a private tailor until he was first arrested on
29 September 1981 for allegedly distributing pamphlets
on Tibetan independence. He was sentenced to two years'
imprisonment and one-year's deprivation of political
rights of which he spent six months in Gutsa Detention
Centre and one and a half years in Sangyip Prison.
The verdict of his trial as reported in the 'TAR'
Intermediate People's Court Document No.17 of 1982 states:
"In 1980, Sholpa Dawa and defendants Lobsang Choedar and
Tsering Lhamo, met at Lobsang Choedar's house and wrote
circulars on the independence of Tibet. Thereafter,
he contacted his accused friend Lobsang Wangchuk who
helped him to prepare a history on the independent status
of Tibet and a circular titled, 'Twenty Years of Tragic
Experience." Sholpa reportedly told Kunsang and his uncle
who were working at the Metal and Wood Co-operative,
to type the circular and hand them back to him. Sholpa,
pretending to be making copies of religious manuscripts,
borrowed a cyclo-styling machine from the Co-operative
and made more than 160 pro-independence posters and the
forbidden Tibetan national flag in his home. Not only did
he distribute the posters, but he also sought assistance
from Dhondup Dorje and Lobsang Choedar. Subsequent to
his release, he worked as a labourer for one year at
Nyethang County. On 8 November 1985 he was arrested for
the second time for distributing pamphlets denouncing
the deteriorating living conditions of the Tibetans, and
Chinese invasion of Tibet. Sholpa was indicted along with
eight other young Tibetans. This time he was sentenced to
four years in Outridu Prison (now known as Lhasa Prison)
and was deprived of his political rights for the duration
of one year.
Sholpa's third arrest was in August 1995 in Lhasa City. He
was arrested in connection with distributing pictures
of the young Panchen Lama reincarnation recognised by
the Dalai Lama. However, at the time it was rumoured
inside Lhasa that Sholpa was arrested just prior to the
30th anniversary celebrations of the 'Tibet Autonomous
Region', because of fear that he and other former political
prisoners would disrupt the celebrations. He reportedly
faced threats of execution by the Chinese authorities at
the time.
Verdicts were issued on 8 August 1996 for Sholpa
and his friend Topgyal. The verdict did not mention
Sholpa's involvement in the Panchen Lama reincarnation
issue. Rather, it stated: "After thorough investigation,
in the year 1993 to 1994, the accused [Sholpa] Dawa
told Dhondup Dorje and Ratoe Dawa to collect the list
of all political prisoners who have served and who are
also currently serving their prison term. Moreover, in
July 1993, the accused Topgyal made three 'reactionary'
documents and gave them to Sholpa Dawa who handed them
over to the Dalai clique."
Topgyal remains incarcerated in Drapchi Prison serving his
six-year sentence. Sholpa was sentenced to nine years'
imprisonment with three years deprivation of political
rights. Had Sholpa survived his prison sentence, he would
have spent 15 years' imprisonment in total.
[ top ]
Every year more than 2000 Tibetans trek across the
difficult terrain of the Himalayas to escape the
suppression of fundamental freedoms in Tibet. TCHRD has
interviewed many such Tibetans over the years.
Gonpo Tseten is a young man of 16 who worked as a farmer
as well as a road constructor in Karin township, Shoha
County, Qinghai Province. He went to school for a short
period but had to drop out since his parents were unable
to afford the school fees. As a road constructor, he had to
reconstruct the damaged highway leading to his village. His
work involved laying of stones and sand. Gonpo was paid
only 15 Yuan per day.
Gonpo Tseten left his hometown on 5 September 2000 for
Lhasa. He left for Lhasa with a group of 24 people on 13
September 2000. They came by a truck to Shigatse and then
proceeded to Laktse. From there, they walked with a Tibetan
guide to the Nepal border. The guide left them at the foot
of a snow-capped mountain in the Solukhumbu and told the
group that Nepal is on the other side. The Guide charged
Gonpo and others 1200 yuan each. From then on, the group
trekked guideless till Jiri where they were arrested by
the Nepal police. They were detained in a house for two
days and a night. Most of the group members managed to
escape but Gonpo and another member of the group lagged
behind due to frostbitten legs. The group were caught and
severely beaten by the policemen. They once again tried to
escape and got onto a big truck. They asked the driver to
take them to Kathmandu, but the driver was taking them to
another police station. They jumped out of the truck and
ran off with the Nepalese police chasing them. The police
finally caught up with them. They were armed with rifles
and batons and they fired tear gas at the group. The group
ran helter skelter in fear of being shot and got split
in two. The slower and the injured were left behind. The
defenseless Tibetans out of fear started pelting stones
at the policemen who retaliated by firing live rounds from
their rifles.
Kunchok Gyatso was shot through the jaw with the bullet
penetrating from the left side and coming out of the
right jaw. Among the several others injured were Tsewang
Rinzin (20) and Daboshon Gyal (20). Gonpo Tseten was
in the group that was left behind. He recounts that the
policemen were beating his group severely with batons and
rifle butts. There were seven people injured including a
woman named Juchin Tso. Kunchok Gyatso was rushed to the
Kathmandu Teaching Hospital while the others were taken
to the Military Hospital. Later, upon intervention from
the Tibetan Reception Centre, they were transferred to
Kathmandu Hospital. It was later learned that Kunchok
Gyatso had succumbed to injuries at the hospital.
Frustrated Daboshon had this to say, "After the shooting,
we were severely beaten by the policemen with rifle butts
and batons. I think that it was the beating that caused
Kunchok's death and not the shooting. The matter should
be investigated."
[ top ]
Not only are the farmers in the Shopa Tho village in
Lhorong Province, Chamdo, faced with heavy taxation,
they also have to pay other dues, including fees for their
children's education. More often than not, because of
these dues they are unable to make both ends meet.
Lobsang Choephel, a 29-year-old farmer from this same
village is a case in point. His family of four draws
sustenance from land measuring a mere 8 mu (1 mu is
equivalent to 67 square meters), on which they grow
wheat and barley. The income generated from this patch
of land is not enough to feed his family and send his
children to school. The annual turnout of harvest comes
to approximately 2000 Gyama (1 Gyama is equivalent
to 500 grams). They sell some part of the harvest for
cash in order to buy bare necessities. Lobsang's elder
daughter, Namgyal Choetso, goes to the Sholpa Tho Primary
School. Although the teachers are paid by the Township
Administration, parents of the children have to give
300 gyama of grain and 15 Yuan in annual fees. A new
classroom for the school was also built at the expense
and the hard labour of the farmers themselves. Parents
are also required to provide 18 gyama of butter for the
teachers'consumption. Each person in the village has to
obligingly provide 200 gyama of firewood.
Even after completing their education, village students
have a very slim chance of getting a decent job. Bribery is
all-pervasive and is a common practice among the Chinese
officials, which further reduces any slight chance
available to the village youth. According to Lobsang,
"it is very common to see that jobs are given via a
greasing of palms of the relevant authorities. Jobs are
not assigned on the basis of merit or competitive exams,
but, rather through personal connections."
[ top ]
Ngawang Dolma, (lay name: Jampa), is a 28-year-old woman
who hails from Phenpo Lhundup County, Melong village,
Jangkhar township, in Lhasa. She is the youngest of the
four siblings. Her family subsisted by farming. Ngawang
was engaged in household chores from a very young age and
therefore never went to school.
In 1990, Ngawang joined Gyabdrag Nunnery. At the time,
there were 60 nuns, most of them in the range of 18-23
years. Gyabdrag Nunnery was completely destroyed during
the the Cultural Revolution. Ngawang was involved in
reconstructing the nunnery and also gathering resources
for it.
In February 1995, Ngawang along with 14 other nuns,
planned a demonstration in Lhasa. They left for Lhasa
on 12 February, 1995. On 13 February, at approximately
10 am, they took to the streets in Lhasa in front of
Jokhang Temple, shouting "Tibet is Free", "Tibet belongs
to Tibetans", and "Chinese go home." In a couple of
minutes, they were all arrested by Public Security Bureau
officials. When they began to resist the arrest, they were
beaten and thrown in a police truck to be taken to the
Lhasa PSB(Gutsa) Detention Centre. Once at the Detention
Centre, they were subjected to intensive interrogation.
All of them suffered beatings for making inconsistent
statements and not responding in the desired manner. For
several months, they were detained. Neither the nunnery
nor their families were informed of their whereabouts.
In June 1995, they were tried by the Lhasa Intermediate
People's Court.
Ngawang Dolma and three other nuns were considered the
main conspirators of the protest and sentenced to seven
years in prison. Four other nuns were sentenced to six
years and the rest were given five years.
They were then transferred to Drapchi Prison on 30
July. At that time, the new female unit #3 had just been
constructed. They were the first female inmates to be kept
in this unit. In order to weaken their resistance, they
were subjected to torture right from day one. For a month,
they were made to stand in the sun from sunrise to sunset,
allowing breaks only during meals. After that, for almost
four months, extended daily marchs were enforced. During
these marches, Ngawang faced a lot of beatings because
she could not follow the commands and also due to her
physique, she had difficulty keeping up with the constant
physical demands.
In 1997, on the occasion of the Tibetan New
Year, the prison guards decided to allow a little
celebration. Ngawang and her friends sang a freedom
song. As soon as they finished, People's Armed Police (PAP)
officials surrounded them. They were severely beaten with
belt buckles and kept in solitary confinement.
Ngawang was also involved in the protest in May 1998. She
suffered more beatings from participating in it. She
now suffers from kidney problems and an ulcer. She is
currently being treated at the prison and refused access
to outside hospitals.
Some common forms of torture in Drapchi Prison have been
reported as under:
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Physical beatings using fists, feet, electric batons,
rubber cords, belts buckles, iron rods, electric cattle prods.
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Long terms of solitary confinement in dark cells too small
to be able to stand or lie unbent in. Solitary confinement
for showing a 'bad expression' to prison officials.
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Standing in total immobility in the sun for stretches
ranging from 12 to 16 hours, with occasional, infrequent
10-minute toilet breaks. Paper had to be held between the
legs and under the arms, and a bowl of water or book was
positioned on the head. Any movement resulted in being
beating with an electric baton, or a scalding from a cup
of hot water thrown onto bare skin.
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Undergoing military drill-like sessions whilst having
to shout slogans like: "strive for reformation"
(gyurkoy-la-shugnon), "a new reformed man" (lharyang
mi sarpa)
[ top ]
The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD)
has released its new report entitled
Racial Discrimination in Tibet
in anticipation of the forthcoming 2001 World
Conference on Racism. The report systematically takes
a look at discrimination practices in the spheres of
employment, health, housing, education and political
representation within Tibet; and determines the nature of
anti-Tibetan racism.
The report asserts that the PRC has incorporated ancient
racial prejudices and hierarchies in every sphere of
life in Tibet in order to serve its contemporary goal of
'motherland uniformity'. Justifying itself through the
rhetoric of Han superiority, China has attempted to diffuse
Tibetan resistance through derogatory propaganda, economic
pressures and sheer force of numbers. The report describes
how the massive Chinese immigrant populations have made it
demographically impossible for Tibetans to participate on
an equal basis in society. "Systematic discrimination in
the spheres of employment, health, education and political
representation continues to restrict Tibetan involvement
in the development of their own country, and has denigrated
Tibetan status in society to the point of their being seen
as second-class citizens by virtue of their race alone",
said Lobsang Nyandak, Executive Director of the Tibetan
Centre for Human Rights and Democracy.
The employment sphere has become increasingly
competitive, with priority continually accorded to
Chinese workers. Biased regulations concerning the
allocation of business permits, illegal practices of
copying and underselling, overt wage discrimination, as
well as compulsory unpaid labour all reflect anti-Tibetan
sentiment on the part of the Chinese.
Discrimination is also apparent within the sphere of
healthcare. Besides discriminatory charges and excessive
hospital deposits, denial of treatment, deliberately
dispensed expired or incorrect medicine, and forced
sterilisation and abortion are common.
The report explains that within the education system,
government expenditure is discriminatorily concentrated
on developing schools in areas with high populations
of Chinese settlers. There are also blatant fees and
miscellaneous expenses inapplicable to Chinese students,
and discriminatory examinations in which Tibetans must
obtain higher pass marks than Chinese students. These
examinations often must be supplemented by bribes.
Due to China's population transfer policy, Tibetans also
face discrimination in the housing sector. Housing is
immediately allocated to the new Chinese arrivals, and
entire Tibetan neighbourhoods have faced eviction, and
widespread demolition is common. Tibetans are relocated
to shabbier dwellings and are forced to remain there
through arbitrary searches and the restrictive Chinese
household registration system. This occurs while government
subsidies for the development of basic resources such
as running water, electricity and proper sanitation are
solely concentrated on Chinese areas, leaving Tibetan
communities to fend for themselves. China's control
and manipulation of the public administration sector in
Tibet is perhaps one of the most significant factors
discussed in the report. The only Tibetans within the
political system are token representatives lacking real or
effective power to make decisions, elected through farcical
elections. The grass-roots loyalty of Tibetans is also
carefully monitored through the introduction of village
self-government and neighbourhood committees. Lacking
any effective avenues through which to make complaints,
Tibetans are helpless to fight the discrimination practised
in all sectors of society.
[ top ]
Phuntsok Wangchuk
is a 27-year-old student from Lhoka, Chongyal County, Perab township.
He went to a nursery school for six years at Perab Township Public
School. He also spent two more years at the County Primary
School. When Phuntsok Wangchuk joined Lhoka Middle School
#2 in 1990, there were around 900 students. The students
were mostly from the nomadic or farming backgrounds, but
some Chinese officials also sent their children to the
school. Subjects taught were Chinese, Tibetan, English,
Maths, History, Geography, Natural Science, Chemistry,
and Physics. Chinese was the medium of instruction in the
school. He was arrested after having spent four years in
school and right before his final examinations.
Students in his school started to hear freedom songs after
the 1987 Lhasa demonstration. Some students even went as
far as writing slogans of "Free Tibet" on the walls. With
the coming of teachers from Tibet University to teach
Tibetan, Tibetan language began to gain prominence and
essay writing in Tibetan flourished. Phuntsok became
somewhat popular in his school for being religious.
With help from friends, he was able to get the Dalai Lama's
cassettes to listen to in secret. His friends provided
him with news related to the freedom movement, such as
the protests in Lhasa. During free time on Wednesdays and
Saturdays, students got together to discuss and exchange
ideas.
Four Exceptional Classes were held in four schools, in
the towns of Lhasa, Shigatse, Lhoka and Nagchu. In these
classes, subjects were taught in Tibetan. Phuntsok knew
all the students in the Special Class of Lhoka Middle
School #2. One student from that class by the name of
Sherab Yeshi (late) gained permission to run a school radio
station. Initially, the announcements as well as the songs
were in Chinese but soon Sherab began making announcements
in both Tibetan and Chinese. Tibetan songs were also
broadcast. Since the students now had a cassette recorder
at their disposal for broadcasting, they secretly gathered
to listen to the Dalai Lama's illicit cassettes. With the
initiative from the students, a weekly Tibetan magazine
was initiated called "Sham Chu Se" meaning 'Spray of the
Flowing River'. Indirect and veiled essays on 'Free Tibet'
started appearing in the magazine. When the school noticed
the magazine getting out of hand, they banned it, at the
end of 1994. At the time, no arrests or detentions took place.
In the beginning of May 1994, Phuntsok wrote 'Free Tibet'
on the class blackboard. He was caught and called to
the School office. The authorities warned him from
committing such acts again and the matter was settled
without any fine or punishment. In early June 1994, he
started secretly printing 'Free Tibet' leaflets and 300
song leaflets with the help of friends in School. The
distribution areas were the suburbs of Nyitho, Tsetho,
and Tsethan Middle School # 1, Tsethan Education Centre,
and Tsethan bridge. The nuns in Tsethan Nunnery were also
given some leaflets. From 4 to 15 June, he distributed
leaflets with help from fellow students, Dawa Phuntsok
and Lobsang Penpa. The leaflets contained excerpts from
the songs of a dissident musician Ngawang Choephel [now
imprisoned in Tibet]: "... in last night's dream it seems I
was in Tibet". He put the lyrics on the school notice board
along with a quotation from the Dalai Lama's cassette:
"China and Tibet has only priest and patron relationship
and not a ruling relationship." His leaflet also carried
the words: "Tibet will soon get freedom and Tibetans should
be united". When students returned from their daily morning
exercise, all of them saw the leaflet, and they began to
sing the song loudly. An order was issued immediately by
the school authority to detect the handwriting, but they
were unable to establish the identity of the writer.
In an unrelated incident on 12-13 June, 1994, a student
from the school landed in jail for stabbing another
student. The police interrogated the arrested student on
the freedom songs that were posted on the school notice
board. A deal was made that if the identity of the person
responsible for posting the freedom songs was revealed,
he would get a lenient treatment.
On 15 June, at about 3 pm, seven policemen from Zitha
police station came to Phuntsok's room and arrested
him. Simultaneously, two plain-clothes policemen purporting
to be his teachers arrived to interrogate him at his
village home. Suspecting that they were police undercover,
they pleaded that their son was mentally unbalanced. Even
his teachers and fellow students made statements to
the effect. Initially Phuntsok did not confess during
interrogation. However, when a young policeman told him to
confess because he had been betrayed by a school friend,
he had no choice. In his confession, he categorically
stated that no other person was involved. He was only
detained for six months at the Zitha Detention Centre
after the statements made by his parents relating to
his mental state. When his class mates came to visit
him, he gave them an essay which contained political
statements. Unfortunately, it was intercepted by the
jail guard. On 20 September 1994, the Lhoka Intermediate
People's Court sentenced him to five years imprisonment
for counter revolutionary activities.
He was given seven days to appeal. For six months, he was
forced to reform labour: loading down the wood from trucks,
construction work, and dumping waste. On 14 December,
1994, he was transferred to Drapchi Prison and was placed
in Unit #5.
In 1998, prisoners were made to fill an annual form,
promising to improve behaviour and reform political
thinking. One prisoner, Samgyal Tenphel, 18 years old,
refused to fill out the form and was subjected to solitary
confinement. The other prisoners protested against
this act. Two political prisoners were killed during
this protest: Lobsang Wangchuk from Gaden Monastery,
Medro Gongkar, and Khedup from Taktse County were beaten
to death. Ngawang Solong suffered a shooting injury and
Sonam Tenzin (25) committed suicide by hanging.
On I May 1998 (International Labour Day) a Chinese
National Flag Raising Ceremony was held in the prison. The
prisoners were instructed to walk under the flag and
salute it. 60 political prisoners of the new Unit #5
were made to participate in the ceremony. At 9 am,
prisoners were lined up and ordered to shout slogans:
"Knowing ones guilt, "abiding by the rules", and "endeavor
for self reform." Suddenly, two prisoners from Unit #
6 started shouting "Free Tibet" slogans, and threw up
printed slogans; other prisoners joined in, turning the
ceremony into chaos.
As a result, the following prisoners of Unit #6 were punished:
(1) Migmar (37) a former monk from Nyithang Tashi Kang Monastery, his prison
term increased from six to ten years.
(2) Konto (24) from Gaden Monastery, was arrested in 1996 and sentenced to
four
years. His prison term was increased by one year.
(3) Tenzin (26) formerly a monk from Lhoka, Dranang
County. He was arrested in 1994, sentenced to five years
and his term was increased to nine years.
(4) Norbu Phuntsok (27) formerly a monk from Phenpo Lhundup
County. His initial sentence of five years in 1995 was
increased to eight years.
(5) Kapasang (27) formerly a monk from Phenpo Lhundup
County, was disarrested in 1995. His sentence was increased
from five to eight years.
(6) Ngawang (30) formerly a monk from Drepung Monastery,
was arrested in 1991.
Another five years was added to his existing 10 year sentence.
Some prisoners from the New Unit #5 also had their
sentences increased:
(1) Lobsang Gelek (27) formerly a monk from Khang Mar
Monastery in Damshung County, was arrested in 1995. He
received an additional five year sentence with his total
sentence coming to 10 years.
(2) Lhasang (26) a monk from Gun Sar Monastery was arrested
in 1995 and sentenced to five years had his term increased
to 10 years.
(3) Pasang (28) formerly a monk from Phenpo Lhundup County,
was arrested in 1995 and sentenced to six years had his
term increased to 10 years.
(4) Yeshi Jinpa (27) formerly a monk from Sung Rabling in
Lhoka Gong Kar County, was arrested in 1993 and sentenced
to six years and his term was increased to 11 years.
(5) Kalsang Phuntsok (23) a monk from Nyithang Tashi Kang
Monastery from Choe Shur County was arrested in 1994 and
sentenced to six years his term was increased to 10 years.
(6) Khedup (32) formerly a monk from Gaden Monastery in
Taktse county, was arrested in December 1995 and sentenced
to five years in prison. He was severely beaten and placed
in solitary confinement because of his involvement in
the May 1st protest. He died due to excessive torture on
October 28, 1998.
(7) Lobsang Choephel (25) a monk from Khang Mar Monastery
hanged himself in the bathroom. He left a suicide note
which read: " I committed suicide for the six million
Tibetan people. I will never salute and bow under the
Chinese flag. My friends, we will meet in our next lives."
On 4 May, 1998, prisoners carried out the body of Lobsang
Choephel, and shouted "Free Tibet." Upon hearing the
protest, inmates in the old unit started demonstrating,
and began to break down the prison gates. The prison
officials shot at the prisoners and one prisoner, Ngawang
Sherab, suffered injury. The PAP officials came and clamped
down on the protest.
Around 7pm the same evening, Phuntsok was interrogated but
he denied any involvement in the incident. He was then
forced to stand in a crucifix position, a block of wood
was placed along his shoulders, and his arms and hands
were tied to it. He was shut in another prison ward with
all the windows closed. Five or six prison guards hit him
mercilessly with electric batons and iron rods. When he
fell unconscious, cold water was thrown on his face. Even
after he was taken back to his cell, the torture continued:
an electric baton was activated on his genitals and in his
mouth. His condition then became so serious that they had
to rush him to the army hospital. He was hospitalised for
one and a half months.
On 1 July he confessed to being a participant in the
protest and was again severely beaten, even his wounds
were subjected to electric shocks. Unable to bear the
torture, he atttempted suicide by swallowing four needles
and broken glass on 23 July. Once again, he was rushed
to the hospital, and operated on. He was discharged on
13 September.
During similar interrogations, Lobsang Wangchuk (29) a
monk from Gaden Monastery was beaten to death and another
monk, Ngawang Dorjee was hit by an iron rod and his skull
was broken.
As a result of this incident, the following prisoners from
the Old Unit had their prison terms increased:
(1) Ngawang Songrab(32) formerly a monk from Drepung
Monastery in Phenpo Lhundup county who was arrested in
1991 and sentenced 10 years had his term increased by
three and a half years.
(2) Tsering Phuntsok (34) from Lhasa and a former monk from
Gaden Monastery was arrested in 1992 and sentenced to seven
years. His term was increased by one and a half years.
(3) Ngawang Lungtok (29) a former monk from Gaden Monastery
was arrested in 1992 and sentenced to 6 years. His term
was also increased by one and a half years.
(4) Ngawang Dorjee (27) a monk from Gunsar Monastery in
Phenpo Lhundup County, arrested in 1995 and sentenced to
three years. His term was increased by three years
(5) Sonam Tsering (31)a monk from Ka Tsel Monastery in
Medro Gungkar was arrested in 1996 and sentenced to eight
years, had his prison term increased by two years.
(6) Bhungchu (29) a monk was arrested in 1995 and sentenced
to five years, had his term increased by two years.
(7) Tsepal (23) a monk from Gun Sar Monastery was arrested
in 1995 and sentenced to 15 years, had his term increased
by another two and a half years.
Lobsang was released on 16 June 1999 after serving his
full term of five years.
[ top ]
Monasteries in Keney County, Chap chap, 'TAR', Qinghai
Province, are being compelled by 'work teams' to submit
written opposition letters against the Dalai Lama.
Jamyang Gendun, a 24-year-old monk from Tholey Monastery in
Gonshong village, Keney County, witnessed one such visit
of the 'work team' in his monastery. During the 20 day
stay in the monastery, the officials threatened to expel
those monks who did not complete the written opposition
within the stipulated time. 20 monks out of 70 who refused
to proceed with the instructions were expelled and the
officials kept a personal dossier on each of them. Neither
were they allowed to enter the monastery, nor were they
allowed to wear robes.
Jamyang was among the 20 who refused to submit to the
'work teams' orders. After two months' stay at home,
he fled to India.
[ top ]
With the invitation from Amnesty International (Japan),
our staff
Gaden Tashi
was in Japan from October 14 to November 20 to participate
in Amnesty International's global campaign against torture.
During this visit, he
covered Sapporo city in the north to Tokoshima in the
South of Japan. Besides numerous other venues, he spoke
to students at two Universities.
He also visited the Chinese Embassy along with an
Indonesian and a Burmese student and presented a petition
from AI. Among the dignitaries met were Mr Tsutomu Hata
(former Prime Minister and current member of the House of
Representatives), Mr Ryuichi Doi (current Deputy Prime
Minister), and Ms Keiko Chiba (member of the House of
Representatives).
[ top ]
On November 20, Tenzin Chokey, English Researcher,
addressed a group of American Law students on human rights
situation in Tibet at the DIIR Lhakpa Tsering Hall. The
group represented law students from all over the United
States.
[ top ]
- Annual Workshop on Human Rights and Democracy, January 20-24, 2001
- A three day Seminar on Racism in Asia: Causes, Situations
and Remedies in May 2001
[ top ]
TCHRD organized a reception for US congressional staff
delegation along with other prominent Tibetan NGOs. The
congressional staff comprised of staff from the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee, staff of Representative
Jeffords, staff of Representative David Dreer, Staff of
Congressman Rothman and Staff from International Republican
Institute.
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We heartily welcome the following new members to our
Membership Circle: Passang Norbu; Reed Albert; Jampa
Phuntsok; Sonam Yangzom; Konchok Chodon; Lobsang Tsering;
Sined ni Ghairbhith;Tezin Choetop; Dawa; Anne Donaghy;
Veronica Leo; Paul Stewart; and Nirmal Xavier.
TCHRD is now 135 members strong. Thanks to you all!
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