June 2001
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Sonam Choephel comes out of hiding
[ read ]
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Geshe Sonam Phuntsok in Tsangtung Prison
[ read ]
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Six years for watching Dalai Lama video
[ read ]
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Events of Kandze Protest retold
[ read ]
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Prison Torture blinds political prisoner
[ read ]
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Dalai Lama's photo banned, exile students' kins fined
[ read ]
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Visa restrictions for Tibetans visiting India
[ read ]
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Language bias mars educational opportunities
[ read ]
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Twelve years for political leaflet distribution
[ read ]
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Asian Regional Consultation in Dharamsala on World Conference Against Racism
[ read ]
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Tibetan Annual Report 2001
[ read ]
-
Prison Diary
[ read ]
-
Educational Talk Series
[ read ]
-
TCHRD Members
[ read ]
[ top ]
Sonam Choephel,
one of the two trusted aides of Geshe Sonam Phuntsok,
successfully managed to evade arrest from the Chinese authorities for
almost two years and finally reached Dharamsala on 12 March 2001. Upon
his arrival, Choephel provided detailed information to TCHRD concerning
Geshe Sonam Phuntsok's arrest, 1999 Kandze demonstration and subsequent
arrest and sentencing.
Following the arrest of Geshe Sonam Phuntsok, a prominent religious figure
from Kandze County, in October 1999, approximately 3,000 protestors took to
the streets demanding for his release. Scores of arrests and detentions took
place at that time. Since that time, the Chinese authorities have launched
a massive search operation to nab Choephel for his alleged involvement in
political activities. He somehow went undercover and his whereabouts
remained unknown for a long time till his recent flight into India.
In his own capacity, Choephel had undertaken many freedom activities deemed
as "endangering state security" by the Chinese authorities. After his return
from India visit in 1996, he showed several videocassettes and distributed
pamphlets on the Dalai Lama and Tibetan Government-In-Exile in 20 villages
of Kandze County at different points of time. Due to the overwhelming
public support that he received, Choephel managed to remain elusive to
entrapments laid by the local officers on many occasions. An informant
forewarned Choephel about his imminent arrest on the eve of Geshe's
arrest and he made good his escape. Had he known about Geshe's arrest
beforehand, he would have somehow made arrangements to thwart the
arrest plan.
On 25 October 1999, 20 PSB officers came searching for Choephel in his house.
They ransacked the entire house but could not find him. They threatened
his family with death penalty for Choephel if they fail to produce him
immediately. Tsering, Choephel's brother, was beaten very badly with
electric batons and other hard objects from the house.Tsering was also
thrown mercilessly against the wall several times which caused excessive
bleeding. Finally he lost consciousness and was bedridden for almost two
weeks. For months thereafter, he could not even open his swollen eyes.
In a similar manner, the officials came to inquire about Chophel's
whereabouts to his house and village about 13 times. The officers resorted
to every method such as beating, detention and imprisonment of his brother,
friends, the village head and villagers in order to extract information
about Choephel. The authorities confiscated most of the belongings of
Choephel's family worth around 50,000 yuan and told the family that
Chophel had used the amount in propagating his "splittist activities".
Even now, his family, friends, villagers and associates are frequently
harassed, threatened and interrogated by the local officers.
Sonam Chophel was born in 1977 in Molsang Village, Khonlon Township, Kandze
County. At the age of 10, he studied in a local primary school and later
studied Buddhism for two years at Dhargyeling Monastery in his area.
In 1991, he attended Middle School in Kandze Nangten Lobling where
Geshe Sonam Phuntsok was working as a teacher. On Geshe's advice, he
attended Mechanical and Electronic Course in Kandze for three years
and completed successfully by topping the exam which included entries
from as many as 18 counties. Later, he did most of the mechanical and
electrical works of Dhargyeling Monastery and also helped the common
public immensely through his newly-learned skill. He assisted Geshe in
both his social and spiritual works. Gradually, he became the most trusted
follower and ardent student of Geshe.
The threat of prison sentence or even death penalty never once daunted
Choephel who was always ready to face any consequences. Even now, he has
no qualms about what he has done and the ordeal of harassment and torture
that his family members undergo because of him. He said that he never
loved his family less but he has always loved his nation more. Since his
hiding, he has never met nor contacted his family members. He lamented,
"I remember my family members everyday when I go to bed. Thoughts of their
sufferings bring tears into my eyes. But I am satisfied that I am not
caught and killed. Otherwise, my desire to work for my country will remain
incapacitated. I do not fear death but only want to work more." He further
said, "Any amount of sacrifice is not big enough for one's nation".
[ top ]
Since his arrest in October 1999, the whereabouts and condition of
Geshe Sonam Phuntsok
has remained unclear. According to Sonam Choephel,
(who features in the front page of this issue of Human Rights Update)
Kandze "Tibet Autonomous Prefecture" People's Court sentenced Geshe Sonam
Phuntsok to five years' imprisonment in Tsangtung Prison located in
Tsangtung Village, Dhartong County, Dhatam City, Sichuan Province where he
is currently incarcerated.
After Geshe's arrest on 25 October 1999, he was detained in Dartsedo Prison
in Dartsedo County, Kandze "TAP" for almost one year and four months before
the sentence pronouncement came in March 2001.
The main charges against Geshe Sonam Phuntsok were listed under four
different categories. He was accused of 1)"inciting splittist activities
among the masses" 2)"travelling to India on an illegal document procured
from Lhasa, for seeking audience with the Dalai Lama and for taking
photographs with him" 3) "illegally conducting religious ceremony on
several occassions within Kandze County" 4)"for conducting long-life
prayer ceremony for the Dalai Lama in Rongbatsang, Shisal Township".
When he was granted five minutes to speak out in the courtroom after the
sentencing, Geshe said "My arrest and court trial belies Chinese high
claim of religious freedom in Tibet and it should be made known to the
public".
Geshe is reportedly the only Tibetan prisoner in Tsangtung Prison. From
Kandze, it takes four days by bus and further four days and night by train
to reach the prison. Many Tibetans from Kandze tried to visit Geshe several
times. But the prison authorities deny visitation rights to his relatives
and even refuse to hand over the food they brought for Geshe.
To date, only Wangdi, a close relative of Geshe, was given permission to
see Geshe for two minutes on 19 April 2001. The meeting transpired with
the thick wall of glass partition due to which they could not speak to
each other. Wangdi could hardly believe his eyes when he saw Geshe for the
first time who reportedly looked very different and seemingly in a very
poor health. He looked far older for his age. Wangdi noticed that Geshe
was not standing erect and it looked as if his back-bone had broken
permanently. There were visible marks of injury on his body. He could see
that Geshe's left arm had no movement at all when he tried to fasten the
belt.
Geshe Sonam Phuntsok is a popular figure and people in the region revere
him as a great Buddhist pratictioner and scholar. He was able to excel
in religious teaching even while Chinese authorities imposed stringent
regulations curtailing all religious freedom in Tibet. He had taught
Tibetan literature to about 70 monks from 35 different monasteries in the
1980s and also tutored monks from Dhargeyling Monastery on Tibetan grammar,
Tibetan history and Buddhism for six years. He had also recorded the
historical description of 13 monasteries in Kandze "TAP".
Due to his growing popularity and faith amongst the Tibetan people, Chinese
authorities regard him as an element of threat to the stability of the
nation. Sources within Tibet say that the authorities suspect him and his
disciples of having "clandestine contact" with the Tibetan Government-In-Exile.
[ top ]
According to information received by TCHRD, Lhasa Public Security Bureau
(PSB) officials sentenced a Tibetan woman to six years' imprisonment after
she was caught watching a video of the Dalai Lama at her home.
On 16 February 2001, Chinese PSB personnel barged into the room where
Migmar along with her four friends were watching a video of the Dalai Lama.
The officers confiscated the videotape and searched the house for more
political evidences.
All five of them were immediately taken to "Tibet Autonomous Region" (TAR)
PSB Detention Centre, located in the north of Lhasa City, where they
underwent intensive interrogation sessions. Except for Migmar, her four
companions were released after few days of detention on payment of 5000
yuan (US$ 600) each as fine. In May 2001, Lhasa Intermediate People's Court
sentenced Migmar to six years' imprisonment. She is likely to be transferred
soon to Drapchi Prison, according to the informant.
Thirty seven-year-old Migmar, originally from Tselguthang, east of Lhasa is
a communist member. Upon completion of her Middle School in 1989, Migmar
went to China on three years' study programme. After graduation, Migmar
returned to Lhasa and was working along with her husband in Lhasa
Administrative Department of Post and Telecommunication Department until
her detention.
Similar restriction on the portraits of the Dalai Lama was reported in
Tingri County in Shigatse Prefecture in "TAR". In March 2001, the local
police undertook several raids in Tibetan households in the county to
confiscate the banned photos. To avert possible mass confiscation, a local
Tibetan by the name of Kyiloe, with the help of two of his friends,
collected almost 700 photos of the Dalai Lama from the anxiety-ridden
villagers and hid them on his rooftop.
A month later, five to six policemen stormed into his house, confiscated
the photographs and detained Kyiloe and his friends for five days in Tingri
Detention Centre. The detainees were forewarned before release that each of
them would have to pay 5000 yuan as fine within a week or face life
imprisonment sentence. However, three of them managed to escape into exile.
These cases of arrest and detention contradicts Chinese high claim of
unrestricted religious freedom in Tibet. Meng Deli, the Director of the
"TAR" Department of Justice, made a statement in May 2001 that "nobody
was put into jail for the so-called reason of hanging the portrait of the
Dalai Lama".
However, from the many arrests and detentions that the Tibetans have faced
over the years, almost all have direct or indirect links to the issue of
the Dalai Lama, be it for possessing his photos, videotapes and audiotapes
or the failure to denounce him. Last year, 450 Tibetans in Lhasa were fined
with 500 yuan each for having displayed the Dalai Lama's pictures in their
homes. The Chinese government chooses to identify reverence for the Dalai
Lama with that of "separatist activities" and therefore, employ and explore
various strategies to strengthen the Dalai Lama denunciation campaign.
[ top ]
Following is an account of the Kandze protest in October 1999,
as reported by
Sonam Choephel
who reached India on 12 March 2001.
On 25 October 1999 around 5 a.m., approximately 60 PSB officers came to
arrest Geshe Sonam Phuntsok while he was in religious retreat at Wakhar
Retreat Area, Kandze County. Within few minutes, Geshe was held at
gunpoint. An eyewitness, a nun, saw Geshe being taken by two officers
holding his arms on both side and one officer pointing a gun at his head
from behind. He was barely clothed and was barefooted at the time of arrest.
Agya Tsering (ordained name Lama Lobsang) and Jampa Choezin (a.k.a. Jhamdik)
,the two other disciples of Geshe, were also arrested at the same time.
They were both released after seven months' detention in Kandze Detention
Centre. The three were arrested on grounds of suspicion for involvement in
political activities.
As soon as the news of Geshe's arrest spread across the town like wildfire,
approximately 3,000 peaceful protestors gathered and demonstrated in front
of Rongbatsang sub-district office, demanding Geshe's immediate and
unconditional release. The people, in retaliation, took into captivity 15
high-ranking officials including the Head and Deputy Head of Kandze County
and some policemen. Despite threats of dire consequences and death penalty,
the public stood undeterred and demanded the authorities to produce Geshe
before them.
At last, the authorities relented and brought Geshe back at about 10 p.m.
from Kandze Detention Centre. Overjoyed, the crowds whistled and wept when
Geshe, handcuffed and heavily guarded, finally arrived at the demonstration
spot. Geshe then advised the public and said the following words, "I am
truly encouraged by your overwhelming support. Without coming to the conclusion
of the charge for which I am arrested, there is no possibility for my
release. Therefore, I have to go back to the detention centre for further
investigation and trial. I, therefore, appeal to you all to stop the
demonstration. Do not worry about me". The crowd gradually dispersed only
to assemble the next day for Geshe' court hearing. They later released the
Chinese officials but held the 10 policemen.
By 9 a.m. the next day, approximately 10,000 and more people from two
different counties and 10 adjoining sub-districts gathered in front of the
Court where Geshe was brought for a closed trial. They shouted slogans
like "Release Geshe Sonam Phuntsok" , "Geshe is innocent", "Geshe has no
history of political involvement" and "Geshe is the benefactor of the
poor – he can never be guilty of any crime". About 600 PSB and PAP
officers guarding the court threw teargas shells and even fired
indiscriminately to quell the excited mob. However, no one sustained serious
injury at that time.
During that time, the Central Chinese Government has issued direct order
to the local officials to shoot the demonstrators. However, the Head of
Kandze County, refrained from shooting as it seemed from the general mood
of the crowd that they would not withdraw at any cost. Instead, the
policemen beat the demonstrators with sticks, electric batons, and rifle
butts that caused injuries to hundreds of people. Exactly 20 people were
hospitalised and nearly 100 people were detained in Kandze Detention
Centre the same day.
The detainees underwent severe torture in the detention centre. Besides the
use of electric batons to torture the detainees, the other methods employed
were throwing hot water on the body, twisting and lacerating the body with
the use of pliers, and forcibly placing the hands and other parts of body
on electric heaters. In this way, many of the detainees were permanently
disabled. Some of the people were released after being detained for one to
seven months with the imposition of fines ranging from 500 to 5000 yuan.
From 27 October to 3 November 1999, authorities of Kandze imposed curfew
in the whole county and cut off telephone lines for three months. In the
meantime, series of nabbing operation of those involved in the demonstration
were started in Kandze and in other sub-districts as well.The police
officers conducted extensive and forcible raids into numerous houses and
some got beaten in the process.
Out of almost 100 arrests that took place in the aftermath of Kandze protest,
Choephel knew 16 people from different villages in Kandze County who were
sentenced to varying degree of imprisonment. They are:
1. Lobsang Jampa alias Loga (approx.40 years), is the head of Dhakpakha
Village. Arrested on 10 November 1999, he was sentenced to three years in
Menyang Prison located in Sichuan Province.
2. Chemi Tsering alias A-Tsula (55), a local government employee from Rego
Village, was arrested on 21 December 1999. He is reportedly to be in
detention at Kandze Detention Centre since his arrest in 1999.
3. Jampa Sonam (layname Jhosar) is a 26-year-old farmer from Sadhu Village.
He was arrested on 8 November 1999 and sentenced to two and half years'
imprisonment in Menyang Prison.
4. Forty-year-old Khando Choezom (layname Ani Khalu) is a former nun of
Nyagil Nunnery in Nyagil Village. Originally from Dhulingo Village, she
was arrested on 15 November 1999 and sentenced to six years' imprisonment
in Kandze Prison.
5. Talu Wangyal (approx.25), a farmer from Shusaer Village, was sentenced
to two and half years' imprisonment in Menyang Prison after his arrest on
31 October 1999.
6. Pema Phuntsok (approx. 39,) the head of Mongsangna Village, was arrested
on 31 October 1999 and sentenced to two and half years in Menyang Prison.
7. A 22-year-old Phuntsok from Dura Village was sentenced to three years'
imprisonment in Menyang Prison after his arrest on 3 November 1999.
8. Wangdi (45), a businessman from Bushu Village, was sentenced to three
years' imprisonment in Menyang Prison after his arrest on 26 November 1999.
9. Sonam Yeshi (32), a local government employee, is originally from
Ronbazon Village. After his arrest on 31 October 1999, he was sentenced to
six years' imprisonment in Xinduiqio Prison, Sichuan Province.
10. Pema Kunsang (22), a monk from Shusaer Village, recieved four years'
imprisonment sentence in Xinduiqio Prison.He is a former monk of Bhegan
Monastery in Rongbatsang Village.
11. Chime Gyaltsen (33,) a farmer from Shusaer Village, was given four and
half years' sentence after his arrest on 31 October 1999.
12. Tenzin Dakpa (approx. 26), is a farmer from Yartse Village. Arrested on
3 November 1999, he was sentenced to four years' imprisonment in Xinduiqio
Prison.
13. Jampa Wangtso (33) is a nun from Gurthang Village. After her arrest in
mid December, she recieved five years' sentence in Kandze Prison.
14. Thupten Choencho (approx.66), a farmer is originally from Rego Village.
He was sentenced to six years' imprisonment in Kandze Prison.
15. Kelsang Phuntsok alias Karpang, (approx.30)is a farmer from Shurtsekha
Village. After his arrest on 30 October 1999, he was sentenced to five years
in Xinduiqio Prison.
16. Dawa Gyamtso a.k.a. Danam, is a 29-year-old farmer from Jawar Village.
He was arrested on 30 October 1999 and sentenced to four years'
imprisonment in Xinduiqio Prison.
Choephel reported that the investigation and arrest of those involved in
the protest is still being carried out by the local authorities.
He further claimed that prior to the 1999 Kandze upheaval, Kandze County
was reputed for its "loyalty" to the Chinese government based on the
neutral history of political activitism in the area. It had even been
applauded and awarded by the Chinese authorities from amongst the 18 odd
counties in Sichuan Province.
[ top ]
A nun from Chubsang Nunnery
became blind after having endured severe forms
of ill-treatment and torture in Drapchi Prison during her six-year
imprisonment.
Upon her release on 1 February 2001, Sangmo was constantly
complaining of headache and often loses her mental equilibrium. Despite
financial constraints, her relatives and family members did all they could
with her medical treatment in Lhasa but to no avail. By March 2001, her
eyesight deteriorated and she finally became blind.
Twenty-five-year-old nun, Sangmo, is originally from Meldrogungkar County
in Lhasa Municipality. When she was 19 years old, she initiated a peaceful
demonstration in Barkhor on 2 February 1995 with a group of five nuns.
They shouted independence slogans and called for "Free Tibet". Within half
an hour, Lhasa PSB officer arrested and severely beat the protestors.
They were transferred to Gutsa Detention Centre and detained for four
months.
In June 1995, Lhasa Supreme People's Procurate and Lhasa Intermediate
People's Court subsequently held a closed trial. According to the court
verdict, Sangmo was sentenced to six years' imprisonment and accused of
being the "principal culprit and leader of the crime". She was further
deprived of political rights for two years. She was transferred to
Drapchi Prison.
Sangmo was placed in the new third rukhag (unit) of Drapchi Prison and
underwent forced and intensive military-like training like other prisoners.
Sangmo particularly suffered serious bully and harassment by the Chinese
prison guards. On 1 May 1998, during the protest in Drapchi, Sangmo also
endured beatings and punishment. Due to excessive prison beatings and
torture, her health condition worsened which finally led to her blindness.
The other five nuns detained along with Sangmo are Lobsang Wangmo (31) from
Phenpo Lhundrup County, and Penpa (27) from Meldro Gungkar County, who both
received five years' prison sentence and one year deprivation of political
rights. Ngawang Yandrol (30) from Gyantse County (in Shigatse), Pema (22)
and Phuntsok Sonam (28) both from Chusul County, were all sentenced to four
years' imprisonment and one year deprivation of political rights. After
sentencing, they were all transferred to Drapchi Prison within a short
duration.
[ top ]
A recent arrival from Tibet reported that ban imposition on the Dalai Lama's
photos has become strict and vehement in Tingri (Ch: Dhingri) County,
"Tibet Autonomous Region", since the year 2000. Moreover, increased restrictions
on sending children to schools run by the exile government is resulting in
heavy fines for the parents in the same county.
Around March 2001, several Chinese policemen conducted extensive raids on
every Tibetan household in Tingri County for photos of the Dalai Lama after
a gap of 20 days each. The raid operation created panic amongst the villager
s and some of them ran away to hide in the nearby hills. In the ensuing
furore, the banned photos were in danger of being dumped everywhere and
given least care. Kyiloe had about five photos of the Dalai Lama himself.
Hence, Kyiloe and his two friends "Dasang and Pasang" collected about
700 photos from the villagers. They built a small altar on his rooftop and
lit butter lamps in front of the photos.
One afternoon in April 2001, five to six policemen raided Kyiloe's house,
confiscated all the photos and detained him with his two companions. While
they were transported to Tingri County Public Security Bureau (PSB)
Detention Centre, all three of them were beaten, slapped and shocked with
electric batons, and Pasang was bleeding from his mouth. They were
individually put in a cell handcuffed and feet manacled and detained for
five days.
During their detention, they underwent intensive interrogation as to why
they displayed photographs of the Dalai Lama despite the ban orders. The
officers beat, slapped and kicked the detainees and told them that they
were lying every time they replied to their questions. Kyiloe recounted
that unable to bear the torture inflicted during interrogation, he pleaded
guilty and asked for forgiveness for the alleged wrongs that he had
committed. They were poorly fed with left-over food during their detention
period. Being the elder of the three, Kyiloe was interrogated and beaten
more than the other two.
For possessing and collecting the Dalai Lama's photo, described as a
"criminal act" by the local authorities, the detainees were ordered to pay
a fine of 5000 yuan each to secure their freedom or else face life
imprisonment. Three of them were released after five days' detention with
an order to submit the fine amount within a week's time. Kyiloe claimed
that since he had a house and land that could fetch approximately 10,000
yuan, the officers believed he would not run away.
Kyiloe and his friends had serious discussion after their release on their
future moves. They decided to flee into exile as they couldn't afford the
fines. On the night of 30 April 2001, the three left their native place
and walked for 11 days via Kumbum Pass. They stayed for more than two weeks
at Thupten Choeling Monastery, about four hours walk from Papulu domestic
airport in Nepal, where Kyiloe's daughter has been staying under the care
of some monks and nuns since spring 2000.
The informant's first escape was in the spring of 2000 when he brought his
daughter across the border for education. He walked for 11 days carrying
his three-year-old daughter on his back. He sought the help of his cousin
brother who was paid 200 yuan. When they arrived at Thupten Choeling
Monastery, Kyiloe was told that his daughter was too young to be accepted
by the Tibetan Reception Centre in Dharamsala. Hence, Troshe Rinpoche, the
head of the monastery, advised him to leave his daughter at the monastery,
assured him that the nuns would take care of his daughter until she reaches
the age of eight years. Kyiloe changed his initial plans and returned to
his hometown with his cousin, leaving behind his daughter at the monastery.
Upon his return, Kyiloe was called to PSB Office around July 2000. The PSB
officers interrogated him about his trip to Nepal and the whereabouts of
his daughter. He related the difficulties of bringing up his daughter who
is without a mother and told the officers that he kept her at Thupten
Choeling Monastery in Nepal. The officers took down notes of everything he
said and he was allowed to go.
Almost a fortnight later, five policemen from new Tingri County headed by
Lhakpa Phuntsok called a meeting in old Tingri County. Approximately 40
parents who have sent their children either to India or Nepal attended
the meeting. It was announced during the meeting that Tibetan officials
who fail to bring back their children from India are liable to face either
dismissal or demotion from their jobs, and face deprivation of pension and
other benefits. These 40 odd parents were ordered to pay fines of 700 yuan
for having sent their children to schools administered by the Tibetan
Government-In-Exile within the stipulated time of one week.
The informant related that in order to raise the fine amount, some parents
sold their domestic animals like cow whereas others performed manual labour.
Kyiloe knew a man by the name of Galo who sold a cow. Kyiloe had to pay
1400 yuan to the PSB officers for both himself and his daughter. The
parents were further told that disobedience to the restrictive orders
would be considered a gross violation of national policy or crime as
serious as murder.
Kyiloe attributes his wife's untimely death to non-availability of proper
medication in old Tingri County. There is only one army hospital in his
area, which gives preferential treatment to the Chinese-speaking Tibetans
and charges exorbitant medical fee. The discrimination invariably falls on
the poor Tibetans and non-Chinese speaking Tibetans. Most serious patients
have to go to new Tingri County for medical treatment, which is about 60
kms away. Kyiloe's wife passed away after giving birth to a baby girl
before the doctor could be called from new Tingri County. Even the baby
did not survive and died two days after her birth.
Originally from Tingri County, Shigatse Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture
(TAP), Kyiloe was a nomad by occupation. He had a small teashop to eke out
a living. He was separated from his family and lived with his wife. He,
along with Dasang and Pasang, reached Tibetan Reception Centre in Kathmandu
on 6 June 2001.
[ top ]
The Chinese government never issue visa for Tibetans in Tibet if the
destination is revealed as India. It is much easier to secure travel
documents for Nepal instead. One needs to however, go through the usual
verification process by proving the authenticity of invitation letter and
photocopy of the sponsor's Nepali passport.
Bukyi,
a 25-year-old monk, told TCHRD that it took a long time for him to
obtain visa. He resorted to bribing the officials in order to speed up the
snail-paced visa procedure. The cost of visa has gone higher and therefore,
it is not easy for ordinary Tibetans to apply these days. The actual
procedure involves obtaining three papers from the police offices at three
different levels of county, prefecture and province. This normally cost
only 10 yuan each, but Bukyi spent more money on bribing the concerned
officials.
Bukyi knows an official (name withheld for security reasons) from the county
Police Station who deals with visa issuance. When he requested the officer
to grant him the necessary documents to obtain visa for India, the officer
categorically stated that no visa is issued for going to India especially
for monks. After much persuasion, the officer finally relented on the ground
that Bukyi would have to get him a statue from Lhasa that cost 350 yuan.
He also paid 300 yuan as an assurance that he would return to Tibet after
the visit.
Bukyi then went to Jyekundo (Ch: Yushu) "TAP" Police Station with a paper
from the county police station. The concerned official who is a Chinese
national fluent in Tibetan language showed much reluctance in granting him
the papers. After waiting patiently for four months, he bribed the official
with presents of 30 gyama of butter ( market price for each gyama of butter
is 13 yuan), milk and a newly hand-knitted woollen pullover, all together
worth approximately 700 yuan. Within two days, Bukyi was given the necessary
papers on further payment of 700 yuan for which a receipt was issued.
The third step involved going to Xining Police Station in Qinghai Province.
Bukyi went with the help of a Chinese-speaking relative where he got the
proper visa valid for five years for travelling within a week to Nepal.
The amount of 300 yuan was charged as visa fee. He thinks that had he
bribed the concerned official in Jyekundo "TAP" Police Station at the
outset, he would not have had to wait too long. In Lhasa, he went to Nepal
Consulate and paid 250 yuan for visa verification. At Dram, after crossing
the Friendship Bridge at Nepal-Tibet border on the Nepal side, Bukyi paid
200 NC to a security border police.
The informant being a former monk from Kana Monastery in Dzatoe County, he
reported on the "work team" members' visit and "patriotic education" in his
monastery. He became a monk at the age of 15 years.
Since the late 1980's,
"work team" officials from Jyekundo Religious Department started visiting
the monastery for political indoctrination. The frequency of the visit in
the eighties was just once a year. However, the campaign gathered momentum
from the late nineties when officials from 7 to 14 members would come once
a month to "re-educate" the monks politically. At the longest, the "work
team" members would stay for four months and the monastery had to bear all
the expenses during their stay.
The "work team" imposed limitation of 30 monks at the monastery out of the
current strength of 300. These 30 monks are officially allowed to stay in
the monastery by acquiring a residential card. Bukyi was one of the 30
officially recognised monks who were permitted to stay in the monastery.
He said that about 40-50 monks from Kana Monastery have escaped to India
since the start of "patriotic education" in the monastery.
The officials also set an age-limit for the monks at 18 years at the time
of seeking admission. The officials reasoned that the monks should not be
a "parasite". Rather they should be self-reliant and not depend on the hard
toils of the masses. The "work team" members maintained the ban orders on
the Dalai Lama's photos.
Bukyi reached Tibetan Reception Centre in Kathmandu on 1 June 2001. He
decided to escape in order to acquire better spiritual study and practise
in India.
[ top ]
Twenty-year-old
Melha Yeshi
reports that the school where she studied in
Tibet has approximately 500 students, out of which 200 are Chinese. Since
the age of seven, Yeshi studied in Zhangmo Middle School, the only school
in her area. She fled Tibet this year to seek better educational opportunities.
Tashi Yangzom,
who escaped with Yeshi, elaborated that Chinese students are
normally better than the Tibetans and gain admission into schools much
easier. She attributes the cause to the use of Chinese medium of
instruction, which puts Tibetan students at a disadvantageous position.
Chinese students have a good base of language command as they were taught
in Chinese medium from the beginning itself.
The fee for each semester in the school was 200 yuan, which was equally
applicable to the Chinese students as well. The main subjects taught were
Chinese, Tibetan, Maths, Geography and History. Except for Tibetan language,
all other subjects were taught in Chinese. It is only in the Chinese
section of the school that English language is taught.
Even the strength of Chinese teachers is more. They are all graduates from
Beijing University and teach all the subjects except for Tibetan language.
A teacher's monthly salary is around 1000 yuan.Yeshi and Yangzom then came
to Lhasa and sought admission in higher studies for Tibetan Medicine.
They both passed the competitive exams successfully and enrolled in the
institution for one and half years where the annual fee was 10,000 yuan.
The institution had around 300 students including some Mongolians. Before
completing the course, both Yeshi and Yangzom quit the institution unable
to bear the exorbitant fee.
Both the girls bought business permit on payment of 350 yuan in Lhasa and
came to Dram where they stayed for seven days. They arrived at Tibetan
Reception Centre in Kathmandu on 21 April 2001.
[ top ]
Sonam Dhondup
(ordained name Lekshey Phuntsok) is a 31-year-old monk.
He is originally from Khati Township, Phenpo Lhundrup County, Lhasa City.
He studied in a local primary school for few years. Then he went for a
small-time medical practitioner's training in his county for five years.
Upon completion of his training course, Dhondup was assigned to work as a
medical practitioner in Jangkha Township where he worked for almost a year.
As Dhondup had a strong inclination to become a monk, he joined Nalanda
Monastery, located in Phenpo County, in January 1992. Besides his spiritual
studies, he worked as a caretaker of the monastery for one year.
Around May 1992, Dhondup along with Tashi Loyak (lay name), Lhakpa Wangyal (lay name),
and Tsewang Sonam (lay name) secretly wrote and posted independence
leaflets around strategic areas in his county. Once again in January 1993,
Dhondup, along with his usual companions, made wooden block prints with
the inscriptions of "Free Tibet" and "Tibet belongs to Tibetans" on it.
They printed out many leaflets from the inscribed blocks and distributed
them in complete secrecy.
On 22 February 1995, the county Public Security Bureau (PSB) officials arrested
and detained a monk named Nyima Kelsang from Nalanda Monastery who was
found hiding a Tibetan national flag in the folds of his robes. When
Dhondup with two other monks visited Kelsang the next day, Dhondup was
arrested on suspicion of involvement in political activities. Later, when
the officers came to search his room for more political evidences, one of
Dhondup's roommates and disciples named Norbu was severely beaten for having refused to hand over the room keys.
In the ensuing commotion, the monks pelted the officers with stones who
in turn opened fire on the protesting monks.
A week later, the People's Armed Police (PAP) and PSB officers returned to
the monastery with Chinese "work team" members in three separate military
trucks and went about arresting the monks. At that time, 33 monks from the
monastery were arrested and 65 monks were expelled. Dhondup was detained
for six days in Phenpo Lhundrup PSB Detention Centre. His three other
companions were gradually arrested one by one.
In July 1995, Lhasa Intermediate People's Court formally sentenced Dhondup
to 12 years' imprisonment and five years'deprivation of political rights.
Tashi Loyak was sentenced to five years' imprisonment and two years'
deprivation of political rights. Tsewang Sonam received four years'
imprisonment and deprivation of political rights for two years whereas
Lhakpa Wangyal was sentenced to three years' imprisonment. Except for
Dhondup, the other three have already been released.
The remaining 29 monks were sentenced to different years of imprisonment
and transferred to different prisons like Drapchi Prison, Lhasa Prison and
Trisam "Reform through Labour" Prison. Dhondup was imprisoned in Drapchi
Prison.
Dhondup was one of the main participants in the Drapchi Prison Protest of 1
and 4 May 1998. He got beaten along with the other prisoners. In the
indiscriminate police firing that followed the protest, Ngawang Sungrab,
a political prisoner, was shot in the abdomen. Dhondup gave him the
first-aid medical treatment. He is currently detained in Drapchi Prison.
[ top ]
Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), Tibetan Parliamentary
and Policy Research Centre (TPPRC), and South Asian Human Rights and
Documentation Centre (SAHRDC) jointly organised the Asian Regional
Consultation on the World Conference Against Racism (WCAR) in Dharamsala
from 15-17 June 2001. Twenty-four NGO participants representing eight Asian
countries attended the conference.
The main objective of the conference was to share and understand issues of
racism, racial discrimination, other related intolerance at a regional
level; learn to effectively use the existing local, national and
international mechanisms to address the existing issues; and work together
to combat these issues. The Conference focused broadly on the theme of the
WCAR: Causes and Sources of Racism, Victims of Racism, and Redress and
Compensatory measures.
Since majority of the participants are attending the WCAR in Durban this
September, due attention was also given to examine the WCAR processes in
preparation for the World Conference. The organisers had prepared in
advance a draft declaration based on the government draft declaration.
Since many critical issues of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia
and related intolerance in the Asian region were not addressed in the
government draft declaration, it also did not find adequate reference in
our previously drafted declaration. As such, the need was felt to come up
with a new declaration which would reflect all the aspirations and concerns
of the Asian region as voiced by the Asian NGO participants. The
previously worked on document was retained as a lobby document.
For the opening session, members of the local Tibetan press and several
Tibetan dignitaries were invited. The keynote speaker for the session was
Mr. T.C. Tethong, Minister of Information and International Relations,
Central Tibetan Administration, after which the special message from His
Holiness the Dalai Lama to the participants was read out. On behalf of the
organisers, Mr. Lobsang Nyandak, Executive Director of TCHRD, welcomed all
the participants.
During a special audience by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, His Holiness
inquired into the composition of the participants and the agenda of the
conference. Mr. Lobsang Nyandak briefed His Holiness on the agenda of the
conference and introduced all the participants.
Another highlight of the day was the visit of the Ambassador and the First
Secretary of the European Union(EU)to India. The Ambassador gave a brief
overview on the projects of the European Union specifically in India, Nepal
and Bhutan. This was a great opportunity for the participants to question
EU's stand on the various issues affecting their countries.
Mr. Ravi Nair, Executive Director of SAHRDC, dwelled on the United Nations
effort to combat racism and gave a brief history of the previous two World
Conferences on Racism. Mr. R.V Pillai, a member of the Committee on the
Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), briefed the participants on
the workings of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
The participants were also acquainted with the National Human Rights
Institutions and given the NGO perspectives on National and International
mechanisms.
Intensive discussion on country specific situation also took place. Among
the presenters were NGO representatives from India, Nepal, Bangladesh,
China, Tibet, Sri Lanka, Burma and Bhutan. They highlighted issues of
racism, racial discrimination and related intolerance in their own country
of residence or origin. Ms. Katherine Southwick, a researcher at SAHRDC,
gave a special presentation on East Turkestan.
A previously drafted declaration was opened for discussion by the organisers.
Many participants expressed concerns that the document does not reflect
the true aspirations of the Asian NGOs working to combat racism, racial
discrimination and related intolerance in their region. Upon much
deliberation, it was unanimously agreed upon to keep this document as a
lobby document for the World Conference against Racism in South Africa.
A drafting committee comprising of four participants worked on Dharamsala
Draft Declaration. The participants reviewed this in detail. The group
endorsed the document in principle. The organisers incorporated all the
changes and agreed to distribute the final draft declaration by email to
the participants.
The participants were also briefed on the necessary preparation for the
World Conference against Racism in Durban, South Africa, such as producing
alternative reports on country papers prepared by the governments.
The participants enjoyed a colourful programme at the Tibetan Institute of
Performing Arts followed by a farewell dinner. At the dinner, respected
members of the Tibetan community including the Supreme Justice Commissioner,
Cabinet Ministers, Parliament Chair and Vice Chair and Election
Commissioners were present.
Earlier this May TCHRD and International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) won
accreditation to the WCAR to be held in Durban this August, when China
was defeated in two separate votes during the Second Preparatory Committee
Meeting in Geneva.
[ top ]
The Centre brought out a Tibetan translation of the 2001 Annual Report
titled
"Enforcing Loyalty".
This comprehensive report provides an overview
of the human rights situation in Tibet under the Chinese rule and highlights
areas such as political repression, religious repression, denial of women
and child's right, racial discrimination and subsistence right.
The report is being distributed widely to schools and institutions around
the Tibetan communities.
[ top ]
TCHRD published "Prison Diary", an autobiography by a former Tibetan
political prisoner. The Chief Kalon, Mr. Sonam Topgyal, inaugurated the
book release and the Centre's Executive Director, Mr. Lobsang Nyandak Zayul,
pledged to publish not less than one book a year written by former political
prisoners describing their prison experiences.
Dolkar Kyab from Amdo was jailed in Kansu Province Prison no. 2 for three
years (1995-1998) on account of political activities. The book details his
involvement in political activities, prison life and life thereafter,
official maltreatment which sheds light on the denial of basic human rights
by the Chinese government in every aspect of Tibetan life.
[ top ]
As a part of the educational activities, Mr. Lobsang Tsering and Ms. Tenzin
Chokey, both researchers at the Centre, took classes on human rights and
democracy for two consecutive days in Lower TCV School, Dharamsala. They
dealt mainly with the United Nations and its various mechanism, current
human rights situation in Tibet, democratic concept and Tibetan democracy
in particular.
The talks were well received and the students raised many pertinent
questions. TCHRD staff members already undertook similar talk series in
the Upper TCV School in April 2001.
[ top ]
Youdon Aukatsang, the senior programme officer, and Jampa Monlam, the field
officer, spoke to a group of American Law Graduates from various universities
in America on 27 June 2001. Youdon spoke on the current human rights
situation in Tibet and also dwelled on the case of Tibet in the United
Nations.
Jampa Monlam, a former political prisoner gave a personal account of his
prison experiences.After the session, the group involved in an interesting
discussion followed by many questions.
[ top ]
By June 2001, TCHRD's membership strength has spiralled to 406 from 360.
We apologise for the inability to insert all the new member's names due
to lack of space.
Send in your entries for new membership. Interested old members should
send in their renewal application either through snail mail or e-mail.
Click here for Membership Registration.
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