August 2001
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China continues to detain Chadrel Rinpoche
[ read ]
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The politics of guiding tourists
[ read ]
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Religious repression in Drayab County
[ read ]
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Four involved in leaflet distribution evade arrest
[ read ]
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Permits mandatory for Mt.Kailash circumambulation
[ read ]
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Compulsory unpaid labour in Drayab County
[ read ]
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Poster pasting incident results in detention
[ read ]
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Taxation and other issues in Saga County
[ read ]
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A youth receive three-year sentence for voicing freedom slogans
[ read ]
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TCHRD release report on Drapchi Prison
[ read ]
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Talk on Human Rights in Tibet
[ read ]
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TCHRD Members
[ read ]
[ top ]
Chadrel Rinpoche, the 62-year-old former abbot of Tashi
Lhunpo Monastery and Head of the Search Committee to
identify the successor of the 10th Panchen Lama, failed to
make an appearance after expiry of his six year prison term
in May this year. Arrested on 17 May 1995 for "colluding
with separatist forces", Chadrel Rinpoche received court
sentence only after two years' detention.
As per information received by TCHRD, Tibetans in Lhasa and
Shigatse, including the monks of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery,
are expressing grave concern over the dearth of news
concerning Rinpoche's expected release, his present
whereabouts and health condition. Chadrel Rinpoche's prison
term of six years was due to expire in May 2001. The
apprehension that Rinpoche might not actually be alive
has become a daunting speculation.
According to Article 47 of China's Criminal Law (CPL),
it was clearly stipulated that the detention period,
starting from the day of arrest, is counted in the term of
prison sentence. Hence, in accordance with the Chinese law,
Chadrel Rinpoche's six year prison term should have expired
on 16 May 2001 since his arrest took place on 17 May 1995.
"The continued arbitrary detention of Chadrel Rinpoche
is a manifestation of Beijing's total disregard of its
domestic laws as well as international law. It is in
fact a clear violation of Article 9 of the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), signed by
China in October 1998, that outlaws arbitrary detention",
stated Mr. Lobsang Nyandak Zayul, the Executive Director
of Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, based
in Dharamsala.
According to Tibet Information Network (TIN), the
monitoring agency based in London, the Chinese authorities
recently acknowledged the continued detention of Chadrel
Rinpoche to a Polish parliamentary delegation, that visited
Tibet from 8-10 August this year.
Gyaltsen Norbu, now a Deputy Party Secretary, told the
delegates that "Chadrel Rinpoche is still serving prison
term because he disclosed the secrets by giving out
the name of the boy who was supposed to be the Panchen
Lama before it was approved by the authorities". He also
reportedly looked "visibly annoyed" when questioned about
the whereabouts and present condition of Gedhun Choekyi
Nyima (the Panchen Lama recognised by the Dalai Lama).
On 14 May 1995, the Dalai Lama announced the then six-year
old Gedhun Choekyi Nyima as the reincarnation of the 10th
Panchen Lama. Three days later, the Chinese authorities
arrested Chadrel Rinpoche and his assistant, Jampa Chung,
from Chengdu Airport in Sichuan Province.
On 21 April 1997, after two years of incommunicado
detention, Shigatse Intermediate People's Court held a
closed trial and passed judgement on Chadrel Rinpoche
and his assistant. In May 1997, Xinhua News, the official
Chinese news agency, revealed that Rinpoche was sentenced
in accordance with article 92, the first clause of article
186, and the 23, 24, 51, 64 articles and the second clause
of the 59 article of the People's Republic of China's
(PRC) Criminal Procedure Law.
Chadrel Rinpoche received six years' prison sentence and
subsequent three years' deprivation of political rights
for "conspiring to split the country" and "leaking state
secrets". However, four months after the sentencing,
Chen Jian, the Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman, said
that Chadrel Rinpoche was "ill and in hospital" and was
not in custody. Jampa Chung, the 50-year-old monk and
assistant of Chadrel Rinpoche, was sentenced to four
years' imprisonment and deprivation of political rights
for additional two years on similar charges.
It was only around September 1997 that initial reports
filtered about Rinpoche's place of detention. Previously
detained in Trochu County (Ch: Heishui), Rinpoche was
later imprisoned in Chuandong No. 3 Prison, Tazhu County,
Sichuan Province, which holds highly sensitive political
dissidents. Chadrel Rinpoche was reportedly kept after the
sentencing in the top-secret compound, referred to as a
"prison within the prison" sometime in late April or early
May. In protest against the total prohibition of visitors
and outside contacts, Rinpoche held hunger strike sometime
in July. He was reportedly in very poor health.
Prior to his arrest, Chadrel Rinpoche held the posts
of the Director of the Civil Administration Society,
and Chairman of the Democratic Management Committee
of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery. Rinpoche was the member of
National Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
(CPPCC), and Vice-Chairman of the "Tibet Autonomous Region"
("TAR") CPPCC.
In 1989, the Chinese authorities authorised him to head
the official Search Committee to locate the reincarnation
of the 10th Panchen Lama. Armed with Beijing's approval,
Chadrel Rinpoche also maintained private communication
with the Dalai Lama in order to locate the XI Panchen Lama.
By May 1996, Chadrel Rinpoche had been dismissed from
all official posts because he had "gone against the basic
principles and lost the political stand of a patriot". On
24 May 1996, Radio Lhasa announced that "in doing this,
we have purged the CPPCC of bad elements and have made
it clean".
Within days of the announcement in May 1995, the then
six-year-old Gedhun Choekyi Nyima (the Panchen Lama
recognised by the Dalai Lama) and his family disappeared
from their home and taken into Chinese custody. To date,
no government body, concerned organisation or independent
observer has been allowed access to the world' youngest
political prisoner.
Born on 25 April 1989 in Lhari County of Nagchu Prefecture,
Tibet, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was recognised on 14 May
1995 by the Dalai Lama as the XIth Panchen Lama of Tibet,
and given the name Tenzin Gedhun Yeshe Trinley Phuntsok
(and commonly referred to as Gedhun Choekyi Nyima).
[ top ]
A tourist guide was sacked and his employer fined when
he was found discussing Tibetan politics with a group of
foreign tourists.
Since 1998, Lobsang Dawa guided foreigners around Gyalthang
(Ch: Zhongdian) County in Yunnan Province. In conjunction
with other Tibetan guides, Dawa took about 10 groups of
foreigners afield to Sadang (Ch: Lijang), along the way
crossing the border between Tibet and China, where he
introduced the foreigners to the basic concepts of Tibetan
politics and history. He would appeal for their help in
the fight for Tibetan freedom, and generally received a
supportive response.
However, in 2000, a French group that Dawa had spoken
to did not understand the implications and were openly
discussing his remarks back at the hotel with Chinese tour
guides. Consequenty, the information eventually reached
the Chinese authorities of Gylathang, including his uncle,
who advised him to keep quiet on these issues.
Approximately two weeks later, the Chinese police
interrogated him as to why he had spoken to the foreigners
on these issues and from where he had received the
information. He naively explained that he had been to
India and learnt from the elderly Tibetans there, rather
than having experienced these issues first hand. He
was not treated badly during the session as the police
knew his uncle, and because of this connection he escaped
imprisonment. Nevertheless, the Chinese authorities forced
Lobsang, the hotel owner, to terminate Dawa's employment
and also fined the hotel Y5000. He does not know if there
were any additional consequences for them later on.
Dawa then operated independently without the knowledge
of Chinese authorities. He took three to four groups of
foreigners to Derong area. However, it was becoming very
difficult for him to work. Therefore, with his uncle's
help, Dawa obtained a Chinese passport. He said it is
easier for Tibetans in that area to obtain Chinese passport
as they are regarded as "ethnic Tibetans" and therefore,
Chinese citizens.
He then quickly went to Lhasa where he stayed for one month
before heading to Nepal without any difficulty. He rang his
uncle recently who told him that the Chinese authorities
are still hunting for him, even after five months. They
have questioned his uncle about Dawa's whereabouts, and
are keeping him under constant watch.
Dawa's first escape to India was in 1985 when he came to
fulfill his ambition to become a monk. His parents desired
for him to remain at home and run the house but Dawa's
determination overrode their ambitions. He travelled to
Lhasa, where relatives also attempted to convince him
to stay.
In South India, he joined Drepung Monastery and remained
there until 1989. He studied Buddhist Philosophy and
Metaphysics. Recognising the need to improve his English,
he then attended Bir Tibetan School for five months and
simultaneously studied Tibetan. Following his studies, he
returned to Nepal for the next two years where he worked
as a part-time translator between Tibetan and Chinese for
Taiwanese group.
Unhappy with his work situation in Nepal, Dawa returned
to Tibet in 1992. The Chinese police arrested him at the
border where he was questioned about his visit to India and
Nepal. He was released the next day, as was the standard
procedure at that time.
He worked in Lhasa as translator and guide for western
tourist for the next two years, after which he returned
to Kandze and began trading in mushroom and caterpillar
fungus. He travelled often between Lhasa and Beijing
without any problems and has also been to several other
locations around China.
[ top ]
Drayab County, particularly acute in Drayab Peugue
Monastery according to a recent arrival from Drayab County,
Chamdo Prefecture, "TAR". Photographs of the Dalai Lama are
banned, and his name is forbidden to be spoken aloud.
At all times, the term "Dalai Clique" or "splittist" must be
used when referring to the Dalai Lama.
Every monk in the region is required to attend special
political meetings in the monastery three times a year -
every winter, spring and summer. In addition to this, up
to three times a year, a "workteam" of around 10 members
visit Peugue Monastery to conduct political "re-education"
sessions for 5 to 10 days. During these sessions, the
authorities insist that the monks denounce the Dalai Lama
and the concept of Tibetan freedom.
Kunga, the informant, stated that the authorities would
taunt and jeer the monks with eers such as: "trying to
achieve the freedom of Tibet is like trying to build a
stairway to the stars", "those fighting for freedom are
just casting stones up into the sky", and "those writing
slogans are just dropping rocks onto their own feet".
Hence, the monks usually claim total lack of understanding
when questioned about the concept of freedom but stoutly
refuse to denounce the Dalai Lama. However, even this
stance sets up a conflict for many with their Buddhist
beliefs, and many monks have felt compelled to leave the
monastery due to this pressure.
The lay officials of Drayab County are also subjected to
similar religious repression. During important religious
festivals like Saga Dawa (the holy fourth holy month of the
Tibetan calender), bans are imposed on circumambulation,
burning incense, and visiting traditional holy sites,
all of which are common religious practices among Tibetans.
Kunga related a locally well-known account of the suicide
of a Peugue monk in 1996. Phurbu Audatsang, a monk in his
40's, committed suicide by jumping off a bridge into the
local river during a "work team" session. He had refused
to denounce the Dalai Lama, and consequently the "work
team" decided to search his home for the banned pictures
of the Dalai Lama. Along the way, Audatsang took the
"work team" by surprise when he suddenly jumped from the
bridge which they were crossing. He very well knew that
they would discover his photographs.
Finally, Kunga also provided a list of past political prisoners from Drayab County.
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Tsetse, 50, accountant monk from Puegue Monastery. He was
arrested for possession of photographs of the Dalai Lama.in
1994. He was sentenced to three years' imprisonment in
Chamdo Prison the same year.
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Jamyang Abo, in his 50s, a monk from Puegue Monastery. He
was arrested for making a list of those responsible
for destruction during the Cultural Revolution from
1966 to 1976, particularly of the religious statues and
artifects.In 1994, he recieved a three years' sentence in
Chamdo Prison.
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Tsedup, in his 40s, was arrested for listening to an audio
cassette of the Dalai Lama's speech.He was sentenced to
three years' imprisonment in Chamdo Prison in 1994.
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Guepo Gyaltsen was arrested for pasting pro-independence
slogans and sentenced to five years' imprisonment in
Drapchi Prison in 1996.
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Nyima was a monk of about 30 years. He was arrested for
pasting pro-independence slogans in 1996 and sentenced to
three years' imprisonment.
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Tenpa Wangchok, 28, was arrested for pasting
pro-independence slogans and later sentenced to four years'
imprisonment in 1996.
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Nyima,a small-time businessman, was arrested for pasting
pro-independence slogans. He was sentenced to three years'
imprisonment in Chamdo Prison in 1997.
Kunga, the informant, is 21 years old and originally from Drayab County.
[ top ]
Four monks of Phumar Monastery made 1,800 copies of
leaflets containing political slogans from wooden block
prints in the year 2000.
In June 2000 at around 9 p.m. evening, Dorjee, the
informant and his three friends pasted and distributed
1,800 political leaflets in the streets of Kandze County,
Sichuan Province. Again in July the next month, Dorjee and
his friends repeated their leaflet distribution activity
with more impact by printing more leaflets with the same
contents. The four involved in the distribution are Yeshi
Dorjee, Sonam Wangyal, Rinchen Gonpo and Joenge Dhondup.
The political activities did not escape the notice of the
local authorities anymore. A police friend of the monastery
head informed Dorjee about the matter on telephone warning
him of imminent arrest if they did not flee. The monks
left the monastery on 26 July 2000 and set off to different
directions to avoid notice from the authorities.
Joenge Dhondup and Sonam Wangyal escaped to India in
December 2000 and Rinchen Goepon is still in Tibet evading
arrest. Dorjee fled to Nagpo, Kandze County, to finally
make his escape into India after 11 month's hiding. Dorjee
learnt that their rooms in the monastery were ransacked
after their flight and few leaflets were found from the
rooms of Dhondup and Goepon.
Dorjee reported that Chinese "work team" pay frequent
visits to the monastery, which had a total strength
of 80 monks, all of whom were originally from Kandze
County. The monks were called for "re-education" meetings
where they were told to oppose any "splittist activity"
and furthermore, the officials banned pictures of the
Dalai Lama. Monks below the age of 18 were expelled from
the monastery. During the visits of the "work team" which
is about four times a year, the monks hid photographs of
the Dalai Lama and display it after they were gone.
Dorjee went to Lhasa with the help of a friend and acquired
a travel document. He reached Tibetan Reception Centre in
Nepal with the assistance of a guide who he paid 1500 yuan.
[ top ]
Shedup Yonten,
a 26-year-old nomad from Bayang County, Shigatse "TAR",
reported that there have been about 60 Chinese security guards
stationed at Mt. Kailash for the past three years.
A seven-room accommodation building was
constructed for the guards, indicating that this is to be a
permanent station. The main purpose of this guard outpost
is to issue permits now required while circumambulating
Mt. Kailash route. The three-day pass costs Y18 but people
over 50 years of age are charged only Y14. A new permit
must be purchased after three days are over.
Tibetans in the area are highly offended that possession
of the Dalai Lama's photograph is rendered illegal by the
Chinese authorities. Yonten reported that in early 2001,
a former monk from Goyar Monastery, Rinzen Phuntsok,
confronted the authorities. He told that being in a
monastery is pointless as the main sources of worship,
namely the Dalai Lama and the Karmapa, are denied to the
Tibetans. The Chinese response was that Tibetans were
free to worship other Lamas. In March, Phuntsok was taken
from Yonten's village for interrogation, and since then
details of his current whereabouts and present condition
remain unknown.
Yonten came to know about the Tibetan independence
movement outside Tibet only five years ago, when some of
his local villagers returned from India and spread the
information. The Chinese are extremely concerned about
suppressing local sentiment concerning freedom activities.
Consequently, Yonten's village is subjected to bi-annual
census and three to four meetings a year, which focussed
primarily on opposing the "Dalai Clique" and portraying
the Chinese as great leaders and the saviour of Tibetans.
The informant also described how taxation in Bayang County
has constantly increased since 1981. The local population
feels the taxation levels are extremely high. Although
the Chinese authorities allocate elaborate names such as
'Poverty Eradication Tax', there has been no improvement
in the livelihoods of the local families.
Yonten came alone from Tibet and now wants to join a monastery in India.
[ top ]
Compulsory unpaid labour is widely prevalent in Drayab
County and in most parts of Chamdo Prefecture, according to
Ngawang Choedon
(identity protected) who recently arrived from Tibet.
The Chinese authorities under the banner "to uplift the
poor and backward Tibetans towards prosperity", enforce
compulsory labour system. In reality, the residents of
Drayab County reel under extreme poverty like never
before. Furthermore, many young children aged between 12
and 16 are involved in the enforced labour.
Drayab region has a total of around 500 families, and
nearly 700 inhabitants are forced to attend the compulsory
labour. PSB officers monitor this compulsory work,
which involves building new houses, and felling trees
for agricultural purposes, but mainly consists of road
construction. The work starts at 8.a.m and continues till
6.p.m, and often even much later, with barely a 15-minute
lunch break.
This system of compulsory unpaid labour started in early
1997 in Drayab. During the initial six month period, all
labourers received a wage, although very meagre. However,
after this initial period nobody has been paid since.
The farmers are made to work almost six months per year,
which makes life extremely difficult as they already
have a high workload, just in order to survive. It is
exacerbated by the fact that there is no set timeframe for
the compulsory labour either. The people can be called
out at anytime, during any season - it is solely at the
inclination of the authorities.
The Chinese authorities have designated that every
family member who is above 18 and below 60 years of age is
required to participate in this compulsory labour. However,
according to Choedon, there are many instances of young
children below 18 who perform this hard labour.
To help their parents who are either very ill or too poor
to afford the Y300 per month as fine for non-attendance,
some children are compelled to make false claim that they
are 18 years. Other parents are unable to attend as they
are too busy working to ensure their family's survival to
afford the time demanded.
There is no leniency shown whatsoever, even on serious
medical grounds. It is a situation of "attend work or
else pay fine, there is no alternative," says Choedon. The
authorities are apparently well aware that these children
are in fact younger than the minimum age designation,
but nevertheless encourage the practice. They know that
the families have no funds to pay the fines, and this way
the Chinese are not liable to their superiors for failing
to enforce the quotas.
The majority of the people of Drayab are very poor and
have no cash with which to pay fines. Most of them have
already sold all their ornaments and valuable assets to
pay their previous fines. They are now having to give
their subsistence, butter and meat, in lieu of money,
which the authorities have conceded to accept.
As Ngawang laments "We cannot go every single time to
attend the compulsory labour. We also have to make our own
living to eat and survive". In desperation, quite a few
have resorted to begging and have headed to Lhasa. However,
even this right of relocation has been denied, as they
are removed forcefully back to Drayab by PSB officers.
Ngawang Choedon further says that construction of
new houses and roads are not meant for the benefit of
the locals, despite the feeble attempts by the Chinese
authorities to convince them, but are actually for Chinese
migrants. Ngawang said, " We are always told that many
people will come here, but we really don't know who
will come".
[ top ]
Kyidup,
21, from Rokta Township, Sog County, was arrested
in mid-April 2001. Recent information from Tibet indicates
that he is currently held under detention at Nagchu
Detention Centre.
In early March this year, he solely pasted pro-independence
slogans which read "Tibet is independent" and "Long Live
His Holiness the Dalai Lama" at Nagchu Motor Depot no. 1.
After nearly a month long investigation, the PSB officers
arrested Kyidup. It is widely feared that he might receive
a heavy prison sentence owing to his involvement in
political activities deemed dangerous by the authorities.
At the age of ten, Kyidup joined primary school at Rawak
Township where he studied for six years. He then studied
in Tungshu Middle School in Sog County for five years.
[ top ]
Since the beginning of 1990s, heavy taxes have been levied
on almost everything in Trhango Village, Saga County,
Shigatse Prefecture, stated Sonam Phuntsok, who reached
India in late June this year. Phuntsok also reported on
many pressing issues, from the birth control policy and
substandard education to compulsory labour and religious
restrictions in his area.
Phuntsok gave some examples to substantiate how many taxes
are levied on animals and certain items. For example:
Wool - 2 kama per jama = 20%
(10 kama = 1jama = 2kg)
Butter - 3 kama per jama =30%
Animal tax: For animals within the allocated limit;
Yuan 2 per goat; Yuan 6 per sheep;Yuan 5 for every other
domestic animals.
Approximate value of animals: Sheep/goats : Yuan 140-400;
Yak : Yuan 1200; Horse: Yuan 800
- Yuan 4000 (depends on the individual animal )
Though taxes usually vary from area to area, every village
in Trhango area as well as residents in Dzongha and Deba
villages in Kyirong County are subjected to these same
taxes. The taxes are collected during a yearly meeting. The
authorities claimed that the taxes would be going towards
the alleviation of poverty by year 2000. Phuntsok pointed
out that it is already 2001 and he says that poverty is
actually getting worse than before.
The tax collection enforcement system is very strict,
but the allocation of the livestock limit seems to be
arbitrary. However, all livestock levels must be annually
reduced by 30% either by selling to slaughterhouses
or occasionally to those who buy animals to save its
life. This potentially means that if a family has few poor
breeding years, the livestock number could be dramatically
reduced and possibly fall a below sustainable level. These
animal limits are supposedly imposed to protect the
pasturelands from overgrazing.
Enforced labour is prevalent in Phuntsok's area. Every
person over the age of three years is allocated a value
of 60 points each year. Therefore, his family of nine
members accumulates a total of 540 points. These points
must be negated by an equivalent amount of work, where
one days' labour equals three points. This labour includes
the construction and repair of roads, houses and bridges,
all of which are distinctly heavy labour. Family members
must cover for any deficits in the total points due to any
person's inability to work, or otherwise they are fined
yuan 60 per point.
Phuntsok knew that in 1998, the three-child per family
birth control policy was set in nomadic areas. Though
previously enforced in urban areas, now the policy has
become quite widespread. Women with extra children
are forced to undergo abortions and medicines are
dispensed. However, those women who are not healthy enough
for abortions are allowed to give birth but are subjected
to a fine of Yuan 1500. Excess children are deprived of
all rights and privileges including education, healthcare,
rations and the family's property share.
Tenzin Lochoe, Phuntsok's 32-year-old sister was taken to
Trhango district hospital in September 1997 for enforced
sterilisation. Her husband and Phuntsok were present during
the operation that cost yuan 500. His sister stayed in
hospital for two weeks and was advised by the medical
personnel not to work for the following three months
after the operation, which is apparently an abnormally
long recovery period. All the villagers are against the
birth control policy and the procedure it entails.
In Rela Village, which is two days journey from Trhango
Village, Sonam heard of two women who gave birth even after
undergoing forced sterilisation. In other areas, IUD's
(Intra-Uterine Device) are used for birth control, and
the Chinese are claiming that these are functional for 15
years, not the standard 3-5 years. These are being placed
in older women, usually above 30. By the time they are
removed the person is beyond child-bearing age. However,
unsurprisingly, there are often problems being caused by
these devices, necessitating a visit to the hospital for
their removal.
Phuntsok strongly feels that the Chinese authorities are
enforcing substandard education in his area. After 1996,
Trhango Municipality built a school that teaches upto
class three and accommodates 60 students. The school
teaches Chinese, Tibetan and Maths. However, the standard
of teaching is so poor that the villagers consider it a
showpiece rather than a functional school, and believe
that an education there is worse than no education at all.
Chinese authorities designate a number of students to
attend this school from each particular village. If
the number of potential students exceeds this enforced
limit, then the students are selected through lottery
process. Sonam's 12-year-old brother is currently at
the school.
Many of the richer families prefer to pay Yuan 1500 fine
for refusing to send their children to school, whereas
the poorer families have no option but to reluctantly
send their children. Apart from regarding the schooling
as offering nothing beneficial, the villagers are also
deprived of a working member family. Additionally, the
families themselves have to bear the costs of child's food,
accommodation and tuition.
Phuntsok lamented that Tibetans in his area face religious
restrictions. All religious activities require permission
from Pema Dhadon, the local military base leader. The
villagers apply to the village head who in turn seeks
permission from Pema Dhadon, who would then delegate
specific days for the religious activity. Photographs of
the Dalai Lama were totally banned. There have been cases
where the Chinese officials trampled on the banned photos
once they are forcefully seized. The informant himself
possessed two photos of the Dalai Lama. Before the photo
raids, he went up into the hills and hid the photos inside a stupa.
Sonam Phuntsok comes from a family of nine nomads,
and has never received any education at all. There were
no schools in his area till 1996. Trhango area actually
accommodates six villages, each consisting of approximately
60 families. Phuntsok undertook small business for four
years, horse dealing and trading goods such as clothing
and rations between Shigatse and Tingri. For engagement
in small business, a permit and business card is required.
Phuntsok wanted to seek an audience with the Dalai
Lama. Moreover, the ban on photographs of both the Dalai
Lama and the Karmapa as well as stifling heavy taxation
were becoming intolerable for him. Therefore, Phuntsok
decided to leave for India.
[ top ]
Phuntsok Legmon,
layname Tseten Norbu, is originally from
Toelung Dechen County in the "Tibet Autonomous Region"
("TAR"). He became a monk of Taklung Monastery, located
in the region north-west of Lhasa. He is currently 17 years old.
Every year, 10 March is commemorated in memory of the
first Tibetan uprising in Lhasa that erupted in 1959
against the Chinese communist rule. During such sensitive
anniversaries, independence protests and poster pasting
incidents often flare up causing huge embarrassment to
the Chinese authorities. Consequently, Chinese security
forces attend known and suspected potential focus points
in full force to avert such incidents.
It was during the 40th anniversary of 10 March 1959, in
1999, that Phuntsok Legmon and his friend Namdrol (layname
Sonam Choedak) initiated an independence demonstration
in the early afternoon. Despite heavy security presence,
the two monks started their protest from northern end
of Barkhor in Lhasa and called out for "Free Tibet",
"Tibet is Independent", "Chinese quit Tibet" and "Long
Live His Holiness the Dalai Lama".
It is said that both Phuntsok Legmon and Namdrol wore
caps and lay clothes to cover their identity as monks
while protesting.
They were immediately intercepted by Public Security
Bureau (PSB) officers who took them to the nearby
police station. Namdrol tried to flee but was later
caught. According to eye-witnesses, the monks were severely
beaten with the use of batons by the police while they
were on their way to the police station.
It was only recently that Lhasa Intermediate People's Court
sentenced the two monks to different terms of imprisonment,
on charges of "inciting propaganda". Legmon was sentenced
to three years and Namdrol recieved a four year sentence
in prison. In Chinese-occupied Tibet, it has become quite
common for Tibetans to be detained for as long as a year
and more before any sentences are passed for their alleged
crimes.
Despite the fact that both the monks recieved sentences
for their political activities, the authorities continue
to deny that they recieved sentences of any sort.
During a telephone interview that Associated Press, the
news agency, had with an official from Lhasa Intermediate
People's Court on 27 July, the officials deny any knowledge
of sentencing Phuntsok Legmon and Namdrol. In the course
of the interview, Zhang Jie, an official at the court,
made a statement that "I am sure that we have never made
any sentence as you mention in recent months".
Namdrol, a 22-year-old monk also from Taklung Monastery
was born in Toelung Dechen County.
It is not yet known where the duo would be imprisoned. It
is highly probable that both will soon be transferred to
Drapchi Prison.
[ top ]
On 21 August, TCHRD released a report on Drapchi Prison
in both English and Tibetan languages. A media briefing
was also held on the same day which was attended by both
local Tibetan and international media personnel.
The English report is titled
"Drapchi: Tibet's Most Dreaded Prison".
The report provides insight into one of the most notorious
prisons in Chinese-occupied Tibet, based on reliable
information gathered over the years.
Contrary to a recent claim made by a top-level official
that Tibet has currently only 115 Tibetan political
prisoners, TCHRD recorded 252 known Tibetan political
prisoners as of June 2001. From the total figure, 129
political prisoners remain incarcerated in Drapchi Prison
alone, including 26 female political prisoners.
Since 1987, 27 deaths have occurred in Drapchi Prison, and
47 political prisoners have received sentence extensions
on alleged charges of non-conformity and disobedience to
prison rules and regulations.
The report details 21 protest incidents within Drapchi
Prison, both major and minor, initiated by individuals
or a group as a whole. The largest and consequently most
violently suppressed of all protests have been the May
1998 protests that resulted in the known death of eight
political prisoners and sentence extension of many more.
Drapchi Prison has, over the years, mutely witnessed
Chinese brutality and beatings, deaths and deceit, from
the days of Chinese invasion in the 50's, to the infamous
Cultural Revolution of 60's and 70's, to the 80's active
pro-independence period, and up till the present time -
where the passion of the incarcerated Tibetans still burns
just as brightly.
[ top ]
The Executive Director of TCHRD,
Mr. Lobsang Nyandak Zayul,
met this month with a group of students from various
universities throughout America.
Information on Tibetan human rights was presented and
an active discussion followed. Mr. Zayul was pleased at
the success of the meeting and the level of interest and
concern expressed by the student group.
[ top ]
We would like to welcome Vicki Ireland, R.P. Sinha,
Spencer Goertz Giffen, Dhondup Choephel Geleg, Tenzin
Dawa, John Kittridge, Jennifer Mae Nuttall, Victoria Dean,
Alan Cantes, Kirsti Braarud, Tsering Choemphel, Passang,
Bhuchung D. Sonam, Jeanet vander Wonde, Tsewang Norbu,
Sonam Dhondup, Gabriella Holland, Susan Nesbitt, Sylvia
Farlasovska, Prof. Anand Kumar, Manoj Kumar Singh and
Bharati Puri as new members of TCHRD.
As of August 2001, TCHRD's membership has increased to 435.
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