FEBRUARY 2003
-
New arrests in connection to Trulku Tenzin Delek's case
[ read ]
-
TCHRD condemns the execution of Lobsang Dhondup and the
reconfirmation of Trulku Tenzin Delek's sentence
[ read ]
-
Obituary of Martyr Lobsang Dhondup
[ read ]
-
Horrific account of a former political prisoner
[ read ]
-
Obituary of Lobsang Damchoe, a fervent freedom fighter
[ read ]
-
Chaksam Chori hermits evicted
[ read ]
-
Torture Results in Health Complications for an inmate
[ read ]
-
VIth TCHRD Annual Workshop on Human Rights and Democracy in Varanasi
[ read ]
According to reliable sources, two Tibetans from Karze
County, Sichuan Province, were arrested in connection
to the case of Trulku Tenzin Delek and Lobsang Dhondup.
It appears that they have been arrested on grounds of
suspicion for providing information on Trulku and Lobsang
Dhondup.
On 12 February 2003, at 7.00 pm, six police officers
arrested 34-year-old Taphel from his house. Originally
from Lithang Zampa Township, Taphel's wife is Trulku
Tenzin Delek's niece. Taphel is a businessman and has
eight members in his family including his father, Wangdu.
The other detainee is Dhedhe, a businessman from Lithang
Derge Township. On the night of 14 February 2003, he
was arrested by police officers at Nyagchuka County.
Cousin to Trulku Tenzin Delek, Dhedhe, 42 -year-old,
has four members in his family including his father,
Apak. He was one of the two relatives present at the
initial court hearing of Trulku and Lobsang which was held
in total secrecy.
Information that a third person, Tsering Dhondup,
was sentenced to five years' imprisonment has recently
surfaced. Tsering Dhondup was arrested approximately two
months after Trulku Tenzin Delek's arrest on 7 April 2002.
He is the head of Othok village in Nyakchuka County.
According to reliable information, Tsering Dhondup is
currently held in Dartsedo Detention Centre.
To date, TCHRD has received no information on the
whereabouts nor the exact charges levied against Taphel
and Dhedhe.
Lobsang Dhondup, 26, was executed on 26 January 2003
and Trulku Tenzin Delek faces a death sentence with
a two-year reprieve. Their sentences were passed on 2
December 2002 by the Karze Intermediate People's Court,
Sichuan Province. The trial was unfair and held without
due process behind closed doors. On 17/18 February 2003,
Lobsang Dhondup's family was reportedly contacted by Karze,
"Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture" police to collect their
son's dead body. After half day journey by bus to Dartsedo
where Lobsang Dhondup was detained, they were given only
a bag of ash claiming to be that of Lobsang Dhondups'.
There are currently eight people detained in connection
with Trulku's case including Taphel, Dhedhe and Tsering
Dhondup and two cases of disappearances. Four of them,
Asher Dhargyal, Tamding Tsering, Dhondup and Tsultrim
Dhargyal were arrested along with Trulku on the night of
7 April 2002. Luzi Tashi Phuntsok, the disciplinarian
(Tib: Geko, Translit: dge bskos) and the former caretaker
of Thekchen Jangchup Choeling Monastery established
by Trulku was detained probably in July/August 2002.
Being the disciplinarian, Luzi Tashi shouldered many
responsibilities of the monastery including prayer
ceremonies and festivals. The whereabouts of two juvenile
orphans (names unknown) who were under the care of Trulku
remains unknown. They went missing since May/June 2002
and no one has seen them since then.
[ top ]
TCHRD received confirmed information that
Lobsang Dhondup
was executed on Sunday, 26 January 2003, immediately after
a secret trial at the Sichuan Provincial Higher People's
Court. The same court also reaffirmed Trulku Tenzin Delek's
death sentence with a two-year reprieve.
The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy express
strong condemnation and grief over the shocking and
inhumane execution of Lobsang Dhondup. TCHRD also express
dismay over the reaffirmation of Trulku Tenzin Delek's
suspended death sentence.
TCHRD upholds its distrust of the judicial proceedings
involving the deceased and Trulku Tenzin Delek as they
were all carried out behind closed doors.
The release of some prominent political prisoners last year
raised hopes of improvement in the general human rights
situation in Tibet but the recent court verdicts shattered
all hopes. The verdicts were unexpected and unjust.
The Karze Intermediate People's Court in Karze "TAP" held
a closed trial on 2 December 2002, where the deceased
was sentenced to immediate death penalty with life-long
deprivation of political rights and Trulku Tenzin Delek
to death sentence with a suspension of two years. Both of
them were charged with alleged involvement in a bomb blast
incident on 3 April in the city's main square (Tianfu) in
Chengdu, Sichuan Province. Other charges against them were
"illegal possession of arms" and "engaging in splittist
activities".
However, due to huge international outcry and intervention,
the execution did not take place as planned. Appeals were
made and the case was referred to the Sichuan Higher
People's Court. TCHRD strongly believes that both the
deceased and Trulku Tenzin Delek were falsely accused. The
conflicting views in the official Chinese newspapers of
the bomb blast incident clearly indicate the contrived
nature of the allegations.
According to Huo xin duoshi pao (Hou xin newspaper in
Sichuan) of 5 April 2002 stated that following heavy
investigation, within ten hours the persons in suspicion
were arrested.
Ren min wang (People's internet) of Xinhua (official
Chinese newspaper) of 4 April 2002 stated that within
ten minutes with help from eyewitnesses, a suspect
was arrested within 200 meters at the site. The same
paper stated that following investigation at the site of
explosion, police found debris of batteries, newspapers
and tattered clothes. It was stated that three people were
injured in the incident: a young girl, an elderly lady
and a boy. There was no mention of any Tibetan political
leaflets being discovered at the explosion site
According to a radio interview on 5 December 2002, with
Radio Free Asia, Mr Zhao, director of the Karze judiciary
mentioned that, "...twelve persons were injured..."
This is crucial in the light that the deceased and Trulku
were linked to the entire incident with the sole evidence
of so-called political leaflets being thrown and found
at the site. According to Xinhua of 5 December 2002,
the court verdict stated that the Public Security Bureau
officials discovered political leaflets at the site.
The trial was unfair, as both of them were not allowed
legal representation. Information received from Tibet
indicated that during the court proceedings of 2 December
2002, the late Lobsang Dhondup shouted, "Neither Trulku
nor I am involved in any way with the bomb explosions. The
trial was unfair."
"While TCHRD conveys deepest condolence on the death
of Lobsang Dhondup, it remains concerned about the fate
of Trulku Tenzin Delek. And for this we seek immediate
intervention by the International Community in this
matter", said Tsewang Lhadon, TCHRD Executive Director.
[ top ]
The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy pays its
deepest respect and homage to the martyr
Lobsang Dhondup.
Lobsang Dhondup, aged 28, was executed on Sunday
(26 January, 2003) evening in Karze "TAP" in Sichuan
Province. The execution took place following a secret trial
at the Sichuan Provincial Higher People's Court. The same
court also reaffirmed Trulku Tenzin Delek's death sentence
with a two-year reprieve.
To add to this shocking and horrific execution, according
to information that filtered through Tibet, Lobsang
Dhondup's ears had been cut off and his mouth and nose
were all badly bruised. According to a reliable source,
Lobsang Dhondup died after experiencing atrocious torture.
On 2 December 2002, a court hearing was held at Karze
Intermediate People's Court in Karze "TAP" in Sichuan
Province where the deceased was sentenced to an immediate
death penalty with life-long deprivation of political
rights and Trulku Tenzin Delek to death sentence with a
suspension of two years. Both of them were charged with
alleged involvement in a bomb blast incident on 3 April
in the city's main square (Tianfu) in Chengdu, Sichuan
Province. Other charges they were indicted upon were
"illegal possession of arms" and "engaging in splittist
activities".
However, the execution did not take place as
decided. Appeals were made and the case was referred to
the Sichuan Higher People's Court. Information received
from Tibet indicated that during the court proceedings
of 2 December 2002, the deceased shouted, "Neither Trulku
nor I am involved in any way with the bomb explosions. The
trial was unfair."
Despite China's international obligations as a State
Party to the Convention Against Torture to "take effective
legislative, administrative, judicial or other measures
to prevent acts of torture in any territory under its
jurisdiction", cases of intentionally inflicted cruel and
humiliating torture practices in prisons are regularly
reported.
TCHRD calls on China to prohibit the use of torture during
interrogation and detention and to conform to the legally
binding provisions of the United Nations Convention.
A brief history of Lobsang Dhondup, a True Hero
Lobsang Dhondup was born in 1975 to Palden Phuntsok
and Gather Lhamo of Dudong Katsatsang family in Nyagchu,
Lithang County, Karze "TAP", Sichuan Province. Since there
were no schools in his village, Lobsang was unable to get
an education. He thus helped his parents in farming. At
the age of 20 he got married and fathered two children. He
later left his family and became a monk at the monastery
managed by Trulku Tenzin Delek. He remained at the
monastery for about a year and then left the monastery
to take to business. Based in Nyagchu, Lithang County,
he started trading in medicines and other merchandise
between Nyagchuka County and Chengdu. Because of his
Tibetan nationalistic spirit, Lobsang became a target of
the County's police and administrative officials.
[ top ]
Phuntsok Tsering,
29, is a metal statue maker from Karze,
Sichuan Province. He spent one and a half years in
detention for his opposition against the unlawful arrest
of Geshe Sonam Phuntsok, a senior teacher in Karze County
on 25 October 1996. Having fled to India following his
release, Phuntsok Tsering shares his horrific experience
in detention.
"On the morning of 26 October 1999, on my way to work,
I heard that Geshe Sonam Phuntsok was arrested the
day before. I met my co-workers and some of my friends.
I told them that we should all go and extend our support
to Geshe and demand for his release. Since it happened
randomly and unplanned I was not sure how many people were
going to participate. At some point when I looked behind,
I estimated there were approximately 300 people there.
We all assembled infront of the gate of the Police Station
in Karze County. Initially we pleaded with our hands folded
for Geshe's release but the response from the officers was
crude. Yarga, the junior Chu trang, threatened us that they
have direct orders from the top to shoot anyone who tries
to raise their voice in dissent against Geshe's arrest.
I told Yarga, "kill me now or release Geshe otherwise
I am going to go ahead and kill myself". Because their
harsh warnings had no effect on us he tried to talk five
of us into coming inside the office "and discuss whatever
we have to openly". I did not trust them so I said that
none of us will step inside the building.
"By that time around 10.30 am approximately 100 armed
troops consisting of PAP and PSB officers surrounded
us. The armed officers started beating people in the crowd
indiscriminately. Then a Karze County PSB hit me with
his revolver on my nose. I tasted blood in my mouth and
fell unconscious. My friend was also hit. When I regained
my sense, I was covered with blood and dragged inside the
gate. There my friend and I received further beatings.
They beat us like dogs. When they were done with us,
I tried to get up but I could barely stand on my feet.
"For five days and nights, they kept us in the PSB Detention
Centre. During that time, the officers took turns beating
us the whole time. During this time we suffered incredibly.
They poured hot water on our face, poked us with electric
batons, hit us with the rifle butt and with thick wooden
stick. At times the officers would use a rock to hit us
on the head.
"After five days I was transferred to a smaller cell of
approximately 11 X 11 foot. For a day I was alone there
but the next day more people came in. The additional
people were all arrested in connection to their dissent of
the arrest of Geshe. In that small space we were about
12 people. There were three elderly ladies. I was the
youngest in the group. I was 25 years old. My friend and
I were treated the worst because we were arrested from
the spot of demonstration. The rest were detained from
their homes after conducting searches. The eldest in the
group was a woman who was around 55 years old.
"We were not allowed to talk to each other at all but were
too tired and ill to talk anyway. At times all of us
were chained one to another, at other times our hands were
cuffed at the back.
"For the two months I was detained there I was taken for
interrogation and beatings a minimum of four to five times
a day. For a month and a half, I was not given any food.
Some of my inmates had managed to smuggle bags of tsampa
so I did not totally starve.
"We were confined to that cell the whole time and not
allowed to go out at all. The room had no natural light
and we had a common tin within the room for defecation
and urination. The presence of women in the room did not
matter to the officers. In fact women were subjected to
the same kind of beating as we were. There was no space for
us to lie down and besides the fact that we were chained
together it was difficult to lie down relaxed. For two
months we endured the severe condition and the stench.
"Every time I was taken for beatings and interrogation,
the rest of the group also received some form of beatings
and harassments. Beatings would be conducted by 10-15
officers on a person. All of us would be called randomly at
different times for beatings. The small space was covered
with blood marks all over. Many times the officers would
piss in the mouth of some of the inmates. I did not have
to suffer that humiliation nor did the women in the room.
"Some of the names I can remember of the torturers are:
Choekyap, Lolo, Yikhap, Yama Dorjee, Tsering, Namgyap,
Yar jar ming, Yarchar, Phabying, Namgyab, Cha zim ming,
Dra pung po shor.
"On 20 December 1999, an officer from the Karze Prefecture
Intermediate People's Court came to the detention centre.
Just outside the cell, eight of us were ordered to
assemble. Our pictures were taken and our charges and
sentences were read out. Within few days time we were
transferred to Menyang Prison in Menyang City in Sichuan
Province. At the time of transfer for five minutes we
were allowed visitors.
"Journey to Menyang prison took four days by
vehicle. Initially the eight of us were held in the
unit where we were made to perform rigorous exercises
and military style drills. This would start from four
in the morning and go on until nine in the night with a
10-minute recess for lunch. In the mornings sometimes
we had to watch a video for an hour on the greatness
of the People's Republic of China. We were detained in
this unit for two months. Food was inedible and scarce.
Life was very difficult.
"After two months we were transferred to the labour unit
number 4 within the same prison. In this section, there
were about 4000 inmates, all Chinese apart from the eight
of us. The task there was making bricks. The condition
was awful because we had to work in such intense heat under
the scorching sun. It was difficult because we had to work
long hours with insufficient food. Because this prison was
located far from our homes, we barely received visitors.
"In 2001, I was released from prison. Life after release
was terrible. I was constantly harassed. One day in the
April of 2001, my bike was confiscated for "insufficient
documents". At another time I was fined 400 yuan for no
reason. I decided to flee Tibet to escape from all this.
I spent four months in Lhasa and finally reached Kathmandu,
Nepal on 2 January 2003."
[ top ]
Lobsang Damchoe,
a former inmate of Nyari Detention Centre
passed away in Gyantse on 31 January 2003. Lobsang was
approximately 65 years old when he passed away after
a prolonged illness of thyroid tuberculosis. A strong
advocator of justice, Lobsang openly voiced his support
to the Panchen Lama reincarnation (Gedhun Choekyi Nyima)
recognised by His Holiness the Dalai Lama despite severe
restrictions from Chinese authorities. Lobsang was
sentenced to five years in 1996 but due to his ill health,
he was released on medical parole in 1997.
Originally from Yawu Dri na Phuntsok Khangsar, Lobsang
joined Palkor Choede Monastery in Gyantse County in
Southern Tibet. However, soon after China's occupation of
Tibet, Lobsang joined the resistance movement in 1959.
He was about 24 years old. Lobsang was arrested and
spent several years in prison in Tsang Ema Gang. In
1979, Lobsang was released but he was prohibited from
rejoining the monastery. In the meantime, he spent his
time performing prayer services (Tibetan: Shabs brten) for
families. Finally in 1988 Lobsang's request for readmission
in the monastery was accepted. However, it took another
year before Lobsang was issued the residential permit
(Ch: Hukou).
In 1993, Lobsang became the caretaker (Tib: sku gnger)
of the famous Kumbum Temple in Gyantse and remained there
until 1996.
Lobsang had been a source of annoyance and frustration
for his intrepid behaviour. In 1996 the "patriotic
re-education" campaign was being conducted and the ban
on pictures and denouncement of the Dalai Lama was at
its peak. Crackdown on religious activities was severe
and harsh restrictions were imposed on the religious
institutions. Lobsang refused to remove the picture of
Dalai Lama he had in his temple and it had to be forcibly
removed by Chinese authorities. Earlier in 1995 Lobsang
had gotten hold of a copy of the long life prayer composed
for Gedhun Choekyi Nyima(Panchen Lama reincarnation
recognised by the Dalai Lama) by the Dalai Lama. In
1996 during Lhabab Duechen, Lobsang distributed copies
of the prayer at the monastery and in the town. A few
days' later, Chinese authorities came to the monastery
and conducted a search. They discovered literature on
democracy printed by the Tibetan Government in Exile,
the forbidden Tibetan national flag, a picture of the
Dalai Lama and a copy of the long life prayer.
In November 1996, Lobsang was arrested at his house.
He was initially detained in Gyantse Detention Centre
for 15 days. During this time his hands and feet were
both manacled. In March 1997, Lobsang was sentenced to
five years' imprisonment and transferred to Shigatse Nyari
Detention Centre. There too his hands and feet were cuffed
for two months. His relatives in exile believe that
being in this condition in the cold winter months of Tibet
could have aggravated his health condition. After spending
approximately one year and 18 days incarceration, Lobsang
was released on medical parole in 1997.
[ top ]
According to credible information from Tibet, 17 hermits
dwelling in Chaksam Chori were evicted from their places of
retreat. At the end of May 2002, "Tibet Autonomous Region"
(TAR) Public Security Bureau (PSB) officers and Gongkar PSB
officers came to the hermitage. Chaksam Chori is located
at the border of Lhoka Gongkar County and Chushul County.
Chaksam Chori is a sacred hill and during auspicious
Tibetan religious occasions Tibetan pilgrims visit the
place for circumambulation. Some of the Tibetans there
had been in retreat for a very long time.
Religious repression of Tibetan Buddhist practices had
been in place since 1996 whereby "work team" members visit
religious institutions to conduct "patriotic re-education"
campaign. Targeting people in retreat has taken place in
the past but not as common as monasteries and nunneries.
This physical and psychological intrusion is a severe
form of religious repression. People in retreat, some
of them for years, have had their retreat involuntarily
disturbed. The fact that they have been evicted raises
another grave concern.
[ top ]
Lobsang Rinzin,
31, was born in Pashoe County (situated
45 kms southwest of Chamdo county), Chamdo Prefecture,
"TAR". He is from a farming family and is the middle
of six siblings in the family. At the time when most
students attended school, Lobsang learnt Thangka
(religious scroll) painting.
In mid-1995, Lobsang came to India on a pilgrimage and
stayed back. He got enrolled in a Transit school, a school
specially built for over-aged refugees who seek education
in exile. Lobsang spent approximately a year at the school
and later returned to Tibet.
In Tibet, he painted Thangkas for a living. He was
employed at the Serpung Monastery ( Translit: bsil bu;
the name of the monastery has been rendered as Serwa
in our earlier publications), a local monastery in his
native land. During his time at the monastery, he indulged
in political awareness activities. At the time he made
lots of friends at the monastery and was popular for his
enthusiasm for the freedom of Tibet.
In late June 1997, Lobsang along with seven monks (Lobsang
Dechen, Lobsang Topchen, Dawa Dorjee, Ngawang Choephel,
Rinzin Choephel, Sherab Tsultrim and Tashi Phuntsok) from
the monastery made plans to stage a protest in Pashoe
County.
On 1 July 1997, during the Hong Kong handover ceremony,
the group marched to the county authorities' office and
shouted freedom slogans. The protest came as a surprise
to the authorities who were celebrating the ocassion of
Hongkong hand over.
Fearing mass gathering and support, the authorities
called the People's Armed Police "PAP" and the Public
Security Bureau "PSB" who immediately arrested all the
eight protestors and beat them severely. They were taken
to Pashoe County PSB Detention Centre. After ten days of
detention they were transferred to Chamdo Prefecture PSB
Detention Centre. They were interrogated extensively and
beaten during the interrogation.
The group was detained in Chamdo Detention Centre for
approximately four months and no one was allowed to visit
them during the time.
Later Chamdo Prefecture Intermediate People's Court
sentenced Lobsang to eight years where as Dawa Dorji,
Lobsang Thargay, Lobsang Dechen, all in early twenties,
were sentenced to four years and the three others to six
years of imprisonment.
After 15 days they were transfered to Drapchi Prison and placed in unit no 5.
In October 1999, Chamdo Security Bureau officers came to
Drapchi to interrogate Lobsang, Dawa and Sherap. They were
taken to a new Intelligence Department (Ch: An Quan Thing)
Detention Centre built near Tibet Autonomous Region
PSB Detention Centre and reinterrogated for the next
two months. They were tortured and beaten with various
instruments and Lobsang fainted many times in the process
of interrogation. They were later transferred to the
Drapchi Prison in a serious condition. They were badly
bruised and limping when they arrived at the prison.
On 16 March 2001, Lobsang along with three other inmates
namely Sonam Dhondup, Yeshi Genpo and Tenzin Norgay were
called aside for interrogation on suspicion on tip of an
informant who told that they were secretly meeting near
the toilet. They were all taken separately to different
cells and four personnels were assigned specifically to
interrogate and beat them for more than two hours. Yeshi
Genpo almost died due to excessive bleeding from the mouth.
Lobsang is currently severely sick due to continuous
beatings time and again. His kidney and ribs are reportedly
damaged due to the beatings.
Lobsang Rinzin is due to be released in 2005.
[ top ]
The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD)
organised its VIth annual workshop on human rights and
democracy at the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan
Studies (CIHTS), Sarnath, Varanasi from 29 January -2
February 2003. The workshop turned out to be a success
in terms of educating and empowering Tibetan students in
human rights concepts and democratic values.
The five-day workshop was divided into two days' session
each on human rights and democracy with a day in between
for educational sight seeing tour. Sixty-seven students
from 15 different regions of India participated in the
workshop. Venerable Geshe Ngawang Samten , Director
of CIHTS, was the Chief Guest of Honour at the opening
ceremony of the workshop, and inaugurated the workshop
with a keynote speech.
The topics covered in the democracy sessions included
Concept of Democracy and Tibetan Charter, Role of NGOs,
Media and Individual in Tibetan Democracy, and Tibet:
Historical Background and Current Scenario. The resource
persons for this section included Mr. Pema Jungney,
Chairman of Assembly of Tibetan People Deputies (ATPD),
Mr. Penpa Tsering, Executive Director of Tibetan
Parliamentary and Policy Research Centre (TPPRC) and
Member of Tibetan Parliament, and Professor Jampa Samten,
Librarian of Central Institute of Tibetan Institute (CIHTS)
in Varanasi.
The educational sight seeing tour on the third day
commenced with blessings from the XVIIth Gyalwa Karmapa
Ugyen Trinlay Dorjee at Kargyud Monastery in Sarnath. The
participants were then taken on a guided tour of Sarnath
Stupa, Bharat Mata Mandir, Banaras Hindu University,
and finally concluded the trip with a boat ride in
River Ganges. Professor Jampa Samten provided extensive
description on the historical and religious significance
of the sites visited.
Following this one-day break, an intensive human rights
session began for the participants. The topics included
General Introduction to the concept of Human Rights, An
Introduction to United Nations Human Rights Conventions and
United Nations System for the Protection of Human Rights,
An Introduction to United Nations Conventions Relating
to Status of Refugees, Convention on the Elimination of
Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), Convention on the
Rights of the Child (CRC), Convention Against Torture
(CAT), Account of a Former Political Prisoner, Chinese
Diplomacy and Western Hypocrisy, and Tibet and the
United Nations. The resource person for these sessions
included six experienced barristers from Bar Human Rights
Commission based in England (Mr. Mark Muller, Mr. Nigel
Wray, Mr. Peter, Mr. Edward Grieves, Mr. Declan O'Callagan
and Mr. Rajesh Rai); Mr. Jampa Monlam, Tibetan Researcher,
TCHRD; Ms. Youdon Aukatsang, Senior Programme Officer,
TCHRD; and Ms.Tenzin Chokey, Personnel for UN Affairs,
TCHRD respectively.
The students participated enthusiastically in the group
discussions and question-answer session at the end of
every session. The students took particular interest in
the Quiz Competition, the questions of which were based
mainly on the topics covered in both the sessions. An
informal briefing was organised for the participants to
equally avail themselves of the opportunity to present
their views.
TCHRD is thankful to Mr. Pema Jungney and Mr. Penpa Tsering
for taking time out from their busy schedule to take
sessions for the students. In particular, TCHRD is highly
appreciative of the BHRC team who have flown especially
from England to provide training to Tibetan students.
TCHRD is grateful to the CIHTS and its organizing committee
members for making the workshop a success.
|
