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Human Rights Update and Archives
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1st June, Children day celebration in the school |
Novice monks in school uniform |
School group photo |
Prisoner on medical parole succumbs to torture inflicted in prison
TCHRD has learned through reliable sources the demise of Nyima Drakpa, 29, in his home on 1 October 2003. Nyima Drakpa, who was serving nine years’ imprisonment sentence, was released in early September 2003 on medical parole. At the time of his release from the prison, Nyima was reportedly in severe health complications. Drakpa was arrested in May 2000 and subsequently sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment on charges of “endangering state security” and “incitement against the masses”.
In late 1999, Drakpa pasted pro-independence posters on the gates of a Memorial Garden in Tawu County, Kardze Tibet Autonomous Prefecture (“TAP”), Sichuan. The posters contained slogans such as “Free Tibet”, “Tibetans in Tibet have no freedom”, “Tibet is not a part of China”, and was signed at the end with his name. The County Public Security Bureau (“PSB”) officials started investigations the very next day and detained another person with the same name from Drakpa’s monastery, Nyitso Monastery.
This incident led to the flight of Drakpa, while the one in police custody was released after 15 days’ detention when the officers realised their mistake. Tawu County Police finally arrested Drakpa in May 2000 from a village nearby Lhasa after having recieved information about his hideout. He was beaten severely during detention to extract confession for his alleged crime at Tawu County PSB Detention Centre, and his family members were denied visitation rights. The head of the police team, Yeshi, for nabbing Drakpa was rewarded with a car for his “exemplary deed”. A security post was set up within the vicinity of Tawu Monastery manned by about 15 staff and Yeshi was put in charge.
On 5 October 2000, the County Court held a closed trial and sentenced Drakpa to nine years’ imprisonment sentence on charges of “endangering state securty” and “incitement against the masses”.
It was only in December of that year that his family members were allowed to pass him food although personal visits were still not permitted. Normally, a prisoner would be transferred to a prison after sentencing, but in Dhalpa’s case, he was continued to be detained at Tawu County Detention Centre. It was reported that Drakpa was so severely tortured in prison that both his legs and hands were fractured. He could not stand on his own and required support from his fellow prisoners to go to bathroom.
Nyima Drakpa was born in Tawu County, Kardze “TAP”, Sichuan Province. Drakpa is a 29-year-old monk of the local Tawu Nyitso Monastery. He went to a primary school for three years and spent one year in County Middle School. Until his admission in Tawu Nyitso Monastery in 1989, Drakpa engaged himself in farming. After a year’s stay at the monastery, he fled to India in 1990 and stayed for three years in a monastery in South India. In 1994, Drakpa returned to his monastery in Tibet where he stayed until his escape to Lhasa in the wake of impending arrest for his pro-independence postings. ¨
[ top ]Monk sentenced for Dalai Lama’s portrait
Yeshi Tsultrim, a monk in Ra-Med (Translit: ra smed) Monastery, Gongkar County, was sentenced to two year’s imprisonment sentence for displaying the Dalai Lama’s photograph in the monastery.
During 2002 Tibetan New Year (13 February 2002 according to western calendar), Yeshi displayed a portrait of the Dalai Lama on a throne in the monastery for a week. No sooner did the authorities come to know of the portrait, they interrogated the monks to find the “culprit” and labeled the act as reactionary activism. Subsequently Yeshi Tsultrim was arrested and sentenced to two and half years’ imprisonment in Trisam Prison in Toelung Dechen County.
Yeshi Tsultrim was born in Gongkar County and was the caretaker of the monastery until his arrest.
Though the Chinese government repeatedly announce that there is religious freedom in Tibet whereas in reality it is the total opposite. Even a portrait of the Dalai Lama can lead to lengthy prison sentence. Anti-Dalai Lama campaigns were started from the Third Tibet work forum held in 1994. In 1996, the Chinese government implemented the anti-Dalai Lama campaign in full force.
The Dalai Lama has been constantly condemned by government officials at every oppurtunity. The campaign led to arrest of numerous Tibetans in both the monastic and civil community for possession of Dalai Lama’s photograph. However, it may be noted that the campaign is not strictly followed in the far-flung rural areas and among nomads who are constantly moving and are hard to be monitored.
[ top ]Lobsang Tenphen, dissappeared since February
Lobsang Tenphen, 38, arrested on 12 February 2003 has dissappeared though others arrested in connection to Trulku Tenzin Delek's case are released. Tenphen's family is under deep anxiety due to authorities’ constant refusal to reveal any information on his whereabouts and health condition.
Tenphen is one of the thirteen known Tibetans arrested in connection to Trulku Tenzin Delek's case. It is believed that he has been arrested on grounds of suspicion for providing information on Trulku and Lobsang Dhondup to the outside world.
Originally from Lithang Zampa Township, Tenphen was married to Trulku Tenzin Delek's niece. On 12 February 2003, six police officers reportedly came to arrest Tenphen at his house. Tenphen's wife and her father strongly objected and enquired for reasons of arrest. The officers assured the family that they have "some questions to ask and nothing would happen to him". The officers further assured that "he will return very soon". Tenphen has not returned home since the police took him away for interrogations and it is feared that he might not be released soon if he is ever to be released. Since his arrest, none of his family members have been allowed to see him. His whereabouts has remained unknown all this while.
Following his arrest, the family approached Lithang County Security Department (Chinese: An-tsan-tsue), Karze Prefecture National Security Department and several other relevant offices, inquiring about Tenphen's health and whereabouts, but to no avail.
Most of the people in the locality are assuming that Tenphen might have been taken to Yak-ra-pukh Prison in Dartsedo County as all others arresteed in connection to Trulku Tenzin Delek were released from Yak-ra-pukh Prison. The family is under heavy apprehension as to Tenphen's situation. Some of them have started questioning whether he could be alive, as there is a possibility that he could have succumbed to heavy beatings and tortures, which is a routine feature in detention centres and prisons in Tibet. The repeated refusal by the authorities to provide any information on his whereabouts further infuriates their apprehension.
Background:
Lobsang Tenphen was born in 1965. Since childhood he assisted in his family's farm work and never went to school. When he was 19 years old, he started a petty business. He traded in Yartsa Gumbu (a medicinal plant, botanical name: Cordyceps sinensis) in summer and Yak skins during winter. At 25, he married Sonam Dolma, niece of Trulku Tenzin Delek and lived with his wife's family. The family consists of nine members.
In 1995, Tenphen had a hot verbal argument with the PSB authorities, when his brother Dhak Lobsang was arrested and imprisoned for alleged pamphleteering and postering of pro-independence slogans. Tenphen defended his brother for being not involved. In fury, he spat outside the gate of the detention centre in the presence of authorities. The authorities later warned Tenphen's family to take care of him, otherwise they will "take care of him".¨ correction: The name Lobsang Tenphen has been earlier mistakenly written as Taphel when information regarding his dissappearance first surfaced.
[ top ]Special Rapporteur on Education Criticizes China
According to Washington Post on 18 September, the Special Rapporteur on Education, Catarina Tomasevski, delivered a very harsh critique on China’s education policies. Ms. Tomasevski spoke to a group of reporters upon her return from two weeks visit to Beijing. She blasted the government’s ban on religious schooling and a system of arbitrary school fees that forces many families into debt.
The Special Rapporteur dismissed the Chinese government’s argument of doing a good job raising living standards and expanding access to education and health care. Ms. Tomasevski said that China remains in violation of its international obligations. According to the government, more than 90 percent of students receive at least nine years of education, and illiteracy among the young and middle ages is down to 5 percent. The Special Rapporteur said legal and illegal fees charged by Chinese schools have created “unreasonable financial obstacles for many, many children.”
Ms. Tomasevski said that a poor country like Uganda was doing better than China in guarenteeing the right to education. China spends only 2 percent of gross domestic product on education whereas United Nations recommends a minimum 6 percent.
Ms.Catirina Tomasevski is the first UN human rights investigator to visit China in almost a decade. China does not permit independent human rights monitoring groups such as U.S based Human Rights Watch and London based Amnesty International to visit the country. Many countries are putting pressure on China to allow visits by U.N. officials to conduct investigations particularly onmore sensitive issues such as torture in prison and religious repression.
China ratified the U.N. Child Rights Convention (CRC) on 2 March 1992.¨
[ top ]PROFILE OF A CURRENT POLITICAL PRISONER
Seven years’ sentence for pamphleteering
Trakru Yeshi (Tib translit: phrakru yeshes), 48, was born in Yoknak Township, Sog County, Nagchu Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region (“TAR”). His family was semi-nomads and consisted of five members. He was the middle in his siblings. Early in his childhood, Yeshi herded family livestock.
Although Trakru Yeshi received little education in his childhood, he landed a job at the local Hydro Power Station as an assistant and worked for around four or five years. Later he was sent along with thirty other students to Kongpo for vocational training in electrical works for three years. In 1990, upon finishing training, he was given job in the Sog County Hydro Power Station. Trakru Yeshi worked in the department as an assistant in laying wires and fixing minor electrical problems in the county.
In July 1999, Trakru Yeshi and some friends decided to protest against the Chinese occupation of Tibet. The group got hold of a wooden block print with pro-independence slogans such as “Free Tibet”, “Long live His Holiness the Dalai Lama”, “China quit Tibet”, “Tibet belongs to Tibetan”. They imprinted thousands of pamphlets making use of the block. Yeshi and his group members pasted pro-independence posters and scattered hundreds all over the streets and markets in the county. The pamphlets became very prominent and Sog County “PSB”reported the incident to higher-level officials.
Nagchu Prefecture PSB officials and Lhasa City Ang jang jue (secret service) came to Sog County to investigate into the matter. In March 2000, Yeshi Tenzin and Gyurmey, accomplices of Trakru Yeshi in pamphlateering, were the first to be apprehended by the police. The duo underwent intensive beatings and torture and was compelled to reveal the names of their accomplices. Subsequently, all involved were arrested on different dates and from different places. A total to eight people were arrested with the oldest arrestee being an 83 year old man.
Trakru Yeshi was apparently arrested during the day by Sog County PSB officials. His colleagues at work were strictly instructed against telling anyone about his arrest. The police discovered the wooden block print at another accomplice house. Many Sog residents were also detained and underwent severe interrogations.
In December 2000, Nagchu Prefecture Intermediate People’s Court sentenced six of the arrestees to varying prison terms ranging from seven years’ imprisonment to life on alleged political charges of charges of colluding with the “Dalai Clique” and carrying out activities that “endangs state security”. The court produced independence posters, a wooden block print and audio-cassettes containing speeches of the Dalai Lama as evidences of the charges levied on them.
Trakru Yeshi was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment. Sey Khedup (30) was suspected of rendering his carpentary skills in making the wooden block print and received life imprisonment. Tsering Lhagon (44) who was in possession of the wooden block print was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment sentence.
After the court passed it’s verdict, Trakru Yeshi was transferred to Drapchi Prison to serve his sentence. Yeshi continues to be incarcerated in Drapchi Prison.¨
[ top ]TCHRD ACTIVITIES BULLETIN
TCHRD Board of Directors meeting
TCHRD Board of Directors met on 12 and 15 September 2003. The Board members present for the meeting were Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche, Chairman, Kalon Lobsang Nyandak, Vice Chairman, Ms. Tsewang Lhadon, Executive Secretary, Ms. Norzin Dolma, Treasurer, Ms. Dolma Gyari, member, Mr. Penpa Tsering, member , Ms. Tsering Norzom Thonsur, Mr. Karma Yeshi, member, Ms. B.Tsering, member and Ms. Youdon Aukatsang, member.¨
Executive Director attends Tibet Support Group meeting in Chandigarh
Ms. Tsewang Lhadon, Executive Director, attended the All India Tibet Support Groups meeting in Chandigarh. Ms. Tsewang talked to the meeting participants on the human rights situation in Tibet. The Prime Minister of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile also graced the meeting and called on the Indian Tibet support groups to continue their support.
Information Officer visits T.C.V school for educational talk series
Mr. Ugyen Tsewang, Information Officer, visited Upper Tibetan Children’s Village School, Dharamsala, as part of TCHRD’s educational talk series.
Mr. Ugyen took classes for six sections of the ninth grade during his visits on the 18, 19 and 22 September. The students were taught human rights and democracy concepts. The students asked numerous questions on the human rights violation taking place in Tibet.
TCHRD Commemorates Democracy Day
As part of Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy’s (TCHRD) twin mission of highlighting the human rights situation in Tibet and educating the Tibetan community in the concept of democracy, TCHRD organised a panel discussion titled “People and the Three Pillars of Democracy” on the Tibetan Democracy Day on 2 September 2003 at Hotel Bhagsu conference hall.
One representative each from the Judiciary (Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission), Executive (Kashag), and Legislature (Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies), were invited to represent the three pillars of Tibetan Democracy.
Mr. Shau Lobsang Dhargyal, former Justice of Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission talked on the history of Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission and the responsibilities it hold. He gave a rare insight into the Dalai Lama’s suggestions and concern while setting up the Justice Commission.
The representative from Kashag (the Executive), Mr. Tsering Dhondup, Additional Secretary spoke at length on the responsibilities of Kashag, to issue instructions and decisions for all administrative and political matters relating to the Tibetan Government-in-exile and the Tibetan people through concerned departments, institutions, organizations etc.
Ven. Tsering Phuntsok, member of the Standing Committee of Tibetan parliament-in-exile spoke on the role and purpose of Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies (ATPD), which were enacting and amending laws governing Tibetan people in diaspora, assessing and catering to the needs and conditions of Tibetans in exile by conducting periodic tours and reporting back.
The floor was later opened for questions to the representatives. The audience who were from all walks of life earnestly participated in the question and answer session taking every opportunity in clearing their doubts. Many of the questions were very pertinant to Tibetan Democracy.
