APRIL 2004
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Five students from Tibet University detained, one expelled
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China blocks US Resolution on Human Rights at 60th UNHCHR
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Testimony of a former political prisoner, Jigme Gyalpo
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Permission regulation deny monks to meditate
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TCHRD commemorates 15th birthday of the XIth Panchen Lama
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Chinese authorities step up internet surveillance
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Eleven years’ imprisonment term for Jangchub Dolma, the resolute nun
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Executive Director attends the 60th UNHCHR
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Public Lecture
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TCHRD commemorates Panchen Lama’s 15th Birthday
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In June 2003 a Tibetan student was reported to have been arrested from the Tibet University in Lhasa. The arrestee, Dawa Tashi, reached Dharamsala, India, and testified to the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) his personel accounts of the events that took place during the time.
According to Dawa Tashi, on 9 June 2003 civil clothed Lhasa Public Security Bureau (PSB) officials came to the University campus and ransacked the students living quarters and found a letter addressed to the United Nations and other political literary writings. Five students including Dawa were immediately arrested and subsequently detained in Tibet Autonomous Region (“TAR”) PSB Detention Centre.
The five had clandestinely written political essays and formed a secret group called “Tibetan Democractic Youth Group” (Tib translit: gangs ljongs gzhonu’I dmangs tso tshogspa).
Since the group was only involved in preparation for a political activity and had not actually carried out any activity in public, Pema Lodhen, Tashi Topjor, Choenyi Penpa, and Tsering Ngodup were released after a month’s detention and allowed to return to Tibet University. However, Dawa Tashi was suspected as the ringleader and was held in detention for one more month.
Dawa was released and returned to Tibet University on 25 August 2003. Upon his return to the University, the Principal and head of the Tibetan Department accused Dawa of damaging the University’s reputation and inciting other students against the Government. They threatened to expel him from the University without granting his certificates. A meeting was called in the University consisting of three thousand students and faculty members where Dawa was declared as a “Dalai clique”. The assembly was called to condemn Dawa for his “splittist activities”. The condemnation was made public through the University loud speakers and literary journals. Department meetings were held and criticism essays on Dawa’s activities were written.
Dawa who had only one examination left to graduate lamented, “I was very depressed when they expelled me. My life has been ended. After all these years of studies, it’s very disheartening to be expelled at a stage when I was just a step away from my graduation. My future looks bleak.”
In August 2003, Agence France Presse (AFP) news agency reported that Vice Mayor of Lhasa City admitted to having arrested two Tibetans on “splittist charges” to a media group on official trip to the “TAR”. The Vice Mayor, Dhargyal, told the reporters that Dawa Tashi, a Tibet University student, and Yeshi Gyatso, member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), were arrested in June 2003 on suspicion of ‘separatist offences’. The Vice Mayor said that the two had been accused of ‘splitting the motherland, undermining unity of nationalities and violating the constitution’. He further told the reporters that Dawa Tashi was released after he confessed to the charges.
Tibet University is the biggest University in “TAR” with an enrollment of three thousand Tibetan and Chinese students. Tibetans form the majority with approximately two thousand in number. The University has a history of political activities. In 1988, the students of the University staged a demonstration calling for promotion of Tibetan language. Lobsang Tenzin, a student was arrested on 5 March 1988 for activities calling for freedom in Tibet. Lobsang Tenzin is currently imprisoned in Pawo Tramo Prison serving 18 years’ imprisonment term. In 1989, Ganglha, a female student at the University was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment term for her activities concerning freedom for Tibet.
Dawa Tashi, 23, was born in Nagartse County, Lhoka Prefecture, “TAR”. Dawa studied in a village Elementary School from 1988 to 1991 and in Nagartse Government Primary School from 1991 to 1994. Later he did his Junior Secondary School from 1994 to 1997. In 2000, Dawa passed his Senior Secondary School. Since September 2000 till his expulsion, Dawa was a student in the Tibetan Department at Tibet University.
The details on the other detainees are as follow; Pema Lodhen, 24, Nagartse County, Lhoka Prefecture, “TAR”, Commerce Department, Tashi Topjor, 24, Chusum County, Lhoka Prefecture, “TAR”, Biology Department, Choenyi Penpa, 24, Nagartse County, Lhoka Prefecture, “TAR”, Tibetan Medicine Department, Tsering Ngodup, 23, Lhodak County, Lhoka Prefecture, “TAR”, Tibetan Medicine Department.
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The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) expresses its dismay over the rejection of a resolution on human rights situation in China at the 60th session of the United Nations High Commission on Human Rights (UNHCHR) in Geneva.
A resolution (E/CN.4/2004/L.37) proposed by the United States of America was dismissed at the 60th UNHCHR when China called for “No-Action Motion”. The motion warranted voting by all the 53 member states of UN on the resolution. The voting on China’s No-Action Motion which took place at 18.00 hours on 15 April resulted in 28 votes in favour, 16 against and 9 abstentions.
Between the period of 1990 and 2004, 11 such resolutions on China were tabled at the annual meetings of the UNHCHR and all have been defeated by China’s No-Action Motion. However, the year 1995 saw China’s No-Action Motion against resolution on China’s human rights records resulting in a tie but the resolution itself was later defeated by one vote. This year, out of total 53 UN member states that participated in the voting, TCHRD found 28 member states to be new.
The voting result of the past decade (1990 – 2004) illustrates wave of favour over resolutions from the North American States and European States, and only few supports from Asia Pacific Regions and African States, and neutral stand taken by majority of the Latin American and Carribean States through abstention.
The US draft resolution presented at the Commission reiterates the “obligation on the part of Member States to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms as stated in the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights” (UDHR) and further noted “the transformation of Chinese Society”. The Resolution additionally took note of “some steps taken by China over the past two decades to enhance the enjoyment of human rights”. However, the Resolution expresses concern about “continuing reports of severe restrictions on freedom of assembly, association, expression, conscience and religion”; lack of adequate legal process and transparency, and “arrest and severe sentences” for those exercising their fundamental rights. The Resolution “encourages China to permit visits by UN Mechanisms” and to take “additional steps to cooperate with the international community in the human rights area”.
TCHRD considers the year 2003 as the year of gravest human rights violations in Tibet as evidenced by Lobsang Dhondup’s execution, upholding of death sentence for Trulku Tenzin Delek, and reports of 27 new arrests of Tibetans, closure of a monastic school, and forceful eviction of Tibetan nomads and herders from their traditional landholdings under the pretext of “development”. The much hyped development projects in Tibet are devoid of Tibetan participation and consultation from decision-making to its actual implementation.
Many human rights watchdog including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Tibet Information Network and International Campaign for Tibet have continued to highlight cases of China’s human rights abuses and furthermore, several government delegates at the UN Commission have urged the Chinese Government to respect the international human rights treaties to which they are a signatory.
On 14 April 2004, the day before the No-Action Motion took place, a three fact-finding experts of the United Nations Commission namely Mr.Ambeyi Ligabo, Special Rapporteur on the Right of Freedom of Opinion and Expression, Mr. Leandro Despony, Independence of Judge and Lawyers and Ms. Hina Jilani, Special Representative of the Secretary General on Human Rights, released a statement on Human Rights. The statement expressed “deep concern” over situation of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche as he “might be executed at any time upon expiration of the suspension of his death sentence on 3 December 2004”. The experts also shared concerns over “alleged lapses in trial proceedings” of Trulku Tenzin Delek and urges the authorities in China to “grant him [Tenzin Delek] a new trial ensuring respect for international norms and standard of due process”.
The dismal voting record on China Resolution reflects the failure of UN member states in taking a principled stand on the propounded ideals of fundamental freedoms and human rights as enshrined in the UDHR. It is also indicative of China’s success and sophistication in pursuance of its aggressive lobby tactics and diplomatic pressures by using both economic and political leverage. The second factor is evident from the support that China has managed to garner over the years from developing countries such as African States and countries from Asia Pacific Region.
TCHRD condemns China’s continued use of No-Action Motion, as a permanent member of the U.N Security Council, as it curtails the stated missions and principles of the United Nations. It brings into question the legitimacy and effectiveness of the United Nations and its committee on human rights. TCHRD urges the UN member countries to effectively and unfailingly address human rights concerns at such multilateral platform thereby ensuring that all its members respect the fundamental human rights and freedom as enshrined in international laws and domestic laws. TCHRD calls upon the Chinese Government to stop human rights violations in Tibet.
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Jigme Gyalpo, 29, a former political prisoner arrived in Nepal in April 2004. Jigme was incarcerated for six years in Drapchi Prison for posters calling for Tibetan freedom.
Jigme told TCHRD, “ I was born in a farming family in Tsashol Township, Meldrogungkar County. I attended a local school for eight years. Later when I grew up, I encouraged other youngsters in Tibetan nationalism and to learn Tibetan language alongwith other studies to strive for freedom in Tibet.”
“On 20 April 1995, I and my friend Bukhog pasted posters calling for freedom in Tibet on the gate of Tsashol Township. We also pasted Tibetan national flags on the gate and administrative buildings. The County Public Security Bureau (“PSB”) officials arrested both of us and detained us in Meldrogungkar County PSB Detention Centre. During one and a half month’s detention, Bukhog and I were subjected to torture while interrogation. The officials threw boiling water on our face and hit on the heels with electric batons while our hands were tied tightly behind our back. We were later shifted to Lhasa PSB Detention Centre a.k.a Gutsa Detention Centre for further interrogations. Lhasa People’s Intermediate Court sentenced both of us to six years’ imprisonment term and we were transfered to Drapchi Prison to serve the sentence.”
“On 19 April 2001, I was released and I stayed in Lhasa and Meldrogungkar doing petty businesses. On 3 April 2004, I fled Tibet and reached safely in Kathmandu Tibetan Refugee Reception Centre.”
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Jigme Namgyal, 37, was born in Sarshar Village, Sershul County. At an early age Jigme became a monk at Amdo Phuntsokling Monastery. When he became 29 years old, he went to Lhoka Samye Drakmar Monastery to practice meditation. However, the Chinese authorities stationed in the monastery denied him to meditate saying that he would need permission documents to allow him to meditate. Jigme went to the Hrichi County Religion Bureau to seek permission for meditation and after eight days of visits, the authorities granted him permission to meditate for three months. Most of the monks who wishes to stay on meditation are given permission for a maximum period of one year and the monks are required to pay 25 Yuan annualy as land tax. On the expiry of his three months meditation permit, Jigme continued to meditate for three years. However, in 1998 Chinese work teams visited the monastery as well as a nunnery nearby to conduct “Patriotic Re-education Campaign”.
The monks were required to sign documents denouncing the Dalai Lama and condemning the “separatist activities”. However, the monks didnot put their signature thus provoking the “Work Team” officials to threatening to destroy the monastery. The senior monks incharge of administration of the monastery were anxious that the Chinese officials may destroy the monastery according to their threat. So inorder to protect the monastery, the monks were asked to put fake signatures and the document was submitted to the authorities.
The monastic population decreases every year due to such strict regualtions and political indoctrination. “I have strong concern that Samye Drakmar Monastery will perish in the near future as there is no religious freedom in the monastery”, said Jigme Namgyal.
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Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the XIth Panchen Lama of Tibet, turned 15 on 25 April 2004. It is his ninth year in Chinese custody at an undisclosed location after he and his parents disappeared in 1995.
On 14 May 1995, His Holiness the Dalai Lama recognised Gedhun Choekyi Nyima as the reincarnation of the Xth Panchen Lama. The government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) declared the announcement invalid and illegal. Three days later, the six-year-old boy and his parents disappeared and have never been seen again.
A few months after the disappearance, the PRC government appointed its own Panchen Lama, a boy named Gyaltsen Norbu. A year later, in May 1996, the PRC admitted to holding Gedhun Choekyi Nyima “at the request of his parents” for “he was at the risk of being kidnapped by separatists and his security had been threatened”. It is strange that the Chinese authorities would go to such lengths to provide “security” for someone they considered just an ordinary boy.
In the years following this announcement, the PRC ordered that only the Chinese-appointed Panchen Lama was to be recognised in Tibet, while monks, nuns and ordinary Tibetans were ordered to denounce Gedhun Choekyi Nyima. There were many cases of arrests, detentions, sentencing and expulsions from religious institutions of monks and nuns who failed to denounce the real Panchen Lama. Reports from refugees fleeing Tibet, and from western travellers, are that pictures of the Chinese-appointed Panchen Lama are displayed prominently in the main monasteries and tourist hotels of Tibet. On the other hand, pictures of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Gedhun Choekyi Nyima are banned in most parts of Tibet.
Many UN representatives and government delegations around the world have expressed concern over the Panchen Lama’s continued detention, and called for the Chinese authorities to allow access to the boy by an independent figure acceptable to the Chinese Government and Tibetans to verify his health and living conditions. However the PRC continues to deny any outside access to the child and his parents.
In October 2000 a British delegation was told by Chinese authorities that the boy was well and attending school. They said that his parents did not want international figures and the media intruding into his life. Two photographs claimed to be of the Panchen Lama were shown to the British delegation showing a boy of approximately the same age. However it was impossible to determine the boy’s identity or location, and the British officials were not given the photos to take with them.
In August 2001, a Polish Parliamentary delegation visiting Lhasa was told in response to repeated questions that Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was healthy; the delegation was promised photos of the boy within six weeks but never received them. Later, the Polish Government received a letter from the Chinese embassy in Warsaw stating that Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and his parents did not want their peaceful life disturbed by strangers, and that the Chinese government “respects freedom of choice for its citizens and hopes that the Polish people would understand that too.”
In March 2002, a government delegation from the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) met with a European Parliament delegation and once again said that Gedhun Choekyi Nyima did not wish to be disturbed. The TAR delegation refused to answer questions about photographs promised to the Polish delegation. In the light of a refusal to provide photographs which positively identify Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, or to allow independent access to the boy and his family, the Tibetan people can only fear the worst.
The continued disappearance of the second highest lama in the Tibetan hierarchy completely contradicts China’s claim to respect religious freedom in Tibet. It is highly concerning that such prominent religious figure is denied and bereft of any traditional religious studies and training even if he is alive.
Chinese authorities have continued to crackdown on religious figures in Tibet in the belief that Buddhism breeds political instability in volatile regions of Tibet. Trulku Tenzin Delek, the respected religious leader from Sichuan Province, is currently under death sentence more for his social and religious activism than for his alleged political activities. Geshe Sonam Phuntsok, another prominent religious figure is serving five years’ detention for his expressed allegiance to the Dalai Lama.
The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy is appalled at the Chinese government’s continued detention of a 15-year-old boy. TCHRD calls upon the PRC to allow an independent figure to visit Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and verify his health and living conditions. TCHRD urges the international community to be stronger in their condemnation of China’s human rights record in general and to pressurize the Chinese Government to release the young Panchen Lama and to provide him with proper access to religious studies and training. TCHRD appeals the United Nations and its various thematic bodies to intervene on the matter and to maintain constant pressure on the Chinese Government to secure release of the young Panchen Lama.
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Chinese authorities have imposed a new internet surveillance system whereby internet users in Lhasa City are required to use an individual registration number and a password to browse the internet, reported Washington based International Campaign for Tibet on 30 April 2004.
This unprecedented internet monitoring step allows the authorities to easily track every individual’s e-mail exchange to the outside world and the websites visited. Internet Security of the Lhasa Public Security Bureau, the main branch office of the Office of Public Information, located on Duodi South Avenue, opposite the Prefectural Cultural Relics Department is the monitoring headquarter where Tibetans have earlier been interrogated for visiting banned websites or political sensitive mails.
The new system requires the net savvy Lhasa residents to acquire an “Internet Browsing Registration Card” from the cyber café and fill a form providing passport or citizen identification information (Ch: shen fen zheng) before browsing the World Wide Web. The cards are issued to the cyber cafés by the Internet Security Headquarter.
Earlier PSB officers would install tracking softwares in cyber cafés and visit regularly to collect information on the websites visited but that practice disallowed them to know the exact individual who might have visited government listed sensitive sites. With the new system in place every bit of information exchanged can be traced to the concerned individual.
Chinese authorities have in the past used filtering systems with firewalls containing politically sensitive vocabularies relating to “Tibetan Independence”, “the Dalai Lama”, “Tibetan Government-in-Exile”, “Taiwan”, “Falun Gong”, “June 4”, “Human Rights” etc. to list a few. A survey by Harvard Law School Reseachers between the period of May 2002 to Novermber 2002 revealed that the Chinese government prevented users from viewing both sexually and non-sexually explicit websites. Thousands of websites including the popular Google search engine were found banned besides political sensitive websites relating to Tibetan freedom struggle.
The government purchased approximately USD 1 Million in software “to carry out comprehensive long-term monitoring” and repress illegal activities in Internet cafés, according to Xinhua News Agency on April 21 2004.
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Jangchub Dolma, 29, was born in a nomadic family in Damshung County. As a child she never had the opportunity to attend school since she was always engaged in family nomadic chores. She was later able to join and take her nun ordination vow at Yangpachen Ghalo Nunnery, the local nunnery of the town where her family had settled.
On 20 February 1995, Jangchub Dolma along with another nun, Rinchen Pema, from her nunnery went to the center of Lhasa city and staged a demonstration, shouting slogans of independence and praying for the Dalai Lama’s long life. Within minutes the local Public Security Bureau (PSB) arrested them and detained them in the Detention Centre for several days. During the time, they were subjected to severe abuse and relentless interrogation sessions, questioning them about their motives for the demonstration. From there, the two nuns were taken east of Lhasa to Gutsa Detention Center or more popularly known by Gutsa only. Gutsa is Lhasa City’s PSB Detention Centre and is notorious for it’s inhumane methods of interrogation. During their time in detention, the nuns were victims of Gutsa prison officials’ constant brutal verbal and physical abuse. After five months at Gutsa, Lhasa People’s Intermediate Court pronounced the two nuns as guilty on charges of “spliting the motherland” and spreading “counterrevolutionary propaganda” to the public. Jangchub Dolma was sentenced to five years and Richen Pema to six years’ imprisonment term. On 29th July 1995, Jangchub Dolma was amongst the sixty political prisoners who were shifted to the infamous Drapchi Prison.
Jangchub Dolma was also amongst the many prisoners at Drapchi Prison who participated in the 1 and 4 May 1998 prisoner demonstration that took place inside Drapchi prison. The prison officials had organized a ceremony on 1 May to commemorate International Labour Day. A flag raising ceremony was planned, where the prisoners would be made to sing songs praising Socialism as well as the Chinese national anthem.
However, the prisoners refused and instead staged a demonstration calling for independence. The authorities were only able to regain control after several hours of ruthless beating towards the prisoners. With much heavier security the failed program was again planned to be performed on 4 May to mark International Youth Day. Once again the prisoners did not comply. As the Chinese flag was being raised, a demonstration once again broke out. Even the prisoners in units who were being held inside the prison joined in the demonstration by shouting through windows and cell bars, when they heard the cries of prisoners who were assembled outside.
Jangchub Dolma was accused of being one of the key culprits of the events that took place. She was mercilessly beaten and subjected to solitary confinement for several months, as a result of which her health became extremely weak. The officials of prison also petitioned to increase her sentence by six years making her total imprisonment term to 11 years. She is now due to be released in 2006, if her sentence isn’t increased a second time. Since1987 to the present day, there has been 47 cases of political prisoners whose sentences were increased for various reasons at Drapchi prison.
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Ms. Tsewang Lhadon, Executive Director, attended the 60th session of the United Nations High Commission on Human Rights (UNHCHR) in Geneva, Switzerland.
The UN Special Rapporteur on Education, Ms. Catarina Tomasevski’s report on education in China made a huge impact in the 60th UNHCR. Numerous briefings were held in this regard. On 1 April 2004, International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR) organised a briefing “Education in China and Tibet”. During the briefing, Ms. Catarina Tomasevski spoke on the “Human Rights in China’s Education”. Other speakers included Mr. Nicolas Becquellin, Research Director of Human Rights in China, spoke on “The Education System for Minorities in China” and Ms. Tsewang Lhadon, Executive Director of TCHRD spoke on the “Lack of Mother Tongue: How China’s Policy Affects Tibetan Language”. The briefing was moderated by Mr. Ravi Nair, Director of South Asian Human Rights Documentation Centre.
On 31 March, the Society for Threatened Peoples organised a briefing Human Rights in the People’s Republic of China with special reference to Tibet and Xinjiang. Mr. Nicholas Becquellin gave “An Overview of the Human Rights Situation in China”.
Mr. Chime R Choekyappa, Representative of H.H. the Dalai Lama in Switzerland spoke on “Human Rights and Tibet’s Non-violent Struggle”, *Mr. Enver Can, President of East Turkestan National Congress, spoke on “Human Rights and the Uyghur People”, Ven. Yeshi Togden, President, Gu-Chu-Sum Movement, spoke on “The Suppression of Religious Freedom in Tibet” which was interpreted by Ms. Tsewang Lhadon.
On 1 April, Ms. Tsewang met with the Tibetans residing in Switzerland who had gathered in large numbers outside the UN complex. Ms. Tsewang introduced the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy and its effort in the UNHCHR. She also briefed the gathering of the human rights situation in Tibet.
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Ms. Tsewang Lhadon, Executive Director, and Mr. Ugyen Tsewang, Information officer, were invited as resource persons for workhops on human rights and democracy at Clementown from 19-21 April and at Manali from 17-18 April respectively. The topics covered in the two workshops were Concept of Human Rights, Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Overview of Human Rights Situation in Tibet.
On 7 April 2004, Mr. Jampa Monlam, Researcher, spoke about Trulku Tenzin Delek to the Tibetan Women’s Association organised demonstration commemorating two years since Trulku was arrested and later sentenced to death with a suspension of two years.
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On 25 April 2004, the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) commemorated the 15th birth anniversary of the XIth Panchen Lama, Gendun Choekyi Nyima. Gendhun Choekyi Nyima then only six years old dissappeared on 17 May 1995 after the Dalai Lama recognized the boy as the reincarnation of the Xth Panchen Lama, Erdini Choekyi Gyaltsen.
TCHRD conducted painting competition, paintings display, giant banner painting, and a panel discussion at the main temple (Tsuglakhang) in Mcleod Ganj, Dharamsala to commemorate the day.
As a symbolic gesture TCHRD invited 15-year-old children from Upper TCV, Lower TCV, Gopalpur TCV, Kirti Monastery, and Dolmaling Nunnery to participate in the painting competition themed “Child Rights Issues in Tibet”. The best painting done by a lower TCV student got the first cash prize whereas two students from TCV Gopalpur received the cash prize for second and third best paintings. A novice monk from Kirti Monastery also received a third best painting prize.
The day followed with a panel discussion on the dissappeared Panchen Lama in the evening. The panelist included Takna Jigme Sangpo,former longest-serving Tibetan political prisoner, Mr. Tenpa Soepa, a staff at the Private Office of H.H. the Dalai Lama, Ms. Tsewang Lhadon, Director, TCHRD; and Mr. Ugyen Tsewang, Information Officer, TCHRD.
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