December 2004
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Death sentence for Bangri Rinpoche commuted to life imprisonment
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Monk expelled for going on "illegal" pilgrimage
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TCHRD commemorates 56th World Human Rights Day
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Monk arrives in exile to pursue monastic studies freely
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Commotion between monks and government officials
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Recent arrivals report ill-treatment and nepotism in schools in Tibet
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Mining results in imprisonment
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New TCHRD Publications
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Briefings by TCHRD staff
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The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD)received reliable updated information on Bangri Rinpoche’s arrest on 26 August 1999. (Ref: TCHRD Update January 2000 & December 2003)
In May 2001, Bangri Rinpoche was sentenced to death with two years suspension on charges of "espionage" and "endangering state security" by the Lhasa Municipality Intermediate People’s Court. Nima Choedon, Bangri Rinpoche’s wife, was sentenced to ten years imprisonment on the same charges. On 29 May 2001, both were shifted to Drapchi Prison in the north of Lhasa City and were incarcerated in solitary confinement for more than a year. They were later shifted to prison unit no. 5 meant for prisoners with political charges.
In 2003 Bangri Rinpoche’s death sentence with two years suspension was commuted to life imprisonment. Nima Choedon who is currently in Drapchi Prison is due for release in year 2008.
Bangri Rinpoche’s arrest was followed by arrest of Dechen Choezom, sister of Rinpoche on the night of 29 August 1999 by Lhasa Public Security Bureau (PSB) officials. She was taken for interrogation and detained for nine days before being released. She was re-arrested on 17 October 1999 and sentenced to three years term.
Rinpoche’s arrest came on charges of his alleged connection with Tashi Tsering who was implicated in a bomb explosion attempt at the Potala Square during the National Minority Games held in Lhasa in August 1999.
TCHRD came to know that Tashi Tsering committed suicide on 8 February 2000. Unable to bear continued interrogation through severe torture, he slit his throat with a razor blade and died.
As per TCHRD source, at least 23 people were arrested in connection with Bangri Rinpoche’s case. Twelve of them were sentenced to imprisonment with varying terms. Except for Bangri Rinpoche and Nyima Choedon, all were released after completing their sentences.
Three close relatives of Bangri Rinpoche were detained at Sangyip Detention Center before being shifted to Gutsa Detention Center. As per information all of the arrestees were subjected to series of interrogations on their connections with Rinpoche and many more were tortured while in detention.
Bangri Rinpoche’s arrest was followed by the authorities’ closure of Gyatso Orphanage on 17 October 1999. The Orphanage was a children’s home built by Rinpoche. At the time of its closure there were 59 destitute children between the age of two months to twelve years old.
It has also come to light that due to innumerable torture in prison, at present Bangri Rinpoche is not in a position to move his upper part of the body and lost much of his body weight. In addition Rinpoche had developed an ulcer and jaundice while in prison. Overall his health condition is known to have deteriorated considerably.
TCHRD is appalled at the news of the death sentence on Bangri Rinpoche. The Centre expresses grave concern over China’s use of death penalty, more so over the kind of charges for which it is used. Amnesty International called for a moratorium on the death penalty in China and said that China’s justice system is no condition to offer fair trials. The fact that TCHRD received this news so late also indicates the tight control on the information outflow.
Background information on Bangri Rinpoche.
Jigme Tenzin Nima (a.k.a Bangri Rinpoche) was born in Nangchen County, Jyekundo "Tibet Autonomous Prefecture", Qinghai Province. He was recognized as the reincarnation of Bangri Rinpoche of Bangri Monastery in Kongpo (Ch: Nyingtri). Bangri Rinpoche was very concerned about children especially orphans who could not receive education although they had reached their schooling age. Rinpoche’s concern and generosity led him to establish an orphanage school through his own money and donations. The orphanage was founded in Gyatso Township near the Norbulingka Palace and was named as Gyatso orphanage.
In May 1996, 40 orphans from various parts of Tibet were admitted into the orphanage. Rinpoche took the overall responsibility to look after the orphanage. His wife Nyima Choedon, assisted him in administration works. The orphans were given education in Tibetan language, Chinese language, English language and mathematics.
Until the arrest of Bangri Rinpoche and Nima Choedon in August 1999, Gyatso Orphanage catered to the needs of orphans and street children who had no one to look after them.
Sherab Tharchin, 26, hails from Tongtso Village, Ghomo Township, Geytse County, in Ngari Prefecture.
Sherab was expelled from Lopo Dechen Monastery, for going on pilgrimage to Mount Kailash (Tib: Gang Rinpoche) without seeking official permissio. A regulation passed by the County authorities required the monks to seek permission to go on pilgrimage.
Sherab reported, "I was born in a nomadic family. When I became 17 years old, I joined Lopo Dechen Monastery in my native Tongtso Village. I studied in the monastery for nine years. I took various responsibilities in the monastery as Chant master and as the disciplinarian of the monastery. Our monastery is a small one consisting around 10 monks. The monastery was constructed with the financial support from Karma Tsultrim, Director of Ngari Men-Tse-Khang (Traditional Tibetan Medical Institute). He built a Tibetan medicine clinic within the monastery. Otherwise, we did not have a Tibetan or Western medicine clinic set-up by the government in our area. We have neither hospitals nor clinics in our area. Nobody is there to take care of health of the people in our area."
"In 2002, the authorities imposed a new regulation on our monastery which ordered the monks to obtain permission to visit other places. According to the regulation, monks in our monastery are required to take official permission to visit Lhasa and nearby areas for pilgrimage and religious purposes. The permission has to go through three different levels - first to the monastery, then to the Township authorities and finally from the County authorities. Many monks applied for permission to go for pilgrimage, but not a single one was given permission. It was almost impossible to obtain permission. Frustrated by the system, I decided to embark on my pilgrimage without permission."
"In 2003, I secretly went on pilgrimage for one-month to Gang Rinpoche. On return, I was interrogated by the local officials from the religious department. They suspected me of trying to leave to India. In the end, the authorities asked me to write a self-discipline pledge which declares that I will not go on tour or pilgrimage without official permission. I refused to write the letter. As a result, on 25 September 2003, I was expelled from monastery and fined 6,450 Yuan for breaking the regulation."
"I returned home after expulsion. I stayed with my family for a while before coming to India."
10 December 1948 marked the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). A resolution of the UN General Assembly proclaimed the Declaration as the "common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations" in respect for human rights.
Member States of the United Nations including China, pledged themselves to achieve in co-operation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Originally the Declaration was conceived as a statement of objectives to be achieved by Governments. However, the fact that it has been accepted by so many States has given it considerable moral weight. In 1968, the UN International Conference on Human Rights agreed that the Declaration "constitutes an obligation for the members of the international community".
On December 10, 1989, the Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for His continous struggle for peace and human rights through non-violence. This also marked an important turning point in the history of the Tibetan struggle for freedom in the international community.
However, China as a member of the United Nations and a prominent global actor in the international community, has failed to respect the principles set forth in the Declaration of Human Rights. Chinese authorities continue to practice a systematic denial of human rights of the Tibetan people.
During 2004, TCHRD has documented, among others, the following events:
TCHRD received information of 13 new arrests of Tibetans suspected of political activities;
Tsering Pel, a monk in Machen County in Amdo, was shot dead by Chinese authorities for what seemed to be a verbal scuffle;
Yeshi Gyatso, a political prisoner, died within a month after his release from a detention Centre in Lhasa. It is believed that he died as a result of torture he suffered in prison;
Three Tibetans were arrested for protesting against mining activities authorised by the local Chinese government in the Sog County (Ch: Suo Xian) on 4 September, 2004;
Trulku Tenzin Delek accused on charges of "terrorist acts" and sentenced to death, faces an uncertain fate as his two-year suspended death sentence draws near;
Over 150 Tibetans still remain detained in the various prisons in Tibet for exercising their freedom of expression;The Panchen Rinpoche, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and many more senior religious leaders’ whereabouts still remain unknown;
China announced the launch of the "Strike Hard" campaign in Lhasa in October 2004. The Campaign gives unlimited authority and powers to the police to clamp down on Tibetans.
The 2nd session of the 10th National People’s Congress in March 2004, made a historic amendment to the Constitution of China by adding the words "human rights". It said, "The State respects and safeguards human rights". However, the amendment fell short of details on enforcement mechanism leaving the interpretation of the term "human rights" open and ambiguous.
The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, expresses its concerns over China’s use of the terms - "State secrets" , "social stability" and "public order crimes", etc., that are being increasingly used against Tibetans to arrest and imprison them. The Centre believes that so long as such excuses continue to be used by the authorities, any amendment to the Constitution will not make a difference.
On the 56th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, TCHRD would like to urge the international community to remain vigilant of China’s human rights policies and practices in Tibet. The Centre would also like to call upon the Chinese government to respect and comply with international standards of human rights practices.
Thupten Tsering, 22, belongs to Kyadha Township, Sog County, Kardze Prefecture, Sichuan Province. Unable to pursue monastic studies in Tibet, Thupten arrived in exile to join a monastery in Southern India.
Thupten told TCHRD, "I spent my childhood engaged in farming and couldn’t go to school. At the age of 19, I was ordained as a monk at Woenang Monastery. The monastery accommodates around 30 monks, after the authorities imposed ceiling on the monastic strength in the monastery and an age regulation was imposed. A monk needs to have Chinese official passbook to get admission in the monastery. Every year, a group of seven to eight Chinese officials visit the monastery to conduct "patriotic re- education" classes. In cases of indifferent behavior on the part of the monks, the Chinese authorities threaten to close the monastery. Hence, the monks attend the compulsory classes under compulsion. I stayed in the monastery for five years."
"I decided to join Drepung Monastery in Lhasa and sought permission from authorities of monastery, township and County. But I was denied permission."
"However, in 2002, I escaped to Lhasa and joined Drepung Monastery as a provisional student. However, I received frequent phone calls to return to my old monastery or else I would face a monetary fine. I ignored the phone calls and continued to stay in Drepung Monastery."
"The authorities in my hometown sent a letter to Drepung Monastery asking for my expulsion from the monastery. And I was expelled accordingly."
Thupten’s observations on Drepung Monastery
Thupten further told TCHRD, "The permanent resident monks of Drepung Monastery have to attend "patriotic re- education" sessions at least once a month and are expected to recite a propaganda booklet once a week. The monks have to sit for an examination, and the failures are reprimanded severely. "
"In June 2004, blank papers were distributed amongst the monks asking the monks to write about the greatness of the "Motherland" and communism. Failure on the part of the monks result in subsequent punishment."
With no religious freedom in Tibet, Thupten escaped into exile to study and practice Buddhism in India.
Lobsang Gaden, 18, hails from Gathok Township, Markham County, Sichuan. He reported to TCHRD on the "patriotic re-education" classes conducted in the monastery, and the tension between government officials and the monks of the monastery.
Lobsang stated, "I attended a local school for three years and at the age of 10, I joined Woeser Monastery. There are about 54 monks in the monastery. Religious teaching is restricted in the monastery. In accordance with a regulation imposed in 1999, the monks have to attend "patriotic re-education" classes. In case of absence, monks have to pay 1500 Yuan as fine."
"Behind the monastery, there are government officials living quarters. Monastery authorities proposed to finance construction of new flats for the officials if they agree to shift to some other place. However they ignored the offer and the problem continues to prevail."
"The monastery’s drainage ends in front of the officials’ flats. In August 2004, at time of heavy rainfall, the resident officials blocked the drainage alleging that water might drown their house. Hence, there was water logging and and damage of the monastery fences. Three monks, Jamyang Sangpo, Dhungkar Tsering and Tashi Tsering went to the officials and requested them to unblock the drainage. When they refused to listen to them, the monks themselves released the water. The incident was reported to the County office and a complaint was lodged against the monks. A few officials later arrived in the monastery and beat the three monks. Soon after other monks began to help the monks and a huge commotion broke out. When the monks began to grow in number, the officials threatened them with pistol. However the abbot of the monastery intervened and ended the incident.
The officials listed names of 16 monks and threatened them with severe consequences. The monastery had to bear the medical expenses of the injured officials."
Lobsang Gaden, reached Tibetan Refugee Reception Centre on 4 December 2004. He intends to pursue his monastic studies in India.
Tenzin Choesang, 44, (Name and age changed on request) on completion of her schooling, underwent teacher’s training course at Qinghai Nationalities Teacher Training College. Thereafter she worked as a teacher in a primary school in Nangchen County for eight years.
Tenzin reports, "The school has around 900 students and 43 teachers. There is a huge disparity with regard to salary among the staff. A newly recruited teacher is paid only 150 Yuan monthly and a senior teacher with completion of 20 years of service is given 2,200 Yuan. Moreover the accommodation facilities are limited with poor power supply and unhygenic drinking water. There is also no medical facility in the locality. The authorities’ failure to provide necessary stationary to the school often hampers teachers in carrying out their lessons. Most of the students are from poor nomadic background and it’s hard for them to bear the stationary expense, which often resulted in students leaving school."
"Nepotism is rampant in the school. About half of the teachers are related to each other and with the authorities of the school."
"The school disregards Tibetan history and language and it is given the least importance. Whereas Chinese language and literature is given high importance and the school authorities encourage the subject teachers."
"There is another school at the County which is meant for the children of Government officials. The school is very well facilitated and the medium of instruction is entirely in Chinese language."
"In order to degrade the education standard of the Tibetan students, there is a variation in marks cut off between Tibetan and Chinese students, where Chinese are expected to score higher marks than Tibetan students."
In another interview, Tenzin Nyima, a 14 year old boy born in Lhasa, told TCHRD, " I did my primary schooling from Shol Primary School.The school has four classes for each grade, from grade one to five. It has three classes for the sixth grade. Over all the school has roughly one thousand students. There is one special class for the Chinese students. It has about 50 students."
"Though the school has good facilities but the students have to buy their own school uniforms and stationeries. For one term the tuition fee ranges from 300 to 400 Chinese Yuan. This fee also includes the expenditure of furnitures such as tables and chairs. Except for the class on Chinese, all other subjects are being taught in the Tibetan language. Most of the teachers are not qualified nor did they have any formal training in teaching methodology. Besides the presence of truly qualified teachers is very rare."
"Irrespective of the problems faced by poor students, children who came from far off country-side have to pay twice the amount of tuition fee paid by the town or city children because of their household registration. If they fail to pay the amount they are not permitted to enter the school. The chief reason cited for this double fee is that children from the rural country-side do not have a registration card, however this condition is not clear whether Chinese children have to pay the same amount or not. Except for the discriminatory tuition fee, all other facilities are equally being shared by the students."
Tenzin later entered the middle school in Lhasa City. He stated, "The school has about two thousand students and the medium of instruction and the language used in general communication is Mandarin Chinese. The tuition fee is twice more than what they pay in the primary school and similarly the expenditures for the books and other stationeries have to be borne by the students themselves."
"There is no no good education being imparted and hence the Tibetan students diverted their attention and focus in building up relationships and love affairs and take on alcoholism. The teachers and higher authorities of the school though notice these incidents and behaviors among the students turn a blind eye on them. The customary teacher’s guidance and advices to students are very rare; because of this many of the students don’t have a desire to go to the school and many end up as drop outs and hang out in the streets."
Due to such prevailing environments and conditions not conducive for proper education, Tenzin’s parents withdrew him from the school. His parents with a view of seeking a better future for their children sent him to exile. He reached the Tibetan Refugee Reception Centre, Kathmandu, in December 2004.
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Three Tibetans, Dejor, 40, Tsering Dawa, 40, and Thartsok, 33, were arrested on 4 September 2004 in Sari Village, Yongnak Township, Sog County (Ch: Suo Xian), Tibet Autonomous Region ("TAR"). They were arrested by the local Public Security Bureau ("PSB") for protesting against the mining activity in the area by Chinese authorities. All of them are currently reported to be in Nakchu (Ch: Naqu) Prefecture Detention Centre.
In July 2004, workers from Nagchu Mining Department visited Sari Village to mine the area. However, the resident Tibetans protested against the mining and managed to halt the work. It has been reported that there were heated exchanges between the Tibetans and officials over the mining issue. Subsequently the officials from the Mining Department reported the incident to the authorities of Sog County. In the end of August 2004, officials from Sog County Administration accompanied by PSB officers arrived at the village to investigate the incident.
Dejor, Tsering Dawa and Thartsok were identified as key leaders of the protests and subsequently arrested from home on 4 September 2004.
In the aftermath of the arrest, a group of local Tibetans appealed to the authorities to release the three Tibetans citing their protest solely as a concern for the environment. However, the authorities dismissed the appeal on the grounds that they suspected political motives behind their protest.
In November 2004, Nakchu Prefecture People’s Intermediate Court sentenced the Tibetans to one year imprisonment term.
Dejor, underwent brutal torture while in Detention Centre and is currently reported to be hospitalised in Nakchu County. Dawa Tsering and Thartsok continue to be detained in Nakchu Prefecture Detention Centre.
The UN Declaration on the Right to Development (UNDRD) states that governments must "formulate appropriate national development policies that aim at the constant improvement of the well-being of the entire population and of all individuals, on the basis of their active, free and meaningful participation in development and in the fair distribution of benefits resulting there from". The Sog County incident clearly reveals that China as a permanent member of the UN is in direct contravention of the UNDRD. TCHRD would like to call upon China to respect the sentiments of the Tibetan people in all development work inside Tibet and to allow freedom of expression and opinion.
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TCHRD publishes a revised edition of its educational booklets- A Guide to Human Rights, and A Guide to Democracy- for Tibetan Secondary School Children.
The beautifully illustrated booklets feature selected paintings drawn by Tibetan school children during the birth anniversary of the dissappeared XIth Panchen Lama on 25 April 2001.
TCHRD organises workshops, lectures , and publishes educational materials as part of its mission to educate the Tibetan community in exile on the concepts of democracy and human rights.
TCHRD will release two reports in January 2005.
The Reports State of Education in Tibet: A Human Rights Perspective and "Strike Hard" Campaign: China’s crackdown on political dissidence, are research reports.
A Tibetan language version of the Education report will also be released.
To receive copies of the reports, mail us at dsala@tchrd.org or write to us at our postal address given at the back page.
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On 14 December 2004, Mr. Tsering Agloe, Researcher, briefed a group of students from the University of Denver, Colarado, U.S.A, about the human rights situation in Tibet. He also informed the students on the workings of TCHRD and the role played by the Centre in promoting human rights principles and democratic concepts in the exile Tibetan community.
The students raised pertinent questions regarding political, religious, environment and livelihood issues in Tibet.
On 23 December 2004, Mr. Ugyen Tsewang, Information Officer, briefed Tibetan school student participants during a workshop organised organised by the Delhi based Tibetan Parliamentary and Policy Research Centre (TPPRC). The students were briefed about the structure of Tibetan Government-in-Exile and its functionings.
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