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Human Rights Update and Archives
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| Loyak |
The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) has received confirmed information from reliable sources that Lobsang Gyaltsen, Loyak, Penkyi and an unnamed Tibetan were executed on Tuesday, 20 October 2009 under the supervision of the Lhasa Municipality Intermediate People’s Court for their alleged involvement in last year’s mass protest in the Tibetan capital. Further information is awaited. No information on their execution was reported anywhere in the Chinese state media.
According to sources, the dead body of Lobsang Gyaltsen, from Lubug on the outskirt of Lhasa city, was handed over to his family and his dead body was later known to have been immersed in Kyichu River. There is no information on whether the defendants appealed their
sentences to the Supreme People’s Court after Lhasa Municipal Intermediate People’s Court sentenced Lobsang Gyaltsen and Loyak to death on 8 April 2009. According to the Chinese official mouthpiece dated 8 April 2009, Lhasa Municipal Intermediate People’s Court sentenced two people to death (Lobsang Gyaltsen and Loyak), two to suspended death penalties (Tenzin Phuntsok and Kangtsuk) and another (Dawa Sangpo) to life imprisonment on charges of arson causing death. The five were convicted of torching five shops in Lhasa, killing seven people, during the March 14 riot.
On 21 April 2009 the same court, according to the State media, sentenced three Tibetans (Penkyi of Nyemo County and Penkyi of Sakya County and Chime of Namling County) to suspended death, life and 10 years’ imprisonment respectively for setting fires that allegedly killed six people in Lhasa last year. The Centre is highly concerned about the fate of Tibetans who were on suspended death sentences.
The PRC government currently sentences more people to death each year than any other nation in the world. TCHRD condemns the executions of four Tibetans and urges PRC government to show restraint and to grant its citizens fair trials and to abide by the basic human rights of all of its peoples, regardless of their ethnicity.
TCHRD remains unconditionally opposed to the use of the death penalty in all cases as a violation of the fundamental right to life and the right not to be subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. It should also be noted that the death penalty has never shown to have a special deterrent effect nor should state use it to justify the wrong done by the defendant. For instance in the case of two Tibetans (Lobsang Gyaltsen and Loyak) the state media earlier reported that both “have to be executed to assuage the people’s anger.” Such eyeball for eyeball approach is in no way a justification of giving death sentence. The execution of four Tibetans are further proof of China’s unwillingness to abide by the United Nations Global Moratorium on the Death Penalty, adopted in 2007, which establishes a suspension on executions with the view to abolish the death penalty.
[ top]Tibetan schools closed down in Tibet
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| studensts group photo session |
The Chinese authorities in Driru County, Nagchu Prefecture (‘TAR’) shut down schools run by Tibetans on alleged grounds of political activism in early 2009. Nyima Dhondup from Dhar village (Penka Township, Driru County, Nagchu Prefecture (‘TAR’) was a former student of Vocational Education School who testified to the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) after coming into exile in India.He tesified to TCHRD, “earlier in 2007, a local Tibtean teacher Tenzin Thapkhey built a Vocational
Education School with financial assistances from International Red Cross society. There were around 250 students and 20 teachers and staffs in the school. The primary aim of the school was to empower large number of Tibetan populace who lacks basic modern education to lead a better life. It was on these very reasons Tibetans like Tenzin Thabkhey established the school with foreign monetary assistances.
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| graduates studens posing for the group photo session |
The education in the school was given free of cost, except for the mid day lunch. In addition, one of the primary aims of the school was to preserve the Tibetan culture, tradition and heritage passed down for the last many centuries, which has been facing serious threats of discontinuity amidst the fast changing socio-economic conditions inside Tibet owing to large influx of Chinese migrants into Tibet. A wide range of subjects were taught in the school varying from Tibetan, English and Chinese languages, linguistic, chemistry, physics, medicine, art and mural paintings.
The school was also open for anyone interested in learning traditional Tibetan arts and sciences like medicine and thangka painting. The students can study in the school for a period up to six years. In a short period of time, the school earned much praise and admiration from the local Tibetans in the area about its curriculum and educational standards. There had been cases of the parents rushing in to admit their children in the school by withdrawing their children from schools run by Chinese government.
The school earned its reputation in Nagchu County as one that truly dedicated itself towards the propagation of education and the dissemination of knowledge. In Nyima Dhondup’s case, his vocational education suddenly ended when the Chinese authorities ordered the closure of the school alleging that the school was linked to subversive political activism.
Thereafter he came to India to seek and pursue his modern education. And he did so according to his wish. Afterwards the Chinese authorities converted the school into one of Chinese government run schools in the area. The former teachers and staffs of the school were expelled. The founder teacher Tenzin Thabkhey was retained to work as a teacher but at a demoted position.
In aftermath, the vocational education in the school was removed and discontinued by Chinese authorities. Today teachers and staffs of the school just while away their time and no serious learning takes place in the school. In its appalling state of affairs, the local Tibetans who once looked upon the school as model learning centre was now filled with grief and remorse.
Other cases of School closure:
Similarly, there were other reported cases of school closures similar to vocational education school in Nagchu County. In another case of school closure, nun Ngawang Choezom testified to TCHRD about the closure of Pad-kar School founded by a monk Lobsang Nyandrak from Pad-kar Monastery in Nagchu County, Nagchu Prefecture “Tibet Autonomous Region” (“TAR”).
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| Teachers and Graduates students during group photo session |
Pad-kar school was established in January 2007 and had about two hundred students. Lobsang Nyandrak built the school by mortgaging his own personal property and estate as well as donations he raised from the local Tibetans. The curriculum in the school was very much similar to ones taught in Nagchu Vocational Education School. The education in Pad-kar school was given free of cost. The school also provided uniforms and other stationeries to the students. As it was in the case of many other students, nun Ngawang Choezom’s training in the practice of traditional Tibetan Medicine suddenly ended in 2009. Moreover, the Chinese authorities also closed a similar school in Sog County, Nagchu Prefecture, “Tibet Autonomous Region” (“TAR”) citing similar reasons stating the school harboured and nurture Tibetan nationalistic sentiments and teach “splittist” ideas and curriculum. Regardless of the allegation levelled by Chinese government, the school teaches a true version of Tibetan history and culture which once prevailed across entire length and breadth of Tibet prior to the Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1950
[ top]A Tibetan Returnee from India sentenced to 15 years in prison
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| tenzin choedrak |
Tenzin Choedak a Tibetan returnee from India was sentenced to 15 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of 10,000 Yuan in September 2009 following his participation in the last year’s spring uprising in Lhasa on 14 March 2008 according to reliable information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD).
Tenzin Choedak, 23, participated in March 14 protests in Lhasa last year which then spread across many parts of Tibet. He was arrested on an undefined date after his images were caught on CCTV footages, showing him protesting in the streets. Given the secretive nature of Chinese court system, little is known about the nature of indictment, however, according to the available information, it points to arbitrary detention and persecution based on his family members who were previously involved in many of political activities in the past.
As a Tibetan returnee from India and being educated in one of the schools run by the Tibetan government in exile, his case was treated on a far more sensitive note by the Chinese authorities. He was born in Lhasa in 1986 and later fled to exile to receive modern education. After receiving an elementary education in India, he returned to Tibet in 2003 and since then he had been working with Panam Integrated Rural Development Project (PIRDP) which was initiated under an agreement between the European Union and the Chinese Ministry of Commerce. The Project is located in Panam County of Shigatse Prefecture in the “Tibet Autonomous Region” (‘TAR’).
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| Kheldup |
Tenzin Choedak’s case took a serious turn when the Chinese authorities learnt about his father Khedup who had previously initiated number of political activities in 1987 uprising in Lhasa such as setting up ofunderground secret organizations inside Tibet. Moreover, on March 14 2008 his own aunt Sonam was shot during the demonstration but later recovered from gun wound.
Sources told TCHRD that Tenzin Choedak was beaten, tortured whilst in the detention center. In his case, both domestic and international norms, particularly the proceedings of the Criminal Procedure Law (CPL) were violated and overlooked. There was no information whether Tenzin received fair hearing or was able to hire his own council lawyer or legal representations. Lhasa Intermediate People’s Court sentenced him to fifteen years of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of 10,000 Yuan. Tenzin Chodrak is currently serving his prison term in Chushul Prison, Lhasa, “TAR”. He is due to be released in 2024.
[ top]Eleven missing monks of Pangsa identified
TCHRD received reliable information about the missing eleven monks of Pangsa Monastery. The monks were disappeared in the middle of 2008. They were identified as:
1. Khenpo Thupten Lungrig
2. Nyima Tenzin
3. Lobsang Tendar
4. Pema
5. Lhakpa Tsering
6. Tenpa Thinlay
7. Lhakpa
8. Kangtsuk
9. Thupten Nyima
10. Gyatso
11. Kalsang.
However, the whereabouts of the monks still remains unknown to their relatives and to the outside world. Pangsa Monastery housed several hundreds monks, of which many of them staged a peaceful protest march against China’s crackdown of peaceful Tibetan protesters in March 14 protest in Lhasa and other protests in Tibet.
[ top]Three Tibetans arrested in Sog County during the 60th founding anniversary of PRC
Three Tibetans were arrested in Sog County during the 60th Founding Anniversary of the People’s Republic of China on 1 October 2009. The Tibetans were arrested by the local Chinese authorities for allegedly pasting pictures of the Dalai Lama and writing subversive literatures in a popular online chat website called qq.com. All three arrested Tibetans were from Rada village Sog County,Nagchu Prefecture. They were identified as Gyalseng, 25, Yeshi Namkha, 25 and Nima Wangchuk, 24.
The Chinese authorities branded the three arrested Tibetans as “foreign separatist forces”. It was only recently that the news of the three arrested Tibetans surfaced. Of late, the Chinese government has been maintaining strict censorship and restriction on the content of the on-line chat rooms and forum sites.
[ top]China sentenced three monks in Kardze
In April 2009, Chengdu People’s Intermediate Court in Sichuan Province sentenced three Tibetan monks to varying prison sentences for taking part in protest demonstrations in spring last year. On 6 June 2008, the three monks, Tsewang Drakpa, Thupten Gyatso and Gyatso Nyima staged a peaceful protest in Drango County, Kardze (‘TAP’) calling for more freedom and human rights for the Tibetan people. They also condemned China’s harsh crackdown of the Tibetan protesters in 14 March 2009 in Lhasa. Within minutes of their protest, the Chinese security forces rounded up and arrested the protesting monks. On the way to the detention center, the monks were severely beaten up by Chinese security forces. Until the official announcement, the relatives of three monks had no idea about their whereabouts and detention. Speculations were rife that Tsewang Drakpa died in Chinese prison. However his relatives recently came across tangible evidence indicating that he is still alive in a detention center in the outskirts of Chengdu, the provincial capital of Sichuan Province contrary to the rumour. Tsewang Drakpa’s father and a relative were denied any visitation rights by Chinese security guards in a detention center in Chengdu city.
[ top]China arrests Tibetans for participating in religious ritual
The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) learnt that Soetop, 50, a local Tibetan from Kargang Township, Jomda County, Chamdo Prefecture, (‘TAR’) was arrested on 6 June 2009 for participating in an incense burning ritual during the auspicious Tibetan month of Saka Dawa, a month during which the historical Buddha Sakyamuni attained enlightenment, taught his first sermons and passed away in the same month.
Soetop’s detention surfaced after Chinese authorities released other Tibetans detained along with him. It was from those released detainees that Soetop’s relatives learnt about his continued detention in Lhasa.
[ top]A Tibetan returnee sentenced to 14 years in prison
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| Migmar Dhondup |
In a case similar to that of Tenzin Choedak, a Tibetan social worker Migmar Dhondup, 36, was sentenced to 14 years of imprisonment in a Chinese administered prison in Lhasa. Migmar Dhondup was born in 1973 in Toe Dingri County, Shigatse Prefecture “Tibet Autonomous Region” (“TAR”). In 1982, at the age of nine he left Tibet to receive modern education in India and was subsequently admitted to a Tibetan school run by the Tibetan government in exile. He later graduated from a Commerce and Business college in southern India. After the completion of college education, he returned to Tibet to serve his fellow Tibetan nomads and farmers in the field of health and education, a progam supported by western charitable societies based in Nepal. In the past many years he had been working in Lhoka and Lhasa region with Tibetan nomads and farmers.
There were no reliable information on the nature of his indictment and sentencing; however, his arrest by Chinese authorities may have been due to his background in education in India as well as working directly for the emancipation of Tibetan people. After months of secret detention, on 27 October 2009, Lhasa People’s Intermediate Court sentenced him to fourteen years of rigorous imprisonment and deprivation of Political rights for five years.
[ top]China sentenced Three Tibetan monks
TCHRD learnt from relaible sources that Kardze Intermediate People’s Court sentenced two Tibetan monks from Penri Monastery, Kardze County, Kardze “Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture”, (TAP) Sichuan Province for staging peaceful protest against the local Chinese authorities.
Earlier in the past, Kardze region used to be rife with protests and demonstrations. Last year when massive uprising and protests broke out in Lhasa, the capital of (“TAR”), Kardze region too was swept by series of massive uprisings which was suppressed with severe crackdown by the Chinese security forces. The protests and demonstrations persisted in Kardze region although they subsided in other parts of Tibet. Many experts on Tibet attributed last year’s uprising to the deep-rooted resentment against the Chinese government’s unpopular rule in Tibet. In ensuing months tens and hundreds of Tibetans were arrested, many of whose fates still remained unknown to their relatives.
Hence in 2009, Lobsang Palden was sentenced to 9 years imprisonment and Lobsang Gelek sentenced to 4 years prison terms allegedly for participating in the last year’s demonstration in Kardze on 15 March 2008.
They are currently said to be serving prison term in Xendu Qaio in Dartsedo (Ch: Kanding) Kardze “TAP”, Sichuan Province. Similarly, monks, Tashi Ngodup and Kadrak Dorjee from Penri Monastery were arrested from their residence by Chinese police. He was accused of sticking independent posters on the County Bridge and on the wall of a police station in Kardze County. Tashi Ngodup was released after the few months in detention Centre but Kadrak Dorjee was later sentenced to 8 years imprisonment.
[ top]A Tibetan monk arrested after a raid
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| Sangpo |
Sangpo, 30, a monk from Lhora Monastery, Markham County, Chamdo Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region (“TAR”) was arrested by the Chinese Public Security Bureau (PSB) officials on 8 August 2009 after surprise raid in his residence. The Chinese police found scroll painting of Dalai Lama and a half sack full of Video CD of Dalai Lama’s speech in his room. Since then information on his whereabouts and well being remain unknown to his mother and relatives.
According to multiple sources, Sangpo was arrested from his residence by the Chinese “PSB” during the surprise evening raid when he returned home after performing a religious ritual in a Tibetan family. The Chinese police ordered him to take off his rob and took him away in the evening. H returned to Tibet after completing his pilgrimages in India.
[ top]TCHRD ACTIVITIES BULLETIN
TCHRD Talk Series this month
TCHRD briefed Tibetans in Manjnu-ka Tilla
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| Mr. Urgen Tenzin briefing Tibetan college Students in Bangelore |
On 28 September 2009, the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) organized a talk series in Tibetan School Hall, Majun-Ka-Tilla, Delhi.
Mr. Urgen Tenzin, Centre’s Executive Director delivered a talk on “history of democratization process in exile” and Mr. Jampa Monlam, Assistant Director gave a briefing talk on the “current human rights situation in Tibet”.
The TCHRD shown with video footages entitled “Uprising in Tibet 2008” to the participants of the evening talk series. Later the Centre and audience had a hearty discussion and interaction on a wide range of topics and subjects related to human rights and Tibetan political struggle in exile.
[ top]TCHRD organized talk series in Bylakuppe, south India
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| Mr. Jampa Monlam, delivering a talk on Human Rights situation in Tibet to Tibetan Youths at Bangelore |
On 1 October 2009, Mr. Urgen Tenzin give an elaborated talk on how the democractisation process evolved in exile Tibetan communities in India. On the same day, Mr. Jampa Monlam had a face to face interaction and discussion with several hundreds students at Bylakuppe TCV Hall, South India. Several hundred students attended the talk and video screening. It was followed by question and answer series.
On 5 October 2009, again Mr. Urgen Tenzin had a similar talk Tibetan college students at TCV Youth Hostel about the historical origin of democractisation process in Exile. It was followede by Mr. Jampa Monlam’s discussion current Human Rights situation in Tibet with the undergraduate students.
Banglore RTYC invited TCHRD for a talk
On 7 October 2009, Bangalore Regional Tibetan Young Congress during its 40th founding Anniversary of Tibetan Youth Congress invited Mr. Jampa Monlam to TCV Youth Hostel to deliver a briefing talk on current human rights situation in Tibet. Over several hundred Tibetans attended the talk. Later in the afternoon of the same day, Mr. Jampa Monlam set aside a special rendezvous with those college who missed the talk in the morning of the same day.
TCHRD participated in a discussion forum
On 15 October 2009, the Tibetan Parlaiment in Exile (TPiE) invited TCHRD to participate in a dicussion forum organized by New Delhi based Tibetan Parlaimentary Policy and Research Centre (TPPRC) here at Snow Hermitage Resort Centre, Dharamsala. The topic of the discussion forum was on “ Tibetan Political Strategy”. TCHRD was represented by Mr. Jampa Monlam who presented his talk from the perspective of human rights and democracy as a way to explore the future status of Tibet. The talk was attended by the members of Tibetan Parlaiment in Exile.
TCHRD presided over candle light vigil
On 25 October 2009, the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress (RTYC) invited TCHRD to address Tibetans who participated in the candle light vigil which took place at the main Temple, Mcleodganj, Dharamsala to remember and mourn the four Tibetans recently sentenced to death by the Chinese court in Lhasa, “TAR”, Tibet. The Centre’s representative Mr. Jampa Monlam presented the entire account of Tibetans executed in Tibet by the Chinese court.
TCHRD briefs Nobel Laureates
Nobel laureates who Joddy Williams from USA, Mairead Maguire fom Ireland, Shirin Ebadi from Iran and members of Peace Jam who were on a four day visit to Dharamsala, the headquarter of Exile Tibetan government, to participate in Peace JamYouth Conference with the Dalai Lama and to offer their support to the Tibetan cause.
On the sideline of the event, on 27 October 2008, Noble Laureates and the Peace Jam members were briefed by the Tibetan civil society groups. Mr. Chukora Tsering Agloe on behalf of the Centre briefed the Noble laureates on current human rights situation inside Tibet at Lhakpa Tsering Hall, DIIR. Mr. Agloe fielded questions from the member of the audience.
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