Prisoners of Tibet

Publications

Profiles of Current Political Prisoners

Index of Prisoners:

Atsak (b. 1967), Jampa Tenkyong (b. 1971), Jampa Lodroe (b. 1977), Pasang Tsegye (b. 1961), Tenzin Gelek (b. 1971), Yonten Gyalpo (b. 1967), Lobsang Wangchuk (b. 1971), Sonam Tsering ¹ (b. 1972), Lobsang Dawa, Kunchok Dhondup (b. 1971), Phuntsok Dhondup (b. 1968), Tasang Norbu (b. 1975), Jampa Thaye (b. 1976), Dueshe Lobsang Dawa (b. 1973), Lobsang Tenzin ¹ (b. 1959) and Yeshi Rabgyal (b. 1968) are monks from Gaden Monastery who were arrested on 7 May 1996.

On 6 May 1996, Chinese `work team' came to Gaden Monastery

Soon after a large gathering of monks led by Yeshi Rabgyal (refer to Yeshi Rabgyal p.100) approached the `work team' members in their rooms and appealed them not to carry out the ban as announced. They reasserted that the monks would sacrifice their lives, but would not give up pictures of the Dalai Lama. The officials appeared to be threatened by the group and immediately left the monastery. They returned that same night with reinforcements from the town, which consisted of ten trucks full of People's Armed Police (PAP) forces and Public Security Bureau (PSB) officers. The officers surrounded the monastery, but when they tried to enter the monastery, the monks threw stones at the officers. The PAP started shooting back. Two monks got injured in the ensuing fight and the monks were outnumbered and overpowered by the officers. Approximately 40 monks were reportedly arrested that day.

The next day the `work team' members and the Management Committee' of the monastery called a meeting with the senior monks. They were ordered to bring their younger students. At the same time, all the pictures of the Dalai Lama that were displayed on the shrines were removed.

Over time, more monks were arrested. Some fled from the monastery in order to escape arrest and punishment, and for two months the monastery remained closed. By the end of August 1998, a total of 62 monks and one layman had been detained.

Jampa Thaye and Dueshe Lobsang Dawa were sentenced to five years' imprisonment.
Lobsang Tenzin was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment.
Atsak, Phuntsok Dhondup, Lobsang Dawa, Lobsang Wangchuk, and Kunchok Dhondup were sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment.
Yeshi Rabgyal, Jampa Lodroe, and Jampa Tenkyong were sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment.
Lobsang Dawa died at the age of 31 on 20 May 1999, due to the abuse he received while in prison.
The remaining monks are incarcerated in Drapchi Prison.

Bhutuk (b. 1974) is from Drambu township in Gyantse County, Shigatse Prefecture. He is a former monk of Drongtso Monastery in Gyantse County. Bhutuk's father, Lobsang Khetsun, was also a former monk of Drongtso Monastery. Drongtso was one of the largest monasteries in Gyantse County before being completely destroyed during the Cultural Revolution of 1966 to 1976. After the Chinese occupied Tibet, Lobsang Khetsun suffered severely due to his family background. He was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for his political activities in October 1989. After three years in Drapchi Prison, he was released in 1992. However, he was subjected to further restrictions since Khetsun was the only person in his village who had a political history.

Bhutuk suffered from the situation in which he grew up. He was able to understand the problems and the maltreatment his father suffered in prison and the harassment he endured since his release.

In May 1996, Bhutuk and his friend, Ngodup Gyaltsen (b. 1973), initiated a poster campaign modeled after his fathers', while still at the monastery. They pasted similar political leaflets all over the town, including lamp posts, monasteries, and other prominent places. They even distributed cassettes of speeches by the Dalai Lama. At that time, the `work team' officials were present at the monastery. They matched the handwriting on the posters to the monks' answer sheets and traced the source of the materials. (Answer sheets are part of the `patriotic re-education' campaign carried out by Chinese `work team' members.)

In May 1996, the two were arrested by Gyantse County PSB and detained in Gyantse Detention Centre for three months before being transferred to Shigatse Nyari Detention Centre.

In late November 1996, Shigatse Intermediate People's Court sentenced them to five years' imprisonment and two years deprivation of political rights. They were charged with `counter-revolutionary propaganda.' Their family members were not allowed to visit them until their sentences were confirmed. They were kept in Shigatse Detention Centre for 15 days following their sentencing. In December 1996, they were transferred to Drapchi Prison where they are currently held.

In February 1995, Chadrel Rinpoche and Champa Chung-la (Secretary of the Search Committee) left Tashilhunpo Monastery and took a flight from Lhoka Gongkar Airport to Beijing. There, they attended the Third General Meeting of the 8th Chinese People's Political Consultative Committee (CPPCC).

This meeting, commencing on 4 March 1995, would usually last for ten days, but on this occasion it was extended after Chadrel Rinpoche refused to accept China's plan to instate its own choice for the Panchen Lama. At the end of the meeting, Chadrel Rinpoche was reportedly harassed and detained virtually under house arrest.

On 14 May 1995, the Dalai Lama officially proclaimed Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, a six-year old boy in Tibet's northern region of Nagchu, as the reincarnate Panchen Lama. On that day, Chadrel Rinpoche managed to leave Beijing en-route to Tibet. On 17 May when the PRC heard of the Dalai Lama's announcement, they arrested Chadrel Rinpoche in Chengdu, and took him back to Beijing. There he was held incommunicado under house arrest, suspected of having communicated with the Dalai Lama in exile, regarding the choice of the reincarnation.

On 14 July 1995, the local Religious Affairs Bureau in Shigatse issued a formal order removing Chadrel Rinpoche and other leading lamas of the Tashilhunpo Monastery from their posts. Eight new pro-Chinese leaders were appointed as the new administrators of the monastery, including Sangchen Lobsang Gyaltsen as the new head. The PRC stated that, after leaving Beijing in mid-May 1995 to return to Tibet, he had "suddenly been taken ill and had to be hospitalised. Considering the fragile state of his health, the Managing Committee of the Tashilhunpo Monastery thought it best to relieve him of his function as Administrator. He is at present under medical care."

On 22 May 1996, while still under house arrest, Chadrel Rinpoche was stripped of his membership in the Sixth `TAR' CPPCC and removed from his position as Vice-Chairman, because he "went against the fundamental stand of the nation and lost his political direction." On 24 May 1996, Radio Lhasa announced that "[I]n doing this, we have purged the CPPCC of bad elements and have made it clean."

Back in September 1995, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention referred to the PRC concerning the 48 people detained for their involvement in the selection of the reincarnated Panchen Lama, which included Chadrel Rinpoche. The reply, when finally received in May 1996, claimed that China had "scrupulously adhered to the sentiments of the Tibetan people and the religious rites of Tibetan Buddhism in their choice of Panchen Lama."

On 21 April 1997, almost two years after his disappearance, the Intermediate People's Court of Shigatse Prefecture sentenced Chadrel Rinpoche to seven years' imprisonment with three years deprivation of political rights. His four-year sentence was based on "plotting to split the county" and three years for "leaking state secrets." The total sentence was subsequently reduced to six years' imprisonment and three years deprivation of political rights.

Chadrel Rinpoche allegedly `confessed' to these charges and refused legal representation. Reasoning that the case involved `state secrets', Chadrel Rinpoche's trial was closed to the public.

At present Chadrel Rinpoche is believed to be held in the same cell as Hu Feng, a liberal communist intellectual, imprisoned by Mao for over 20 years in complete secrecy for arguing that culture should not be made to serve political ideology. Chadrel Rinpoche was reportedly brought to this top-secret compound, which even the top officials are forbidden to enter, in late April or early May of 1997. Only three people are allowed inside two commissioners who report directly to the Ministry of Justice in Beijing, and a prisoner who acts as cook and guard.

Human Rights in China, based in New York, reports that Chadrel Rinpoche, has been denied all outside contact, and is not allowed to leave his cell to take exercise. He reportedly commenced a hunger strike in July 1997.

Che Che (b. 1973) is a 29 year-old from Kuru village, Sumpang township in Phenpo Lhundrup County. She was a nun at Phenpo Gyabra Nunnery. There are six members in her family. Her father passed away when she was young. She has one brother and two younger sisters. They are semi-nomads by occupation. Since childhood, she was at home helping her parents at work.

In 1990, she joined Phenpo Gyabra Nunnery. Since then she was at the Nunnery which was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. She was involved in the renovation work of the nunnery. Except for 20 nuns, rest of the 120 are novice nuns.

On 12 February 1995, 14 nuns of Phenpo Nunnery set out to Lhasa to initiate a demonstration. For one whole day, the nuns walked to Lhasa from Phenpo. The next day, the nuns held a peaceful demonstration where they shouted pro-independence slogans like; "Tibet is independent", "Chinese quit Tibet" and "Long Live H.H. the Dalai Lama." Within minutes of the protest, Lhasa City PSB officers immediately arrested the nuns and took them to Gutsa Detention Centre. Upon reaching Gutsa, the PSB officers beat the nuns individually. The nuns were interrogated for several hours at a stretch while simultaneously subjecting them to inhumane torture.

In June 1995, the 14 nuns were tried in the Lhasa City Intermediate People's Court. The nuns were sentenced to various prison terms ranging from five to seven years' imprisonment. In the following months, the Lhasa Intermediate People's Court passed verdicts on the arrested nuns. Of the 14 arrested nuns,

Ngawang Dolma (b. 1971) lay name Jampa, Thupten Jigme (b. 1970) lay name Chime Dolkar, Yangdon (b. 1980) and Jamdron (b. 1974) were sentenced to seven years' imprisonment.
Chogdrup Dolma (b. 1972) lay name Namdrol, Monlam Choeying (b. 1981) lay name Rinzin and Tsering Choekyi (b. 1973) were sentenced to six years' imprisonment.
Ngawang Zoepa (b. 1969) lay name Dugmo, Ngawang Tsomo (b. 1973) lay name Dekhog, Namgyal (b. 1977), Sherab Choephel (b. 1973) lay name Nyidrol, Palchen (b. 1973), Chungkyi (b. 1978) and Che-Che (b. 1973) were sentenced to five years' imprisonment.

On 31 July 1995, the 14 nuns were transferred to Drapchi as part of the group of 60 nuns who first occupied the new rukhag # 3. The day coincided with August First (Chinese Bayi Day) which marks the foundation of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) on 1 August 1949. The nuns were kept standing for the whole day from morning to evening on their first day in Drapchi. The nuns were forced to keep papers under their armpits and in between their knees. Furthermore, the nuns had to balance a bowl of water on the head. If they made any movement they were beaten and sometimes hot water was splashed on them. The authorities did not hesitate to strike them with electric batons. Many nuns fell unconscious during this harsh punishment, but none of the nuns were allowed to help each other. Sometimes they were made to stand until 12 midnight. Occasionally, they were given a ten-minute break to visit the toilet, but these were random and infrequent. This kind of punishment continued for three months until November 1995.

They were further subjected to an `exercise' in the form of drill instructions. The nuns were forced to run from 8:30 am to 12 noon and from 2 pm to 6:30 pm. Often the nuns were forced to balance a brick on their foot for approximately seven minutes with their legs stretched out horizontally. Many nuns were susceptible to severe beatings and punishment including shocks from electric batons, during that time as the instructions were only in Chinese and because the nuns came from rural background they did not follow the orders. The nuns were subjected to further exhaustive running sessions. When the nuns reported to the session, wearing lighter clothes the following day, they were forced to stand barefoot and motionless on frigid concrete slab. ⁴ The diet was extremely poor, to worsen the predicament of the nuns.

On 10 February 1997, which was also the third day of Tibetan New Year (Tibetan: Losar) the prison authorities assembled the nuns and made them sing patriotic Chinese songs. Two nuns, Jamdron and Nyima sang in high pitched voices to sink the voices of those singing the patriotic songs and gradually other nuns joined in. The nuns were immediately removed from the place and put into solitary confinement cells while the other nuns shouted for the release of the two nuns. PAP forces were called to control the situation. Many nuns faced severe beatings following this incident. The next morning the nuns refused to eat unless Jamdron and Nyima were released from the solitary confinement. The nuns on strike essentially feared sentence extensions for the two nuns while their condition was deteriorating considerably. Prison authorities tried to negotiate and persuade the nuns to resume eating by offering them rice gruel.

Finally on the fifth day, when the nuns relented, they were told that the two nuns would be detained in solitary confinement for the rest of their terms. As months passed, the nuns were made to process wool. Each nun had to make yarn from four sangs (one sang is equivalent to 50 grams) of wool.

Che Che was again subjected to beatings and torture following the May 1 and 4 demonstration (see Background - Friday, 1 May 1998). She was confined to a solitary cell for three months due to her participation. Upon her release from the solitary confinement cells, her sentence was extended for another two years in October 1998 totalling her prison term to seven years' imprisonment.

Che Che is reportedly under very appalling condition and is mentally unstable.

Chemi Tsering ¹ (b. 1944), Pema Tso (b. 1945), Jampa Sod (b. 1962), Chemi Gyaltsen (b. 1967), Sonam Yeshi (b. 1968), Ani-Khalu (b. 1965), and Bhe-she Tsewang Wangdue( b. 1957) are seven of the nine known Tibetans arrested for participating in a peaceful protest in Kandze County in Kandze `Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture' (TAP).

On 31 October 1999, approximately 3,000 Tibetans, including these seven, demonstrated in front of the Kandze County People's Government and Kandze Detention Centre. The protestors demanded the release of Geshe Sonam Phuntsok, Sonam Choephel, and Agya Tsering who were arrested on 24 October 1999. PSB officials, who opened fire at the unarmed demonstrators, quelled the demonstration. At least ten Tibetans were reported to have been arrested on 31 October 1999, and the Kandze County People's Court initially sentenced nine to five years' imprisonment in February 2000. The nine Tibetans were paraded around their village to intimidate the other Tibetans of receiving similar consequences. During the time, two of the prisoners were severely beaten, although nothing is clear on their identities.

Following the 56th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights in May 2000, the prison terms of the nine Tibetans were further increased by an additional five years, though the reasons remain unclear. All nine are now serving a total of ten years' imprisonment.

Chime Dorje (b. 1967), Lobsang Palden (b. 1970), Lobsang Jinpa (b. 1971) lay name Pema Tsering, Jampa Tashi (b. 1968) and Lobsang Tsegyal (b. 1963) lay name Lobsang Tendon, are five monks from Serwa Monastery who were arrested on 29 March 1994. The Pashoe Intermediate People's Court sentenced the five monks for "counter-revolutionary propaganda." Around midnight on 29 March, the five monks went to the headquarters of Lingkha township People’s Government in Pashoe County. From the main gate of the headquarters they removed the two nameplates, which were inscribed with "Party People's Government" and "Township People's Government." They tore down the nameplates and broke them. On the walls of the building they put up posters reading "May His Holiness the Dalai Lama Live for Ten Thousand Years" and "Tibet is an Independent Country." At the bottom of these posters, the monks put their names and thumb impressions with the remark, "We are from Serwa Monastery."

The monks then walked from Lingkha township to Pashoe County where they met Lobsang, the Party Secretary of Lingkha township. Lobsang was, apparently, on his way to inform the County authorities about the activities of the five monks at the Lingkha township headquarters. But at the moment of their meeting, the five monks demanded that Lobsang take them to the county headquarters in his vehicle as they were going to stage a demonstration there. When they were about to reach the county headquarters, the five monks put up posters on the walls of the government and military offices stating, "Tibet is an independent country," and began shouting slogans. With the five monks still in the vehicle, the vehicle was then driven straight into the compound of the County PSB.

In order to make a public example of the monks; the five were reportedly kept in aerial suspension at the gate of the County PSB tied only by their thumbs. During the interrogation sessions, when the police demanded to know whom among them led the slogans, they all shouted unanimously claiming responsibility. The five monks were tried and sentenced to 12 and 15-year sentences. Jampa Tashi and Lobsang Palden were sentenced to 12 years. Chime Dorje, Lobsang Jinpa, and Lobsang Tsegyal received 15 years. Chime Dorje is serving his sentence in Drapchi Prison, and the others are serving their sentences in Powo Tramo Prison.

Choephel (b. 1960) is a former monk of Rongpo Gongchen Monastery in Tsekhog County in Malho "TAP." He was arrested in January 1999, in the Barkhor of Lhasa City, on suspicion of guiding Tibetan escapees to India. He was tried by the Qinghai Higher People's Court and sentenced to seven years' imprisonment with an additional one year for "bad behaviour during the trial." He is serving a total of eight years at Serkhog Hui Tibetan Autonomous County Prison (Chinese: Datong) in Ziling.

Chogdrup Dolma (b. 1972) lay name Namdrol, is a nun of Phenpo Gyabra Nunnery. She was born in Nyendong township of Damshung County, Lhasa Municipality where her family are nomads. She attended a local school for only a few years and became nun of Gyabra Nunnery in the late eighties where she studied religious scriptures.

On 13 February 1995, Chogdrup and a group of 13 other nuns staged a peaceful demonstration in Lhasa (see Che Che). Upon few months' detention in Gutsa Detention Centre, the nuns were transferred to Drapchi Prison. While in Drapchi, the nuns were subjected to strenuous sessions. Supervised by PAP officers, they would normally not hesitate to strike prisoners who fail to meet the required instructions of drill. Chogdrup Dolma once suffered an injury on her head when struck by the buckle of a military belt that continues to hurt her even today.

During the May Protest, Chogdrup Dolma was placed in solitary confinement for three months (see Background - Friday, 1 May 1998). During this time, Chogdrup Dolma was interrogated and beaten frequently, and given one tingmo (steamed dough) once a day. In October 1998, her sentence was extended by five years in addition to her six-year sentence. She is currently serving an 11-year sentence.

Dakpa Kalko (b. 1938) is an elderly man who lived next to Kirti Monastery in Ngaba County. He was arrested for pasting posters around the monastery and expressing his views on Tibetan independence. Dakpa was arrested with ten monks from Kirti Monastery on 23 May 1998. During the trial, Dakpa accepted the blame for all the charges that were brought against those involved. However, the court refused to blame him solely, and instead charged that he was a thief. Dakpa was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment. Lobsang Sherap ¹ who is the only person currently detained out of the ten monks is serving a three-year sentence. The other nine have been released after completing their prison sentences. Lobsang Sherap is serving his sentence in Barkham County Detention Centre, and Dakpa is in Maowan Prison.

Damchoe Dolma (b. 1973) is a nun from Shar Bhumpa Nunnery. She is originally from Phenpo Lhundrup County. She was arrested on 25 February 1995, after demonstrating in the Barkhor of Lhasa City. Damchoe is one of many nuns arrested at this time due to the `re-education' programs initiated in the nunneries and monasteries. These `re-education' programmes have resulted in many demonstrations throughout Lhasa since 1995. She was sentenced to six years' imprisonment with an additional three years deprivation of political rights. She is currently serving her sentence in Drapchi Prison.

Dawa Tsering (b. 1967) lay name Thupten, is a monk from Phenpo Lhundup County. He has not attended formal education. In 1985, he stayed with relatives where he worked as a handyman until 1986 when he joined Dhag Lhupu Monastery in Lhasa, where he worked as a caretaker. In 1989, when he was 18 years old, Dawa and two monks from Dhag Lhupu Monastery initiated a peaceful demonstration in Lhasa’s Barkhor. They carried with them the forbidden Tibetan national flag. They knew their actions would have serious repercussions, because at that time Lhasa was under Martial Law imposed by the PRC on 7 March 1989 (see Background - Sunday 5 March 1999). The monks were immediately arrested by the Lhasa Public Security Bureau and detained in Gutsa Detention Centre.

In 1990, Dawa was sentenced to three years in Drapchi Prison. According to a former Drapchi inmate, "Dawa came to Drapchi in February 1990. He was very smart and resourceful, and although he was very young, he exhibited maturity beyond his age. He would always answer back to officials, and this earned him many beatings, and put him in the bad books of the prison guards." Dawa was once injured in his leg while working in the prison causing him to limp. This caused his performance to suffer however, instead of being provided medical care, he was beaten for "shirking his duties." As the officials did not believe he was suffering, Dawa was forced to perform his labour along with able prisoners until May 1992, when he completed his term and was finally released from Drapchi.

He was prohibited from returning to his monastery upon his release. For a while he took up odd jobs in Lhasa. With the little money he earned, he started visiting fellow prisoners in Drapchi, who had no visitors. The prison officials quickly grew suspicious of his actions and sent an order to have him arrested. However, police were unable to locate him for a long time, as Dawa was hiding in Nagchu County.

In June 1997, he was found managing a small restaurant in Gyatsa County in Lhoka Prefecture, when he was finally arrested. He was charged with `distributing documents published in India' and `compiling a list of political prisoners,' and subsequently detained in Lhoka Tsethang PSB Detention Centre, where he suffered inhumane treatment during interrogation. He was denied visitors, and none of his relatives or friends knew of his whereabouts. He failed to receive adequate food and clothing during this time because of the lack of visitors.

It was not until December 1997 that the Lhoka Intermediate People's Court sentenced Dawa to five years' imprisonment and three years deprivation of political rights. Upon his sentencing, he was transferred to Drapchi Prison where he is currently serving his term.

Dolma Tsamchoe (b. 1937) is an elderly woman from Hampa village, in Meldrogungkar County. She is serving an eight-year sentence in Drapchi Prison for calling for Tibet's independence when the medium of a local deity entered her body, while in a trance. Dolma comes from a nomadic family in Tibet. She is a housewife and has six children: four sons and two daughters. Her daily routine revolved around taking care of household chores. She led a comfortable life, as most of her children were already independent of her livelihood.

Dolma's first encounter with the medium began in 1979, during the introduction of the `liberalisation' policy in Tibet. At the time many monasteries, which had been destroyed during the Cultural Revolution, were being renovated, and there was reportedly religious freedom.

Her family members initially kept the medium a secret from the other locals and prohibited Dolma from stepping out of the house. She had no control over the medium's entrance into her body and was constantly falling into a trance. However, gradually people became aware of the medium, and started to visit her house. They came to seek her blessings and ask her to perform divinations for household matters. Although the particular deity is unknown, the audience would listen to everything Dolma uttered. She started to make visits to different villages in Meldrogungkar, and began giving teachings.

She came to have many devotees. According to her daughter, Zomkyi, who is now is exile, during a state of trance her mother would make direct accusations against culprits, for instance: those who committed robbery or slaughtered animals. She would object to such practices and request that they be stopped.

In 1993, Dolma reportedly toured seven villages around Ruthog township where she shouted slogans in front of an assembled crowds: "Tibet is independent," "His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the supreme leader of Tibet," "Independence of Tibet is coming soon," "All Tsampa eating Tibetans, unite." She reportedly raised these slogans while in a trance.

While the medium was successfully getting support from the people, Dolma's health was deteriorating. Everytime the medium entered her body it drained her. Dolma was constantly complaining of fatigue, and was bedridden most of the time. During the times when Dolma was in a trance, she was unaware of what was happening to her.

During a tour in the village of Rinchen-Ling, Dolma made the people shout "Free Tibet" three times. Rinchen-Ling has a population of little above 200 people. Soon after, PSB officials from Meldrogungkar arrested Dolma from her home. Her son-in-law and her nephew were also arrested at the same time, because they had escorted Dolma from Rinchen-Ling. They were all detained in Meldrogungkar PSB Detention Centre. Despite her age and poor health, none of the family members were allowed to visit her while in detention.

After two months of detention, Dolma was transferred to Gutsa Detention Centre where she was detained for two months. Her son-in-law and nephew were released from detention. After two months in Gutsa, the Lhasa City Intermediate People's Court sentenced Dolma to eight years for `counter-revolutionary propaganda.' Thereafter, she was transferred to Drapchi Prison.

While in Drapchi, Dolma continued to fall into trance. In the beginning of 1995 Dolma was placed in solitary confinement for seven days with both her hands cuffed and her feet manacled. She was reportedly caught shouting and running wildly in the prison yard.

Dradul (b. 1970) is an ex-soldier of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) from Lhasa City. Dradul was arrested on 12 March 1989 shortly after Martial Law was imposed in March in Lhasa (see Background - Sunday, 5 March 1999). Dradul was accused of throwing stones at Chinese officials during the demonstration, resulting in the death of one Chinese official. The Lhasa Intermediate People's Court sentenced Dradul to 16 years' imprisonment based on these charges. Dradul was transferred to Drapchi Prison. Dradul is originally from Lhasa and had left the PLA by the time he joined the demonstration.

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