Freedom at last? : Released from 25 years’ imprisonment, former longest-serving Tibetan political prisoner under surveillance

Friday, 3 May 2013
Lobsang Tenzin

Lobsang Tenzin

Tibet’s longest-serving known political prisoner, Lobsang Tenzin, was released last month after completing his 18-yr term in Chushul Prison in the outskirts of the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, in Tibet Autonomous Region.

 

Lobsang Tenzin was the longest-serving political prisoner among a new generation of Tibetans born after the 10 March Tibetan uprising in 1959. Lobsang Tenzin was arrested on 5 March 1988 during a demonstration against Chinese rule in Lhasa. He was then about 24 and a student of Tibet University (Lhasa). [Read more...]

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Monk hospitalized, another has lost mental stability on release from prison

Monday, 15 April 2013
Soepa, 35, has become mentally unstable after enduring severe torture during five years' of imprisonment in the notorious Chushul Prison

Soepa, 35, has become mentally unstable after enduring severe torture during five years’ of imprisonment in the notorious Chushul Prison

Two Tibetan monks have been released after they completed their five-year prison terms in Chushul (Ch: Qushui) Prison located in the outskirts of the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, in Tibet Autonomous Region.

Lobsang Ngodup, 34, and Soepa, 35, were released on 10 March 2013, which was also the 54th anniversary of Tibetan national uprising day, reported Tibet Express, the exile Tibetan language newspaper last week citing local Tibetan sources.

After his release, Lobsang Ngodup is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Siling (Ch: Xining), capital of Qinghai Province. Soepa is said to have lost his mental balance, the exile newspaper reported, adding he has been behaving strangely since his release. Curiously, no injuries are visible on his body but the state of Soepa’s mental health indicates that he had endured severe torture at the hands of prison authorities in Chushul. [Read more...]

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China launches crackdown on personal cellphones in Lhasa

Monday, 11 March 2013
After setting satellites dishes and broadcast equipment on fire, Chinese authorities in the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, have now begun implementing a campaign to search personal cellphones owned by Tibetans, particularly those in monastic institutions.
According to information received by TCHRD, the crackdown on personal cellphones was launched on 10 March 2013, which is also the 54th anniversary of Tibetan uprising day in Lhasa. On 7 March this year, sources said a group of special team dealing with cellphone security arrived in Lhasa. Everyone in the special team from Beijing is expert on cellphone technology.
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Tibetans ordered to celebrate festival or face punishment

Wednesday, 13 February 2013

As Tibetans in Tibet mourn the loss of lives in self-immolation protests by observing a quiet Losar (Tibetan New Year), the Chinese authorities are ordering Tibetans to celebrate the festival by announcing huge rewards, and punishments for those who disobey the order.

According to information received by TCHRD, days prior to Losar, which began 11 February, Chinese officials in Tsolho (Ch: Hainan) Prefecture, Qinghai Province, were seen visiting Tibetan villages in the area, ordering the Tibetans to celebrate the New Year.

Officials announced that villagers would be rewarded handsomely if they celebrate the New Year.  They warned that those Tibetans who did not celebrate would be deprived of financial help for farming and animal husbandry. [Read more...]

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Detentions reported after Lhasa immolations

Saturday, 2 June 2012

An unspecified number of Tibetans have been detained following the twin self-immolation protests in the Tibetan capital, Lhasa.

Two Tibetan men, both believed to be young, staged a joint self-immolation protest near Jhokhang Temple at Barkhor (Chinese: Parkor) Street in Lhasa. Dorjee Tsetan died while Dhargye is hospitalized with burn injuries.

Chukey, the owner of the restaurant where Dhargye used to work as a cashier, was arrested along with his wife and family, according to sources. Our sources also identified some of the detained Tibetans as Dolma Kyab, Nyurgyog, Khambey, Tamdrin Kyab and Sangdrak; all of them belong to Ngaba Prefecture. [Read more...]

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TCHRD condemns China’s sentencing of three Tibetans

Monday, 20 April 2009

Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) expresses its shock and dismay over the harsh sentences passed on three Tibetans by the Lhasa Municipal Intermediate People’s Court.

Penkyi,sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve

According to official Chinese mouthpiece, Xinhua, dated 21 April 2009, the Lhasa Municipal Intermediate People’s Court sentenced one man to death with a two-year reprieve and two others to long jail terms for setting fire that killed six people in Lhasa riot last year. Penkyi, of Sakya County, Shigatse Prefecture(Ch: Xigaze) “Tibet Autonomous Region” (‘TAR’) was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve, whereas Penkyi, 23, from Nyemo County (Ch: Nimo Xian), Lhasa Municipality, “TAR” was sentenced to life imprisonment and Chime, 20, from Namling County (Ch: Nanmulin xian), Shigatse Prefecture, “TAR” was sentenced to 10 years in prison. The three were sentenced by the Chinese court on alleged charges of arson, setting fire to clothing stores last year during the Lhasa unrest. [Read more...]

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Tibetan AIDS activist missing

Thursday, 9 October 2008
File photo of Wangdue talking to Lhasa residents about AIDS

File photo of Wangdue talking to Lhasa residents about AIDS

Wangdue, a Tibetan HIV AIDS activist, has been missing since his arbitrary detention by the Lhasa City Public Security Bureau (PSB) from his home on 14 March 2008, according to information received by TCHRD.

“Wangdue, now in his early 40s was born in Taktse County (Ch: Daxi/Dagze Xian), Lhasa Municipality, “Tibet Autonomous Region” (“TAR”). He is a former political prisoner initially arrested for his involvement in the March 1989 protest in Lhasa and was later sentenced to three years to “Re-education through Labour” in Sangyip Prison, also known as “TAR” PSB Detention Centre. [Read more...]

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Tibetan monks missing since April raid

Monday, 29 September 2008
Sonam Rabgyal

Sonam Rabgyal

Five monks have gone missing since the raid by Chinese security officials on Ramoche Temple following protests in the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, in March 2008.

According to information received by TCHRD, the whereabouts of Ramoche monastery’s Chagzoe (manager and treasurer) Sonam Rabgyal and four other monks cannot be ascertained. The monks were arrested during a midnight raid in monks’ residence on 7 April 2008. [Read more...]

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China arrests over 2,300 Tibetans in Tibet

Saturday, 5 April 2008

Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) has been informed by reliable sources that the Chinese authorities are stepping up arbitrary arrest drive inside Tibet with renewed vigour and fervour. The latest information emanating from Tibet indicates over 2,300 Tibetans from various parts of Tibet have so far been arrested by the Chinese authorities currently detained in detention centres located in Townships, Counties and Prefectures in various administrative regions of Tibet.

According to TCHRD documentation since 10 March 2008, the Centre has documented a list of 301 Tibetans whose identities were confirmed as of today. [Read more...]

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Tibetans facing massive arrest drive in Tibet

Friday, 21 March 2008

After days of the peaceful protests in Lhasa and in other parts of Tibet, the Chinese authorities are now arresting hundreds of Tibetans in other parts of Tibet.

On 19 March 2008, Lhasa City Procuratorate has arrested 24 Tibetan protestors on a basis of pre-trial detention. Although 24 Tibetan protestors are on pre-trial detention but it is already a foregone conclusion that they will be charged with serious crimes and will receive harsh prison sentences.

In China pre-trial arrests are usual practice, it is most likely that the detained Tibetan protestors will be indicted within five days at an extraordinary pace compared judicial system in the democratic countries. The swift arrests and sentencing is part of Chinese legal system of sending fear and panic to the protestors to cease their activities. It can well be described as “killing goats to scare sheep”. [Read more...]

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