Kalsang Dawa, a 29-year-old painter from Phenpo, one of the more than 1000 political prisoners in Tibet, has died mysteriously, while serving his prison term. According to his close friend, Kalsang died in October 1995 in Sangyip Prison. The prison officials reported to his mother Tenzin, aged 50, that Kalsang died in hospital as a result of a complicated old…
The only prison in Tibet acknowledged by the Chinese is the “TAR” prison no. 1, more commonly known as Drapchi Prison, located in Lhasa. Currently there are 253 political prisoners, ranging in age from 15 to 70 and with prison terms ranging from 1 year to 19 years. The following letter (translated from Tibetan) was, miraculously, able to escape the…
Almost two years after his disappearance following the Dalai Lama’s proclamation of the 11th Panchen Lama, the head of the Chinese Search Committee for the Reincarnation – 58 year old Jadrel Rinpoche – has been charged with “plotting to split the country” and “leaking state secrets” and sentenced to six year imprisonment by Chinese authorities. Champa Chung-la, a 50 year…
It is now two years since 14 May 1995, the day the Dalai Lama officially proclaimed Gedhun Choekyi Nyima as the X!th reincarnation of the Panchen Lama. Two years later and the Panchen Lama and his parents are still missing somewhere in China, their whereabouts and well being unknown. Tibetan people have not forgotten the young lama, who turned eight…
Lobsang Dhargay spent two and a half years in prison where he was subjected to daily abuse. The worst torture he suffered was being handcuffed for a whole day to a blazing hot chimney, left to burn and blister without food or water. Lobsang Dhargay, aged 31, is from the Golok county of Amdo (Ch: Qinghai) province. He came from…
Almost two years after his disappearance, Chadrel Rinpoche, the abbot of the Tashilhunpo Monastery and also the head of the Search Committee for the reincarnation of the 11th Panchen Lama was sentenced to six years imprisonment and three years deprivation of political rights. A close disciple of the 10th Panchen Lama, Chadrel Rinpoche was appointed the head of the Search…
In commemoration of the Proclamation Day of May 14, 1995, when the Dalai Lama officially announced Gedhun Cheokyi Nyima as the XIth reincarnation of the Panchen Lama, TCHRD invited Tibetan school children in India to design a picture or cartoon relating to the Panchen Lama. The response was outstanding with 211 artworks received and we congratulate all those who participated…
Rinzin Wangyal was first arrested in 1966-67 for allegedly organising an underground movement and served between 15 to 17 years in prison. He was again arrested in 1995 on suspicion of planning to disrupt “TAR” anniversary celebrations for which he is reportedly serving a 16 year prison term. His wife, nearing death, made repeated appeals to the authorities to visit…
On 21 March 1997, in Drongtoe village under Lhoka Gonkar county south of Lhasa, 23 Tibetans died in a boat disaster. The Chinese authorities had ordered 123 local inhabitants to work on the plantation of eucalyptus trees in the area north of Yarlung Tsangpo (river). While travelling to and from the work plantation they were required to cross the Yarlung…
Ngawang Sangpo joined the Drepung monastery in 1983. In the first week of May 1991, Lhasa City PSB officials and monastery authorities detained Ngawang and two other monks for more than seven months on suspicion for hoisting the Tibetan National flag in the main prayer hall of the Drepung Monastery. In 1996 he was again arrested and sentenced to two…
Tibet’s environment is increasingly under threat of destruction by China’s actions of mining and development. The Tibetan people are not consulted on the development and rarely benefit from the land’s use. They are also prevented from speaking out. When he was 18 years old Phuntsok Chosang was imprisoned in Meldro Gongkar for protesting against China’s environmental practices in his hometown.…