http://www.tchrd.org/press/ TCHRD is a Tibetan NGO that investigates the human rights situation in Tibet and presents this information internationally in various fora. We also organise educational programs and promote the principles of democracy within the Tibetan community. en-us Copyright 2005, Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy info@tchrd.org Sat, 9 Dec 2006 6:48:55 GMT http://www.tchrd.org/images/logos/logo-tchrd.gif http://www.tchrd.org 115 89 TCHRD Logo http://www.tchrd.org/press/2008/pr20080312.html The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) receives the names of four of the protesters who were arrested yesterday from the Barkhor Street in Lhasa. They are identified as 1) Trulku Tenpa Rigsang (a reincarnated lama originally from Golok Lungkar Monastery currently undergoing higher Buddhist studies at the Sera Monastery in Lhasa) 2) Gelek Pel 3) Samten and 4) Thubwang. According to reliable sources there were 16 protesters (14 monks and 2 laypersons) in the group as against earlier media reports of around ten people in the group. Tuesday, 11 March 2008, 4:10:25 GMT http://www.tchrd.org/press/2008/pr20080311.html Scores of Tibetans led by monks from Drepung and Sera Monastery were known to have been arrested for staging peaceful pro-Tibet protests in the Tibetan Capital, Lhasa, yesterday coinciding with the 49th anniversary of the 1959 People's Uprising against Chinese occupation of Tibet, according to confirmed information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD). Wednesday, 12 March 2008, 12:30:55 GMT http://www.tchrd.org/press/2006/ps20061210.html 10 December 2006 marks the 58th International Human Rights Day. And today the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) commemorates its 10th founding anniversary also. For a decade the Centre has strived hard to highlight the state of human rights in Tibet. Over the past ten years, TCHRD has endeavored to uncover human rights violations in Tibet and reveal its findings to the rest of the world. As TCHRD prepares to embark upon another decade of human rights research, it remains firmly committed to realizing the goals set out in its mission. Sat, 9 Dec 2006 6:48:55 GMT http://www.tchrd.org/press/2006/pr20061124.html Lhasa Intermediate People’s Court sentenced Sonam Gyalpo, 44, to twelve years in jail on charges of “endangering state security”, according to confirmed information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD). He is currently imprisoned at Chushul (Ch: Qushui) Prison located in the west of Lhasa City. Fri, 24 Nov 2006 11:21:45 GMT http://www.tchrd.org/press/2006/nb20061114.html Gyaltsen Namdak (lay name: Dawa), a 24-year old monk in Sera Monastery in Tibet, was sentenced to a five-year prison term for distributing pamphlets containing political material, according to confirmed information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy. Tue, 14 Nov 2006 10:49:28 GMT http://www.tchrd.org/press/2006/ps20061023.html The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) condemns the Chinese People’s Armed Police (PAP) firing live ammunitions on a group of Tibetan refugees on 30 September 2006. The shooting, which resulted in at least two known deaths, happened as 75 refugees were preparing to cross the glaciated Nangpa La, an 18,753 ft. pass close to Everest base camp. Several other reports say up to seven Tibetans may have been killed after the group was fired upon by the Chinese troops. Thu, 26 Oct 2006 9:08:33 GMT http://www.tchrd.org/press/2006/pr20061016.html A 19-year old Tibetan monk, Thubten Samten, disappeared from his room in Sera Monastery in Tibet. Sources believe that the Chinese police lifted him for alleged political activities. Mon, 16 Oct 2006 11:35:47 GMT http://www.tchrd.org/press/2006/pr20061013.html The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) condemns the recent shooting of Tibetan refugees by the Chinese People's Armed Police (PAP). The shooting, which resulted in the death of Kelsang Namdrol, a seventeen-year-old nun, and the injury of 20-year-old Kunsang Namgyal, happened as 71 refugees (excluding two guides) were preparing to cross the glaciated Nangpa La, an 18,753 ft. pass close to Everest base camp. Thirty refugees were arrested after continuing to flee. Fourteen of these were children, the youngest of whom is five years old. Of the refugees who were not injured or arrested, some are missing, whilst 41 (27 minors below eighteen years) have reached Kathmandu, Nepal, where they are under the protection of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees. Fri, 13 Oct 2006 11:41:54 GMT http://www.tchrd.org/press/2006/pr20060905.html According to confirmed information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), a lone 23-year-old Tibetan monk staged a short demonstration calling for freedom in Tibet on 3 September 2006 at the busy Barkhor street in Lhasa, “Tibet Autonomous Region” (“TAR”). Within minutes, the Public Security Bureau (PSB) officials and security personnels deployed by the Lhasa Neighbourhood Committee hastily moved him away from the area. Tue, 5 Sep 2006 10:01:47 GMT http://www.tchrd.org/press/2006/pr20060725.html According to confirmed information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), a 29-year old Tibetan youth, Dolma Kyab, has been sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment term for writing and maintaining a commentary manuscript about Tibet. He is currently imprisoned at Chushul (Ch: Qushui) Prison, “Tibet Autonomous Region” (“TAR”). Tue, 25 Jul 2006 15:01:57 GMT http://www.tchrd.org/press/2006/pr20060629.html The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) is happy to learn the release of Nyima Choedon, 38 years old, from Drapchi Prison. According to latest update from the U.S based Dui Hua Foundation, Nyima has been released on 26 February 2006. TCHRD has long campaigned for the release of Jigme Tenzin Nyima a.k.a Bangri Chogtrul Rinpoche and Nyima Chodon, a couple running an orphanage in Lhasa, who were wrongly charged for “splitist” activities and convicted in September 2000 to ten years prison term and life sentence respectively. Nyima received sentence reduction on few occasions where as Jigme received a year reduction and is likely to be released on 30 July 2021. With the release of Nyima Choedon, TCHRD hopes that her husband Jigme Tenzin Nyima would also be released unconditionally soon. Jigme is currently serving his term at the newly operated Chushur Prison in Chushul (Chin: Qushui) County near Nyethang (Chin: Nidang), Lhasa, along a host of other long term serving Tibetan political prisoners. TCHRD requests the international community to maintain pressure on the government of People’s Republic of China to release all the Tibetan political prisoners. While TCHRD is happy that Nyima Choedon has been released prematurely in view of her original sentence, TCHRD maintains the stand that she and all the Tibetan political prisoners does not deserve to be in prison at all in the first place. According to TCHRD documentation there are 131 known Tibetan political prisoners currently languishing in a network of Chinese administered prisons in Tibet. Out of the 131 known political prisoners, 52 are serving prison terms of more than 10 years and 91 prisoners out of the total are monks. Background Information about Nyima Choedon, Jigme Tenzin Nyima and Gyatso Orphanage Thu, 29 Jun 2006 8:03:37 GMT http://www.tchrd.org/press/2006/pr20060624.html Tommorrow-25 June 2006- is UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) commemorates the day in support of victims of torture throughout the world. TCHRD hopes that a day will dawn when the practice of torture will be completely eradicated and the abusers brought to justice. Sat, 24 Jun 2006 12:28:07 GMT http://www.tchrd.org/press/2006/pr20060517.html A meeting comprising of high-level Chinese Communist Party (CCP) members of the Tibet Autonomous Region ("TAR") took place in Lhasa from 15-16 May 2006. The meeting saw gathering of all high-level party members in the "TAR" including those residing in Beijing according to Xinhua News Agency - the official press agency of the government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). According to reports, the meeting focused on striking hard against the Tibetan freedom activists and intensification of "patriotic re-education" campaign in the monastic institutions in Tibet. Zhang Qing Ling, Acting "TAR" CCP Secretary - the region’s highest official - presided over the meeting and called for an intensification of "striking hard against the activities of the separatists". The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) is disturbed at the conduct of the meeting and expresses its concerns about the Tibetan political dissidents, former political prisoners and religious figures in Tibet. Wed, 17 May 2006 10:19:54 GMT http://www.tchrd.org/press/2006/ps20060424.html/ 25 April 2006 marks the eleventh successive years of the disappearance of the 11th Panchen Lama, Gendun Choekyi Nyima, who suddenly disappeared on 17 May 1995 after the Dalai Lama recognized him as the child reincarnation of the tenth Panchen Lama, Erdeni Choekyi Gyaltsen. Since then there has been no information about his whereabouts. It is largely believed that he is currently kept in Chinese custody at an undisclosed location along with his parents. Mon, 24 Apr 2006 00:00:01 GMT http://www.tchrd.org/press/2006/ps20060424.html/ As part of its educational awareness activities, the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) embarked on a new initiative this year by producing an audio visual documentary entitled Democratisation process in exile and structural framework of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA). Mon, 3 Apr 2006 00:00:01 GMT http://www.tchrd.org/press/2005/pr20050715.html/ Four Tibetan monks from Labrang Tashikyil Monastery in Sangchu County, Ganan Tibet Autonomous Prefecture ("TAP"), Gansu Province, have been arrested by Chinese Public Security Bureau (PSB) officers on 23 May 2005, according to confirmed information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD). Jamyang Dhondup, Dhargay Gyatso and two other unidentified monks were arrested on suspicion of pasting bills calling for "freedom in Tibet". Mon, 22 Aug 2005 00:00:01 GMT http://www.tchrd.org/press/2005/pr20050513.html/ Kunchok Tenpa and Tsundue Gyamtso are from Sichuan Province in eastern Tibet. The monks reside at Taktsang Lhamo Kirti Monastery located in Dzoge (Ch: Zoige) County, Ngaba (Ch: Aba) Tibet Autonomous Prefecture ("TAP"), Sichuan Province. In 2004, they were sentence to three years imprisonment for alleged pasting of pro-independence on the walls near the monastery Mon, 22 Aug 2005 00:00:01 GMT http://www.tchrd.org/press/2005/pr20050511.html/ Two monks from Kardze, Sichuan Province, "Tibet Autonomous Prefecture" ("TAP") were sentenced to 11 years' prison term for hoisting of a banned Tibetan national flag, according to confirmed information received by Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD). Mon, 22 Aug 2005 00:00:01 GMT http://www.tchrd.org/press/2005/nb20050425.html/ The year 2005 has been declared as the International Year of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima the 11th Panchen Lama of Tibet. He turns 16 on 25 April 2005. It is his tenth year in Chinese custody at an undisclosed location after he and his parents disappeared on 17 May 199 Mon, 22 Aug 2005 00:00:01 GMT