Tibetan writer Goyon believed to be released from detention even as China sentenced six more writers and former Tibetan political prisoners 

The news about Goyon’s release comes close on the heels of another major development: sentencing of six former Tibetan political prisoners, writers and public intellectuals on the trumped-up charges of “inciting separatism” and “endangering state security” in Kardze (Ch: Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province.

Tibetan who witnessed China’s bloody crackdown released from prison after about 5 years

Former political prisoner Samdup greets Sherphel (in hat) at latter’s home, with a portrait of Dalai Lama seen in the background.

Chinese authorities released a Tibetan man named Sherphel from prison after almost five years in Serthar (Ch: Seda) County in Kardze (Ch: Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province.

Sherphel was released last year on 25 November after serving four years and ten months in prison for taking part in a protest against Chinese rule in Serthar County in 2012. The news of Sherphel’s release took time in reaching the outside world due to security clampdown including restrictions on sharing information in Tibet. Upon his arrival home in Onsa Village in Shomar Township, he was greeted by his family members and friend Samdup who was also released the same year in August.

Tibetan writer and teacher Gangkye Drupa Kyab released before completion of prison term

Gangkye Drupa Kyab holding a portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Gangkye Drupa Kyab holding a portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Gangkye Drupa Kyab, a Tibetan writer and teacher, was released after four years and seven months from Minyak Rangakha Prison located in the southwestern part of Tibet’s Kham province in present-day Sichuan Province.

Gangkye Drupa Kyab was released at around 5 pm local time on 16 September 2016 before the completion of his sentence. He had been sentenced to five and a half years on 1 August 2013 for allegedly being a member of an underground group called “Marshog Ngogol Tsogpa” (Anti-Communist Party Association). On 15 February 2012, he was arbitrarily detained by a group of prefecture and county level security officers and taken to a detention center in Dartsedo (Ch: Kangding), capital of Kardze (Ch: Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (TAP), Sichuan Province.

Tibetan man kills self in detention to avoid custodial torture

 

During his secret detention in 2012, respected monk Yonten Gyatso had contemplated suicide to escape custodial torture.
During his secret detention in 2012, respected monk Yonten Gyatso had contemplated suicide to escape custodial torture.

A Tibetan man committed suicide after local police detained him in Markham (Ch: Mangkang) County in Chamdo (Ch: Changdu) Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region.

Media reports quoting Tibetan sources reported the suicide death of Mr Tashi, 30, on 11 March 2016 at Tsangshul Detention Centre in Markham County. Tashi had been detained on an unknown date before 10 March 2016, which was the 57th anniversary of Tibetan National Uprising Day.

Exile Tibetan sources were also quoted as saying that police officers subjected Tashi to severe beatings and torture in detention. Unable to bear the brutal torture, he killed himself on 11 March.

China detains yet another Tibetan writer for writing against repression

Lomik speaking at a panel discussion.
Lomik speaking at a panel discussion.

Chinese authorities have detained yet another Tibetan writer who is also a monk in Ngaba area in present-day Ngaba (Ch: Aba) Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, in Tibetan province of Amdo.

Lomik, 27, was detained around 11. 30 pm on 12 April 2015. Lomik’s detention followed the detention of another well-known Tibetan writer Shok-jang on 16 March 2015. Like Shokjang, Lomik is being held at an undisclosed location.

Tibetan writer and four others sentenced to more than 5 years in prison

Tibetan writer, teacher and father of two, Gangkye Drupa Kyab
Tibetan writer, teacher and father of two, Gangkye Drupa Kyab

A popular Tibetan writer and four others have been sentenced to prison early this month by Chinese authorities in Nyagchu (Ch: Yajiang) County in Kardze (Ch: Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province.

On 1 August 2013, the County People’s Court in Nyagchu County sentenced the writer, Gangkye Drupa Kyab, to five years and six months in prison for alleged political activities. Four other Tibetan men were also sentenced. Samdup received five years’ prison term while Sheygyal and Yudrang each were sentenced to two years. Drensel received three years prison sentence, according to information obtained by Tibet Express, an exile Tibetan newspaper.

All of them were sentenced for allegedly being members of a secret political group called “Marshog Ngogol Tsogpa” (Anti-Communist Party Association). Both Samdup, 32, and Yudrang were detained on 13 June 2012. 

Senior monk among the latest identified in Tawu shootings

Warning: This post contains graphic images. 

An undated photograph of Chanzoe Tsewang Choephel, a senior monk and staff at Nyatso Monastery.
An undated photograph of Tsewang Choephel, a senior monk and staff at Nyatso Monastery.

Tsewang Choephel, a senior monk and administrative staff (Tib: chanzoe) at Nyatso Monastery, is the latest Tibetan to be identified among those injured in Chinese People’s Armed Police (PAP) firing on 6 July.

According to information and photographs received by TCHRD, senior monk Tsewang Choephel was shot at multiple times on his hands and legs. His condition is critical. With Tsewang Choephel’s identification, the number of the injured in PAP firing has increased to ten, including a layman Ugyen Tashi who was shot with eight bullets.

The beatings, shootings and teargassing in Tawu led to the violent disruption of an otherwise peaceful religious ceremony observed to celebrate the 78th birthday of the Tibetan spiritual leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The scale and extent of the Tawu shootings appear to overshadow another brutal shootings in January 2012 in Drango (Ch: Luhuo) County.

Five ‘disappeared’ Tibetans sentenced to varying prison terms

Months after their arbitrary detention and disappearance, five Tibetan monks from Drango Monastery have been sentenced to varying terms of six to seven years for their alleged involvement in 23 January 2012 protest in Drango (Ch: Luhuo) County of Kardze (Ch: Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province.

According to confirmed information received by TCHRD, Tulku Lobsang Tenzin, 40, a reincarnated lama and abbot of Gochen Monastery was sentenced to seven years in prison. Drango Monastery’s teacher Geshe Tsewang Namgyal, 42, and accountant Tashi Thupwang aka Dralha, 31, were sentenced to six years. The monastery’s shop manager Thinlay was sentenced to five years. Geshe Tenzin Palsang aka Tenga, senior caretaker of the monastery, was sentenced to six years.

Monk “disappears” from hospital after police beatings

More details have emerged on the case of Tsering Gyaltsen, 40, a monk from Drango Monastery who was severely beaten and detained by security forces amid the crackdown that followed the 23 January 2012 protest in Drango (Chinese: Luhuo) County in Kardze (Chinese: Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province.

On 9 February 2012, Tsering Gyaltsen was severely beaten by security forces and then taken to a hospital in Kardze. A source told TCHRD that Gyaltsen suffered a broken spine from the beatings, and died the same day at the hospital.

“Tsering Gyaltsen died the day he was hospitalized because the doctors could not treat the injuries he suffered during the police beatings,” the source said. “In addition to broken spine, he must have received other serious injuries.”

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