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…