A monk named Dorjee, aged 19, from Lhatse Choede Monastery in Lhatse County in Shigatse Region, was expelled from the monastery in March-April, 1997. He was expelled from the monastery because he refused to accept the principles laid down by the workteam members in his monastery. As a result he was expelled from the monastery. After his expulsion he went…
Fourteen nuns had their sentences increased while in prison on 8 October 1993. Despite being behind bars they were courageous enough to voice their feelings and belief on a smuggled tape recorder and distribute it outside prison complex. They were subjected to harsher torture and beatings and their sentence increased. Yet, they refuse to stay chained. They say: “Torture can…
Monks in Tashi Lhunpo Monastery are still not free from harrasment by the Chinese Officials. Strict vigillence is observed over the entire administration of the Monastery. Monks who show allegiance to the Chinese government have a better possibilty of being appointed in place of those who oppose the Chinese authorities presence in the monastery. Two monks of Tashi Lhunpo recently…
In Tibet today, it is a very sorry picture for women. The most natural phenomenon of becoming a mother has to be authorised and sanction sought. Dreams of parents who want more than one or two child is crushed. Various cases of women fined for pregnancy, pregnancy being forced to terminate, forced sterilisation is becoming a common day ritual. This…
According to an account provided by a tourist who recently visited Tibet, Yadong, a popular Tibetan singer, is believed to have disappeared since July last. He is the Khampa singer from Chengdu who sings in Chinese besides singing in his mother tongue, Tibetan. He is apparently very popular in Chengdu. His song “Khampa Han” (roughly translated as Brave Khampa) is…
In June, 1997, 20 monks of Gongkar Choede Monastery participated in a heated debate about the re-education session that was being held in their monastery. One of the monks, Jampel Tender exhibited his disgust by pasting posters speaking against the presence of the workteam. This resulted in him receiving severe beatings and ill treatment. Jampel Tendar is a 20-year-old monk…
Collective trial followed by sentencing is very common in Chinese courts in Tibet. This allows the court authorities to decide cases at their own free will. Many political prisoners have had their sentence decided as such. This weakens the scope for any accused to prove themselves not guilty. The following issue represents such a court scene. The Intermediate Peoples’ Court…
Chakdor Tsering, editor of the Tibet journal “Daser” has reportedly been detained in June 1997 for political reasons. However, nothing is known of his whereabouts till now. Chakdor Tsering, 30 years old, is from Amdo Lharang. He acquired his education in the Sangchu District Primary School in the Kan-Lho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. In 1989, he joined the Tibetan Teacher’s Training…
In July this year seven monks from Serwa monastery in Chamdo region were arrested by the Communist China’s Public Security Bureau. This is the second known case of arrest of Serwa monks. Earlier in March 1994 five monks from the same monastery were arrested and are presently serving prison sentences of 12 to 15 years in Powo Tramo Labour Camp.…