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24/04/2009 TCHRD Statements

TCHRD condemns China’s framing of Tulku Phurbu Tsering Rinpoche on weapon charges

Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) condemns in strongest terms the framing of Tulku Phurbu Tsering Rinpoche on weapon charges related to last year’s peaceful protests in Kardze (Ch: Ganzi). This is the first known case of senior Buddhist leader being tried in court with a serious charge linked to last year’s demonstration.

A highly revered religious figure of Kardze, Phurbu Tsering Rinpoche, 52, who headed Pangri and Ya-tseg Nunneries in Kardze was accused of ‘illegally possessing weapons’, his Beijing based lawyer Li Fangping was quoted as saying to the Associated Press (AP) in a telephone interview on Tuesday. Rinpoche could face imprisonment for up to 15 years if found guilty by the Kardze Prefecture Intermediate People’s Court.

23/04/2009 News / TCHRD Statements

TCHRD Condemns the China framing of Tulku Phurbu Tsering Rinpoche on weapon charges

The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) condemns in strongest terms the framing of Tulku Phurbu Tsering Rinpoche on weapon charges related to last year’s peaceful protests in Kardze (Ch: Ganzi). This is the first known case of senior Buddhist leader being tried in court with a serious charge linked to last year’s demonstration.

A highly revered religious figure of Kardze, Phurbu Tsering Rinpoche, 52, who headed Pangri and Ya-tseg Nunneries in Kardze was accused of ‘illegally possessing weapons’, his Beijing based lawyer Li Fangping was quoted as saying to the Associated Press (AP) in a telephone interview on Tuesday. Rinpoche could face imprisonment for up to 15 years if found guilty by the Kardze Prefecture Intermediate People’s Court.

22/04/2009 News

TCHRD condemns China sentencing of three Tibetans

22 April 2009 The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) expresses its shock and dismay over the harsh sentences passed on three Tibetans by the Lhasa Municipal Intermediate People’s Court. According to official Chinese mouthpiece, Xinhua, dated 21 April 2009, the Lhasa Municipal Intermediate People’s Court sentenced one man to death with a two-year reprieve and two others…

20/04/2009 News

TCHRD condemns China’s sentencing of three Tibetans

Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) expresses its shock and dismay over the harsh sentences passed on three Tibetans by the Lhasa Municipal Intermediate People’s Court.

Penkyi,sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve

According to official Chinese mouthpiece, Xinhua, dated 21 April 2009, the Lhasa Municipal Intermediate People’s Court sentenced one man to death with a two-year reprieve and two others to long jail terms for setting fire that killed six people in Lhasa riot last year. Penkyi, of Sakya County, Shigatse Prefecture(Ch: Xigaze) “Tibet Autonomous Region” (‘TAR’) was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve, whereas Penkyi, 23, from Nyemo County (Ch: Nimo Xian), Lhasa Municipality, “TAR” was sentenced to life imprisonment and Chime, 20, from Namling County (Ch: Nanmulin xian), Shigatse Prefecture, “TAR” was sentenced to 10 years in prison. The three were sentenced by the Chinese court on alleged charges of arson, setting fire to clothing stores last year during the Lhasa unrest.

20/04/2009 News

China arrests Tibetan writer in Ngaba

A Tibetan monk from Ngaba Gomang Monastery was arrested in the beginning of this month for alleged anti government writings, according to information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD).

Dokru Tsultrim, a Tibetan monk who recently wrote two articles critical of the Chinese government was picked up by the Chinese security forces from his room at Ngaba Gomang Monastery.

Dokru was accused of writing two articles that criticized the Chinese government and supported the “separatist forces of the Dalai Lama,” according to the source.

20/04/2009 TCHRD Statements

TCHRD calls for release of Jigme Gyatso on medical grounds

Jigme Gyatso, a 48-year-old Tibetan political prisoner from Amdo Kersul, who is serving 17 years’ prison sentence is learnt to be seriously ill following years of torture and ill-treatment in the prison since 1996, according to information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) from reliable sources.

The Centre expresses its deepest concern at the continued imprisonment of seriously ill Jigme Gyatso and urges the government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to order his immediate release on compassionate health grounds. Jigme Gyatso is currently serving his sentence in Chushul Prison (Ch: Quhui), on the outskirt of Lhasa city.

30/03/2009 News

Chinese police beat Tibetan monk to death

A Tibetan monk was beaten to death by Chinese Public Security Bureau (PSB) officers in Drango (Ch: Luhuo) County in Kardze (Ch: Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (TAP), Sichuan Province.

According to a reliable information received by TCHRD, Phuntsok, 27, a monk from Drango Monastery, who hailed from Zongpa Village, in Drango County was brutally beaten to death for his peacefully protesting against China’s repressive policies in Tibet.

On 25 March 2009, Phuntsok pasted leaflets on the walls of a branch office of the Drango PSB headquarters on Shara Thang-do Bridge and on roadside trees. His campaign was connected with the last years’ unprecedented unrest in Tibet, particularly in Drango County, when hundreds of monks who took part in a peaceful demonstration against the Chinese government on 25 March 2008. The protest was subsequently quelled down with force and resulted in arrests, torture and detention of hundreds of monks.

23/03/2009 News

Ragya Monastery – Tibet encircled by Chinese Army, reeling under severe restriction

23 March 2009 The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) continues to receive numerous reports from Tibet that Ragya Monastery is reeling under unprecedented restriction and vigilance. Earlier, 93 monks and 2 lay Tibetans were arrested in connection with the hoisting of a banned Tibetan National flag episode on top of Ragya Monastery. New sources told TCHRD that…

18/03/2009 News

China arrests a Tibetan civil servant in Mangra County, Qinghai Province

18 March 2009 The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) received a reliable information that a Tibetan civil servant was arrested by the Chinese authorities in Sum-dho Township, Mangra County (Ch: Gui nan Xian), Tsolho “Tibet Autonomous Prefecture” “TAP”, (Ch: Hainan) Qinghai Province. Multiple sources told TCHRD that Tashi Dhondup, age 27, was arrested at his home on…

20/02/2009 News

Lithang under siege days after the protest

According to the latest information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), Chinese authorities in Lithang County have significantly beefed up security measures by bringing more forces amidst severe restriction imposed on the movement of the people in Lithang following days of protests.

According to sources, “hundreds of People’s Armed Police (PAP) -a paramilitary force- in full combat gears has arrived in Lithang County in the past couple of days following protest by Tibetans in the area. Severe restrictions are being put on the movement of the people in Lithang. People from villages and monasteries were told not to move out of their houses and warn of serious consequences if they come out in the street. All the shops, and restaurants remain closed with streets bearing complete deserted look except for the hundreds of security forces in full combat gears. The situation is very tense in Lithang at the moment.”

17/02/2009 News

Shops closed down, more detained in Lithang after protests

Lobsang Lhundup, a 39-year old monk from Nekhor Monastery in Lithang was detained on Saturday, February 15, 2009, after staging a lone protest in the main market of Lithang town in support of the exiled Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama and Tibetan independence

Chinese police in Lithang County, Sichuan province, on Monday detained at least five more Tibetans after they joined the “peaceful protest demonstration” staged by 15 Tibetans in Lithang main market, according to information received by Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy.

The shops and restaurants in Lithang town remained closed following the protest demonstration.

The vehicular traffic movement between Lithang and Bathang, which is around 6-7 hours journey distant, was brought to a grinding halt after the protest and subsequent deployment of massive troops into the areas to check further Tibetan protest, sources told TCHRD.