Jamyang Trinlay, a monk from Chamdo monastery, died from severe beatings while in prison last year, says his former fellow-monk, 16-year-old Sonam Woeser. Sonam, who recently escaped to India, says that the “re-education” process is still in place in his monastery where a 40 member work team – all from the Chamdo “Religious Department” and all Tibetan – is in…
Chadra, a monk from Shabron Monastery in Nagehu region (north of Lhasa), has been missing since mid- February of thisyear. Kunchok Gelek, a monk formerly of Drigung Thil Monastery, says Chadra disappeared after Chinese officials discovered a photograph of the Dalai Lama in his possession. Chadra is aged in his late twenties and comes from a nomadic family. He was…
The growing number of children fleeing Tibet at a great risk, often sent by parents, is a clear indication of the desperation of Tibetans to reclaim their Tibetan identity. The most recent statistics reveal that almost 500 children (below the age of 18) have already fled Tibet this year. Growing up as a minority group in Tibet, and educated within…
22-year-old old Gyun-ne Dorjee, a monk from Dargye Choeling Monastery, is from Noru in Tsethang sub-county under Lhoka region (close to Lhasa). He was arrested around the last week of May this year after he allegedly pasted anti-Chinese posters on the walls of the county office. During a search of the monastery, PSB officials found photographs of the Dalai Lama…
Tsering Gyaltsen and Yangzom, a married couple from Lhasa, have been reported to be currently in detention after their arrest around the end of September this year. The information was received from a reliable source but the charge is unknown. It is believed that they were detained by Chinese authorities on suspicion of being involved in political activities. Tsering Gyaltsen…
The principal of Lhasa Shol School, Drakpa Nyendrak, was reportedly arrested in the first week of July this year for engaging in clandestine pro-Tibetan activities such as drafting slogans and making posters. PSB (Public Security Bureau) officials reportedly found a Tibetan flag and certain documents, in the principal’s possession after being informed by insiders of his political activities. Drakpa Nyendrak…
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…