The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy received reliable information on Bangri Rinpoche’s arrest of 26 August 1999. (Ref: TCHRD Update January 2000 & December 2003) (Background detail on Bangri Rinpoche attached below)

It has come to light through reliable sources to TCHRD- that in September 2001, Bangri Rinpoche was senteced to life by the Lhasa Municipality Intermediate People’s Court for attempting to ‘split’ the country.

Nyima Choedon, Bangri Rinpoche’s wife was sentenced to ten years imprisonment for the same charge. On 29 May 2001, both were shifted to Drapchi Prison in the north of Lhasa City and were incarcerated in solitary confinement for more than a year. They were later shifted to prison unit no. 5 meant for prisoners with political charges.

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The People’s Republic of China (PRC) initiated the “Strike Hard” Campaign in China in 1983. It is a unique campaign which demonstrates China’s hardline approach against its exercise of fundamental human rights. The campaign left huge scars on its people and it dramatizes China’s image of an oppressive and ruthless state. The “Strike Hard” campaign drew huge criticism from the…

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In its latest attempt to intensify hard-line policies, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has relaunched the “strike hard” campaign to systematically curtail Tibetan political dissent and to control religious institutions. A series of recent official meetings held in Lhasa has re-affirmed the need to curb dissidence by “striking hard” in the “Tibet Autonomous Region”(TAR).

According to the State media China Tibet Information Centre (www.tibetinfor.com) and Lhasa Evening daily on 4 November 2004, “the “Strike hard” campaign for the winter – 1 November to 30 December 2004 – in Lhasa, TAR, has begun. The current campaign aims to eliminate internal secret splittist groups, separatists based outside, influence on religion, terrorists and their activities, criminal activities, stability stiflers and exile returnees linked with splittist groups.”

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Geshe Sonam Phuntsok
Geshe Sonam Phuntsok

Chinese authorities have released Geshe Sonam Phuntsok upon completion of his five years imprisonment term, according to confirmed information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD). Geshe Sonam Phuntsok, popularly known as Kardze Geshe, was imprisoned for his religious activities and for conducting long life prayer ceremony for the Dalai Lama in October 1999.

Early morning on 26 October 2004, Chinese Public Security Bureau (“PSB”) Officials brought Geshe in a government vehicle to his native Rongbatsang District in Kardze County, Kardze Tibet Autonomous Prefecture (“TAP”), Sichuan. He had earlier arrived in Dartsedo County on 24 October 2004 where he had undergone medical treatment after release from Chuandong no 3 Prison in Tazhu County. 

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Three Tibetans from Sog County (Ch: Suo Xian) were arrested by the local Public Security Bureau (“PSB”) for protesting against the authorities’ mining activity in the area, according to confirmed reports received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD).

The three Tibetans, Dejor, 40, Tsering Dawa, 40, and Thartsok, 33, were arrested on 4 September 2004 in Sari Village, Yongnak Township, Sog County, Tibet Autonomous Region (“TAR”).  All of them are currently reported to be in Nagchu (Ch: Naqu) Prefecture Detention Centre.

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Tashi Topgyal, 50, was born in Thong Village, Yamo Township, Ngamring County, Shigatse Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region (“TAR”). He has three sons and does farming for their livelihood. Tashi learned carpentry when he was young and does carpentry works during free time between every harvest. He worked in construction sites and made wooden household furnitures.

In August 2002, several wall posters calling for Tibet’s independence were found pasted and scattered in the township market. An investigation team comprising of PSB officials from Ngamring County and Shigatse Prefecture carried out thorough investigations and interrogations to find the person responsible for the incident. The PSB team carried out thorough investigations in the neighbouring villages as well as interrogated all the people who were deemed suspicious. However, they could not find out the “culprit”.

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According to confirmed information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy,(TCHRD). Chinese authorities in Tibet have arbitrarily detained and slapped heavy fine on Tibetan returnees from exile in India without any formal political charges. As in the past many young and minor Tibetans brave various obstacles to seek freedom of religious practice in monasteries or to join educational institutions set up by Tibetan exile government in India with impending objective of returning to Tibet.

Gedun Tsundue, a monk of  “Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture,”(TAP) Qinghai Province, escaped into exile and joined Kirti monastery based in Dharamsala and Jamphel Gyatso, a monk of Jadel Khangtsen of Sera Jhe Monastery in South India returned to Tibet after completing their studies in February 2004. According to confirmed information received by the Center, both were reported to be arbitrarily detained for four months before being handed over to the concerned Chinese authorities in Golog Region and fined 4,500 Yuan each.

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A new “Re-education-through-Labour” (Ch:laojiao) camp has been established in Senge Township, Ngari County, Tibet Autonomous Region (“TAR”). The camp which will accommodate about two hundred inmates became functional in July 2004 when the construction work was completed.

According to Tibet Daily on 21 July 2004, “The “Re-education-through-Labour” camp located on the Fren Xin Highway on the 4300 Meter high Senge Township in Ngari County has now become functional. The Development Department invested eight million Yuan in building the new camp. The camp can hold two hundred inmates and is 40 thousand square feet in size. The 1760 Km distance between Lhasa City and Ngari is very long and is not secure in transporting people to the “Re-education-through-Labour” camp. The Tibet Autonomous Region (“TAR”) Law Enforcement Department, in an attempt to establish social stability in Ngari Prefecture and to improve the economic status of the Tibetans, have communicated to the concerned national department and in June 2003, the State Development Authority sanctioned eight million Yuan and work formally began on the “Re-education-through-Labour” camp in Ngari region. The newly established “Re-education-through-Labour” Camp will bring social stability in Ngari Prefecture.”

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Ngawang Woeser
Ngawang Woeser

According to the confirmed information received by Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), Ngawang Woeser, one of the architects of the famous Pro-independence peaceful demonstration of 27 September, 1987 in Lhasa, was released on 18 April, 2004 from Drapchi prison. He was released on completion of his 15 years imprisonment term. His physical condition is known to have deteriorated severely over the years due to various tortures and inhuman treatments suffered in the prison. Currently his physical condition is extremely frail and has suffered severe body weight loss.

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According to the confirmed information received by Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), Ngawang Woeser, one of the architects of the famous Pro-independence peaceful demonstration of 27 September 1987 in Lhasa, was released on 18 April, 2004 from Drapchi prison. He was released on completion of his 15 years imprisonment term. His physical condition is known to have deteriorated severely over the years due to various tortures and inhuman treatments suffered in the prison. Currently his physical condition is extremely frail and has suffered severe body weight loss.

Ngawang Woeser along with one of the 20 Drepung monks initiated the first peaceful pro-independence demonstration in Lhasa after the Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1959. The demonstration lasted only a few minutes and the monks were quickly arrested by the Public Security Bureau.

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