The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) expresses its dismay over the rejection of a draft resolution on human rights situation in China at the 60th session of the United Nations High Commission on Human Rights (UNHCHR) in Geneva.

A draft resolution (E/CN.4/2004/L.37) proposed by the United States of America was dismissed at the 60th UNHCHR when China called for “No-Action Motion”. The motion warranted voting by all the 53 member states of UN on the resolution. The voting on China’s No-Action Motion which took place at 18.00 hours on 15 April resulted in 28 votes in favour, 16 against and three abstentions.

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In June 2003 there was news of five Tibetans arrested from the Tibet University in Lhasa. Dawa Tashi, one of the students arrested at the time reached Dharamsala and testified to TCHRD his personal accounts of the events that took place during the time.

According to Dawa Tashi, on 9 June  2003, civil clothed Lhasa Public Security Bureau (PSB) officials  came to the university campus and ransacked the students living quarters and found a letter addressed to the United Nations and other political literary writings. Five students including himself were immediately arrested and subsequently detained in Tibet Autonomous Region (“TAR”) PSB Detention Centre.

The five had clandestinely written political essays and formed a secret organisation called “Democratic Youth Group of the Snowland”.

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The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) has released a new report titled “Unjust Sentence: A Special Report on Trulku Tenzin Delek” to coincide with the 45th anniversary of Tibetan Uprising Day on 10 March 2004. TCHRD has already released a similar report in Tibetan language on 2 December 2003.

This 66-page report gives an overview of background of Trulku Tenzin Delek, events leading to his arrest and thereafter, unfair legal proceedings and representations, execution and reaffirmation of death penalty, and provisions and violations with regard to trial and death penalty within Chinese constitution as well as international laws. The report is based primarily on information provided by students, followers and residents of Turlku’s hometown, highlighted in international and Tibetan media, and mentioned in reports of various governments and thematic bodies of the United Nations. 

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China released Phuntsok Nyidron, the last of the “Drapchi 14 singing nuns” on 26 February 2004. According to John Kamm, President of the San Francisco-based Dui Hua Foundation, she is now with her family in Lhasa.

Phuntsok had already served 15 years’ term out of her 16 years’ imprisonment sentence and was due for release in 2005. Associated Press (AP) reported that John Kamm believed the early release of Phuntsok as linked to recent American pressure, including a resolution (H.Res.157) passed by the House of Representatives calling on the Chinese government to release all Tibetan political prisoners. Phuntsok Nyidron’s case received particular mention in the resolution. 

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Namdrol Lhamo
Namdrol Lhamo

TCHRD received confirmed information that Namdrol Lhamo, one of the last two Drapchi 14 nuns in prison, was released in September 2003. She is reportedly in Lhasa City and in bad health condition. Namdrol was released upon completion of her 12 years’ imprisonment term.

Namdrol Lhamo and many other political prisoners arrested in late 1980s and early 90s are now being released on completion of their respective terms. Most of them suffer long-term illnesses even after release as a result of prison atrocities. The released prisoners face utter hardship in resettling in the society as they are put under severe vigilance and bound in invisible chains. 

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Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok
Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok

TCHRD received confirmed information that Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok, the Founder Abbot of Serthar Buddhist Institute died in the evening of 6 January 2004 in a hospital in Chengdu City, Sichuan Province. Khenpo was 72 years old. It is reported that he died in the military hospital “363” where he was earlier receiving medical treatment.

As per earlier information received by TCHRD, Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok was to undergo heart surgery at the same hospital at 10 AM (China time) on 29 December 2003.

It has also been reported that Chinese “work team” officials, stationed at the Institute since 2000, left the Institute in the morning of 7 January 2004.

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TCHRD received confirmed information that Nyima Tsering, 65, a teacher, was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment term by Gyantse Intermediate People’s Court in June 2003 on charges of “inciting the masses”.

Nyima Tsering and his accomplice, Sonam, 28, a shopkeeper, were arrested in December 2002 on alleged charges of distributing pro-independence pamphlets. Gyantse County Public Security Bureau (“PSB”) officials arrested both the men from their home when information last reached TCHRD in January 2003. In June 2003, Gyantse Intermediate People’s Court sentenced Nyima Tsering to five years’ imprisonment term and Sonam to six months’ detention. Both the men were then transferred to Shigatse Prefecture Detention Centre popularly known as Nyari Detention Centre. After few months’ detention, Sonam was released and Nyima Tsering was transferred to Drapchi Prison in Lhasa.

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TCHRD has learned through reliable sources the demise of Nyima Drakpa, 29, in his home on 1 October 2003. Nyima Drakpa, who was serving nine years’ imprisonment sentence, was released in early September 2003 on medical parole. At the time of his release from the prison, Drakpa was reportedly in severe health complications. Drakpa was arrested in May 2000 and subsequently sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment on charges of “endangering state security” and “incitement against the masses”.

In late 1999, Drakpa pasted pro-independence posters on the gates of a Memorial Garden in Tawu County, Kardze Tibet Autonomous Prefecture (“TAP”), Sichuan. The posters contained slogans such as “Free Tibet”, “Tibetans in Tibet have no freedom”, “Tibet is not a part of China”, was signed at the end with his name. The County Public Security Bureau (“PSB”) officials started investigations the very next day and detained another person with the same name from Drakpa’s monastery, Nyitso Monastery.

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According to confirmed information received from Tibet, the Chinese authorities closed down Kirti Monastic School (Tib translit: kirti’ nang bstan slob gling) on 29 July 2003 and it’s patron, Soepa Nagur, (Tib : bzod pa sna sgur) dissappeared since 31 July 2003.

The students who are all monks and fall in the age group of 7-20 years old are concerned about their studies. Many have gone back to their respective homes while some have joined Kirti Monastery to pursue their studies in Buddhist philosophy.

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Luzi Tashi Phuntsok, who was serving seven years’ imprisonment sentence in Yakra Phuk Prison (Tib translit:  gyag ra phuk), was released on 28 July 2003, according to reliable information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD). On 30 July, Tashi reportedly arrived at Jamyang Choekhorling Monastery in Nyakchuka County, Karze “Tibet Autonomous Prefecture” (“TAP”), Sichuan Province.

Tashi was arbitrarily arrested on 17 April 2002 from his monastery and detained in Nyakchuka County Public Security Bureau (PSB) Detention Centre for a day. Later, he was transferred to Yakra Phuk Prison. In the end of November 2002, Karze People’s Intermediate Court sentenced him to seven years’ imprisonment on alleged charges of   colluding with Trulku Tenzin Delek, a respected Buddhist teacher in eastern Tibet. On 2 December 2002, Karze Intermediate People’s Court sentenced Trulku Tenzin Delek to death with a suspension of two years for allegedly “causing bomb explosions”. Another Tibetan, Lobsang Dhondup, was executed on 26 January 2002 for the same charges.

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According to reliable information received from Tibet, Lobsang Dhargyal suddenly died Monday morning on 19 November 2002 in a Manufacturing Unit for Hydro-Electricity Power Plant, a “reform through labour” camp located in Siling Village, Machen County (Ch:Maqin xian), Golog “Tibet Autonomous Prefecture”, Qinghai Province. He was serving almost 19 years’ prison term including his earlier two and a half years’ imprisonment.

Although TCHRD is yet to receive detail information, it is almost certain that Lobsang Dhargyal’s sudden demise is due to torture and maltreatment in the forced labour camp. He is believed to have suffered brain haemorrhage at the time of death. More updates on his death shall follow upon receiving further information.

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