Profile: 17-year sentence for political activities

In a collective trial held by the Intermediate People’s Court of the “Tibet Autonomous Region ” on 30 November 1989, Ngawang Woeser was sentenced to a 17-year prison term and subsequent deprivation of political rights for five years. The court verdict pronounced him a “main culprit” in the organisation of a “counterrevolutionary clique” and for “spreading propaganda” and “violating state security law”.

In January 1988, Ngawang Woeser and some of his close friends organised and formed a ten-member secret organisation in Drepung Monastery. The “Organisation of Ten” was to distribute: speeches of the Dalai Lama; a Tibetan version of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights; and a document entitled “Maong Bod Kyl Mangtsoi Tsa Kbrim” (Future Democratic Constitution of Tibet).

29-year-old Ngawang Woeser (lay name Jamyang was a farmer from Dranang county in Lhoka region. He is the eldest son of Tenpa Phuntsok and has a younger sister and brother. Ngawang joined Drepung monastery in 1981.

Ngawang Woeser was one of the 21 Drepung monks who initiated the famous Lhasa demonstration on 27 September, 1987. The demonstration – said to have sparked Tibet’s independence movement – lasted only a few minutes and the men were quickly arrested by the Public Security Bureau. Ngawang Woeser was held in Gutsa Detention Centre for one day and then transferred to Sangyip Prison for about a month of interrogations. He was then shifted back to Gutsa for a further three months.

Ngawang Woeser was finally released on 21 January, 1988, along with more than 50 other prisoners after repeated appeals by the 10th Panchen Lama. Monks from the three largest monasteries – Gaden, Drepung and Sera had also Monlam Chemo (the prayer festival).

After his release Ngawang Woeser was forbidden to ever enjoy the monastery again. Neverthless, he continued to carry out political activities in the monastery and was one of the most active members of the organisation of ten.

When the organisation’s activities became known to Chinese officials, Ngawang Woeser was immediately arrested on April 16, 1989. The other members were arrested soon after. Ngawang was detained for almost for a year in Sangyip Prison during which he underwent a series of interrogations.

Finally, a group trial was held for the ten memebrs by the Intermediate People’s Court of the ‘TAR” on November 30, 1989. Ngawang Woeser was sentenced to 17 years imprisonment for induldging in “counterrevolutionary activities” and “incitment of pro independence activitiesd and leajkiong state secrets”, along with other charges. The other nine monks were simultaneously sentenced, receiving different terms. In the trial they were not provided to defend themselves against the charges.

After his sentence was pronounced, Ngawang Woeser was transferred to Drapchi prison on January 15, 1990. He was forced to undergo “Reform-through-labour” and “Re-education”. He is presently leading a very miserable prison life in Drapchi. His health condition has deteriorated over the years spent in Prison,” adds Ngawang Rinchen, a former Drepung monk and one of the group’s members, who arrived in India in 1996.

The ten members of the organisation were: Ngawang Woeser (29), Ngawang Phulchung (39), Jampel Jangehup (37), Ngawang Cyaltsen (36), Jampel Losel (30), Jarnpel Monlarn (10), Ngawang Kunga (30),Kalsang Thutop (49) who died in prison in July 1996, Jampel Tsering (29), and Ngawang Rinchen (32), both released in 1996. Most of them are serving long-term sentences of over ten years.

Express your concern over the arbitrary detention of Ngawang Woeser by writing an appeal letter for his immediate release and humane treatment to China’s Premier, Mr. Li Peng, and send it to TCHRD for forwarding.

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