The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) has learned about the release of Tibetan writer, teacher and environmentalist Kunchok Tsephel on 18 March after serving more than 13 years at two different prisons including Dingxi near Lanzhou city in Gansu Province. Tsephel’s 15-year prison term had been reduced by almost two years after he saved the life of a fellow prisoner and collected ‘points’ for exhibiting ‘good behaviour’.
According to information received by Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) from a reliable source, Kunchok Tsephel, who run a Tibetan language and culture website – Chomei (eng. Lamp) (http://www.tibetcm.com/index.html) was arrested at his home in Gannan “Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture” (“TAP”), Gansu Province.
On 26 February 2009, the Chinese security in Machu arrested Kunchok Tsephel Gopey Tsang, a resident of Nyul-ra Township, Machu County, Gannan “TAP”, Gansu Province. He is currently said to be detained in one of the Public Security Bureau (PSB) Detention centres in Gannan “TAP”. The Centre also learned that Kunchok’s house was ransacked, his computer confiscated, and rooms searched for other incriminating materials.