Political prisoners |
Current prisoners
After an unknown number of Tibetans were arrested during the 2008 protests, possibly thousands, it is now difficult to ascertain how many political prisoners are being held in Tibet today.
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The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture concluded, following his 2005 visit that "torture remains widespread in China". The Rapporteur managed an on-site inspection of Drapchi Prison and the recently opened Chushur (Chinese: Qushui) Prison near Lhasa, and noted his particular concern with sanctions placed on Tibetan monks, including prohibition on prayers and religious worship. He expressed concern that some prisoners are only "allowed outside of their cells for 20 minutes per day" and noted complaints about "the food, the extreme temperatures experienced in the cells during the summer and winter months and a general feeling of weakness due to lack of exercise".
Political prisoners are subjected to further abuse on their release. The authorities deprive them of political rights, restrict their movements while monks and nuns cannot return to their monastery or nunnery. Unemployed and in poor physical and mental condition they are condemned to a life of extreme poverty. Nun Phuntsog Nyidrol (38), the second longest serving (17 years) female political prisoner in Tibet and the last of the 'Drapchi 14' was released in February 2004. Since then she has been under close surveillance at her parents' home in Lhasa and has suffered from constant harassment and restrictions of her movements by the Chinese authorities. Her political rights were denied for five years, so she could neither rejoin her nunnery, nor receive adequate medical treatment. She was allowed to leave Tibet for the USA to receive medical treatment in March 2006.
Thanks to high profile campaining and political pressure, some political prisoners manage to be released from their sentences early, although others are released in poor states of health after serving long periods in some of the worst jails in China or Tibet.
Free Tibet supporters have been instrumental in helping some of these prisoners regain their freedom after letter writing and other urgent campaign actions.
These prisoners often go on to bravely express their opinions as they talk about their experiences and provide graphic testimony on what happens in these jails.
Their stories are invaluable in seeking to highlight these and the many other unknown cases which occur in Tibet to the international media and politicians across the world so that they can press for change and look to a time when Tibetan people will be able to express their views without fear of imprisonment, torture and death.
