Released prisoners |
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Lama Jigme Gyatso recorded his own video testimony about the almost fatal torture his suffered in detention in March and posted it on youtube.com
Golog Jigme was arrested with Dhondup Wangchen after making the documentary 'Leaving Fear Behind', consisting of interviews with Tibetans about their thoughts and feelings on Chinese occupation. Golog Jigme reported that his treatment in prison improved after international campaigning in his name began, but was later re-arrested and re-released.
Dhondup Wangchen remains imprisoned.
Provisionally released in May 2008
The popular Tibetan writer, feminist, journalist and TV presenter Jamyang Kyi was arrested and tortured in spring 2008, but released soon afterwards without being sentenced. It is thought that she is actually under house arrest and still awaiting trial on undisclosed charges.
Woeser is probably Tibet's best known writer and internet blogger, who writes in Chinese and has been forced to move out of Tibet to Beijing due to political pressure. She was put under house arrest during the 2008 Tibetan uprising.
Released October 2007
Ngawang Phulchung, a monk from Drepung Monastery, detained in 1989 for undertaking peaceful political activities, was held in Drapchi Prison. His 'crimes' included printing copies of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Released February 2006
We received news on 29 June that Nyima Choedron, Bangri Rinpoche's wife was released in February 2006, a year before her ten year sentence for 'splittism' would have expired. She is now reunited with her seven year old daughter who was born just before her arrest. She was arrested together with her husband, Bangri Rinpoche, who is serving an 18-year prison sentence and is due to get released in 2021. Nyima Choedron, was described by former prisoners who knew her in Drapchi prison as highly educated and fluent in English, Chinese and Tibetan, has had her sentence reduced twice, by 18 months in 2003, and by another year in February 2004. She spent approximately one year in solitary confinement when she first arrived at Drapchi. She was assigned with light manual labour (knitting) but her eyesight is poor and she may have other more serious medical concerns.
Palden Gyatso is perhaps Tibet's best known political prisoner, who spent 33 years in Chinese prisons and labour camps, and who revealed shocking details of teh torture he and others received.
Released April 2005
Jamphel Jangchub, one of the 'Group of Ten' Drepung monks, was released in April 2005. Jangchub had received a three year reduction in 1994 for good behaviour, reducing his sentence to 16 years. Ngawang Phulchung, the last member of the 'Group of Ten' still in detention, is serving 19 years and is due for release in April 2008. The 'Group of Ten' were arrested in 1989 for "seriously undermining national security" by printing copies of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and a leaflet promoting a democratic, free Tibet.
Released February 2004
Phuntsog Nyidrol was given a nine year sentence in 1989 at the age of 19 for taking part in a peaceful demonstration. Her sentence was extended to 17 years in 1993 for her part in a secret recording of songs with 13 other nuns (the group became known as the 'Drapchi 14'). She was allowed to leave Tibet in March 2006 to seek medical treatment in the USA.
Released March 2002 & September 2003
Gyaltsen Drolkar and Namdrol Lhamo were two of the 'Drapch 14' nuns. Both had originally been arrested for peacefully protesting in Lhasa in the early 1990s. Both were subjected to torture during their impriosnment. Now living in exile, they came to the UK in February to help our campaign to stop torture in Tibet and to give public talks about their experiences.
Released October 2002
Ngawang Sangdrol was released in 2002 after serving 11 years of a 21 year prison sentence. Arrested for participating in a peaceful protest Ngawang continued to stand up to the Chinese authorities whilst in prison and was subject to beatings, solitary confinement and torture. She left Tibet in March 2003 and visited the UK in June 2003.
Released March 2002
Takna Jigme Sangpo served a total of 41 years imprisonment and was finally released following international pressure in 2002, when negotiators secured him passage to the US to receive medical treatment.
Released January 2002
Ngawang Choephel had returned to Tibet to study traditional music and dance, when he was arrested in 1995 and sentenced to 18 years imprisonment on charges of "espionage". He was released in 2002 following an international campaign calling for his release.
Ama Adhe escaped a labour camp in 1985 after suffering years of abuse, rape and mistreatment during her 16 year prison sentence. She was also forced to watch family members killed and was subjected to 're-education' processes through which the Chinese authorities attempted to break down her strong sense of cultural identity. Now living in Dharamsala, India, she has published her harrowing experiences in a book, 'The Voice that Remembers'.
Released March 2005
Anu, a 48-year-old amputee was sentenced to four years in Drapchi (Tibet Autonomous Region Prison Number One) for political offences. Full details of the charges against Anu are not known but appear to be linked to the authorities' suspicions of connections to the Tibetan government in exile, and of possessing "separatist" leaflets, including speeches by the Dalai Lama.
Read the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy's report: Prisoners of Tibet here.
